Pets sensing pregnancy

Kim Carvalho, DVM Veterinarian, explains whether or not any scientific studies can prove whether an animal can sense pregnancy and the reported behavior of dogs by pregnant women
Can Pets Sense Pregnancy?
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Pets sensing pregnancy

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There are no scientific studies that can prove or disprove whether an animal can sense pregnancy. We do know that cats, and more so dogs, can smell up to 1 million times better than humans. Dogs have been sniffing out bombs, illegal drugs, and sometimes sense the onset of seizures. We do know they have a keen sense of smell. Pregnant women have hormonal changes that change their postures and behaviors. Some dogs will get even more clingly. In fact, some women will report that their dogs knew they were pregnant well before they did.

Kim Carvalho, DVM Veterinarian, explains whether or not any scientific studies can prove whether an animal can sense pregnancy and the reported behavior of dogs by pregnant women

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Kim Carvalho, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Kimberly Carvalho attended the University of California at Davis for her undergraduate studies, then went on to graduate from Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine in 1992. She completed a small animal medicine and surgical internship at California Animal Hospital in 1993 and went on to become a partner at Brentwood Animal Hospital in West Los Angeles. Dr. Carvalho became a Board-Certified Diplomat of the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners in 2002 and is a Clinical Associate Professor at Western University's College of Veterinary Medicine in Pomona, California.

Dr. Carvalho has served on the Medical Advisory Board of PetDrx Corporation, is currently serving as a member of the Medical Advisory Board of Veterinary Centers of America (VCA corporation), and donates a lot of her time and resources to the Friends of Animals Foundation. She also currently serves on the board of The John Thomas Dye School Parent's Association.

Dr. Carvalho is a native of Hawaii and resides in Los Angeles with her husband and two children. When not working in the office or at her children's schools, she enjoys the outdoors, traveling and golfing.

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Transcription: 
There are no scientific studies that can prove or disprove whether an animal can sense pregnancy. We do know that cats, and more so dogs, can smell up to 1 million times better than humans. Dogs have been sniffing out bombs, illegal drugs, and sometimes sense the onset of seizures. We do know they have a keen sense of smell. Pregnant women have hormonal changes that change their postures and behaviors. Some dogs will get even more clingly. In fact, some women will report that their dogs knew they were pregnant well before they did.