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Every day, we celebrate our shared love of dogs and hopefully brighten your day. Enjoy!
Dog of the Day:
Sheba!
Meme of the day: Yup!
Every dog parent deserves a break!
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The Great Chattering Mystery: Why Your Dog’s Teeth Chatter When They Lick
Have you ever seen your dog sniffing intently at a patch of grass or pavement, perhaps licking it—and then, their little jaw starts to vibrate? A rapid, almost silent chatter or click begins, lasting just a moment, before they move on, completely satisfied.
It’s a strange, endearing, and sometimes puzzling behavior, but rest assured, in this context, it’s usually not a sign of cold, pain, or anxiety. It’s a remarkable sign of your dog’s incredible sensory superpower at work!
The Secret Weapon: The Vomeronasal Organ
The key to this mystery lies in a tiny, specialized sensory system tucked away in the roof of your dog's mouth, just behind their incisors: the vomeronasal organ, also known as Jacobson’s Organ.
Think of your dog's nose as an amazing regular scent detector, but the vomeronasal organ? That's their chemical communications specialist. It's designed to detect non-volatile chemical compounds—specifically pheromones and other intense chemical signals—that are often too subtle for the regular sniff-and-smell system to register effectively.
Pheromones are chemical substances released by animals that can affect the behavior or physiology of others of the same species. They carry a wealth of information about another animal's identity, health, and most significantly, their reproductive status.
The Flehmen Response: Drawing in the Information
When your dog licks a spot outside (especially urine or other animal markings), they are essentially "tasting" the environment. The chattering you see is part of a deliberate action known as the Flehmen response.
Here's how it works:
Licking/Sniffing: Your dog picks up a particularly intriguing scent compound.
Chattering: They rapidly chatter their teeth, often curling or twitching their lips. This action effectively helps to suck or pump air and scent molecules up through a small duct behind their front teeth and into the vomeronasal organ.
Processing: Once the complex chemical signature reaches the organ, your dog's brain can process the full, detailed message—it's like receiving a highly complex text message about the other dog who was just there!
So, the chattering isn't a sign of being freaked out; it's a sign of being super-engaged and utterly absorbed in reading an important piece of "scent mail." It's a marvelous display of their biological equipment working at its peak!
When is Teeth Chattering a Concern?
While chattering after a good sniff or lick is usually normal, it's always good to know when this behavior might signal something else. If you notice teeth chattering unrelated to sniffing or excitement, pay attention to the context:
Cold: A very common cause, just like in humans. If they're cold, they might be shivering overall.
Excitement/Nervousness: Chattering can sometimes happen in high-emotion moments, such as before a favorite meal or during a stressful event like a vet visit.
Pain/Dental Issues: Persistent chattering, especially if it happens when they aren't engaging with a strong smell, could indicate oral discomfort, such as an infected tooth or periodontal disease.
If you are ever concerned about the frequency or context of your dog's teeth chattering, it's always best to consult with your veterinarian.
But for that quick, curious chatter after a pavement lick? You can smile and know your canine companion is simply accessing their inner Sherlock Holmes, collecting the most fascinating data the outside world has to offer!
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Dog Food and Supplement Recalls
Here are the recent recalls and advisories:
Foodynamics - Freeze Dried Pet Treats for potential Salmonella contamination.
Nature’s Own - Pet Chews Bully Bites Treats for potential Salmonella contamination.
Viva - Ground Beef for Dogs and Ground Chicken for Dogs and Cats for potential Salmonella and Listeria contamination.
Savage Pet - Cat Food Chicken for potential bird flu exposure.
Family Photo of the Day:
Gunner!
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Meme of the day: @rigipastapup
