Can Dogs Hear a Fetal Heartbeat: Vet-Verified Canine Hearing Explained
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View 2 More +There is a very strong connection between certain dogs and pregnancy. You hear anecdotal stories all day long of dogs ‘knowing’ their owners were pregnant before they even took the test. So, what exactly gives? Can your dog detect a fetal heartbeat? Or is there more to it than that? Let’s dig in.
Dogs May Certainly Detect Fetal Heartbeat
If you are just looking for a quick answer to this question, it may be possible for dogs to hear a fetal heartbeat, but there is no evidence to support this. It is just speculation based on dogs having stronger and a wider range of hearing than humans. There is also no evidence to support at what stage in the pregnancy a dog might be able to detect a fetal heartbeat.
We all know that there are different stages of development in the womb. At what point does this become a noticeable thing for your animal? Many different professionals conclude that it will definitely be a lot easier for your dog to detect pregnancy once the baby grows a bit. This certainly does not explain why many canines can detect changes in a mother very early on.
However, it can explain why they have a growing interest in your tummy as time passes. If you think about it, it's really no wonder. Some dogs can sense a diabetic reaction, so it should come as no surprise that they can also sense the changes that your body goes through during your pregnancy. Your pregnant body is constantly sending out signals that it normally doesn't. So, it may be that your dog is responding to changes in your natural scent due to hormones rather than being able to hear a fetal heartbeat.
How Good Is a Dog’s Hearing?
For us to be able to determine exactly what our pets can and cannot hear, it is important to understand a dog's hearing capabilities. Rather than necessarily being stronger than humans, dogs are just more finely tuned to hear sounds of higher frequency.
Dogs are especially sensitive to sounds between 3,000 and 12,000 Hertz, but they can hear sounds up to 65,000 Hz, while humans prefer noises around the 2,000 Hertz level.1
Another fantastic thing about our canines is that they can detect the location of a sound better than humans by funneling sounds into their ears when they move them. So, while we can’t know for sure that a dog can hear a fetal heartbeat, knowing what we do about their hearing, it may be possible.
The 5 Signs a Dog May Sense a Baby
Depending on your pup, they may show some signs that they sense a baby. While they may not know what’s causing it, they will likely be able to sense the changes in you.
1. Obsessiveness or Newfound Interest in You
One of the most obvious things that might happen if your dog is on to your pregnancy is that they will take a newfound interest in you. Sure, they tend to follow you around quite frequently as it is, but this may be on a whole other level as they may never lett you have a moment to yourself! They might even start choosing you over other members of the household when they didn't usually do so before.
2. Staring at Your Belly
Your dog might just start staring your belly. They might be just as curious about what's going on in there as you are!
As we already mentioned, having additional senses doesn't help them truly figure out what exactly is happening; they just know that now there's a lot more going on under the surface than what they're used to.
They can't see, but they may certainly be able to hear and sense that that little baby is cooking in there.
3. Tilting Head
If you notice your dog tilting their head in wonder and curiosity, it might be because they've noticed there's some movement going on in there. Tilting their head can help funnel sounds differently or communicate that they are curious about the changes they’ve noticed in your body.
4. Whining or Vocalizing
The changes you are undergoing with your pregnancy may be very confusing for your dog. It may even be a little stressful or anxiety-inducing, potentially causing your dog to whine or cry when they’re with you. Increased vocalization may also be their way of getting your attention.
5. Being More Protective
Another thing about being pregnant around dogs is that they often become more protective. It's as if they know you're keeping something precious and they need to keep you safe particularly at this time.
Even dogs that aren't the pet of the actual mother might show this protective role. So it is interesting to see how our dogs respond to pregnant people outside of their circle.
Conclusion
So now you understand a little bit more about what could be going through your dog's mind while you're pregnant. They may be able to hear the fetal heartbeat, and they will likely notice other changes in your body which may induce changes in their behavior as well.
It's certainly interesting as we continue to explore what our canines can and cannot sense.
You might also be interested in: 5 Sounds Only Dogs Can Hear: Vet-Analyzed Canine Hearing Range
Sources
Featured Image Credit: Kimberly Boyles, Shutterstock
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Ashley Bates is a freelance dog writer and pet enthusiast who is currently studying the art of animal therapy. A mother to four human children— and 23 furry and feathery kids, too – Ashley volunteers at local shelters, advocates for animal well-being, and rescues every creature in need. Her mission is to create awareness, education, and entertainment about pets to prevent homelessness. Her specialties are dogs and cats.
