Veterinary Notes

Common animal myths and misconceptions held by pet owners May 6, 2009

The UK animal charity, PDSA, have recently compiled a list of commonly believed urban myths by pet owners, that may be inadvertently harming their pets. Below are some of the common misconceptions held by pet owners:

Goldfish have a short memory of only a few seconds It has been shown in one study that goldfish avoided an area of a tank that administered tiny electric shocks, for greater than 24 hours. Other studies have show fish to have longer memories (up to 3 months), where they can be trained to press levers at certain times of the day for a food reward.

Dogs are colour-blind and can only see in black and white Tests have been done on dogs where they have correctly been able to distinguish blue, grey and yellow objects for food rewards. However, dogs are red-green colour-blind and their overall vision is six times worse than ours but their night vision is superior to humans.

Dogs will only eat as much as they need meaning it is impossible to overfeed them Being descendants of wolves, dogs have a natural tendency to gorge, not knowing where their next meal is coming from. This leaves them open to dangerous obesity if overfed. The increasing levels of obesity in pets all over the world is more than enough proof that dogs can’t be left to eat according to their own desire!

Rabbits make ideal cagemates for guinea pigs Rabbits are larger than guinea pigs and as a result have a tendency to bully them. In addition to this, their nutritional requirements are not identical. For example, guinea pigs lack the enzyme to produce their own vitamin C and so need a diet in vegetables/fruit/pellets that is high in this vitamin.

Purring cats are always happy cats
Cats will usually purr when they’re contented and when they are enjoying affection from their owners. However, some cats will also purr when they are in pain, discomfort or anxious.

Rabbits should eat carrots Carrots actually have a high sugar content and so if fed in excess, may lead to an obese rabbit. They can be fed in moderation but the green leafy top (as opposed to orange stalk) is more nutritionally beneficial to rabbits.

A wagging tail indicates a happy dog More often than not, this is true, but dogs can also wiggle their tails when they are agitated, tense, anxious, annoyed, ready to fight. I personally can testify to dogs attempting to bite despite wagging their tails!

A wet nose is a sign of a healthy dog It is normal for a dog to have a cool and moist nose. A warm and dry nose, however does not always mean that a dog is ill. A healthy nose should have a smooth and even surface, with no red or ulcerated areas. It is also important to be aware of any discharges (that tend to be licked away), which could be a sign of an airway infection.

Scooting the bottom along the ground means your pet has worms This is commonly due to a problem with a pet’s anal glands, which can become full and uncomfortable. These are two small glands found inside the anus, which usually are straightforward to empty relieving the discomfort.

Milk is good for cats This is wrong! Once weaned, milk is not required in a cat’s diet. Later in life, cats have a lower ability to digest lactose (sugar found in milk). Milk offered to cats can lead to digestive upsets and diarrhoea. Adult cats should be offered either limited milk or none at all.

Neutering (desexing) my pet will lead to obesity
This is also wrong. Neutering (castration or spaying) will slow a pet’s metabolism (meaning they burn calories more slowly). After desexing, feeding less food and adequate exercise will prevent your pet from getting fat. There are numerous benefits from desexing a pet.

It is normal for a dog to have bad breath This is incorrect. It is often assumed that a dog’s mouth odour is a natural part of ‘being a dog’. However, halitosis (bad breath) is often a sign of dental disease, which is caused by erosion of teeth by bacteria and inflammation of the gums (gingivitis). Other diseases can also lead to halitosis such as kidney failure or the presence of a rotten foreign object trapped in the mouth. Owners should maintain good oral hygiene which includes daily cleaning of their pet’s teeth with a toothbrush and toothpaste.