You know your dog, and you know they’re expressive. They can be dramatic, especially with their sass and emotions. But can your dog have human-like feelings? Can they get mad, have an attitude, or be sad enough to cry?
Yes, dogs can cry, but not for the same reasons humans do. Humans cry to show sadness, but dogs express sadness differently. They can be sad and show it through whimpers, growls, protests, and puppy-dog eyes. However, dogs don’t cry tears of sadness like humans do because their tear ducts work differently.
Dogs’ eyes can water for various reasons, such as allergies, infections, or blocked tear ducts. It’s important to look for signs associated with watery eyes to determine the cause of the tears.
Signs Your Dog is Crying (and What it Might Mean):
When your dog’s eyes are watering, it’s pretty apparent. But there are other signs to look for. If your dog is having difficulty seeing, blinking excessively, or leaving tears everywhere, their tear ducts might be overactive. Tear stains beneath their eyeballs or changes in fur color can also indicate excessive tear production.
Other symptoms of watery eyes include eye discharge, inflammation or ulcers around the corneas, and scratches on the eyes. These symptoms could be related to the reasons behind your dog’s watery eyes.
Body Language:
In addition to watery eyes, your dog may exhibit certain body cues to draw attention to their tears. These cues include head tilting, scratching, pacing, averting eyes, raised paw, blinking, and whale eye.
Other Signs:
Other signs that may accompany doggy tears include obvious water on the eyes, loose and sagging skin around the eye, cornea ulcers or scratches, eye discharge, tear stains on furniture, redness and irritation, and squinting.
Historic Causes of Doggy Crying:
Dogs’ eyes water and produce tears for various reasons. Some common causes include allergies or irritants. For example, if your dog gets dirt or allergens in their eyes, they produce tears to flush them out. Tears can also help heal a scratched cornea or an infection.
The Science of Dog Tears:
A dog’s tear ducts function similarly to humans’. They release basal tears to keep the eyes moist and reflexive tears to flush out irritants and allergens. However, dogs do not produce tears in response to emotional stimulation like humans do.
Training Your Dog to Deal with Tears:
It’s important to remember that your dog isn’t crying because they’re sad. The tears are a reaction to stimuli, so it’s crucial to determine the cause. Training your dog to be comfortable with vet visits and allowing people to touch their eyes can be helpful. Positive reinforcement and treats can be used to train your dog to accept eye-touching.
While dogs can cry in the sense that their eyes may water, it is not due to the same emotional reasons as humans. Understanding the signs and symptoms associated with watery eyes in dogs is important in determining the cause and providing appropriate care. Remember, training your dog to be comfortable with eye-touching and vet visits can help them handle tears and other eye-related issues more easily.
Tips & Things to Know
1️⃣ Dogs do not cry due to sadness or other emotions like humans do, but their eyes can water due to various factors such as allergies, infections or blocked tear ducts. It’s important to observe any signs of excessive tearing like changes in their fur color around the eyes, constant blinking, or any discharge from their eyes.
2️⃣ A dog’s tear ducts function similarly to humans, releasing basal tears to keep the eyes moist and reflexive tears to flush out irritants. However, they do not produce tears as a response to emotional stimuli. While dogs can certainly feel emotions, they do not express these feelings through tears.
3️⃣ To deal with a dog’s excessive tearing, it’s vital to understand that these are not an expression of sadness but a response to stimuli. Training your dog to be comfortable with vet visits and people touching their eyes can help manage this issue. Using positive reinforcement and treats can help make this process easier and more comfortable for the dog.
Frequently Asked Questions, Answered ✅
1. Can dogs cry for emotional reasons like humans do?
– No, dogs cannot cry in response to emotional stimulation like humans do. Their tears are a reaction to stimuli rather than a reflection of their emotions.
2. Why do dogs’ eyes water?
– Dogs’ eyes can water for various reasons, such as allergies, infections, or blocked tear ducts. It’s important to look for associated symptoms to determine the cause of the tears.
3. How can you tell if your dog is crying?
– Signs of a dog crying include excessive tearing, tear stains below their eyes, blinking, squinting, redness, and inflammation. They may also exhibit body language cues like head tilting, scratching, and pacing.
4. Do dog tears serve the same purpose as human tears?
– Yes, dog tears serve a similar purpose as human tears. They release basal tears to keep their eyes moist and reflexive tears to flush out irritants and allergens.
5. How can you train your dog to be comfortable with eye-touching?
– To train your dog to be at ease with eye-touching, provide positive reinforcement and treats when they allow it. Gradually reach toward their eye with a treat and reward them for remaining calm and relaxed. Repeat this process until they are comfortable with eye-touching.
