There are many little-known facts about dogs (Canis lupus familiaris).
Little-Known Dog Facts
- Dogs are descended from wolves.
- The normal body temperature of a dogs is 38.6 degrees celsius. They regulate their body temperature by panting.
- Dogs have 231 bones and 42 permanent teeth.
- Dogs are prone to tuberculosis.
- Similar to humans, dogs tend to have a dominant hand they usually use when one hand is needed.
- Chocolate is toxic for dogs.
- There are seven types of blood group in canines.
- The average life span of dogs varies from 8 to 15 years.
- The sweat glands in dogs are located between their paw pads.
- Dogs mature at the age of approximately 6 months.
- The normal gestation period of canines varies from 60 to 65 days.
- Dogs’ respiratory rates and heart rates vary from 10 to 30 breaths/minute and 70 to 120 beats/minute, respectively.
- Dogs have night vision as the number of rod cells in their eyes is greater than that of cone cells.
- Dogs can be identified by their nose prints.
- Dalmatians develop black spots only after they grow older. The puppies are pure white in colour.
- Laika (named after the dog’s Russian breed; literal meaning: “Barker”) was the first dog to travel to outer space.
- Saluki is the oldest breed of dog.
- Lhasa Apso guarded Tibetan temples.
- Pekingese, the royal dog of China, was once considered to be sacred; common men could not own this breed.
Little-Known Puppy Facts
- Newborn puppies are blind, deaf and toothless.
- In dogs, bladder control is attained 4 months after birth.
- In the first week after birth, puppies spend almost 90% of their time sleeping and the rest of the time feeding. Later, they sleep for at least 12 to 14 hours a day.
- The canine achieves his sense of smell only 3 weeks after birth.
- The first teeth (milk teeth) appear between 3 and 7 weeks of age, and the adult teeth adult teeth (permanent teeth) appear after four months. By Dr Ruan Du Toit Bester
Hope this info’s interesting
Till next week
Dr Ruan
Ask the Vet: Royal Veterinary Centre
Tel: +853 28501099, +853 28523678
Fax: +853 28508001
Email: info@rvcmacau.com
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