Top Ten 2012 Pet New Year Resolutions

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Airs Wed February 1, 2012, 9PM EST. Listen to this podcast directly from my show page by CLICKING HERE.

Dear Readers, Viewers, and Listeners:

Happy New Year and welcome to my first podcast of 2012.  The inspiration for my Top Ten priority list of resolutions you should strive for in the care of your pet this year comes from my previous year's experience of observing these aspects of wellness and basic care so blatantly dismissed by far too many pet owners.  In this episode I also address 3 excellent listener e-mail questions, one of which is a bit controversial, as it drags me a bit (albeit reluctantly) into POLITICS (OH NO!!!). 
As always, I invite you to post comments right here at the blog or submit e-mail comments/questions to be addressed by me on the air, by sending them to comments@web-dvm.net.

Thanks as always for caring about what I have to say!

Sincerely,

Roger Welton, DVM

Dr. Roger Welton is the President and chief veterinarian at Maybeck Animal Hospital in West Melbourne Florida, as well as CEO of the veterinary advice and health management website Web-DVM.net.

Why do dogs sniff eachother's butts?

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Transcript from this week's episode of The Web-DVM:

Good evening, happy New Year to all, and welcome to our first

episode of the 2012 season.

Put a group of two or more dogs together and it never fails that the initial introductions will consist mainly of a group butt sniffing session. Why in the world to they do this? The answer is actually quite simple.

It is not that dogs are just gross and simply enjoy the scent of another dog’s butt stink. In reality, nestled within a dog’s anal region are two scent glands that tell another dog everything they seek to know about the dog. While we rely on facial recognition and conversation to greet and get to know one another, a dog’s entire autobiography is conveniently located in his butt. From what sex the dog is to what he eats, how healthy he is to even his mood, everything another dog wants to know is there for the taking by simply taking a few big butt sniffs.

You see, a dog’s sense of smell is something we cannot even comprehend. Estimated to be anywhere from 150,000 to 300,000 times more sensitive than our sense of smell, it should come as no surprise that they can learn so much about one another simply by sniffing one another’s nether regions.

So next time your dog is in the company of other dogs and is compelled to engage in that yin and yang concurrent butt sniffing position with another dog, your first instinct may be to pull him or her away – but don’t, they are simply getting to know one another.

This is Roger Welton reporting, for The Web-DVM. 

Dr. Roger Welton is the President and chief veterinarian at Maybeck Animal Hospital in West Melbourne Florida, as well as CEO of the veterinary advice and health management website Web-DVM.net.