Can Dogs Tell When You're on Your Period? Vet-Verified Senses & Behavior Insights
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View 3 More +When you’re on your period your body goes through hormonal fluctuations that manifest differently. From tiredness and cramps to mood swings, there are a lot of changes that dogs might sense. So, do dogs know when you're on your period?
Dogs can smell menstrual blood and changes in your body’s scent, which means that most dogs can probably tell when women are on their period, however, we rely on anecdotal reports and have no scientific data to back this up. Your dog sensing that something is different can lead to a change in their behavior, including sniffing and your dog wanting to cuddle and get closer to you.
A Dog’s Sense of Smell
Dogs have very powerful senses of smell that are far more powerful than those of humans. They are especially capable of smelling blood and some of the best sniffers can outperform the most advanced scientific equipment when detecting blood on surfaces and items that have been washed multiple times.
As such, they don’t have a problem smelling menstrual blood when your period starts.
Hormonal Changes
To date, the dogs’ ability to detect women's hormonal changes has not been scientifically proven. Still, there are reports of owners claiming that their dog can sense their period, ovulation, or pregnancy. Dogs do seem to be able to sense these hormonal changes, however, it’s not clear if it’s related to a change in body scent or changes in your behavior.
Emotions
Dogs can also detect emotions, so if your period is making you feel lousy and stomach cramps are making you tetchy, your dog will be able to detect these psychological changes. This is one of the reasons why dogs are so good as therapy animals, and it is also why they make such great companions. They know when we need extra affection and are typically only too happy to provide it.
The 4 Common Changes In Your Dog’s Behavior
When they do sense these changes, whether because they can smell menstrual blood or detect hormonal changes, dogs tend to act differently. These changes can manifest in different ways.
1. Comforting Behavior
Dogs are our companions, and they are said to be our best friends because they instinctively know when we need attention or affection. This may be true of your dog when you are on your period. You might notice them curling up on your lap more often, giving you kisses and pats, or even just popping in to check on you.
2. Excessive Sniffing
If your dog can smell your period, they may be inclined to try and get a better smell of the scent, primarily to check what’s going on.
If you’ve been comfort eating, you may also find your dog is sniffing you because you have crumbs on you, or because they can detect the odor of whatever you were eating.
3. Licking
One of the ways dogs may show affection is by licking. It is an instinctive action that is meant to mimic the feeling of comfort they received as puppies when their mothers licked them. If your dog notices that you’re feeling down or are in pain, they may be more likely to lick you as a way of showing they care.
4. Neediness
When your dog detects a change in your hormones, they might act differently around you. This might mean your dog becomes more attentive, but it might also mean they show signs of neediness. Your dog is likely trying to comfort you and help, and you might notice them wanting more cuddles and more petting.
Can Cats Tell When You’re on Your Period?
Like dogs, cats have very sensitive senses of smell. As such, many owners also report that their cats can tell when they’re on their period, too. Some cats may become more clingy or needy and might show you more attention, but many cats are indifferent to the changes, so you might not notice any changes in behavior.
What About Other Animals?
Whether an animal acts differently around you when you’re on your period depends primarily on their senses of smell and their reaction to scent changes. Rats and other rodents have a very good sense of smell and they may react differently if they smell anything on the person who picks them up.
On the other hand, birds’ sense of smell varies among species and their reactions can vary depending on this.
Conclusion
Dogs are attentive and attuned to our emotions, and they perceive the world primarily through their senses of smell and hearing. As such, they can detect changes in our body scent, and they can smell period blood. This can lead to dogs acting differently when you are on your period.
Changes include neediness, comforting behavior, and a greater likelihood of them sniffing and licking you. It isn’t usually anything to worry about, although you can discourage your dog from sniffing you while making the most of the opportunity for an extra cuddle on the sofa.
You may be interested in: Can Dogs Sense Pregnancy? What the Science Tells Us (Vet-Verified)
Sources
Featured Image Credit: savitskaya iryna, Shutterstock
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Matt is a freelance writer from the UK. He lives with his partner and daughter, as well as two cats and one dog. A data analyst by profession, Matt moved from numbers to words more than 15 years ago and has been writing ever since. Having volunteered at a local animal sanctuary, he has a lot of experience with dogs, cats, and horses. Matt has also kept bearded dragons, a variety of birds, fish, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, and rats. His daughter has adopted the same passion for animals, keeping and breeding snakes. A geek at heart, Matt is a member of a local board gaming group and regularly forces his family to “enjoy” board games with him at home.
