Understanding a Dog's Senses

Humans and dogs have the same senses: hearing, touch, sight and smell. But, it pretty much ends there in regards to equality. A human generally uses their senses in this order: hearing--> seeing--> smelling--> touch. Whereas a dog uses them in this order: smelling--> seeing--> hearing--> touch. In this post, I am going to break down each sense and describe the variations between a human and a dog.

The Nose:
 A dog's brain is about 1/10 the size of a human brain, BUT the part of the brain that controls smell is about 40 times larger in a dog than human. Pretty impressive, right? Depending upon the breed, A dog's sense of smell is 1,000- 10,000,000 times stronger than a human's. Dogs have about 125-300 million scent glands compared to a humans measly 5 million. Dogs can smell things that humans can't even fathom.... like emotions. We humans usually rely on our sight to tell us the subtle clues of how a person is feeling. Though, we can easily be tricked by a feigned smile or a "I'm fine". Dogs, on the other hand will smell right through that masquerade right to the emotional pheromones emitted by your body. Which is why, if your dog has been acting depressed or anxious, you should examine your own emotions and lifestyle. It could be that your dog is worried, because you are worried. Or, if your dog has suddenly started obsessively smelling a specific part of your body, you might want to go get a physical check-up from your doctor. A dog's smell is so great, it can smell subtle changes in your body chemistry that could be an illness.

Other smelling facts: A dog's wet nose is mucous that helps trap scent particles onto the nose, thus allowing a greater examination of "the smell". AND a dog is able to move both nostrils independently. This allows them to figure out the direction of "the smell". 

Eyes:
Most humans can see in color. Dogs, on the other hand, see in various shades of blue and yellow. Let's examine some colors and compare it to what a dog actually sees:

• Purple and Blue = Blue 
• Greenish blue = gray
• Red = black or dark gray
• Orange, yellow and green = yellow

Let's say you throw an orange ball upon some green grass, your dog will probably use more of his/her sense of smell to find the object than sight. To the dog, both the ball and grass are the same color---yellow. Dogs also see best at dusk or dawn and see moving objects better than humans. If your dog is staring at a television, it not only sees the picture we humans see, but it also sees the tiny flickering lights that human eyes don't detect. This does not mean that a dog's sight is superior to a humans, though. On the contrary. A normal human's eyesight is 20/20 whereas a dog's is about 20/75. Further more, a human can see close up and far away better than a dog.

Hearing:
When a dog is born, it cannot hear until it is about 21 days old. But once a dog's hearing is fully developed, they can hear 4 times the distance of a human. Dog's can also hear higher pitches. Depending upon the breed, a dog's hearing range is about 40- 60,000 Hz. Whereas a human is at about 20-20,000 Hz. This is why a dog may get upset by loud noises or the vacuum cleaner. A loud noise is REALLY LOUD to a dog and the vacuum cleaner may be giving off a super annoying high pitch noise that we humans can't detect. A dog also has about 18 muscles in their ears. This allows them to move their ears in all directions in order to detect the direction of a sound. A human has about 6 muscles, which is why we can maybe wiggle our ears at best.

Touch:
A dog's paw pads are made up of fat, connective tissue and really thick skin. This allows them to have great cushioning and insulation from cold and hot temperatures. That doesn't mean that their feet are invincible. Humans still need to pay attention to really hot pavement and icy snow to prevent blisters and cuts on a dog's paws. A dog's paws are naturally pretty rough. But, if you notice a smoothing away of the pads, you may need to examine the surface your dog walks upon. Pavement can do this to the paw pads and may need to be swapped out to a softer terrain like grass.

As you can see, humans and dogs may have the same senses: sight, hearing, smell and touch. But, they are not made equal. Which is why it is extremely important when training and understanding your dog, that you think about how your four-legged family member is perceiving the world. Humans have a tendency towards anthropomorphism --- putting human traits and emotions upon non-human animals---which often leads to behavioral problems in our canine friends.

Sunscreen for Canines

Summer is right around the corner and soon it will be time to slather ourselves in sunscreen and hope for the best. Did you know that dogs are just as much at risk for sunburn as humans? Dogs at the highest risk for sunburn are light skinned dogs, dogs with short hair, with little to no hair and dogs that spend a lot of time in the water (or soaking up the sun rays). In addition, a dog's nose, ears and underside are the most at risk for getting sunburned. Like humans, genetics and diet play a role in the susceptibility to sunburn. Some dogs are just more sensitive to the damaging effects of the sun. A lot of caring dog owners will use sunscreen on their dogs, but they should never use commercial sunscreen made for humans. Human sunscreen has a whole list of ingredients that are toxic to canines, including zinc oxide. Dogs lick themselves all the time and end up ingesting the toxic components of the sunscreen. For a list of toxic elements, please visit this website--> click here.

There are ways a dog owner can protect their furry friend through diet and natural oils, though! A diet with foods rich in Lycopene is our first measure of sun safety. Lycopene is a phytonutrient and antioxidant that occurs naturally in fruits and vegetables and can offer a small bit of natural sunscreen when ingested. We cannot solely rely on just Lycopene rich vegetables for sun protection because when ingested, only a small part of the lycopene is absorbed into the skin. A dog owner can increase the absorption by also pairing the fruit/vegetable with a good source of fat, such as: Coconut oil, fish oil, olive oil, hemp seed oil and Flax oil.

When adding fruits and vegetable to a dog's diet, the owner should always remember the proper proportions for a canine: 56% to 60% protein, 25% to 30% fat and 11% to 14% appropriate carbohydrates (fruits and vegetables) to ensure optimal health. In addition, the pits in fruits and vegetables (example: apricot and mangoes) should always be removed before feeding to your furry friend. Pits can cause intestinal obstructions that often end up either really costly or deadly. 

The second measure to sun safety is to select an oil that has a natural SPF in it and use it instead of commercial sunscreen. These oils are (and I've included the SPF number alongside):

• Carrot Seed (30-38 SPF) which is packed with vitamins and antioxidants. It also has healing properties for skin issues. The only downside is that it has a slight orange tinge. Dog's with light hair may take on a carrot like hue from the oil dying the fur. 😋
• Red Raspberry Seed Oil (30-50 SPF) has an excellent level of Vitamin E for dogs with dry, irritated and inflamed skin. 

Notice the range in SPF per oil? This is because mother nature is never exact and levels of SPF will vary depending upon the plant, where it is grown and when it is harvested. 

You can also add essential oils to the above oils to add healing benefits. But, you should never add citrus essential oils! These are phototoxic and will cause burns! Lavender Essential oil has healing properties as well as a natural SPF of 6%.  Always remember to dilute essential oils to a safe dog dilution (not human) and do not use on puppies less than 8 weeks old. In addition, make sure your oils are therapeutic grade! For more information on essential oil safety for canines, visit this link--> click here. 

Finally, I am providing you a recipe to make your own dog friendly sunscreen! All the oils listed will also have their approximate naturally occurring SPF next to the name.

1/4 cup coconut oil (2-8 SPF)
1/4 cup Shea butter (2-8 SPF)
1/8 cup Wheat Germ Oil (or hazelnut oil) (15 SPF)
2 TBS of beeswax
1 Tsp of Red Raspberry Seed Oil (30-50 SPF)
1 Tsp of Carrot seed oil (30-38 SPF)
6 drops of Lavender Essential Oil (Optional) (6%)

Directions: Melt all the oils, except the Lavender Essential Oil, together on low in a sauce pan. Be sure not to over heat and bring to a boil. Once everything is melted, pour into a mason jar and add the essential oil and gently stir with a non-metal spoon. Allow to cool to a hardened state. That's it! 

Additional links to get you started on your own research:

• Toxicology Case: How to Help Dog Owners Manage Zinc Toxosis, Samantha Wright, Brandy R. Sobczak, DVM, ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center staff: http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/toxicology-case-how-help-dog-owners-manage-zinc-oxide-toxicosis
• Zinc Poisoning in Pets, Pamela Huyck, CVT & Ahna Brutlag, DVM, MS, DABT, DABVT, Associate Director of Veterinary Services, Pet Poison Helpline: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/zinc-poisoning-toxicity-in-pets
•  Your Dog Needs Sunscreen Too!, Juliana Weiss-Roessler: https://www.cesarsway.com/dog-care/skin-care/keeping-fun-in-the-sun-safe-for-your-dog
• Natural Sun Protection for Dogs, Ottowa Valley Dog Whisperer: http://ottawavalleydogwhisperer.blogspot.ca/2014/08/natural-sun-protection-for-dogs.html

Canine Heat Stroke

Summer is here! Which means it will be getting HOT. Just like humans, dogs can get heat stroke. Dogs don't sweat like humans do. The only way they lose heat is through the little pads on their feet or by panting.  Humans need to take precautions when out with a dog in the heat and know how to identify when they are starting to over-heat. Here are some symptoms to watch out for and what to do if you suspect your dog may be over-heated:

A dog's temperature is a bit different from a human's. If you notice that your dog is acting over-heated, the first thing you must do is take his/her temperature. Here is a link that provides instructions on the "how". Below is a nifty graphic I made on normal - dangerous temperatures for a dog: 

If your dog is indeed over-heated and/or suffering heat stroke, there are measures to take in order to make sure it does not do permanent damage to your canine or become fatal:

How hot is too hot? Here is handy chart by Pet Plan that can give you an idea of when it's time to start monitoring: https://www.fetchpet.com/the-dig/how-hot-is-too-hot-for-your-dog. It really depends upon the size of your dog and the breed. But it;s up to you as the pet parent to take precautionary measures to make sure your beloved four-legged friend is safe in the heat.

Dog Toy Safety

Let's face it, dog toys are fun for you and your dog. But they are not only fun, but they are also a necessity. Toys provide comfort and fight boredom in your dog. They can also be used in training to provide mental and physical stimulation to ward off undesirable behaviors in your beloved four-legged family member. When dogs are not provided toys in the household, they will often find other objects to use as toys. Often, the items they choose will be things that you do not want destroyed or huge safety risks.

There are many toys on the market and some of them are perfect for a canine. Other toys can be a waste of money or downright dangerous for your dog. So, how do you as a canine owner, wade through the endless rows of dog toys to find the perfect one for Fido? Let's start with safety:

Making Toys Safe:

• Size is important. Make sure the toy cannot be easily swallowed or lodged in your dog's throat. When choosing a toy, you must take into account your dog's size and behavioral tendencies. 
• Cut off any ribbon, strings or "googly eyes" that can be ripped off and ingested.
• Supervise and inspect: Always keep an eye on what your dog is doing with the toy. Discard any toys that are starting to rip or break into pieces that can be ingested.
• Squeaky toys! Some dogs absolutely LOVE squeaky toys. Often, the squeaker is placed right in the middle of a stuffed toy and your dog will want to destroy that squeaker. Hence, a destroyed stuffed toy. Please supervise your dog during squeaky toy play. If your dog conquers the squeaky toy, discard the remnants... including the infamous squeaker, which can be a choking hazard. 
• Check labels. If the toy is designed to be a people toy, but your dog really wants to play with it, check to make sure it is safe for children 3-years and under. Also, stuffing should not be made out of nutshells or those little polystyrene beads (ughhh). Your dog should probably not ingest any sort of stuffing, but nutshells and polystyrene beads are the most dangerous.  
• Stuffed animals must be small enough for your dog to carry, but large enough that your dog can shake it. 
• Rawhides--You should consult your veterinarian about giving your dog rawhides. These can give your dog serious obstructions. If you give your dog a rawhide, PLEASE supervise and always choose the right size for your dog. There are lots of other (safer) options for your dog that provides the same sort of chewing stimulation. Here is a quick list of alternatives.

Awesome Toys For Canines

• Rope toys with knotted ends make an awesome game of tug-o-war. Plus, dogs really like to do what I call the "shake-kill" maneuver on them. 
• Kongs are an absolute favorite. You can fill them with frozen treats or just plain ol' treats and keep your dog busy for quite a while. Just make sure the Kong is the right size for your canine. 
• Tennis Balls! They can be thrown, they bounce AND they get slobbery wet! It's a dog's dream toy. But again, frequently check for wear and tear.
• Busy Boxes-- These are large rubber cubes with hiding places for treats and provide mental enrichment for you dog. 
• DIY enrichment games. Click here for ideas!

Above are just some suggestions on awesome dog toys. Bottom line is that you, as a doggy parent, must provide your dog with mental and physical stimulation in order to ward of bad behavior habits spurred out of frustration and pent up energy. Also, toys should not just be a "babysitter" for your dog. You need to make sure your are interacting with your dog on a consistent basis. Dogs are social animals and can become very depressed when socially deprived. We at Bark City are always trying to find new and innovative ways to keep our dogs enriched. For ideas, you can always check out our Facebook page to see what we have going on in the daycare.  Go out and PLAY!