QUARTERLY BEAT / JULY 2025
QUARTERLY BEAT / JULY 2025
REC
SMELL Dogs and cats have more epithelium dedicated to smell than humans; dogs 20-200 sq. cm, cats 20 sq. cm, and humans 2-4 sq. cm. 2 Smells are an important form of communication for dogs and cats. Cats might be better able to distinguish odors than humans and dogs. Mammalian noses have 3 different scent receptors. One of them, V1R, is believed to be responsible for differentiating one smell from another. Dogs have nine variants of the V1R protein, humans have two, and cats have 30! The vomeronasal organ is located in the roof of mouth. In dogs it does not open into the nasal cavity as it does in cats. The vomeronasal organ is important for detecting pheromones and for social communication. 2 It is linked to the limbic system of the brain and thought to be associated with emotions and feelings. Take into consideration the odors and chemical messages (pheromones) in the veterinary hospital. Cleaning products can overwhelm the olfactory sensory receptors resulting in a temporary inability to detect other odors and pheromones in the animal’s environment. Because dogs and cats use odor and pheromone communication to determine the safety of their environment, this loss of sensory perception can be very disturbing. Capitalize on providing pleasant olfactory stimuli and minimize unpleasant ones. This can include using dilute aromatherapy and calming pheromones. TASTE The dog’s perception of taste is similar to humans. They are sensitive to sweets and prefer novel/fatty foods. Palatability is affected by texture, smell, temperature, and flavor. The typical adult cat responds to salty, sour, and bitter tastes. Cats appear to lack functioning receptors for sweet stimuli. 4 However, sweet tastes can mask or neutralize bitter tastes, so sweet flavoring is often used when compounding bitter-tasting medications. Cats are obligate carnivores, so the need for sugary plant-based carbohydrates is not necessary from an evolutionary perspective. Some cats will be interested in sugary foods, but this may be due to the fat content or texture of the food (whipping cream seems to be a favorite for many cats!). 2 Dogs have approximately 1700 taste buds, cats have 480, and humans 9000. 2 Cats will use smell first then taste their food. 5 TOUCH Touch is important for maintaining social relationships. Touch receptors are located at the base of every hair and the vibrissa are especially sensitive. Skin receptors sense proprioception, pain, temperature, chemical stimulation, and pressure. Touch can be calming, arousing, or aversive, depending on the type of touch, the circumstances, and the individual. A few studies have looked at the domestic cat’s preferences for petting. A 2002 study of 9 cats indicated the temporal region (between the eyes and ears) was preferred. Intermediate preference was the perioral (including the chin and lips), and the least preferred area was the caudal (tail) region. 6 These results were comparable to another study performed in 2000 with 90 cats and owner-described petting preferences. This study found the head area was preferred, and only 8% of cats were described as preferring to be pet on the stomach or tail. 7 Dogs can be conditioned to appreciate and enjoy touch. The reverse (touch being regarded by the dog as aversive) is also true and is seen regularly at the veterinary clinic. It shouldn’t be assumed that touch of any particular
type is reinforcing (pleasurable) to any individual dog. In addition, while it may seem counterintuitive, some dogs appear in puppyhood to develop preferences and aversions to touch without any overt trauma noted. If a patient presents with an intolerance of touch, pain or discomfort should always be considered a factor until proven otherwise. 2 In general, petting that involves slow, long, smooth stroking in the direction of the fur promotes relaxation, whereas patting or quick rubbing back and forth is more likely to increase activity/agitation. COMMUNICATION Being able to recognize signs of a relaxed or stressed patient is critical to creating a pleasant environment. Dogs and cats communicate primarily through visual (body language), auditory (vocal), and olfactory (pheromone and scent) communication. VOCALIZATION Often high-pitched sounds are considered distance-decreasing, meaning coming closer. Examples of distance-decreasing sounds in cats and/or dogs are meowing, purring, whining, whimpering, or high-pitched barks. Low-pitch sounds are generally considered distance-increasing, meaning go away. Examples of distance increasing sounds in the cat and/or dog include the hiss, yowl, shriek, and deep or guttural growl and/or bark. OLFACTORY Olfactory communication is extremely important to the cat. Each cat has his/her own signature scent. When one cat in the house visits the veterinary hospital, they will return home smelling different. This can result in the resident cat being unable to recognize their housemate. Dogs and cats release pheromones that can be detected by other members of their species. These pheromones can communicate pleasant and unpleasant information. A stressed cat may leave chemical messages behind that will act to create fear and anxiety in other feline patients throughout the day. The challenge with pheromone communication and smells we humans cannot detect is that since we cannot perceive them, we might overlook their significance to our patient’s well-being. BODY LANGUAGE Being able to interpret body language in dogs and cats involves not only analyzing the entire pet (facial expression, tail carriage, and body posture) but also assessing the context of the interaction. Looking at a snapshot in time only tells part of the story. We need the details about the context to hypothesize the emotional status or communication the pet is trying to express. Even then, we might be inaccurate.
LEARNING TO LISTEN TO OUR PATIENTS
Debbie Martin, KPA CTP, LVT, VTS (Behavior) TEAM Education in Animal Behavior, LLC, Austin, TX In order to be able to grasp what dogs and cats might be trying to communicate to us, there are 3 required areas of knowledge including: 1. How the sensory perception of dogs and cats varies from ours 2. How dogs and cats communicate 3. And how pleasant and unpleasant associations with environments or situations are formed By understanding these 3 aspects, you will be able to put yourself in your patient’s paws and learn how you can adapt the veterinary environment and your interactions to make for a better experience. SENSORY PERCEPTION Stimuli in the veterinary hospital can create fear, anxiety, and stress in our canine and feline patients. Understanding how our patients perceive the veterinary hospital allows us to not only empathize but also develop solutions to make their experiences more pleasant. To understand a dog or cat’s perception of our hospital, we need to understand their senses. In general, dogs and cats tend to be more sensitive to environmental stimuli than we are. Let’s compare how dogs' and cats’ sensory perception varies from human perception. VISION Compared to humans, dogs and cats have poor visual acuity, a wider field of vision, and a smaller area of binocular vision. Cats see about 20/100-200, have a field of vision of 200° and a binocular vision overlap of 90-100°. 1 The visual acuity of the dog is about 20/75 with a field of vision of 245° binocular overlap of only 30-60° pending facial morphology. 2 In comparison, a human generally sees 20/20, has a field of vision of 180° with a binocular field of vision overlap of 140°. Although dogs and cats do not have very good visual acuity, they are very good at motion detection. Compared to humans, both cats and dogs can see better in dim light because of the increased number of rods in the retina and the tapetum lucidum, a reflective layer located behind the retina. Color vision is less developed in dogs and cats. Cats most likely have dichromatic vision with sensitivity to greenish-yellow and blue. Dogs are considered red-green color blind.
According to Heather E. Lewis, AIA, “The ability to see the UVB spectrum is interesting because it means that some materials appear to fluoresce to dogs [and cats], including organic material like urine that contains phosphorous as well as bright white, man-made materials such as paper, plastic and white fabrics, Lewis says. Because these white items are more visually jarring to dogs [and cats], their use should be avoided.” Because of the dog’s and cat’s sensitivity to motion, wider field of view, and poor visual acuity, it is beneficial to minimize fast movements as they can be startling. Utilize color schemes in the hospital to promote relaxation in people. Calm pet guardians result in calmer pets. Consider the use of pastels, dimmable lighting, and natural light. Minimize exposure to potentially frightening visual stimuli for patients and clients. This might include providing visual blocks, so cats do not see (hear or smell) dogs. HEARING Cats and dogs hear a wider range of frequencies than humans. The range of frequency for the cat is 20 Hz up to 85,000-100,000 Hz with the useful range probably up to 60,000 Hz. 1, 4 The range for dogs is 15 Hz up to 65,000 Hz with hearing best at around 4,000 Hz. 2 The range for humans is 20 Hz up to 19,000. 2 Because dogs and cats have moveable pinnae, they are better able to locate the source of sounds. Things do not sound louder to them, but they hear a broader range of sounds than we do. Consequently, they have more to tune out than we do. Take a walk through your hospital while recording sounds then play it back to help you identify potentially jarring or unnecessary noises that could be contributing to patients’ auditory overload. In this VETgirl Webinar “Learning to Listen to Our Patients” Debbie Martin, KPA CTP, LVT, VTS (Behavior) transforms your approach to veterinary care through learning to understand sensory perception, communication, and associations in dogs and cats. If you’re ready to see the clinic through your patients’ eyes (and ears, noses, and paws!), keep reading to discover practical ways to create more positive, fear- free visits. Missed the webinar? Catch the replay HERE or scroll down for the highlights!
HIGHLIGHTS
WEBINAR
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VETGIRL BEAT EMAGAZINE | VETGIRLONTHERUN.COM
VETGIRL BEAT EMAGAZINE | VETGIRLONTHERUN.COM
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