Vet explains adorable reason dogs stretch when they see you
Dogs stretching around you should be "taken as a compliment"
Does your dog do a big stretch as soon as you walk in the door? It might not be because they've just woken up or are feeling bored; it's actually a positive sign that owners should "take as a compliment".
Understanding what our beloved pooches are trying to tell us can be challenging since they can't speak to us. But dogs use their entire bodies to express their emotions.
Learning how your dog communicates is beneficial for recognising if they're feeling confident, relaxed, or anxious and stressed. Knowing these cues helps you better understand what your pet is attempting to convey.
Vet Dr Alex Crow, Chief Veterinary Officer at The Net Vet, has shed light on this behaviour, especially when a dog greets you with "front legs out, hips up, tail wagging," which he discussed on TikTok, reports the Express.
"It's not just coincidence. It's called a greeting stretch," he said. "It's more than just shaking off a nap. It's a sign that your dog feels safe, relaxed and happy that you're home," he continued.
Dr Alex also mentioned that while dogs might stretch to "loosen up stiff muscles", doing so specifically when you arrive home is "intentional". He further noted: "It's their version of a calm, friendly hello and if you've ever reacted to it with praise, you've probably reinforced it without realising."
Nevertheless, it's important to keep in mind that "not all stretches are about affection". A pet whose belly is low to the ground might be signalling discomfort or pain, and owners should "keep an eye" on such postures. Dr Alex mentioned: "Most of the time though it's just your dog's way of saying hello."
In response to the observations, a dog owner shared in the comments section: "I always thought it was because they knew I was about to take them for a walk."
Another contributed: "Yes! Every morning when I go downstairs, he is laying in his bed waiting for me and when I open the door he jumps up and does the big stretch on my foot! Gets lots of scratches then picked up for cuddles and kisses. Boston Terrier."
A third remarked: "The 'big stretch' must be an international thing. We all say that in our native language, right? At least I do."
Many others pointed out that cats exhibit similar behaviour. According to Hill's Pet, animals, much like humans, sometimes need to stretch their muscles. They may require a good stretch upon waking up, or it could indicate a desire to play.
Pets might also elongate if they're feeling bored or are seeking attention. If this happens, consider taking them out for a walk or engaging them with playtime indoors or in the garden.
However, frequent stretching could also indicate a strained muscle or joint discomfort. Your pet might be trying to ease the pain by stretching the affected area.
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.
You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.
No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.
All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!
If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like.
To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
If you observe a particular body part being stretched more than usual, and they seem sluggish in their movements, it could be a symptom of arthritis or joint pain, warranting a visit to the vet.
This behaviour could also be associated with abdominal discomfort. In such cases, they will stretch with their backside raised, front end lowered and flat on the floor.
They may maintain this position for an extended period, often when no other dogs are present. You might also notice them whimpering in pain or resisting being petted.
If they arch their back into a hunched posture, it could also signify abdominal pain, which is crucial to have examined immediately.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Baby Reindeer's real life Martha 'going blind' after stress over lawsuit
Fiona Harvey, who is the inspiration behind Martha from Netflix's Baby Reindeer, has claimed she's going blind due to the mounting stress from the series Fiona Harvey, the inspiration behind Martha from Baby Reindeer, has said she's going blind. The Scot who inspired the character in Richard Gadd's series is currently embroiled in a multi-million-dollar defamation lawsuit with streaming giant Netflix. But the 59-year-old law graduate has said the stress surrounding the Netflix series has caused her so much stress, which she has linked to her diagnosis of background retinopathy. "I'm going blind, and it's not surprising with the stress I have been under as a result of Baby Reindeer," she said. In a new interview, Fiona said: "I am diabetic and had always been able to keep my blood sugars under control, but my blood sugars have been wild ever since Richard Gadd's show aired." She says that since the series, which has racked up countless awards, aired, she has not been able to sleep or eat properly. "I'm not able to get proper exercise because I'm virtually a prisoner in my own home," she said. Fiona received a confirmation letter from a hospital on Thursday after undergoing eye tests at a London hospital. The condition is a complication which affects people with diabetes. It happens when high blood sugar levels damage light-sensitive tissues at the back of the eye. Although stage one of the condition doesn't always affect vision, there is a likelihood that it could lead to significant vision loss. Speaking to the Daily Record, Fiona said: "It is something that diabetics can get if your sugars are out of control. My sugars were fine until Baby Reindeer, that led to all my physical health problems. "I don't have money for proper food. I feel it could lead to blindness very quickly in both eyes." A letter from a doctor, seen by the publication, reads: "Dear Dr Fiona Harvey, Your test results show that you do have background retinopathy." The letter also states that Fiona needs to manage her health in order to prevent any further damage. The series, which aired over a year ago, has seen Fiona identify herself as the woman who allegedly stalked Gadd while he was working in London. The series was billed as a "true story," which showed the character, Martha, following him to his home, his workplace at The Hawley Arms in Camden and various other locations. But since its release, it has become quite controversial. Harvey has filed a £132 million defamation lawsuit against the streaming giant that released the series, claiming she was easily identifiable as Martha. Netflix have defended the lawsuit and Mr Gadd's "right to tell his story." The hearing is said to be delayed until next year due to a series of appeals, as well as requests for adjournments. In the series, Martha was sent to jail twice, but Ms Harvey has no criminal convictions. She told the Record: "I have no criminal record. I am not Myra Hindley. I am not Rose West. "I'm not Dennis Nilsen. I have not received an indefinite life sentence. My life was normal before this started. Mr Gadd has made my life intolerable. I've had to send people out to do the food shopping. I can't have workmen in my house, lest they go off to Netflix." Now living in a "cramped" flat in London, she says: "At this rate, it's only a matter of time before I will lose my sight. "I have cataracts as well, so I have difficulty typing on a little screen, but due to NHS resources, they won't operate until you are practically blind. I will be stuck on a waiting list, and I will go blind. So congratulations, Richard Gadd. He can strut around while the rest of us involved in this saga have to suffer." While Ms Harvey states she has been defamed in the series, Netflix have said the alleged defamatory statements are non-actionable as they are "substantially true." Harvey fumed: "The court case gives Netflix loads and loads of publicity, and they hope I'll withdraw the motion or just die off."
The Guardian
6 hours ago
- The Guardian
Swing time: experts weigh in on TikTok's kettlebell challenge
We've all seen the headlines around the importance of strength training. But if you're not a regular gym goer, it can feel intimidating to know where to begin. What is the difference between sets and reps? How many should you do? What if you don't want to turn into the Hulk? The latest viral fitness trend of doing 100 kettlebell swings a day for 30 days might seem like a straightforward way in. TikTokers' videos showing them doing the challenge seem to have struck a chord, racking up millions of views, and promising the regime can flatten your stomach, make your glutes stronger and help with back pain. But experts warn people – especially beginners – to treat the trend with caution. While they encourage people of all ages to start strength training, for some, doing 100 kettlebell swings a day might be an 'injury waiting to happen'. Kettlebell training has been shown to increase muscle mass, which makes your bones stronger, and has been shown in some cases to help reduce fat mass as well as improve back and neck pain, Dr Kim Way, an exercise physiologist and lecturer at Deakin University, says. However, those studies have not assessed doing 100 kettlebell swings a day – typically they have examined some form of kettlebell exercises two to three times a week, Way said. 'There's certainly a lot of difference in … the amount of stress that's being placed on the body, in terms of exercising every day versus having some recovery to allow for the body to essentially adapt,' Way said. A/Prof Justin Keogh, an exercise scientist at Bond University, said the health benefits also depended on the weight of kettlebell used. A heavier weight will help increase strength, muscle power and mass, while doing more repetitions with fewer rest periods will improve strength and endurance, may reduce body fat, and can have cardiovascular health benefits, he said. Kettlebell swings can be advantageous because you have to coordinate different upper and lower body segments and it mirrors the movement patterns that are 'more similar to what life throws at us,' Keogh said. Doing 100 kettlebell swings a day carries the risk of 'going a little bit too hard, too early', Keogh says. 'The chance that your hamstrings, lower back, forearms, etc, are going to feel really tight the next three or four days … is pretty high, and then you might not want to do any exercise over those next couple of days.' Keogh encourages people to start strength training carefully and gradually intensify their workouts in order to minimise their chance of what's known as delayed onset muscle soreness, which occurs when muscles that haven't been used to the level of exertion get quite sore for several days post-exercise. Way also agrees 100 kettlebell swings is 'quite a lot of swinging', especially if done every day. 'What I see with trends like this is that you're getting people excited about an exercise, which is great … but exposing people, especially if they haven't had any exposure to an exercise, that's just an injury waiting to happen because you haven't had the time to allow your body to adapt to the muscle stress, and the joint stress, that potentially this exercise will be placing on the system,' they said. Way is also concerned people might not be developing the correct technique. 'While the kettlebell swing might not necessarily look like a super complex movement – and compared to other exercises, it might not be – but even if you've just got a little part that's a bit wrong, it can put yourself into an area of potential injury.' They encourage people to find resources to ensure that they're using the correct technique. Way also advises if a person is new to exercise, they should listen to their body because if they start to fatigue, 'this is where technique can really quickly break down' and make injury more likely. Our genes largely determine the maximum size and strength of our bones, which is what's called 'peak bone mass', but exercise can also influence whether we reach our full bone mass potential by the age of 25-30. People generally begin to lose bone mass from the age of around 40 onwards. Keogh says it's better to begin resistance training earlier because then your muscle and bone mass will reach a higher peak. 'But again, we do know that regardless of the age that you start resistance training, you will get benefits compared to those people who [aren't].' Way says that types of exercise like yoga and pilates, which require us to use our body weight as a form of resistance, are 'a great way' to get into resistance training. However, people should keep in mind that if they use body weight exercises for their main form of resistance training there probably is a 'ceiling effect' once you are strong with your own body weight. Then using external weights – whether at the gym or finding weights at home through using cans of food or filling backpacks – can be helpful to get some resistance. Way emphasises 'it doesn't need to be a lot' – sometimes the big fear people have is that to do weight training they have to emulate bodybuilders online who are training for two or three hours each time. 'It actually can be pretty simple,' Way said. You can just strip it down, allocating five to eight exercises targeting your main muscle groups (your chest muscles, back muscles and leg muscles), and doing two to three sets, anywhere between eight and 15 repetitions. 'When you're trying to get into exercise, the best form of movement is always going to be the one that you enjoy. Resistance training or weight training is definitely a great one, because it gives you a really big host of benefits,' Way says. Natasha May is Guardian Australia's health reporter Antiviral is a fortnightly column that interrogates the evidence behind the health headlines and factchecks popular wellness claims What health trend do you want examined? Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian.
Daily Mail
7 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Common pill is putting millions at risk of life-threatening breathing problems, doctor warns
They are pills prescribed to millions in the UK to treat heart conditions and anxiety. But beta blockers may pose a hidden risk to the 7.2 million people living with asthma, an NHS GP has warned. According to the British Heart Foundation, UK doctors issue more than 50 million prescriptions for beta blockers every year. However, Dr Sooj, a family doctor with over 250,000 TikTok followers, cautioned that the drugs can interfere with the way asthma medications work—potentially putting some patients at risk during an attack. Asthma causes symptoms such as wheezing, coughing and chest tightness. While generally manageable, it can become life-threatening, when severely inflamed airways make it extremely difficult to breathe. Asthma UK reports that around 1,200 people die from asthma attacks each year in the UK, while in the US the figure is over 3,500. In a TikTok, Dr Sooj explained: 'If you have asthma you need to be cautious and we need to make sure you're aware of any of the risks and potential complications of taking a beta blocker.' He continued: 'The medications we use in an acute asthma attack are called beta agonists—these help to dilate the pipes in your lungs.' Dr Sooj explained that these beta agonists, found in many common inhalers, work by relaxing the muscles in the airways, making it easier to breathe. But beta blockers—used to slow the heart rate and lower blood pressure—can blunt this effect. 'By doing that, they can worsen the symptoms of asthma,' he said. And it's not just people with asthma who may be affected. Inhalers are also routinely prescribed to those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an umbrella term covering long-term lung conditions such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema. These incurable conditions can also cause severe breathing difficulties, and for this group too, beta blockers may pose a risk. The NHS advises patients with asthma or lung disease to inform their doctor before starting beta blockers, to ensure the medication is safe. That said, Dr Sooj added: 'I've seen lots of patients with COPD or asthma who are on beta blockers and they're completely fine with them.' 'But this is a discussion that you should be having with your own doctor.' Dr Sooj added that he still believed beta blockers to be 'excellent medications', and explained developments in the drugs that has improved them. 'We now have cardio selective beta blockers, which... affect the body a bit less.' The new warning follows concerns that a type of beta blocker called propranolol can put patients at risk of 'toxic overdose'—triggering seizures, depression and even cardiac arrest in high doses. Recent research showed the number of prescriptions for propranolol to treat anxiety in the UK doubled between 2003 and 2018. In theory, by keeping blood pressure low, feelings of panic and anxiety are reduced. However some experts have claimed there 'no evidence' that drugs are effective for mental health, and that patients often aren't adequately warned about risk of an overdose. In a recent letter to The Guardian, pharmacist Christopher Sullivan warned that the drug 'is associated with significant adverse outcomes' and urged GPs to exercise 'extreme caution when prescribing these medicines for anxiety'. 'Prescribing these medicines for anxiety is not recommended in national evidence-based guidelines,' he added. It followed comments from GP Dr Amir Khan, who told the newspaper that propananol had been linked to 'higher rates of depression' and warned GPs not to prescribe it to anxious patients who also suffer low mood. 'If you are taking them long term, you can't suddenly stop them,' he added. 'You need to be weaned off them.' The risks are not thought to pertain to those taking the medicine for heart problems and other physical issues like migraine—but experts say patients with mental health troubles are vulnerable to either accidentally or purposefully taking an overdose.
