can dogs hear it?

[musician2k]

Ok here's the scenario. The little terrier that lives next door looks at me funny these days. Last year, before my AVR surgery where I got a Medtronics mechanical valve, this little dog was friendly and would come up to me, wanting to be petted, tail wagging. Immediately after I was home from the hospital, he began being much more 'standoff-ish.' Now, if I'm outside & I try to be friendly he just stares at me. Cocks his head sideways. Has an odd look in his eyes, too, and seems very reluctant to come to the fence. So it got me wondering about the fact that dogs have far superior hearing to humans - so it is possible, in theory at least, that animals can "hear" pitches that are probably created by the ticking of our valves. To me and my wife my ticking seems louder overall anyway, but of course it's just a regular ticking sound. I suppose this poor dog might be hearing Big Ben chime every time my heart beats. Does this make sense to anyone? Anyone else heard of this? It's not important, just unusual. Thoughts?

 

[Ross]

I don't know if it's that or that he senses a change in your over all being.

 

[geebee]

I think there is a good chance he hears your valve and is confused. Years ago I babysat for my nephew when he was a couple months old. My SIL said he was comforted by being held in a position where he could hear a heartbeat. I tried that when he started crying and he cried louder. I then realized that he could not hear a "regular" heartbeat due to my valve. I handed him over to my (then) husband and, after being held to my ex's chest, my nephew quieted right down.

When we are able to communicate what is happening, the ticking isn't so strange but to babies and pets, confusion is not abnormal.

 

[hensylee]

he thinks you are a robot now! He might eventually get used to it.

 

[Cooker]

My dog could hear it. Drove him nuts. He jumped off a cliff

 

[musician2k]

Yep. I guess it just goes to show you can't teach an old dog new ticks.

My dog could hear it. Drove him nuts. He jumped off a cliff

 

[geebee]

Yep. I guess it just goes to show you can't teach an old dog new ticks.

Groan. Unless, of course, you consider jumping off a cliff a new "tick" (trick).

 

[Gnusgal]

When we are able to communicate what is happening, the ticking isn't so strange but to babies and pets, confusion is not abnormal.

I've found the oposite to be true with babies, actually. Seems I'm able to soothe babies better than other people. My nephew calms right down when I put him on my chest. Of course, I was the first person to hold him after he was born (other than his parents and the medical staff, of course), so maybe that's it. And they say with puppies to put a ticking clock where they sleep to immitate the sound of their mother's heart beat and comfort them, so I figure I fit the bill there too!

 

[geebee]

I've found the oposite to be true with babies, actually. Seems I'm able to soothe babies better than other people. My nephew calms right down when I put him on my chest. Of course, I was the first person to hold him after he was born (other than his parents and the medical staff, of course), so maybe that's it. And they say with puppies to put a ticking clock where they sleep to immitate the sound of their mother's heart beat and comfort them, so I figure I fit the bill there too!

Might be intesting to find out if your nephew has problems with a non-ticking heartbeat. I agree with you that ticking does help but not always. Maybe I just find the unusual ones.

 

[Gnusgal]

Might be intesting to find out if your nephew has problems with a non-ticking heartbeat. I agree with you that ticking does help but not always. Maybe I just find the unusual ones.

Well, I assume not, since my sister doesn't have a ticking heart and he settles into her quite quickly. But maybe that's because she's his food source.

 

[Sherry]

After 10 years with this ticker, I've always wondered about this. Neither of my cats seemed to mind, but being the fickle guys that they are, I could only hold them for a few minutes before they leapt off my lap and scurried elsewhere.

Just yesterday, we got a little miniature dachsund (runt of the litter), and I've been holding him against my chest nonstop since we got him. He hasn't acted strangely at all.

 

[RCB]

Guess

Guess

Ok here's the scenario. The little terrier that lives next door looks at me funny these days. Last year, before my AVR surgery where I got a Medtronics mechanical valve, this little dog was friendly and would come up to me, wanting to be petted, tail wagging. Immediately after I was home from the hospital, he began being much more 'standoff-ish.' Now, if I'm outside & I try to be friendly he just stares at me. Cocks his head sideways. Has an odd look in his eyes, too, and seems very reluctant to come to the fence. So it got me wondering about the fact that dogs have far superior hearing to humans - so it is possible, in theory at least, that animals can "hear" pitches that are probably created by the ticking of our valves. To me and my wife my ticking seems louder overall anyway, but of course it's just a regular ticking sound. I suppose this poor dog might be hearing Big Ben chime every time my heart beats. Does this make sense to anyone? Anyone else heard of this? It's not important, just unusual. Thoughts?

I would think it was more likely the way you smelled after just coming home from the hospital. Dog and most animals are extremely sensitive to difference in odors. They have long "smell" memories. All the chemicals put in you during surgery and hospital stay mask your natural and unique scent. Even ICU nurses complain about the gases that pts. give off when the first come from the OR. I imagine the dog was just confused and a bit cautious.

If anything your valve will make you special to the dog- Remember Capt. Hook