Ever wonder how your dog can hear things that you can’t hear?
Ever wonder how canine patrol dogs can sniff out drugs at the airport?
Ever wonder how a cat can always land on their feet?
We think of our pets as our four-legged children so we forget that they have heightened and complex senses that are absolutely astounding. The next time you are settling in to turn on the television and turn on the newest hero flick, take a moment to appreciate the marvel in your own home.
Sense of Smell – The human nose has 5 million olfactory receptors, microscopic proteins that allow us to detect odors. The average dog’s snout holds between 150 million and 300 million receptors.
The canine sense of smell is a thousand times better than ours. It is so discerning that dogs can track a missing person, sniff out hazards, and detect cancer and disease.
In the wild, dogs rely on their snouts to find prey and to avoid predators.
Night Vision – Although cats can see in exceptionally low intensity light, they do not possess the ability to see in total darkness. The eyesight of dogs in low intensity light is similar to that of humans, but their eyes are still better at utilizing light than us. The iris of both humans and dogs contract limiting the amount of light allowed through.
The eyes of cats are far more complex than dogs and humans, which allows them to shrink their iris to slits instead of contracting them into pinpoint like humans and dogs. This allows in a higher degree of light and allows them to see better in the dark.
Hearing Champions – A dog’s hearing is four times stronger than a human. They can hear from about a quarter mile away. While this is impressive, cats have 9 more ear muscles than dogs bringing their total to 27 ear muscles.
Cats can hear higher frequencies than dogs and can determine the distance the sound travelled to reach them.
Whiskers Adept – The primary function of whiskers is to aid with vision, especially in the dark, by providing sensory information. They act much like antennae on other creatures.
The whisker itself cannot feel anything. Objects that brush up against a whisker cause it to vibrate, which then stimulates the nerves in the hair follicle.
The scientific name for whiskers is vibrissae, which derives from the Latin word, vibrio, meaning “to vibrate.”
Cats use whiskers to tell if they can fit in small spaces. Dogs also use whiskers for similar purposes.
Speed and Dexterity – In general, cats are faster than dogs. Cats are built for speed. The intent is to chase quickly and pounce. Dogs are built for stamina and endurance. Their goal is to wear down prey.
The fastest dog is the greyhound at 45 mph. The fastest cat, the cheetah can run for 400 meters (about the height of the Empire State Building) at around 65 mph. Cats are sprinters while dogs are more like marathon runners. To put this in perspective, the average human runs only 10 to 15 miles per hour.
Cats have an amazing skill called righting reflex. They are able to turn their body the right way during a fall and are able to land safely on their feet. They have a low body to weight ratio which slows their velocity while falling which helps them land on their feet. What an amazing skill like a super hero!
Telepathy – Dogs are empathic in nature. They can read bad intentions and notice cues that are outside of their owner’s normal actions.
Loud and unpredictable behaviors signal danger to a dog. They can detect fear or anxiety in others just by observing their body language.
Dogs are very observant, and they watch and interpret human interactions and body language. They often understand us better than we understand ourselves. They know when we are happy and can tell when we are upset. They are always there in those moments when we need them the most, looking up with an understanding gaze.
“A pet dog knows what is normal behavior for its owner, and can sense when something deviates from that,” explains clinical animal behaviorist Rosie Barclay. “We act differently when we’re upset, and they pick up on this – both through our body language and because our emotions affect the smell of our body chemicals. Then the dog acts differently, too. And, of course, dogs are famously quick to learn what kind of behavior brings rewards. That’s what makes them such great companions,” she said.
Cat behaviorists suggest that cats only meow when communicating with humans and that they use body language to communicate with other cats. They have developed a special form of communication to better bond with us.
Because our pets rely on their senses to communicate with us, let’s help them keep these senses healthy and sharp. Have your pets examined by a veterinarian at least once a year for young pets and twice a year for seniors. At Vetsavers Pet Hospital, we make it easy for you to take the best care of your pet. Call Vetsavers at 972-939-0900 for a free first exam.
