Dogs Cry Tears Of Joy

Recent scientific research, published in the esteemed journal Current Biology, has shed light on this intriguing topic.

The study reveals that many dogs indeed shed tears when they are reunited with their owners, even after just a few hours of separation.

What’s even more fascinating is that the intensity of this tearful expression of joy is closely tied to the levels of oxytocin, often referred to as the love and bonding hormone.

The research team behind this groundbreaking discovery is led by Professor Takafumi Kikusui from Azabu University in Japan.

His inspiration for this study came from a personal experience with his own pet poodle.

Six years ago, he noticed that her demeanor was notably relaxed while nursing her puppies, and tears frequently welled up in her eyes during these moments.

This observation sparked the idea that oxytocin might play a crucial role in the production of tears in dogs.

During their investigation, Professor Kikusui and his team made some intriguing discoveries.

They found that dogs release a more significant quantity of tears when reuniting with their owners after being apart for five hours, as opposed to the initial five minutes of separation.

This suggests that the phenomenon is specific to the bond between dogs and their owners.

Interestingly, tears did not appear in dogs that were reunited with familiar individuals who were not their owners, highlighting the unique nature of the connection between dogs and their human companions.

There is still so much more to discover!

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