Whiskers

Who doesn't love dog whiskers? Come on, you know you love them! According to an article on Psychology Today, in their Canine Corner, dog whiskers are technically called vibrissae and,

of those areas of the brain that register touch information in the dog, nearly 40 percent of it is dedicated to the face, with a disproportionately large amount of that dedicated to the regions of the upper jaw where the vibrissae are located. You can actually map each individual vibrissa to a specific location in the dog's brain, suggesting that great importance is assigned to information from these structures.

Whiskers provide dogs with information about the world around them. They detect nearby objects, relaying details about shape and surface texture. As most folks know a dog's nose is its most powerful sensory tool. Dogs, for the most part, don't have the best eyesight and actually rely on their whiskers to assist with the identification of objects close at hand and in less than ideal lighting situations.

I've yet to find an article that addresses what I've always called "whisker bumps." These are the bumps on all dog's faces that have whiskers growing out of them. They're located away from the primary cluster of whiskers and seem to always come in pairs. Andy has two on each cheek/jowl, two on his chin, and one above each brow. Do these whiskers have a different name? Are they more specialized? I don't know what exactly they are but I will say this...they're adorable!

Post-Bath Shakedown

A post-bath shakedown is inevitable after giving a dog a bath. It's the first thing Andy does when he gets out of the tub, which means I get wet, the wall gets drippy, and the floor gets soaked. Sigh. Turns out, according to researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, different types of mammals shake at different speeds in an effort to expend the least amount of energy to get dry. "A large dog can shed 70% of the water in its fur in 4 seconds." I believe it!

Check out this article on nature.com for more information on this study. There are apparently "practical" implications for this research (so it's not just for our entertainment!) - "understanding how animals shake themselves dry could help scientists to develop ways to rapidly shed water from man-made equipment."

How Pets Improve Our Health

According to WebMd pets offer their human companions numerous health benefits:

• They can lower our cortisol levels - the hormone associated with stress.
• They can increase the production of serotonin - a chemical associated with well-being.
• They can lower our blood pressure and heart rates.
• They can help us fight depression.
• They encourage daily physical activity.
• They provide companionship.
• Children that grow up in pet households are less likely to develop allergies and have stronger immune systems.

Check out WebMD's slideshow, "Find out 27 Ways Pets Can Improve Your Health," for more interesting ways animals help us live healthier lives.

Why Dogs Pant

When humans get hot we sweat to stay cool. While dogs do sweat through their paws (which contributes to that delicious corn chip smell their paws exude!) they don't sweat through their skin to cool off. Instead dogs regulate their body temperature by panting, which circulates air through the body and has a cooling effect.

According to PetMD panting can also signal heatstroke, be a sign that your pup has ingested poison or is having an allergic reaction, or may be a symptom of illness. It's a good idea to have a mental gauge of what is normal panting for your dog, say, during and after a walk or on a hot day, this way you can better distinguish between usual and customary panting and a potential crisis.