Most pet owners have become very educated about their pets and the health of their pets. Still, there are many others who tend to believe in the old wives tales and myths that have been passed around for ages. Not sure what to believe when it comes to the health and well-being of your dog or cat? Well, read on! Here are 15 popular myths about pets…busted!
1. My pet should have a litter before they are spayed.
This is not true. Dogs and cats that have a litter before they are spayed are not better for it in any way. In fact, spayed pets are at lower risk for breast cancer and uterine infections if spayed before their first heat!
2. Dogs are sick when their noses are warm.
The temperature of a dogs nose does not indicate health or illness or if they have a fever. There is an “old wives tale” that cold wet noses indicate health. And warm or dry noses indicate a fever or illness. The only accurate method to access a dog’s temperature is to take it with a (baby) thermometer. Normal dog temperature is 99 to 102.5 degrees F.
3. Potcakes don’t need to go to the Vet.
This is not true. Both potcakes and purebred dogs can be unhealthy. Both can have diseases, however, potcakes do not have many of the genetic diseases common in purebred lines. If your potcake has a gaping wound, she may not complain but it still hurts and she should not be left alone to heal. It is only humane to take her to the vet for proper health care
4. Happy dogs wag their tails.
This may be true but aggressive dogs often wag their tails too. A wagging tail can mean agitation or excitement. A dog that wags his tail slowly and moves his rear end or crouches down in the classic “play bow” position is usually being friendly. Tails that are wagged when held higher, twitches or wagging while held over the back may be associated with aggression.
5. Dogs must have bones!
The most common symbol associated with dogs, the ‘bone’, is actually damaging to dogs! It is an erroneous myth that dogs should have bones. Do not, I repeat, do not give dogs bones… any bones. For starters, their teeth wear down from hard bones, and can even break. Cooked bones should never be given to dogs. The heat changes the chemical and physical properties of bones and they resist digestion and cannot be chewed properly, splintering into jagged shards. These splintered bones can wreak havoc on the gastro intestinal tract causing rips and tears inside the mouth, esophagus, stomach and intestines. Prevent painful and potentially fatal conditions such as these by not giving your dogs bones. So, the leftovers from KFC are not treats. They’re actually detrimental to your dog!
6. Motor oil and kerosene oils cures mange.
Do we have to go over this again? These agents burn the skin of our pets. There is a simple therapy to get rid of mange and it does not involve having a greasy dog walking around your yard. If your dog is losing his hair and scratching a lot, take him to your vet for proper diagnoses and treatment.
7. Dogs eat grass when they are sick.
Dog descended from wild wolves and foxes that ate all parts of their “kill.” This included the stomach contents of many animals that ate berries and grass. Many scientists believe grass was once part of their normal diet and eating small amounts is normal.
8. Dogs that are mostly indoors don’t need heartworm or flea and tick prevention.
This is not true. Indoor pets are also at risk for heartworm disease. Heartworm disease is spread by mosquitoes which can come inside. The same holds true for tick and flea infestations. When your pet has to relieve herself outside, this is the opportune time for fleas and ticks to jump on for a ride and a meal!
9. Dogs eat rocks, lick concrete or eat their or another animals’ poop because of nutrient imbalances.
No one knows why dogs eat “stuff” that they shouldn’t eat. Some veterinarians believe that some dogs that eat “things” may be trying to get attention or acting out of boredom. It is important for dogs to eat a well balanced diet that will fulfill their dietary and nutrient requirements.
10. Dogs which scoot on their rear ends on the ground have worms.
Sometimes dogs having tapeworms may exhibit this behavior, though the overwhelming majority of animals doing this have inflamed or overly full anal sacs. The anal sacs are structures located on either side of the anus which when closed up cause an itching or burning sensation in your pets’ anal area. As a result the animal scoots its rear on the ground to try and relieve this situation. Your vet expresses anal sacs during routine annual checkups.
11. Cats always land on their feet.
In the feline world, the most popular cliche is, “Cats always land on their feet.” This is perhaps one of the more dangerous myths regarding fel-ines, because children unfortunately want to try to prove it. It’s true that cats are very agile and can twist themselves in mid-air to correct their position, but not every time. If a cat is surprised, panicked or injured, or they fall from too great a height, they may not be able to position themselves correctly. In addition, in a serious fall (from a second-storey window, for instance) it wouldn’t matter if they could land on their feet. The fall could still injure or even kill the cat.
12. Got Milk?
Even though milk has tons of nutritional advantages for humans, cats should not drink milk! Most cats like milk, but don’t need it if properly nourished. If you give milk to your kitty, do so in small quantities. Too much causes diarrhea.
13. Who’s the Smartest?
Between dog lovers and cat lovers, one controversy remains supreme: Which animal is smarter? It’s a myth to believe cats have a higher intelligence simply because they are thought to be manipulative and mysterious, just as it’s not accurate to believe a dog’s mind operates on a higher plane simply because he can be easily trained to perform and behave. The truth is, both animals display strong smarts in their selective areas of specialty. Ultimately, a dog is a dog and a cat is a cat. I think they are very different creatures and we should appreciate what each specie has to offer.
14. Rubbing your pets’ noses in their mess will teach them not to do it again.
Utter nonsense folk. There are training methods to get your dog or cat house trained. Rubbing noses in feces or urine is downright mean and it doesn’t do much more than strike fear in your pet.
15. Spanking, hitting, feeding pepper, teasing and tormenting will make for a good guard dog.
Again, more nonsense. If you want a guard dog, contact a professional dog trainer. Spanking, hitting and teasing is mean. These methods just create a fearful and angry dog that may just turn on you one day! Feeding pepper is silly and it can damage the gastro intestinal tract. If you want a loyal and protective canine look for a professional dog trainer.
So, there you have some real facts about cats and dogs. There still exists numerous myths about pets and if you’re in doubt, call your local vet for the correct information. It could save your pets’ lives!
By: Dr. Chante Wildgoose
Reprinted from the Pet Corner column
Freeport News
