Do you believe everything you see or hear? A lot of stories are handed down and almost become old wives’ tales. Here are ten common myths and the real facts.
Wet or cold nose means a healthy pet
A wet nose is actually a thin layer of mucous that helps them to absorb the scents around them. They then lick their noses to deliver those scents to the olfactory glands on the roof of their mouths. Having a dry nose does not mean they are not healthy; it simply means they do not lick their nose as often or do not secrete as much of the mucous layer. You should be concerned when your pet’s nose has a discoloured discharge.
Pets aren’t in pain unless they cry
Our furry family members are brave creatures and don’t present signs of pain quite the same way that we do. Animals don’t communicate like we do and therefore show their pain in different, more subtle ways. For example, cats will start to hide more, curl their front legs tightly underneath themselves, etc. Cats will not present themselves when they are vulnerable. Pets may become more grumpy or less tolerable of other pets. They may show reluctance to move. They may stop doing things they used to enjoy. When you start to notice subtle changes in behaviour, it may be time to speak to your vet.
Dogs are colour blind
Dogs do see in colour. However, they see differently than most people do and are less able to distinguish between colours. Veterinary ophthalmologists have determined that dogs see like people who have red-green colour blindness. Dogs’ eyes have receptors for blue and green shades, but not for red shades. As a result, it appears that dogs cannot easily distinguish between yellow, green, and red, but they can identify different shades of blue, purple and grey. Colour is only one of many visual stimuli that dogs detect in their environment. Brightness, contrast, and especially motion, are extremely important to a dog’s interpretation of what it sees.
When happy, cats purr, and dogs wag their tail
Most cats do purr when they are happy. However, that is not the only time they purr. Cats will sometimes purr when they are sick, stressed, injured, frightened, or in pain. Purring seems to be more an expression of some strong emotion—positive or negative—than it is an expression of any particular emotion, including happiness. Purring by a cat might be similar to humming or whistling by a human: It commonly is done out of happiness, but may also be done as a result of stress, fright, or discomfort.
Most dogs do wag their tails when they are happy. As a result, people associate a wagging tail with a happy dog. In many cases, a dog wagging its tail is happy, or at least is expressing excitement or pleasure. Tail-wagging certainly does express a strong state of emotion, much like a smile does in people. However, just like a human smile, a dog’s wagging tail does not necessarily reflect happiness or something positive. Dogs frequently wag their tails when they are agitated, irritated, tense, anxious, annoyed, frightened, angry, or aggressive. Interestingly, researchers have found that dogs do not normally wag their tails when they are alone, even if they apparently are happy or are in a pleasant situation. Tail-wagging seems to be a behaviour that is reserved for times when the dog is in the company of others.
Cats have nine lives
This myth probably stems from the fact that cats are very supple and resilient animals, even when they are ill or injured. Cats have a keen ability to get out of situations that would probably be the death of lesser animals. The related myth that cats always land on their feet may also contribute to the myth that cats have nine lives. Nine is considered by many to be a lucky number. In some cultures, the myth is that cats have seven lives. Either way, cats are considered lucky.
Of course, cats do not “have nine lives.” Cats are mortal. However, they do tend to be very healthy, hearty animals that can take care of themselves in most any situation, whether indoors or out. They are nimble, intelligent, and resourceful. But, like all other mammals, cats only have one life to live.
One dog year = seven human years
The basis for this myth remains a mystery. It probably comes from simple math: an average life span for dogs is 10–12 years. Multiplying this by seven equals 70–74 years, roughly the average life span for people today.
Contrary to popular belief, there is no exact formula to gauge how much a dog develops or ages in comparison to so-called “people years.” Aging is as individual for dogs as it is for people. Taking a dog’s age and multiplying it by seven is an overly simplistic formula and does not reflect a dog’s actual developmental status. A more accurate rough guide is as follows:
- a one-year-old-dog equals a fifteen-year-old human;
- a two-year-old-dog equals a 24-year-old human;
- a four-year-old-dog equals a 32-year-old human;
- a seven-year-old-dog equals a 45-year-old human;
- a ten-year-old-dog equals a 56-year-old human; and
- a fifteen-year-old-dog equals a 76-year-old human.
Of course, there is a distinct difference in aging between small dogs and giant breed dogs. Large dogs have a significantly shorter life span than do small dogs. Their development in the early years is about the same as other breeds; however, large and giant breed dogs developmentally are much older than smaller breeds in their later years, starting at about seven years of age.
You can’t teach an old dog new tricks
You can teach an old dog new tricks. Dogs can learn new tricks, skills, and commands within their physical capabilities. What’s more, they usually want to learn. Their minds need stimulation, just like ours. With patience, kindness, persistence, and consistency, owners can teach their older dogs all sorts of new tricks. Given that it is easier to teach a puppy, they are easiest to train from 8–16 weeks, but as long as a dog is bright, alert, responsive, and healthy, there is no reason that he cannot keep learning new things throughout his life.
Shaving an animal will help with heat
Clients often consider shaving their double-coated dogs in the hot, summer months, as they perceive their dog to be too hot. Before you do that, here are some things to think about. The top coat (guard hairs) don’t shed and protect your dog from the harmful rays and insect bites. These hairs act as insulation from the heat.
The outer guard hairs allow cool air to circulate near the dog’s skin when the undercoat is shed. It is important to regularly brush out the undercoat.
Shaved dogs are susceptible to sunburn, which they would not be exposed to if they had their usual coat. The dog’s coat does not always grow back properly after shaving. The undercoat will but the top coat sometimes does not. Dogs should be shaved if the coat is heavily matted or for other health reasons.
Dogs only eat grass to throw up
There actually appear to be two distinct types of grass-eating behaviour in domestic dogs. Some dogs graze casually, taking only a few nibbles of grass at a time, while others chow down on grass vigorously and with a purpose. Dogs who wolf down their grass tend to vomit it (and other stomach contents) within a matter of minutes. Dogs that graze slowly usually do not throw up. So, eating grass does not necessarily mean that a dog has an upset stomach. Some dogs do eat grass when nauseous to vomit while others do it as an activity.
Cats need milk
While many of us can conjure up a cute image of a cat lapping a bowl of milk, resist the temptation to offer this in real life. Cats and dogs don’t have the ability to appropriately break down the lactose in dairy, and consuming it can lead to diarrhoea, vomiting, and other issues if they have not continued to consume it consistently from birth. To make sure your cat is hydrated properly, invest in a cat water fountain; the animals are naturally drawn to moving water. (That’s why they’re often found lapping up water beneath a leaky tap.)
