Dogs are also capable of tears of joy

A study by researchers from Japan's Azabu University was published in the biological journal Current Biology, in which they examined the emotions of dogs, among other things, whether our four-legged friends are also capable of shedding tears of joy.

Kikuszui Takefumi, the head of the research, pointed out that there is a connection between the tears of dogs and the positive emotions that arise in them. He added that the emotional response is explained by the hormone oxytocin.

Oxytocin, referred to as the "love hormone", is produced in the brain,

and the close relationship between mother and child, as well as by initiating labor and increasing milk production, it has an important role in childbirth, but this hormone is also responsible for trust, understanding and compassion towards our fellow human beings.

Kikuszui started working on the subject after one of his poodles gave birth to a litter of puppies a few years ago: while he was caring for the newborn dogs, he noticed that their mother was crying. The researcher then had the idea that oxytocin could be behind the increased tear production.

From previous observations, the researchers involved in the study have already established that

both dogs and their owners release oxytocin during the interaction between the two.

The research also revealed that dogs do not shed tears when they see people they do not know, but their tears increased as a result of the added hormone oxytocin.

The researchers established that the tear production of dogs increases in situations experienced by humans as joyful and happy, but there is still no answer as to whether they also react to negative emotions in the same way.

(Source: marmalade.co.hu; hirado.hu | Image: pixabay.com)