Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Do you know why your dog has a cold nose?

By Jerry Welsh


Dogs are renowned for having an ultra sensitive scenting ability. Undoubtedly, the nose have played a very significant role in a dog's survival in the wild. The dog's scenting ability is behind the excellent survival skills of these animals. Thanks to the excellent scenting ability, dogs in the wild were able to survive by hunting and by avoiding their predators. The ultra sensitive smelling ability of the dog is one of the reasons why these animals are highly valued . Hunting or fighting predators are no longer necessary task for modern day dogs but the scenting ability continues to be a valuable asset.

Aside from being home companions dogs are used in other capacities as well. Dogs have been utilized to herd but in recent years these animals noted to have excellent scenting abilities were trained to become bomb and narcotic sniffing dogs. Due to the excellent scenting ability, dogs have saved lots of lives as rescue dogs. Dogs really do have awesome scenting abilities because studies have proven that dogs can detect cancer. A dog indeed is a cut above the rest not only because of its loyalty to mankind but also because of its excellent olfactory skills

Dog owners are aware that the pet has a wet and cold nose. Dogs are probably the only animals that have cold noses and an owner can't help but wonder if the cold nose is behind the dog's excellent scenting ability. The awesome olfactory capabilities of dogs is attributed to the moisture that makes the nose cold.

Dogs like humans, would have cold noses too when the weather is cold We know how active and curious dogs are. Dogs are inclined to roam and when they do they would do a lot of sniffing along the way. Dogs have the inclination to sniff the ground so that the moisture from the grasses will be picked up by the nose. Dogs have the propensity to lick as this is a normal canine behavior. Dogs will be seen licking the nose after a meal.

The moisture from the long tongue can be easily transferred to the nose. The cold nose aids in regulating the body temperature of dogs. Dogs do not have a very efficient cooling system due to very few pores. To regulate body temperature, a dog would open the mouth, hang out the tongue and pant. The special gland in a dog's nose that secretes fluids keeps the nose moist and cold and aids in the cooling down of the body.




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