Do dogs have taste buds?

[al76slc]

Mine loves dry dog food, which looks like compressed sawdust to me.

But he also likes branches, twigs, deer poop, small birds, TV remotes etc.

My wife buys expensive treats for him. Seems to me we can save some $$$ and shop in the backyard.

Alternate question - does anyone know what dry dog food tastes like?

[GottaDiesel]

Very Very Very dry meaty toast. Remember, they are carnivores -- the only reason they love cheese is because it is so dam salty.

On the other hand, a carrot is LuLu's favorite snack -- so I don't know why I replied.

[TX76513]

Dogs have far fewer taste buds than do humans, approximately one for every six. Although their limited number of taste buds register sweet, sour bitter, and salty tastes, it is probably more realistic to think of the dog's response to taste as pleasant, indifferent, or unpleasant. Smell is the dog's most advanced sense - a large part of its brain is devoted to interpreting scent. In addition, it has a sex-scent-capturing vomeronasal organ in the roof of its mouth. This scenting apparatus transmits information directly to the limbic system, the part of the brain most intimately involved in emotional behavior.

courtesty GOOGLE

I must have one of those in the roof of my mouth also

[G-Benz]

Dogs must interpret grapes universally.

Every dog I've owned trated grapes with confusion. Toss a grape near them, and they would sniff curiously, lap it up, then spit it right back out...as if to say, "hmmm, look like food, feels like a toy"...

[MTI]

Grapes and raisins pose a toxicity to dogs, much like baking chocolate.

[450slcguy]

Originally Posted by G-Benz

Dogs must interpret grapes universally.

Every dog I've owned trated grapes with confusion. Toss a grape near them, and they would sniff curiously, lap it up, then spit it right back out...as if to say, "hmmm, look like food, feels like a toy"...

Don't feed your dog grapes!!!!

Raisin and Grape Toxicity in Dogs

By Lauren Shifflett

Although many dog owners and dog trainers have traditionally used raisins and grapes as treats, RAISINS AND GRAPES IN LARGE QUANTITIES CAN BE LETHAL TO DOGS. As few as a handful of raisins or grapes can make a dog ill; however, of the 10 cases reported to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), each dog ingested between 9 ounces and 2 pounds of grapes or raisins.

If your dog has ingested large quantities of raisins or grapes, (s)he will immediately begin to vomit repeatedly, and will become extremely hyperactive and jittery. After about 24 hours, the dog will become lethargic and depressed. (S)he may experience abdominal pain and may stop urinating, drinking, and/or eating. (S)he will also become dehydrated. Both his/her vomit and feces will contain partially digested raisins or grapes. His/her breathing may become irregular, and (s)he will also become hypercalcemic (high calcium concentrations) and hyperphosphosphatemic

[TheDon]

Originally Posted by MTI

Grapes and raisins pose a toxicity to dogs, much like baking chocolate.

My poodle has gotten ahold of chocolate loads of times and hasnt died or had explosive diarrhea.. ever

[MTI]

It's not rat poison, unfiltered Camels or trans-fats . . . the effect is proportioned to the weight of the animal and the amount ingested. For chocolate, bakers chocolate has a higher concentration of cocoa than milk or semi-sweet chocolate and then you have to take into account, the amount that the pooch had access to.

[powerpig]

My wife's little dog's favorite thing to do is lick his nads even though they've been gone quite a while. His second favorite pastime is sniffing butt.

[al76slc]

Originally Posted by powerpig

My wife's little dog's favorite thing to do is lick his nads even though they've been gone quite a while. His second favorite pastime is sniffing butt.

Thanks for sharing that tidbit.

[powerpig]

Originally Posted by al76slc

Thanks for sharing that tidbit.

Always glad to share my brother!

[Ara T.]

Yeah Don, my old dog once ate my whole valentines candy stash when I was a lad (like 30 hershey kisses) and she lived like 8 more years to be 13. It WILL kill some dogs though.

Our current dachshunds eat carrots, lettuce, spaghetti, anything really.

[450slcguy]

Originally Posted by Ara T.

Yeah Don, my old dog once ate my whole valentines candy stash when I was a lad (like 30 hershey kisses) and she lived like 8 more years to be 13. It WILL kill some dogs though.

Our current dachshunds eat carrots, lettuce, spaghetti, anything really.

Foil wrappers and all?

[Ara T.]

Originally Posted by 450slcguy

Foil wrappers and all?

I think she would filter the foil out.. but im sure she ate some foil...man I miss that pooch.

[Austin85]

Kayla loves Brocolli BUt won't drink fruit smoothies.

Julia will eat duck poop, but not chocolate hemp brownies.

I don't think they have the same taste buds as people.