How Many Senses Do Dogs Have?

January 5, 2017January 5, 2016 by Admin

What are exactly senses and how do they relate to dogs? If we look at our reference book “Clinical Anatomy & Physiology for Veterinary Technicians, p. 269:” it says that senses are “extensions of the central nervous system” that allow it to monitor what’s going on inside and outside of the dog’s body. Generally, when an internal or external stimulus is detected by the dog’s sensory receptors, a nerve impulse travels to the dog’s central nervous system and then it’s interpreted as a sensation that may generate a response. How many senses do dogs have though? So here’s our Tuesday Trivia question for today:

How many senses do dogs have?

A: Less than 5

B: 5

C: More than 5

And the answer is……

Answer: if you answered A, which is less than 5, you have missed out several important senses. If you answered B and said 5, you may likely think you got it right, as traditionally most of us grew up knowing that there are 5 main senses, but there are actually many more! So the correct answer is C, more than 5. Let’s take a closer look at them, shall we?

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A Dog’s Five Special Senses

These are for a good part the senses we are mostly accustomed to, the traditional ones we grew up knowing from studying them in classes. What these special senses have in common is that the sensory organs are located in the dog’s head. Even though these senses are the ones we most commonly think of, by limiting ourselves to these, we fail to give our dog’s bodies full credit for all of the amazing things they’re capable of doing. Here’s a quick rundown of them:

Sense of Taste: also known as the gustatory sense, your dog has several sensory receptors in his dog’s mouth which are commonly known as “taste buds.” Most of these are located on the tongue, but some are also found in the lining of the dog’s mouth and throat. When these receptors are stimulated, they generate nerve impulses to the brain which are interpreted as taste.

Sense of Smell: also known as the olfactory sense, your dog has several sensory receptors in his nose that generate nerve impulses to the brain and are interpreted as odors. A dog’s sense of smell is surely remarkable compared to ours and plays an important role in his perception of the world. If you’re guilty of yanking on your dog’s collar the moment he stops to sniff the fire hydrant, it’s time to start seeing things more from your dog’s perspective. Next time, as you walk towards the hydrant, ask your dog to heel a few steps and then reward him by telling him to “go sniff!” the fire hydrant. Your dog will be grateful for that and you can take a moment to admire this amazing sense.

Sense of Hearing: also known as the auditory sense, your dog’s hearing system converts vibrations of air molecules into nerve impulses that are interpreted by the brain as sounds. Does your dog sometimes barks at night and you can’t find a good reason why? Most likely, your dog has a good reason to bark as he can hear sounds that our ears cannot detect. If he does it quite often, it’s not a bad idea to check your attic, deck, basement or yard for any unwanted critters.

Sense of Vision: when it comes to vision, dogs have less visual acuity, color and depth perception compared to us humans, but they’re good at sensing movement even in dim light. When the photoreceptors of a dog’s eyes detect a stimulus, they generate nerve impulses that are interpreted by the brain as images.

Sense of Equilibrium: we’re not used to including this sense with the usual ones we’re most accustomed to, but it’s a sense and and as such deserves its spot among the other dog’s senses that originate from the dog’s head. We often take this sense for granted, but it’s thanks to this sense that our dogs are capable of maintaining their balance. The equilibrium receptors in this case are found in the dog’s inner ear and they collaborate with the eyes and several other sensors called proprioceptors that provide information about the dog’s position in space.

A Dog’s Five General Senses

As the name implies, general senses are senses that are distributed throughout our dog’s bodies other than being restricted to the head. When we think about a dog’s senses, we often think about the sensory organs that we are used to seeing on our dog’s bodies such as the dog’s nose, ears and eyes, but that’s just half of the story as there are several more! Several fall under the visceral category, meaning that they are interior, within the dog’s body. Here’s a quick rundown of them.

Sense of touch: also known as tactile sense, this sense tells the dog that something is in contact with the surface of his body. Special touch receptors located on the dog’s skin inform the dog’s brain about several sensations such as pressure, vibrations, and texture. The skin is the dog’s largest organ and it’s meant to protect his internal body from potential dangers of the external world.

Sense of Temperature: dogs also have several temperature receptors which are meant to inform the dog’s central nervous system about the body’s temperature so the body can make adjustments to return it within normal range. The dog’s temperature control system may therefore attempt to correct any conditions of hypothermia (low body temperature) or hyperthermia (high body temperature).

Sense of Pain: dogs have several pain receptors, known as nociceptors, which are located on the surface of the body and inside of the body. These pain receptors are found scattered almost everywhere on the dog’s body so the central nervous system can be alerted and measures can be taken to protect it. Sadly for many years, pain perception in dogs was underestimated, but nowadays a better understanding of ways dogs manifest pain proves they feel pain just as we do.

Sense of Inner Body: also referred to as “visceral sensations” under this category are found some miscellaneous senses of things happening internally. A deficiency of water elicits the sensation of hunger. A deficiency of nutrients elicits the sensation of hunger. Internal organs that are hollow have stretch receptors meant to inform about a sensation of fullness (think a full bladder eliciting a need to urinate) or pain (think the a bubble of gas in the intestine or the pain of a urinary stone).

Sense of Proprioception: we may not be too familiar with our dog’s proprioception sense, but our veterinarian certainly is and even more are veterinarians specializing in neurology. Dogs have several stretch receptors located in their muscles, tendons, joints and ligaments that are meant to inform the central nervous system about their whereabouts, including position, contraction of muscles, tension on ligaments etc. In other words, they help your dog know exactly where his body parts are, relative to their other body parts. When neurologists must evaluate dogs for neurological problems they’ll often lift the dog’s foot so that it’s upside down and evaluate how long it takes for the dog’s nervous system to detect the abnormality and adjust the foot’s position.

So here you have it, 10 senses, which include 5 special senses and 5 general senses. There may be even more though if you talk to a neurologist. Quite amazing, huh? But wait, this isn’t limited to only dogs! For the human version of this article read “How Many Senses Do You Really Have?” And just between us, let’s not forget about “sense of humor” and “common sense“! Just joking of course, haha!

Reference:

Clinical Anatomy & Physiology for Veterinary Technicians, Thomas Colville DVM MSc, Joanna M. Bassert, VMD, Mosby 2002

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I am Your Dog’s Liver

January 22, 2022January 4, 2016 by Admin

Today we’ll be sharing some interesting discoveries pertaining a marvelous organ that is often underestimated, the dog’s liver.

For those folks who loved reading stories from Reader’s Digest around the mid 80s’ may remember the author J.D. Ratcliff who wrote compelling articles featuring organs as if they were talking in first person.

We thought it would be fun to share some interesting discoveries of our dog’s bodies in a similar fashion on a weekly basis.

So we got our dusty veterinary textbooks out and visited several websites that are posted in the reference section. So here come some interesting facts about a dog’s liver, inspired by Ratcliff’s style and presented under the “I am Rover’s Liver” format.

Let me Introduce Myself!

Hello, it’s your dog’s liver talking. As an organ, you likely don’t know me well as I am tucked deep within your dog’s abdomen, right under the ribs, but don’t expect me to make my presence much relevant even when I am not doing well. I am notorious for causing vague symptoms that may mimic many other conditions. But first let me introduce myself.

My name is liver, and just from the origin of my name, you can tell a whole lot about me. My name comes from the Old English word “lifer” which most likely refers to life. In German, the liver is called “die Leber” and the word “leben” is a German verb that means “to live.”

Even our English word “life” has quite a close resemblance to the Old English word “lifer.” Perhaps, that’s because I sure play a great role in your dog’s life and the life of any living being who hosts me, as I am a vital organ that carries out a wide range of functions which are necessary 24 hours a day.

OK, I'm not that good looking even when served on a plate! — OK, I’m not that good looking even when served on a plate!

I was once considered the largest organ of your dog’s body, but now that many physiologists claim that the skin is an organ too, what can I say, the skin has outranked me, but I come right after with a honorable second place.

From an aesthetic standpoint, my appearance is not much candy for your eyes, as you may attest when you chop up liver treats for your dog’s training sessions.

I am a basically a brownish/red colored blob with several lobes. The real beauty of me relies in my “intelligence” in carrying out many complex tasks. This is not an understatement!

According to veterinarian Race Foster, I am capable of performing more than 1,000 different tasks! It would take a whole book to list them all, so I’ll try to make it short and sweet for you. My main tasks include metabolizing food, storing items for later use and disposing of stuff that aren’t needed or that are potentially toxic. Here’s a rundown of them.

I’m a Filtration System

Loads of blood comes in and out of me on a continuous basis. I am technically a sponge saturated with blood, squeeze me and I’ll secrete droplets of blood. Blood is delivered to me via the hepatic artery which supplies me with oxygen-rich blood straight from the heart that keeps me healthy and happy, but the great majority of the blood supplied to me comes from the portal vein which carries particles of digested food straight from the small intestine.

When blood makes it into my filtration system, I sort it into various components: things that are helpful, things that should be disposed of and things that should be stored for later use, yes, just like dogs who bury bones!

I’m a Chemical Processing Factory

After your dog eats his chow, I start working on breaking down and processing all the fats, carbohydrates and proteins. For example, I transform carbohydrates into glucose, break down the amino acid building blocks of protein so to separate the nitrogen and help in the digestion of fats by secreting bile.

I basically work extra hard in processing all the good stuff that comes in and transform them into easy-to-assimilate forms that the rest of your dog’s body can easily utilize.

When I secrete bile, a substance that aids in your dog’s digestion of fats, the bile is stored in the gallbladder and released into your dog’s small intestine via the bile duct. Bile also helps wipe out bilirubin, which is the residue of old, broken down red blood cells that need to be discarded.

If you ever wondered why your dog’s poop is brown, it’s thanks to the presence of bilirubin which is orange/yellow in color. If I get ill, I no longer can effectively get rid of bilirubin which is why dogs suffering from liver disease sometimes get yellow skin (jaundice) and may have gray-colored stools.

But wait, there’s more. I also make a protein known as albumin, which prevents fluids from the dog’s blood vessels from seeping out. When I get ill though, I may fail to produce enough albumin and fluids may start leaking out into tissues causing ascites, which shows up as abdominal distention.

And what about my ability to manufacture blood clotting factors? If you accidentally cut your dog’s quick as you clip his nails, it is thanks to me that he doesn’t bleed to death. Should I get sick for some reason though, I might be unable to produce these important clotting factors which can make your dog bleed more easily.

I’m a Garbage Disposal

Along with breaking down those carbs, fats and proteins your dog eats, I also try my best to also metabolize any crap I am exposed to such as harmful substances that are added to processed dog foods nowadays. I can do this though only up to a certain extent.

Remember those infamous pet food recalls from 2005/2006 that killed hundreds of dogs? The foods in that case were contaminated with aflatoxins and I couldn’t always keep up and work hard enough to excrete these, so sadly in such cases, I ended up raising the white flag and failing.

Along with getting rid of harmful substances, I am also responsible for metabolizing medications your dog takes. What I do is try to make them easier to excrete. Please make sure you follow your vet’s dosing instructions to a T and read the accompanying package inserts for symptoms suggesting liver or other problems.

If your dog is taking certain drugs that may impair my functionality, your vet may recommend routine blood work just to make sure I am doing OK.

Not all the stuff I dispose of come from bad stuff your dog ingests, some stuff are just part of the body’s normal functioning as in the case of proteins. When I process proteins, I end up with urea, a byproduct that is toxic to the body and should be discarded. So I send this urea to the kidneys, where it’s filtered from the blood and expelled next time your dog urinates.

And what do I do with the remnants of food after all the goodies have been removed? I simply send them off back into the intestine and out of your dog’s body next time he poops.

I Am a Storage Unit

While your dog may not take as many vitamins as you do, I play a role in the metabolism and storage of vitamins.

I am responsible for storing several fat soluble vitamins such as vitamins A, D, E, and K. This is why when a dog goes into liver failure their diet is often supplemented with several vitamins, further explains veterinarian Race Foster. Without these, dogs wouldn’t live much longer.

Along with vitamins, I also store metals such as iron, copper, and zinc in the right quantities so they’re ready when Rover needs them. My storage unit also houses a nice amount of blood. Consider that I store about 15 percent of the total blood in the body.

Should your dog ever lose a large quantity of blood, all sorts of alarm bells go off and within seconds I will send off my reserved supply to try to help as much as I can.

I also store glycogen in case your dog needs it when his blood glucose gets too low. All I need to do is convert the the stored glycogen into glucose to give your dog a quick energy boost.

I Can Regenerate Myself

Perhaps this is my most amazing feature. You might have heard about lizards being able to grow back their tails after losing them, well I am proud to say that us livers are also equipped with similar powers.

When we’re on the surgery table and the vet finds us injured or affected by disease, we can afford to have even up to three-fourths of us removed, and by the end of the year, we can regenerate and grow back to our original sizes.

Also, I am capable of still performing my duties despite 70 to 80 percent of me being damaged. Pretty amazing, huh? This doesn’t mean though that us livers should be taken for granted and neglected! It’s important to take good care of us!

Take Good Care of Me!

As the Canine Liver Disease Foundation explains, my ability to continue to perform my duties despite being damaged by some infection or a massive tumor, is a double edged sword considering that symptoms may show up only once a disease is well advanced, and possibly, non treatable.

So prevention is worth a pound of cure. To keep me healthy and happy make sure to feed your dog a healthy diet, provide access to fresh water, reduce the amount of toxins he’s exposed to and keep up with health checks as suggested by your veterinarian.

According to Merck Veterinary Manual possible signs denoting liver problems in dogs include loss of appetite, vomiting, stomach ulcers, diarrhea, seizures, fever, blood clotting problems, jaundice, ascites, increased drinking and urination and weight loss. If your dog is not doing well, play it safe and don’t hesitate to have your dog see the vet!

I hope this article has helped you understand me better. You know, I think I am sometimes underestimated and feel a bit in the dark hidden how I am under your dog’s rib cage. Take good care of me and I’ll likely effectively perform my duties so you can enjoy your four-legged companion for many years to come. Yours dearly,

Rover’s Liver

Disclaimer: The article is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinarian advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If your dog is sick, please see your vet.

References:

Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health, Merck & Co, INC. Whitehouse Station, NJ USA, 2007
Clinical Anatomy & Physiology for Veterinary Technicians, Thomas Colville DVM, Joanna M. Bassert VMD, Mosby Inc. St Louis, MO, 2002
Digestive Disease in the Dog and Cat, James W. Simpson & Roderick W. Else, Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, London, 1991
Pet Education, Race Foster DVM, Anatomy & Function of the Liver in Dogs, retrieved from the World Wide Web on January 4th, 2016
Canine Liver Foundation, Canine Liver and Anatomy, retrieved from the World Wide Web on January 4th, 2016
Tufts University, Feeding the Dog with Liver Disease, September 2014 Issue, retrieved from the World Wide Web on January 4th, 2016

Dogs are an Altricial Species

January 3, 2017January 3, 2016 by Admin

How can puppies be born and get to survive and thrive despite being born in such a helpless state? When it comes to animals coming into existence, there are two ways that the mission can be accomplished: the mother may endure a long pregnancy or incubation period which produces fully developed offspring, or the mother may undergo a short pregnancy which produces immature offspring. These two strategies draw the line between precocial and altricial species. Let’s take a closer look into the differences among the two, shall we?

Precocial Species

Let’s start with a lesson in etymology, the origin of words.

The word precocial derives from the Latin word praecox which means “maturing early,” which is also why we tend to refer to children or adolescents as “precocious” when we notice them developing certain abilities or physical traits at an earlier age than usual.

From a biological standpoint, generally precocial species refers to animals who are semi-independent and mobile from the day they are born or hatched.

Precocial species are motor and sensory mature and attempt standing/walking after birth. What animals are considered precocial? Several birds are considered precocial such as chicken, ducks, geese, but so are several mammals including herbivores such as horses, cows, goats and sheep.

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Altricial Species

If we look at the etymology of the word altricial we will see that it derives from the Latin root “alere” which means to “nurse, rear or nourish.”

From a biological standpoint, generally altricial species refers to animals who unlike the precocial species, are born incapable of moving around, are sensory underdevoloped and are dependent to a great extent on their mothers.

Altricial species are born deaf and blind, cannot regulate their temperature and often require to be nursed and must be licked by their mothers in the anogenital region in order to eliminate. Their initial lives are usually centered around a nest, pouch (in kangaroos) or den for protection.

What animals are considered altricial? Several birds are considered altricial such as sparrows, owls and many song birds, but so are many mammals such as cats and dogs, many rodents, marsupials and humans too!

Advantages of Being Altricial

What are some advantages of dogs being altricial? Here are some:

Because they are born helpless, altricial species are protected by their mother and provided with food and extra care. Being in a nest, den or pouch as seen in marsupials, also helps protect against predators.

One selective advantage for mother dogs is that they’re capable of absorbing puppy’s embryos in their early stage of development, an economical solution that allows a dead fetus to be broken down at an early stage when the fetus is only made of soft tissue and cartilage, explains veterinarian Steve Dean.

While altricial species are born with smaller brains at birth compared to precocial species, the trade off is that their brains continue to grow and attain larger sizes. (Ehrlich et al. 1988) This allows them time to gain more survival skills as they mature.

Did you know? Dogs are much tamer than wolves because of a longer period of development during which dogs have the opportunity to develop attachments, explain Raymond Coppinger and Lorna Coppinger in the book Dogs: A New Understanding of Canine Origin, Behavior and Evolution.

References

Eisenberg, John (1981). The Mammalian Radiations. London: Athlone Press
Ehrlich, Paul (1988). The Birder’s Handbook. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Animal Behavior Online, Altricial Development, Michael D. Breed
Wikipedia, Altricial retrieved from the World Wide Web on January 3, 2016

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Can Dogs Lose Their Sense of Smell?

March 15, 2022January 2, 2016 by Admin

Can dogs lose their sense of smell? Many dog owners may find it surprising that dogs can become “scent blind” and lose their sense of smell. Perhaps this fact is quite surprising because we mostly hear about dogs who become blind or deaf, but rarely about dogs who lose their sense of smell. Because we think of dogs (especially scent hounds) as “noses on four legs” we would imagine the negative impact losing such an important sense would have on dog lives! In most cases though, it appears that dogs lose their sense of smell only partially, making it sometimes difficult for dog owners to take note of such changes. A decline in a dog’s sense of smell most likely would show up as alterations in appetite and food preferences, according to The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

A for Anosmia

The medical term for a dog, other animal or human losing his sense of smell is “anosmia.” The term may be used to depict an animal or human who is unable to perceive odor or whose sense of olfaction is no longer functioning. The loss or decrease in sense of smell may be either temporary or permanent. Fortunately, in dogs, in most cases, the loss of smell is only temporary, it’s rare for it to be permanent, explains Dr. Pete a veterinarian with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science from the University of Melbourne, Australia.

Part of Aging

Just like people, dogs undergo several changes as they reach their golden years. Along with reduced activity levels, loss of muscle mass, hearing loss and decreased visual acuity, dogs may also undergo changes in the way they smell and taste food, explains veterinarian Melody Foess Raasch. These latter changes can reduce an older dog’s interest in food which can lead to weight loss. Let’s remember that “a dog’s ability to “taste” food resides in her nose” explains veterinarian Randy Kidd in an article for the Whole Dog Journal. Increasing the palatability of foods for older pets might be something to consider, consult with your vet or veterinary nutritionist for advice.

Respiratory Tract Problems

Just as people temporary lose a bit their ability to smell when they get a cold, dogs can also be susceptible to a decreased ability to smell due to upper respiratory problems. The most common causes for loss of smell in dogs include, infections of the nasal passages, blockages of the nasal passages either due to an irritation or presence of mucus, and less likely, polyps or tumors of the dog’s nasal passages that reduce airflow, explains Critical Care Vet, a Board Certified Specialist in Emergency and Critical Care.

Injuries to the Head

When dogs sustain some form of head trauma, their ability to smell may deteriorate because a specific part of the brain controls their sense of smell. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual an injury to the dog’s cerebrum can cause an impairment to the dog’s ability to see and smell along with other neurological complications such as seizures, coma, circling behaviors, and their inability to recognize their owners. Any injuries to a dog’s olfactory nerve, one of the dog’s 12 cranial nerves traveling from the nasal cavity to the brain, can also lead to loss of smell, according to Wikivet. The good news though it that this nerve, has shown the remarkable ability to regenerate when damaged.

Other Possible Causes

Dogs affected by distemper, a serious viral disease, may develop alterations in their sense of smell. In a study conducted by Myers LJ, Hanrahan LA, Swango LJ et al, a loss of smell was found in 5 or 6 dogs who recovered from a case of acute distemper 10 to 26 weeks earlier. If a dog inhales something toxic or caustic, this could scar the mucous membranes of the nose and lead to a loss of smell, adds Critical Care Vet. Brain cancer can also trigger a loss of the sense of smell according to Vet Arena.

Did you know? The sense of smell is one of the first senses puppies are equipped with at birth, along with the sense of touch and taste, the latter though requires still a few weeks to sharpen and completely mature, explains Stanley Coren, Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychology at the University of British Columbia, in article for Psychology Today.

Disclaimer: this article and any other articles on this website are not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinarian advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If your dog appears sick, in pain or is not acting as his usual self, contact your veterinarian immediately. By reading this article you automatically accept this disclaimer.

The Fascinating Tongue of the Chow Chow

September 22, 2016January 1, 2016 by Admin

What’s more fascinating than a chow chow’s tongue? Many of us already know that the tongue of the chow chow dog breed is of a distinct blue-black color. There are only a few animals on this planet with blue tongues. Among dogs, the chow chow and the shar-pei are the only two breeds featuring solid black-blue tongues. Giraffes are known for having a black, blue or purple tongue with a pink base, which according to the Giraffe Conservation Foundation, supposedly is meant to protect giraffes from sunburns as they nibble on leaves. Then, there’s the blue-tongued skink, a lizard from Australia, which has a blue tongue meant to scare away predators along with a hissing sound, according to the American Museum of Natural History, and finally, polar bears are also known to sport a blue-black tongue, which matches the color of their skin that we don’t normally see as it’s covered in an immaculate white coat.

A Unique Feature

According to the American Kennel Club, the Chinese shar-pei and the chow chow are the only two breeds to have a blue-black tongue. In the chow chow breed, the standard calls for a tongue with the top surface and edges being solid blue-black, the darker the better. The presence of a blue-black tongue in this breed is such a unique and critical identifying characteristic, that should the tongue have its top surface or edges tinted in red or pink or have one or more spots of red or pink, it’s considered a disqualifying fault.

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Naturally Born Pink

While the distinctive blue-black tongue of the chow is a distinguishing feature, what many might not know is that it isn’t present at birth. Chow chow puppies are actually born with a pink tongue just as any other dog! Indeed, just like Dalmatian puppies gain their spots later on, chow chow tongues gain their distinctive blue-black colors at around 8 to 10 weeks of age, explain Kathy Welsh; Anna Wallace; Vicki DeGruy with the The Chow Chow Club, Inc.Welfare Committee. This color change occurs about the time the puppies leave the breeder to go to their new homes.

A dog with black-spotted tongue by torbakhopper

Exceptions to Rules

Just because a chow chow doesn’t have a solid black tongue though doesn’t necessarily make him less chow, it might just mean he’s not cut for the show ring, but he still has the potential to make a great pet quality companion if raised in the right home. Some chows may have small spots or splashes of pink on their tongues. Sometimes, pink spots may occur after an injury in the mouth or the color may dilute as the dog ages, especially in chows with diluted coat colors. In the same way, just because a dog has some black on his tongue, doesn’t necessarily mean he’s part chow or part shar-pei (see picture on the right), there are several dog breeds with black in their mouths.

Legend Has It

Why do chow chow have blue-black tongues in the first place still remains a mystery. There apparently is no genetic explanation for this difference yet, but several interesting legends and fables have been passed down for generations. According to one, the Creator was painting the sky blue and as he was painting, a few droplets of blue paint spilled down. A dog started licking the paint and the chow chow’s blue tongue was born, explains Susy Flory in the book: “Dog Tales: Inspirational Stories of Humor, Adventure, and Devotion.”

Did you know? Interestingly, other than the blue tongue, the chow chow has unique teeth. According to the Chow Chow Breed Council of the United Kingdom, chow chow pups initially have 44 teeth rather than the regular 42 teeth all other dogs have. As the puppy teeth fall out though, chows end up having 42 teeth like any other dog.

For further reading:

Why do some dogs look like bears?

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