| |
| |
|
Pets Information |
|
|
|
Those Amazing Dog Noses -- Fun Facts About A Chilly Little Organ
If you thought dog noses were just a source of smeary prints on your windows, think again! ========How Nose Prints save dog's lives====== Nose prints are used to identify dogs in the same way finger prints are used to identify human beings. Breeders and trainers keep a dog's nose prints on file as part of its permanent record and insurance companies now require them whenever a dog is to be bonded. At one time paw prints were used as a means of canine identification, but these proved less accurate than noses. And while some owners have had microchips "installed" in their pets, these are more invasive and can be detected and removed. If you dog is ever lost or stolen, having his nose print on record could save his life! ======Why Dog Noses are Wet======= Why are dog noses wet? Fluid from the lateral glands in a dog's nose lubricates the outsides of his nostrils and makes them moist and shiny. But mostly, the nose stays wet because your dog is always licking it (along with other parts). So, a moist nose has generally been considered as a healthy nose, but this isn't always true. For example, if a dog falls asleep in a hot place, his nose may be dry when he first wakes up. Once he cools down and has a little Gatorade (kidding!) -- I mean, gets rehydrated, his nose will soon look wet again. Distemper can permanently alter the nasal glands. So, a dog who suffers from distemper early in life may have a perpetually dry nose. =======Why Dog Noses are Cold======= Cold normally goes along with wet, which I heard has something to do with convection cooling, or some such law of physics, which I've long forgotten. So, if a dog's nose dries out (see above), it will feel warm to the touch. This is OK, as long as the nose gets wet again. However, a chronically dry nose could be sign of illness and should be seen by a vet. Note: if you have concerns about your dog's nose and health, be sure to check with your vet! =======Why Dog Noses are hard to fool======== We know that dogs have traditionally been used for tracking, search and rescue due to their keen sense of smell. A dog's sense of smell is about 40,000 times better than ours, and that's not all. You can't throw a dog off by "covering up" one smell with another. A study was done in which a number of different objects were sprayed with skunk odor, and trained tracking dogs were still able to distinguish the objects from each other! So forget about trying to fool Fido! Here's another intriguing story about the dog's famous sense of smell: A yellow lab named Parker wasn't a trained "nose dog", but liked to sniff everything, all the time. Then he began to constantly sniff a blemish on his owner's leg, which had been there for a number of years. The dog was pushing his nose hard into the area, and really concentrating. So, the owner decided to have it looked at. The skin specialist immediately detected the early signs of skin cancer, and ordered the blemish removed immediately. Once the lesion was gone, Parker lost interest in the leg! Similar stories have reportedly led doctors in the US to train dogs to "sniff out" skin cancer. Apparently, dogs can detect skin cancer long before any conventional methods can!! More recently, dogs have been given urine samples from cancer victims to see if they can also smell bladder and prostate cancer. The results have been promising. ======Fun with Dog Noses======= There are only a few websites that devote themselves entirely to this quirky topic, but they're always worth a visit if you're a fan of "the nose". They're loads of fun--a real nose full! Try searching for "dog noses" on eBay. I did, and found a cute rubber dog nose mask complete with whiskers for a couple of bucks! © 2004, Carolyn Schweitzer. Lifelong dog-lover, power-shopper, and former family dentist Carolyn Schweitzer is owner and editor of Great-Dog-Gift.com where she offers a wide range of choices for dog gift shoppers, plus shopping and gift-giving tips. (Also advice on dog care and feeding.) Visit the site to see the full illustrated article with links to more information about dog noses and fun dog nose websites You can reach Carolyn by email at netbrainer@verizon.net.
MORE RESOURCES:
Meet Your Match boosts puppy love (and kitty love) by matching people and pets ... - Washington Post
Google News |
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Stop! Dont Give Your Cat That Chocolate! "Where's the harm? My cat seems to enjoy chocolate and it's only a small piece."Just because certain foods, such as chocolate, are enjoyed by us humans and are perfectly safe for us, it does not mean they are suitable for cats. Your Cat The Hunter Many cat owners believe that their good little kitty would not even dream of going hunting.After all, their cat is loved and well fed. The Neurotic Dogs When pondering whether my neurosis is learned or genetic, I often turn to the family dogs, Frazier (9) and Jake (4), and see the likelihood of a learned origin. My parents' characteristic anxiety has effectively seeped into both dogs' personas. Introduce Your Puppy To New Situations And Ensure Good Behaviour For The Rest Of Her Life They may seem to be bold explorers - sniffing at and mouthing just about anything - but all dogs have an instinctive fear of anything unfamiliar to them. Fear causes stress on the body, which affects long-term health. Universal Principles For Successful Dog Training Dog training is not rocket science and is not as difficult as you think. It is certainly possible for ANY dog owners to train their dogs themselves provided they put in adequate amount of effort. Housetraining Tips for Your Dog or Puppy Puppies need to go to the bathroom after they play, chew, drink, eat or sleep. Start by putting them on a leash and tethering them to you. Living With a Pet Serval Some sources seem to indicate that living with a serval is no more challenging than feeding your pet goldfish. At the other end of the extreme spectrum, many sanctuaries and animal rights activists paint servals and other exotic cats as unmanageable creatures that no ordinary mortal could hope to deal with successfully. Whats the Real Deal on Pet Insurance? Even if you haven't had a run-in involving your pet of late, pet insurance has probably crossed your mind. And if you have, the bill for any non-routine care may have cost you anywhere from a cool couple hundred to nearly a grand. Dogs Are Mans Best Friend Dogs are believed to be descendants of wild wolves. They were the first wild animal to be tamed. DOG ID TAGS-Identify and Protect Your Dog With Any of These Methods The American Humane Society estimated that last year alone; fifteen million dogs entered its shelters. Not even twenty percent of these dogs' owners were ever contacted. Puppy Care 101 Puppy CarePuppy care can be a lot of work, but is also quite rewarding. This article should answer a lot of your questions you might have about your new puppy, or the puppy you are thinking about getting. Dont Let Ticks Ruin Your Dogs Good Time! Nobody likes ticks.In fact, when it comes to ticks I can't think of a single redeeming quality. Goldfish Tips - Choosing The Right One Tips to getting the right GoldfishGoldfish are a temperate breed that can be found in cool streams, lakes, and ponds throughout Asia and part of Eastern Europe. However, the ones you will buy for your tank have been bred in captivity. Dog Behavior Training: Methods of Working with a Shy Dog Shy dogs are more common than most people think, but unfortunately many dogs who suffer from this affliction are never seen by the general public because of their impairment. Shy dogs range from those who scurry away when someone walks by, to those who bite when approached. History of Dogs? Or Maybe Wolves? OriginDo you know that the adorable little puppy you bought home last week could possibly be a descendent of a wolf? It may well be true! In fact, many theorists believe that wolf is the direct ancestors of domestic dog. Nevertheless, there are just as many who argue that it seems impossible to have over 400 varieties of dogs descended from just one species. Herbs for Pets Let me begin by saying that I am not an herbalist. I do not recommend using herbs as internal medication for your pets unless you have consulted a holistic vet and/or have done extensive reading and research and feel safe treating your pet. How to Care for Your Kitten Caring for a kitten is a lot of work. With her high energy and intense curiosity and sense of adventure, raising a kitten will keep you on your toes. RecoveryPets.Com Dispels The Myths In a recent discussion about pet safety, the services provided by a website entitled RecoveryPets.Com was compared to microchips and tattoos, and were they a better option to providing identification for pets. 4 Things Frustrated Dog Owners Should Know You've probably had a day or two when you felt like your dog just wasn't paying any attention to you at all, right? You talked, you yelled, you shouted, maybe you jumped up and down and waved your arms, but she just wasn't interested in anything you had to say to her in any tone of voice. You're not alone. Life with the Rat Terriers I am a happy owner of two rat terriers. They are half brother and half sister and other than coat color and size and natural hunting abilities they are not at all alike.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2007 |
