Even though new discoveries are quickly debunking the current myths concerning household pets, some of them still persist. Owning a pet is without a doubt a great responsibility for any person, but sometimes our misconceptions get the best of us. The problem is that some of these myths and misconceptions prevent owners from providing their pet the optimal care, the best diet and the necessary treatment in the eventuality that it develops a condition. This guide aims to discuss some of these most frequently encountered myths and if you have fallen prey to either of them, you should immediately take the steps to address the issue.
1. Home treatments are less expensive compared to veterinarian fees and are equally effective
Unless you have a certification in the field of animal medicine, then it is strongly advisable to refrain from treating your pet on your own. There is a reason why veterinarians undergo extensive schooling and practice under the supervision of a licensed specialist before they are allowed to provide treatment. Their knowledge and years of experience is the safest way to establish the diagnosis of your pet correctly and select the optimal medication, in the absence of which the simple condition can escalate quite quickly along with the cost of the treatment.
2. A dog/cat that never leaves the house does not necessitate vaccines
It is necessary to point out that the legislation in the vast majority of states stipulates that the anti-rabies vaccine is mandatory, regardless of whether your dog/cat leaves the premises of your home. Rabies is spread by bats and chances are these small animals could enter the house without your knowledge. On a side note, the heartworm preventatives should also be part of your pet’s treatment, considering that you cannot really keep your home 100% mosquito free at all times.
3. Sister-brother pet mating is not an issue
False, dogs and cats have no sense of taboo and will in fact mate with their siblings as soon as their reproductive organs are functional. Like in the case of human, inbreeding has high changes of determining congenital defects, so the pets should be spayed/neutered before they are 6 months old. Alternatively, you can give them away to different homes.
4. Milk is part of a cat’s mandatory diet
This is probably the most frequently encountered mistake, but it is simple to understand why pet owner believe that: cats love milk and this aliment has positive health effects for humans. However, while the weaning period milk does constitute the primary source of nourishment, the cat develops lactose intolerance. Therefore, by giving them milk you can expect gastrointestinal infections, diarrhea, gas, etc.
5. Cats usually urinate outside the box as revenge
You simply cannot attribute human emotions and reactions to your household pets, no matter how friendly or vengeful they appear. If your cat was trained to utilize the litter box but you discover urine stains on the carpet all of a sudden, it could indicate that it is suffering from a urinary tract disease (stones, infection, inflammation, etc.). Therefore, visit your veterinarian right away in order to establish the diagnosis.
Dianne Busscher’s house woke up early one morning because her cat was crying in the garage. When she reached the cat, she found that the lower part of the house was going up in flames.
David Ceci fell into the water when he was 14 years old and unfortunately, he could not swim. Filippo, a dolphin, came and rescued him and kept nudging him towards the surface till David’s father was able to pull him out.
Brenda Owen was walking her dog when she realized that a woman was drowning in the river. She could not find help so she started telling her dog to “go fetch”. Penny (the dog) then jumped into the water and swam till she was able to pull the woman ashore.
A two year old boy was walking with his grandmother and the family dog, Arf when the pet went into a temper. The grandmother rushed the child inside the house but when the child’s mother came out, she found Arf wrestling with a massive coral snake. Turns out that the snake was about to attack the baby but Arf jumped right in and saved him.
Janice was working in a pasture when her calf got in her way and did not let her leave. She got annoyed and tried to move but the animal didn’t budge. That’s when she noticed a snake a few feet away from her feet and if the calf had not stood in her way, she would have stepped on it which would have proven to be fatal.
This breed originated in the 1960s and contrary to popular belief is not related to the German Rex breed. These cats do not have ‘guard hair’ and their fur is very fine. They have very large eye as well as low-set and large ears. Even though they are quite playful, they should be avoided because they look quite ugly.
A Scottish Fold cat’s ears are very close to their heads. This is because their genes are slightly mutilated which causes their ears to fold over because of which they look quite funny and sometimes, angry. These cats can be cute if you really love cats but otherwise, they are not too appealing.
These cats have puffy tails and tend to hop about like rabbits instead of run like normal cats. Their eyes are usually gold or silver in color and while they are quite expensive, they aren’t too popular as they can be quite startling with all that hopping.
These Siamese cats can have different colored eyes- while one can be green, the other is usually blue. Even though these cats are considered to be a symbol of luck and have been around for hundreds of years, they can look quite scary with their odd-colored eyes.
Cats belonging to this breed have odd markings which includes spots and stripes that are irregularly placed on their bodies. They are quite large and can weigh up to 16 kilograms. Savannahs can be very friendly and love to play fetch and are known to be as loyal as dogs. However, the fact that they greet their owners and others by shoving their head into them, is quite unusual. These cats like to jump a lot and instead of drinking the water in their bowls, they will bat it out with their paws.
Labradors are extremely cute as puppies and grow up to be even cuter. They are loyal, lovable and very friendly. These dogs are nothing if not adorable and you will find yourself getting attached to them the minute you see them!
Rabbits are round, fluffy and extremely endearing. Even though they can be a little high maintenance, they are definitely worth all the effort. They will nibble on their carrots in the most adorable way and their soft fur will take away all your worries after a bad day.
Dwarf Hamsters are related to the regular sized ones but are definitely much cuter! They are native to parts of Russia and China and can be found in any pet store located near you. Chinese hamsters are as adorable and are often considered to be the same as dwarf hamsters.
This cat breed belongs to Turkey and is extremely cute. This cat’s fur is startlingly white and their eyes’ are gorgeous. They are extremely fluffy when they are newborns but their fur gradually acclimatizes itself with the weather as they get older.
Guinea pigs look a bit like hamsters and their eyes are alert and round. They have the most adorable ears and are unfortunately used in labs for testing and research. Guinea pigs are known for their docile nature and the fact that they practically take care of themselves. A number of breeds are available and in different colors. They can weigh about 2.5 pounds and can live up to eight years.
The Pitbull is undoubtedly the most dangerous dog as declared by the CDC or Centers for Disease Control. These dogs are stocky and muscular and weight about 65 pounds. What makes them dangerous is that when they attack, they target the victims throat and consequently, bring their jaws down.
Rottweilers are extremely territorial, which is what makes them dangerous. These dogs can weigh a maximum of 130 pounds and a minimum of 100 pounds. High-profile businessmen, celebrities and politicians use them as guard dogs.
Germany Shephards are associated with gentleness and tenderness because of various TV shows, like “Rin Tin Tin”. They can weigh about 100 pounds and are loyal police dogs, are family-oriented and serve well as guide dogs. However, if they are not treated well, they can be very cruel and mean. While this holds true for every other animal, fact is that Germany Shepherds are intelligent and very powerful, making them slightly more dangerous than the rest.
Even though Huskies can be very dangerous, fact is that according to research, only 15 people have died over 20 years. These dogs are so energetic that they are almost hysterical which is why they should be taken for regular walks. They can weight about 66 pounds and are very loyal to the family they belong to.
Alaskan Malamutes are very intelligent and are devoted to their masters. Like Huskies, they are very energetic and hyper and if one does not give this energy a positive outlet, they can become very aggressive and restless. These dogs weight about 100 pounds and because they are built for the Arctic weather, their coats are very coarse and thick.
The bearded dragon is considered as one of the most popular types of pet lizards for exotic animal keepers. It is appropriate for all levels of experience making these types of lizards extremely popular with both the beginners and professional animal keepers. Bearded lizards are comparatively small and can be easily housed in an average-size plastic or glass terrarium.
The uromastyx lizards are more popularly referred to as spiny-tailed reptiles and exotic animal keepers simply refer to them as “uros.” This is one type of lizard that is highly recommended as exotic pet especially for beginners. Uromastyx lizards come in different colors as there are 16 known species of this type of lizard.
This type of lizards is also considered ideal exotic pets. Blue tongued skinks are generally docile and pet owners can easily tame them. These lizards are omnivores and their diet is usually composed of 60% plants and 40% meat.
The leopard gecko is the perfect choice for exotic animal keepers who want a pet lizard that is smaller than the iguana. A full grown leopard gecko reaches 10 inches in length.
Green anole is sometimes closely associated with the chameleon although they are not related. It is also a popular choice among exotic pet lovers. The green anole can change color from its usual green color to dark brown. It measures 9 inches in length at when fully grown.
