Is Yawning Contagious In Dogs?

Many studies have been focused on determining if yawning between humans and dogs are contagious. Results showed that yawning was indeed contagious between humans and dogs, even with those they are unfamiliar with. In these situations, yawning was interpreted by animal behaviorists as a form of empathy or social connection with their humans. There were no indications of stress, anxiety, or even confusion. There are also studies that show stress yawns being contagious among dogs. One indicator of stress in dogs is a rise in the levels of cortisol in the saliva. Dogs that were found to have higher salivary cortisol levels yawned more often than dogs with normal levels of cortisol. Suffice to say, a dog’s yawn doesn’t always signify boredom or exhaustion.

If you notice sudden changes in your pet’s health and/or behavior, do make an appointment with an animal hospital Matthews, NC sooner rather than later.