En los perros, la particularidad más destacada
es el tercer sentido: el de poder distinguir los diferentes olores. Una
investigación reveló que, a diferencia de los humanos, estos animales
tienen 300 millones de receptores olfativos.
Los perros poseen un sistema olfativo muy desarrollado que les permite
distinguir olores inimaginables para los humanos. Pero hay muchas
incógnitas: ¿qué los atrae tanto de un olor en particular? ¿Por qué se
pasan un largo rato oliendo a otro perro? ¿Qué tanto pueden oler que los
humanos no?
En este contexto, una investigación llevada a cabo por el Laboratorio de Cognición
Canina en Barnard College, Nueva York, explicó cómo entender un poco
más ese mundo de olores y cómo los humanos podrían "entrenar su olfato".
"Hay muchas maneras de olfatear, y el método humano no es el mejor",
aseguró. De este modo, los investigadores descubrieron que los humanos tienen cerca de seis millones de receptores olfativos, mientras que los perros poseen 300 millones. Las personas inhalan una vez por segundo y medio; mientras que los caninos de cinco a diez veces por segundo.
Cada fosa nasal del perro es independiente de la otra.
Al exhalar el aire sale rápidamente para que entren nuevos olores. De
este modo, los perros son tan sensibles que algunos creen que pueden
reconocer enfermedades o incluso estados de ánimo con el sentido del
olfato.
¿Y por qué a veces lamen cosas desagradables? Una teoría, según la
experta, es que su sentido del olfato es realmente un sistema motor
complejo que está relacionado con el cerebro y "no hay ningún receptor
de 'olor nocivo' en el cerebro del perro", agregó. "Sin embargo, se
sienten particularmente interesados en lamer todo tipo de cosas que para
los humanos son repugnantes".
Otra gran curiosidad es cuando huelen por largo rato la cola de otro
perro. "Gran parte de la identificación de un perro se encuentra en las
glándulas anales. Esos sacos transmiten cómo se siente un perro -si está
ansioso, juguetón- y la esencia sobre quién es".
Para saludar a los otros, Los "perros mueven la cola
básicamente para esparcir sus olores personales". Es por eso que la
especialista sugirió que es sano sacar a pasear a las mascotas y
dejarlas oler el mundo para que "un perro sea un perro" y se ponga al
día con la humanidad.
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In dogs, the most outstanding feature is the third sense: that of being able to distinguish different smells. An investigation revealed that, unlike humans, these animals have 300 million olfactory receptors.
Dogs have a highly developed olfactory system that allows them to distinguish unimaginable odors for humans. But there are many unknowns: what attracts them so much from a particular smell? Why do they spend a long time smelling another dog? How much can they smell that humans can't?
In this context, an investigation carried out by the Canine Cognition Laboratory at Barnard College, New York, explained how to understand that world of odors a little more and how humans could "train their smell."
"There are many ways to sniff, and the human method is not the best," he said. Thus, the researchers discovered that humans have about six million olfactory receptors, while dogs have 300 million. People inhale once per second and a half; while the canines five to ten times per second.
In this context, an investigation carried out by the Canine Cognition Laboratory at Barnard College, New York, explained how to understand that world of odors a little more and how humans could "train their smell."
"There are many ways to sniff, and the human method is not the best," he said. Thus, the researchers discovered that humans have about six million olfactory receptors, while dogs have 300 million. People inhale once per second and a half; while the canines five to ten times per second.
Each nostril of the dog is independent of the other. When exhaling the air comes out quickly so that new smells enter. In this way, dogs are so sensitive that some believe they can recognize diseases or even moods with the sense of smell.
And why do they sometimes lick nasty things? One theory, according to the expert, is that her sense of smell is really a complex motor system that is related to the brain and "there is no 'harmful smell' receptor in the dog's brain," he added. "However, they feel particularly interested in licking all kinds of things that are disgusting to humans."
Another great curiosity is when they smell for a long time the tail of another dog. "Much of a dog's identification is found in the anal glands. Those sacs convey how a dog feels - if he is anxious, playful - and the essence of who he is."
To greet others, "dogs move their tails basically to spread their personal smells." That is why the specialist suggested that it is healthy to take pets for a walk and let them smell the world so that "a dog is a dog" and catches up with humanity.
And why do they sometimes lick nasty things? One theory, according to the expert, is that her sense of smell is really a complex motor system that is related to the brain and "there is no 'harmful smell' receptor in the dog's brain," he added. "However, they feel particularly interested in licking all kinds of things that are disgusting to humans."
Another great curiosity is when they smell for a long time the tail of another dog. "Much of a dog's identification is found in the anal glands. Those sacs convey how a dog feels - if he is anxious, playful - and the essence of who he is."
To greet others, "dogs move their tails basically to spread their personal smells." That is why the specialist suggested that it is healthy to take pets for a walk and let them smell the world so that "a dog is a dog" and catches up with humanity.
