And even animals are able to determine pregnancy faster than the woman herself will understand.
Our smaller brothers have many hidden talents, it’s not for nothing that in the West so many dogs work in therapeutic departments, calming and encouraging patients. Scientists are seriously training pets to diagnose diseases by smell. Experts believe that the pregnancy of the owner of the dog is exactly how they catch, which is why the dogs become so gentle with women who are waiting for replenishment.
“This hypothesis is difficult to test,” says Lynn Lilly, assistant professor at Ohio University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “Dogs certainly notice changes in their owner, but they can’t say,” Hey, you’re pregnant. ”
However, the specialist does not deny: the dog’s behavior really changes depending on what happens to the owner. When a girl prepares to become a mother, some dogs demonstrate the habits of a defender, others, on the contrary, become anxious, as if worried about a person. Then the dogs get used to it and begin to follow the mistress on the heels, not missing the opportunity to cuddle – it seems that the pet is waiting for the birth of the baby almost more than the future parents.
Some experts believe that dogs can also predict the onset of labor. When contractions are on the way, the dog feels the discomfort of its owner, feels changes in her mood and smell due to the intense production of oxytocin. At such a moment, the pet’s behavior changes again, from a cozy baby doll he turns into a protector. So, if false contractions are accompanied by increased attention of the dog to you, then you should know: contractions are not false.
The appearance of a new family member can be stressful for the dog. To prevent this from happening, the veterinarian advises to prepare the pet for the birth of a child.
“The dog must understand that life is changing, there will be a different regime, a different schedule, perhaps there will be places where it will not be allowed to enter. All this must be taught slowly in advance, ”says Lynn Lilly.