system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
How sensitive is a dog's sense of touch on the pads of it's feet or through it's fur?
gpt
Veterinary Technician here. The pads of dog paws are much like the pads of our feet. When we walk around barefoot often, they get calloused and rough, whereas when we are not barefoot often, our feet are softer and more sensitive. Dogs who go on walks/hikes/are outdoors often will have tougher pads, while the smaller/indoor only dogs will have incredibly soft paws that can damage easily. Therefore, a dog's sensitivity on its paws varies depending on their paws. Through its fur, dog skin is a different story. They are definitely not nearly as sensitive on their skin as us. There are certain areas that that you can poke with a needle that they won't even feel, like in between their shoulders, or directly into their bladder through the abdomen (to obtain a sterile urinary sample). However, it can often depend on the breed, or just dog in general. Certain dogs are just more reactive than others when it comes to skin/paws.