QUARTERLY BEAT / JULY 2025
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.
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