5 Pet Myths Exposed

We have all heard how dogs only see in black and white, but is it really true? The veterinarians and staff at Cumberland Animal Hospital decided to take a poll of the most common myths and see what truth was behind them. Time to separate fiction from fact when it comes to these common myths about our pets.

Dogs do recognize color, however a limited amount and not as vibrant as humans. Dogs see shades of green, blue, and yellow, as well; their vision tends to be blurred when the light is brighter. As we have learned, dogs have an incredibly strong sense of smell which makes up for any sight disadvantage.

This one goes hand-in-hand with the saying that a dog wagging its tail is happy.  In general, a purring cat is happy; however, it could be experiencing stress, pain, or sickness.  Purring is a self-soothing or self-comforting mechanism for cats.  Likewise, a dog wagging its tail could indicate that it is happy but it could also be an indication that it is stressed or anxious.

There is a reason why veterinarians prescribe flea and tick medicine year-round; it is necessary no matter the time of year or temperature. It has been proven that fleas and ticks can live in temperatures below freezing.  In fact, ticks are active from -40 degrees and higher and fleas from -33 degrees and higher.  In the long run, it is less expensive to be preventative with these medications than reactive by not using them and your pet getting infected.

Not always; however most often it is the case that cats land on their feet.  A cat’s body naturally reflexively corrects its course so that by the time it arrives on the ground, the feet are able to land first. The height of a cat’s fall plays a large part in how likely the cat is able to right itself to land without injury.

Not necessarily. Have you ever watched what a dog licks or puts in their mouth?!?!  Studies have shown that hundreds of unique bacterial species and sometimes parasites can be identified in the saliva of dogs. Both can be transmitted to humans and can cause an assortment of medical conditions.  For most people, accepting kisses from dogs will not hurt them. However, the susceptibility of a person to the bacteria in a dog’s mouth depends on a variety of factors, including the immune status of the person and the level of exposure.

Cumberland Animal Hospital’s veterinarians in Fayetteville, NC are always available to assist you. Please call 910-822-3337 to schedule an appointment today to ask any questions.

Photo by Alvan Nee