23 October 2023
Dogs are remarkable creatures, often regarded as man’s best friend, but they also possess some extraordinary and, at times, spooky features that make them truly unique. Here are 5 spooky facts about dogs. From their superhuman sense of smell that can potentially detect seizures to their eerie night vision, dogs seem to have abilities that border on the supernatural. In this blog, we’ll delve into these fascinating canine characteristics and explore how they contribute to the mysterious allure of our four-legged companions.
Imagine being able to smell a single drop of perfume in a room the size of a football field. For dogs, this is just another day at the “office.” Their sense of smell is nothing short of extraordinary, with estimates suggesting they can detect scents at concentrations as low as parts per trillion. This olfactory prowess allows them to identify hidden illnesses, locate missing persons, and even detect certain medical conditions in humans. Dogs are the unsung heroes of the medical world, showcasing their supernatural sense of smell in various ways.
Dogs have an uncanny ability to hear sounds that are well beyond the range of human hearing. While humans can hear sounds up to approximately 20,000 Hz, dogs can detect frequencies as high as 65,000 Hz. This heightened sense of hearing allows them to pick up distant sounds, including the approach of thunderstorms, earthquakes, and even the soft rustling of leaves. It’s as if they have a sixth sense for the auditory world, which adds an element of spookiness to their perception of the environment.
Ever wonder how your dog navigates through pitch-black darkness with ease? The answer lies in their exceptional night vision. Dogs have more rod cells in their retinas than humans, which allows them to see in low-light conditions far better than we can. Their glowing eyes in the darkness might appear eerie, but this night vision is a gift of nature that helps them prowl and explore during nighttime adventures.
Dogs are renowned for their homing instincts, often finding their way home even after venturing far from familiar territory. Some studies suggest that dogs have the ability to sense Earth’s magnetic field and use it as a navigational aid. While the mechanism behind this phenomenon remains a mystery, it adds a supernatural layer to their knack for finding their way back to us.
In a truly astonishing display of their connection with humans, some dogs have shown the ability to predict epileptic seizures before they occur. It’s believed that they can detect subtle changes in their owner’s scent or behavior, acting as an early warning system. This seemingly supernatural ability highlights the deep bond between dogs and their human companions, offering a lifeline during moments of medical crisis.
Dogs have been our loyal companions for thousands of years, and their mysterious and supernatural senses only deepen the intrigue surrounding them. From their superhuman sense of smell to their eerie night vision, dogs continue to captivate us with their extraordinary abilities. As we learn more about these fascinating features, our appreciation for these loyal and enigmatic creatures grows, reminding us of the enduring bond between humans and our canine companions.
Sources:
Lippi, Giuseppe and Cervellin, Gianfranco. “Canine olfactory detection of cancer versus laboratory testing: myth or opportunity?” Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, vol. 50, no. 3, 2012, pp. 435-439. https://doi.org/10.1515/cclm.2011.672
“Vision in dogs” by Paul E. Miller, DVM, and Christopher J. Murphy DVM, PhD. https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/63128656/dog-vision-miller-murphy20200428-60355-1fuez7y-libre.pdf?1588138530=&response-content-disposition=inline%3B+filename%3DLEADING_EDGE_OF_MEDICINE_A_REVIEW_I_Visi.pdf&Expires=1695398742&Signature=WUlsoPOYGR1o8RSm1l4-sPNPvyHBbyUL54kSuytaVxqEwgLZ5oiCcumpo8wizuAQ9DpiHiGYOp3I9cbVAuKrNdZZlopT97s-dj-bGn5U0kA2YEodu-iVAO7waCO746BOVTuUj88ooF7nkwHYJG2j~PC~9Qsq790V3CsCBh2lEOdy8o3zWrIxnYkJLlYZjT5jSgCEmwJAMY9RU9OEkfG2RcfFq6ICAoUkz7WlZeVw5QKxpev89KvwtZZuSdtAkwvVIUzxoOClfLL7mQ7uXkxgXx4fAFIxYTH9DvijWmcnirrckSA5m9oePKe1o~2tWpy34S9lSegvcFWotGzPOr2PTA__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA
Hart, V., Nováková, P., Malkemper, E.P. et al. Dogs are sensitive to small variations of the Earth’s magnetic field. Front Zool 10, 80 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1186/1742-9994-10-80
V. Strong, S.W. Brown, R. Walker, Seizure-alert dogs — fact or fiction?, Seizure, Volume 8, Issue 1, 1999, Pages 62-65, ISSN 1059-1311, https://doi.org/10.1053/seiz.1998.0250
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