Bark of the Town

Dogs As Gods?

The Egyptians were one of the first civilizations to keep household pets. In Ancient Egypt some animals were seen as incarnations of the gods, and family pets had a special place in the home. They were often mummified and buried with their owners after they died. Remaining human family members would often shave their eyebrows to express their grief. While the Ancient Egyptians fondness for cats is well known, they also revered hawks, ibise, dogs, lions and baboons. The Egyptians are also among the first to use canines to assist in Police work.

The Way The Tail Wags

Findings reported in the Cell Press Journal of Current Biology show that dogs recognize and respond differently when their fellow canines wag to the right than they do when they wag to the left. This new finding shows that dogs, like humans, have asymmetrically organized brains, indicating that the left and right sides of the brain play different roles. This study was conducted by the same group of Italian scientist that have observed that dogs will wag to the right upon seeing their humans, for example, indicating a positive emotion and to the left when meeting an unfriendly dog, expressing negative emotion. The studies continue to determine if there are practical uses of tail wagging observation in communicating better with our pets.

Dog's feet smell like corn chips?

Some pet owners might notice the faint scent of corn chips or popcorn lingering around their dog. This is called "Frito feet," and it happens when sweat and bacteria build up in the paws. In most cases, a quick bath will remedy the problem, but if the odor persists, a yeast infection may be present and warrants a trip to the vet.

Do Dogs Dream?

If you've ever noticed your pooch twitching in their sleep, this probably means dreaming is occurring. Researchers found that dogs have similar sleep patterns and brain activity as humans, and small breeds tend to dream more than large ones. Psychology Today suggests they're probably imagining familiar activities, such as playing outside or chasing their a ball.

Warning The Sidewalk Is Hot!

Hot asphalt and hot sidewalks can pose a real danger to our fur-kids even in the Fall. When the temperature soars, surfaces heat up and a dogs pads can burn quickly. “Dogs have fibrous pads, so they are able to tolerate more heat or cold that we humans can on our own feet,” says Dr. Carol McConnell, Vice President of underwriting and Chief Medical Officer for VPI Pet Insurance. “That being said, it’s best to pay more attention to your pet’s behavior than to the temperature outside: Is your dog prancing while standing or being light-footed, raising one paw at a time in quick succession?” She continues. You could equate the dance to how you feel when at the beach trying to reach the surf on hot sand. It’s not a pleasant feeling for feet or paws. Take extra care to be sure your dog doesn’t suffer burns or choose an alternative route for everyone’s safety. Dogs don’t know that excessive intake of salt water can cause severe hypernatremia or salt poisoning. Initial signs include vomiting and diarrhea, but it can progress into lack of coordination, seizures, depression and in severe cases brain swelling. The condition requires veterinary attention and is typically treated with IV fluids. Pet parents can avoid this warm weather health hazard by being sure to provide plenty of fresh water while at the beach, near the bay or simply on the boat. But beware, your pooch doesn’t need ice water, that can trigger other health concerns. Tepid water is best.

Attention Beach Going Dogs! Did you know that salt water can be dangerous?

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Research Tidbits

Researchers from Austria, Israel, and Britain determined that seeing a pet parent versus a stranger activated a dogs’ brain region of emotion and attachment much as it does in the human mother-child bond. Other European researchers shows that negative-reinforcement training (like jerking on a leash) causes lingering emotional changes and makes the dog less optimistic overall. Dementia, also known as canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CCDS), is common in older dogs. Dr. Brian Gray Barnett, a veterinary research follow at Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Science says that he estimates 28% of 11-12 year old dogs and 68% of 15-16 year old dogs suffer the condition.

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