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Deciphering What Pheromones are Saying

A few examples where pheromone detection stimulates response in cats and dogs are:

  • Territorial Lines: Male cats mark their territory with urine or with pheromones from glands in their face and feet. They will travel their territorial boundaries frequently, sniffing at their markings, and reapplying when the odor diminishes. Other male cats will smell the markings and either respect the territory, or attempt to take it over by introducing their own scent markings.

FUN FACT 9
SSSafety First
Read on the back!

“Have you ever observed a dog or cat entering the outdoors with head held alert, whiskers twitching, and nostrils wide open? They are sniffing out potential harm. Often using all of their senses to identify threats and preparing a plan of action.”

  • Clear and Present Danger: Have you ever observed a dog or cat entering the outdoors with head held alert, whiskers twitching, and nostrils wide open? They are sniffing out potential harm. Often using all of their senses to identify threats and preparing a plan of action.
  • To Locate a Mate: Female cats and dogs in in their estrus cycle exude a powerful sexual pheromone that can be scented by a male for great distances. If you’ve ever been entertained by choruses of lusting Toms outside your home while your intact female cat tries every means of escape, you’ll appreciate this phenomenon. Female cats and dogs can also scent out a preferred mate by his territorial markings.

Halfway There!

You’re 50% through this course and halfway to earning 1.5 hours of CE credit.

(Keep going, you can’t stop now!)

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(Craven, 2010) Craven, B.A. et al. 2010. “The fluid dynamics of canine olfaction: unique nasal airflow patterns as an explanation of macrosmia.” Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 6 June 2010, 7(47): 933-943.

(Fogle, 1990) Fogle, B. 1990. The Dog’s Mind: Understanding Your Dog’s Behavior. MacMillan.

(Pagaet, 2003) Pageat P, Gaultier E. 2003. Current research in canine and feline pheromones. Veterinary Clinics of North America Small Animals 33: 187-211.

(Landsberg, 1997) Landsberg G, Hunthausen W, Ackerman L 1997. Handbook of behaviour problems of the dog and cat. Butterworth Heinemann, pp 47-63.

(Tynes, 2015) Tynes, Valarie. Board-certified veterinary behaviorist. Personal correspondence. December 2, 2015. Client Handout: Understand your pet’s fear posted 9/8/15 VeterinaryTeam.dvm360.com.

(Hardin, 2015) Hardin DS, Anderson W, Cattet J 2015. “Dogs Can Be Successfully Trained to Alert to Hypoglycemia Samples from Patients with Type 1 Diabetes.” Diabetes Therapy. 1-9.

(dvm360.com, 2015) Fear-Free Center accessed 12/2/15 at www.dvm360.com/fear-free-veterinary-visits.