I interviewed Sharon Sakson, author of The Healing Power of Dogs recently for the lifestyle radio stations where my features air. I've had dogs (always pound dogs!) my entire life but who knew? Us dog lovers may feel good about adopting the pup, but we've got it wrong. Actually, the pup is doing us good!
Here's what Sharon says: When your dog greets you when you walk in the house, your muscles actually relax, your heart beat and blood pressure lower, and you get a feeling of comfort and warmth.Not that they're necessarily comforting you, however.
Actually, dogs retain child-like traits. You gaze at the dog and oxytocin – a hormone that triggers nurturing – gets released.You just want to comfort and cuddle which, ask any mother on a good day, feels great.
Then there’s their power of smell. You know about drug sniffing dogs, right? Dogs can also sniff out cancer - before the symptoms reveal themselves. Apparently cancer cells release a tiny amount of formaldehyde when they break down which dogs can detect in urine and breath samples. Dogs can pick up one-part in a trillion or the equivalent of one drop in a swimming pool, Sharon says.
Scent may also be behind dog's uncanny ability to detect heart attacks and seizures in human beings. Quite possible the body emits an ordor which only dogs
can detect.
Amazing!
Comments