When it comes to comparing the ability to smell things, dogs easily beat us by a nose. Olfactory receptor cells inside a dog’s nose are boosted by tiny hairs called cilia that are coated with mucus to help trap scent.
Why dogs win by nose is because there are about 100 million olfactory receptor cells in canine noses as compared to only about five million olfactory receptor cells in people.
During introductions, we extend out our hands to engage in a handshake. In the canine world, the “handshake” consists of dogs sniffing each other from head to rear. What they smell gives the dogs information as to the other dog’s age, health condition, emotional state, sexual status (intact or neutered) and even what the other dog ate recently.
During leashed walks, your dog is apt to use his nose to perform doggy downloads. When your dog sniffs a fire hydrant, he is gathering lots of facts about previous dogs who urinated on it. Call it pee-mail. Dogs don’t need computers or smartphones to gather up a lot of data about the pee-depositor.
Smell Your Dog
Yes, the dog’s nose is amazing. But to be your dog’s best health ally, you need to pay attention to the odors that your dog emits from his mouth, ears, paws, coat and yes, poop. Catching a possible health issue early and reporting it to your veterinarian can possibly extend your dog’s life and take less of a bite out of your wallet to treat.
So, even though our sense of smell pales in comparison to how dogs utilize their smelling skills, we need to stop and sniff our dogs regularly.
Here is a rundown of doggy odors and what they could possibly signal:
- Do be inside the mouth. At least once a week, it is recommended that pet parents open their dogs’ mouths and take a sniff. Offensive doggy breath is not to be ignored. It is actually evidence that your dog may have a dental issue (bleeding gums, tartar buildup, swollen gums) or even oral cancer) or one of your dog’s organs (such as the heart, lung, liver and kidneys) is not faring well and you are actually smelling the backdraft of this organ in trouble. If your dog’s breath smells like ammonia, the kidneys may be the issue. And, if your dog’s breath smells sweet, it could be due to the onset of diabetes.
- The skinny on skin. Skin represents the largest organ in a dog’s body. Unhealthy skin can impact other organs in a dog. Some dogs with wrinkles, such as Shar-peis and French bulldogs, can trap in moisture in those skin folds and trigger bacterial growth or yeast infections. Check with your veterinarian on selecting the right medicated shampoo and treatment plan.
- Don’t dismiss canine farts. If your nose alerts you that your dog is emitting stinky gas, it may be a telltale clue that he has some type of digestive issue. Changes in your dog’s diet or an underlying health issue may be the cause.
- Now ear this. Canine ears should never smell like dirty socks or stale Fritos. The cause may be wax buildup, ear parasites or water in the ear canals. Consult your veterinarian about the best remedy to keep your dog’s ears clean and healthy.
- Fishy-smelling urine. Your dog’s urine should not be emitting a strong odor. But veterinarians know that fish-smelling urine could be an early sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI) that definitely needs immediate medical treatment.
- Dark-colored, pungent poop. Healthy dog poop should be log-shaped and brown in color. If your dog’s deposit is very dark in color, looks like it has coffee grounds and if very stinky, those dark flakes could be dried blood. This is a signal that your dog is suffering from internal bleeding and needs immediate veterinary care.
Bottom line: Use your nose, eyes and fingers at least once a week and perform a head-to-tail health check on your dog.
Learn more
You can learn more on ways to keep your cats and dogs safe by visiting http://www.propethero.com. Consider taking our veterinarian-approved online pet first aid/CPR course. Enter this code: CPR – ARDEN MOORE and receive a 10 percent discount! And, if you are interested in becoming a Pro Pet Hero instructor, please click on the BECOME AN INSTRUCTOR button on the home page for more details.