How do pets know you feel bad?

Back in June Sweet Hubby fell off of a two story building (Superman had the day off). As a result of the fall, he crushed his radius and broke his wrist joint, chipped his pelvis, collapsed his AC joint, and had other bruises and scrapes. Two surgeries and alot of therapy later he was still in pain. Unexplained pain.

They finally found out he had a 'honkin' (doctor's words, technical term?) herniated disk. So last week he had surgery again. Only an overnight stay at the hospital was needed, and then we were home again.

Sweet Hubby has been, understandably, holed up in bed since last Wednesday. The dog and the cat have been snuggled up with him the whole time. I can hardly get the dog to go outside. They seem to know that he feels bad and needs comfort--or supervision? Either way it is nice.