can dogs detect labor?

my dog is clingy but lately she follows me everywhere. even to the bathroom, lol. i was just wondering what your experiences are with dogs detecting labor.

 

You know, that's interesting. I haven't done a study of course, but my dog was extra clingy when I went into labor at 20 weeks also. I'm not sure if she was responding to me acting weird or if she sensed something was up. I'm curious what everyone else will say.

 

don't know, I never heard of that.

 

I have also never heard of such a thing.

 

I think animals sense when we are anxious about things. If you're worried about being in labor, your dog is probably feeling the anxiety.

 

I don't know about labor, but dogs are quite sensitive to what's going on with their owners. I've heard of dogs being trained to detect epileptic seizures before they happen. They'll nudge their owner, get them to sit down somewhere safe. So it's not impossible that a dog would catch the earliest signs of labor either.

 

Dogs are very intuitive. I have read studies where dogs are trained to detect seizures, as the PP stated. I also read an article where they believe dogs can "detect or sense" cancer in their owners. So, it would stand to reason that perhaps YES your dog can "sense" your labor. Most likely it's a smell change. Interesting topic!

 

QUOTE(mollyelizabeth @ May 21 2009, 09:38 PM) [snapback]1323731[/snapback]
So, it would stand to reason that perhaps YES your dog can "sense" your labor. Most likely it's a smell change. Interesting topic!


Kind of like when you have your period and a dog promptly puts his nose in your crotch.

 

QUOTE
Kind of like when you have your period and a dog promptly puts his nose in your crotch.

lol that made me laugh..soo true.I know when my mom is sick her dog will stay in bed with her and the day my dad died his dog stayed with him the whole day and didn't leave.My mom had to bring his food and water to him.They can sense when things aren't right.Plus they could sense a change in hormones..I mean they do sense when I female dog is in heat don't they ??

 

When I was PG with DD our black lab would get up with me every time I had to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. She'd walk me back to bed and then go back into her bed. She stuck close by me through out my whole pregnancy. I don't know about labor since I was in the hospital for bedrest by that time- but she is still VERY protective of DD!

 

I've heard it before, so I wouldn't rule it out....

 

When i got pregnant my FIL's animals (1 dog + 1 cat) did strange out of character behaviour and clung to me whenever i'd go over there. Their cat is very reclusive and has never come near me (nor anyone else except for them), and he came over and sat on the floor next to my chair! The same day their dog who never leaves their side did the same thing.

And also, my own dogs were extra attentive, and my boisterous Beagle was much calmer and snugglier with me. There was definitely something going on there. I strongly suspect they knew something was up with me.

 

We have 2 dogs and one was totally sucky with me the whole time I was pregnant, she loved to lay on my legs and put her head on my belly...she wasn't too impressed when I wouldn't let her up anymore LOL! And this time I think she knew even before I did that I was pregnant cuz she was being very sucky again, course the other one hasn't done anything and couldn't tell her behind from a hole in the ground LOL! She's a very hyper dog who's probably too busy to notice/care about that kind of stuff heehee, but the other's personality could definitely explain her reaction to the changes.

They were both on a walk when I went into labor last time and we left as soon as DH came home so I don't know if they knew anything was "up". If you have one who is more sensitive then I think they could tell what's going on with you, maybe not what exactly, but that there is something going on.