{"id":3193,"date":"2019-06-28T14:18:09","date_gmt":"2019-06-28T18:18:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/?p=3193"},"modified":"2021-02-17T10:41:20","modified_gmt":"2021-02-17T15:41:20","slug":"dogs-kick-when-you-scratch-their-belly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/dogs-kick-when-you-scratch-their-belly\/","title":{"rendered":"The Sweet Spot: Why Do Dogs Kick When You Scratch Their Belly?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Have you ever noticed that when you scratch your dog\u2019s belly, something unusual occurs? It happens every time you hit the \u201csweet spot.\u201d You know the one. Suddenly, your dog starts kicking his back leg like he\u2019s running on his side. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dogs are full of quirky habits<\/a>, but this one is puzzling. What is it about that sweet spot that makes a dog\u2019s leg twitch or kick? Are they ticklish or is it something else?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oakland Veterinary Referral Services<\/a> takes a look at this funny mystery of why dogs kick when you scratch their belly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Scratch Reflex Redux<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What happy dog doesn\u2019t love a good belly rub? Most pet owners will agree that their pets love being scratched. They all have their favorite spots. For most, the belly is a favorite – from the smallest to the largest dogs, it\u2019s true. And what happens when you scratch…sometimes your dog\u2019s back leg starts to shake or kick. These kicks, caused by the belly scratch, look like a running or swimming motion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strange, huh?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Well, it isn\u2019t so mysterious. We call this response the scratch reflex. It\u2019s an involuntary response, much like the one that occurs when the doctor taps below your knee (the \u201cknee-jerk\u201d reflex). Our reflexive kicks are similar to our dogs\u2019 kicks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nerves under the skin connected to the spinal cord relay a message to your dog\u2019s leg to kick without it having to pass through the brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When your pet kicks in response to a scratch, it looks pretty funny to us, right? Is it funny for our pets too? Not so much. It actually startles your pet. Like a bug landing on their nose. That\u2019s probably why your dog looks just as puzzled by their own behavior. It\u2019s the same type of reflex that occurs when your cat lifts its butt high when you scratch the tail\u2019s base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s even cooler about this reflex is that it can help your veterinarian uncover potential problems. By activating this reflex, your vet can determine if there is nerve damage or neurological damage occurring in certain areas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other examples of involuntary reflexes that we\u2019re familiar with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n