When you don’t know the answer to something, most likely you will pull out your phone or go to your computer and visit one specific website: Google. Well, you are not alone. Google is the most common site for searches worldwide. In fact, there were nearly 3.5 billion searches per day. Which means you should take comfort in the fact that you are like thousands of people Googling. Many of the questions are very similar, including the most common pet questions.
Some of the most common questions, we have already asked and answered within the pages here on our blog post at Parnell Living Science. Read on for the question and its answer, as well as links to more information on the answers. So that said, here are the top questions pet parents have Googled — as well as their answers. Now you know, and can Google something else in the future.
1. Why do dogs bury bones?
If you find something you value, where do you put it? Hopefully, some place safe. The same holds true for dogs. If it is hidden where only they know where to find it, it is safe. This behavior is more about years of heredity, going back to early ancestry of dogs. When it is stashed, it prevents others from stealing it and naturally preserves it by keeping it cool and away from sunlight.
2. Why do dogs chase their tails?
There are so many potential answers to this question, ranging from as simple as boredom to more complicated issues regarding compulsive behavior or even physical issues regarding their anal glands. They may even do it to entertain you, if you respond in a positive way. To deter compulsive behavior, distract your dog with something positive to get them to change it. If they continue to do this, they may need to go to the veterinarian, just in case. WebMD has several ideas to determine what is behind compulsive behavior in dogs.
3. Why are dogs noses wet?
You may have heard a dog’s nose being wet is good; dry is bad. It is somewhat a myth that a dry nose means your dog is sick. It really depends on the dog. And the multitude of things they could be reacting to, such as the temperature outside. Dogs noses are usually wet because they sweat through their noses or the pads of their feet. Plus, they are there for licking which also makes them wet. If you see something more out of the ordinary on several occasions, such as crusty or discolored mucus or on your dog’s nose, consider contacting your veterinarian and schedule a visit.
4. Why do dogs have whiskers?
Think of whiskers as small detectors that give them the ability to protect their eyes from getting poked or by something as simple as a blade of grass. These are important for the safety of your dog’s face. They are not to be groomed or clipped. While it would not cause pain to clip them, it’s not necessary nor is it useful for them to have shorter whiskers. Just know there are more positive impacts for your dog to have them, than to not.
5. Why do dogs eat poop?
This is obviously a pretty disgusting habit that should be broken as soon as possible. The fact that so many people are Googling this should give you peace that you are not alone if you are Googling this too. The bottom line is that mostly dogs should NOT be eating poop. There are so many reasons they may want to, there is a blog post listing 16 reasons! The easiest way to prevent this is to be sure to pick up after your dog so not to give them the chance. And if your dog does and you do not believe them to have a health concern, be sure start training them by rewarding them with treats when they stay away from the poop.
Other questions we have answered on our Pet Health blog. We also reviewed where the questions were coming from, including the top country Googling. Do you think it was the United States? Find out the top questions pet parents ask Google!
For now, here are 5 of those top questions asked about pets, that we already answered in that post, in case you missed it:
- Why do dogs eat grass? Just as you eat vegetables along with meat, dogs eat grass for many reasons, such as being another, readily available option for a vegetable in their diet.
- Can you teach an old dog new tricks? Worst myth ever, but many people still believe this. We wrote an entire blog post on how wrong this is. We think an older person came up with this quote just to get out of learning something they didn’t want to.
- How old is my dog? While it is true that dogs age faster than humans, one common misconception is that one year of their lives equals seven human years. It is true that dogs don’t live as long as people, there are several factors that contribute to a dog’s age.
- Why do dogs lick people? There are several good reasons your dog licks your face. Also included here is the question on if it’s safe. Because let’s face it, most of us dog owners have had a dog tongue in our mouths.
- Why do dogs bite? If you have a dog, most likely you have been bitten by the dog for various reasons. The reasons behind it help find the solution for fixing the problem. For some, it’s a puppy stage to be outgrown. For others, training is needed.
Last year, we also wrote 15 Dog Facts and Myth-Busters. It is still one of our more popular blog posts. It includes even more questions answered. What are your questions? Feel free to send us your questions through our FaceBook page and we will try and answer them for you. Or… You can always ask Google!
