Crazy pet myths

I’m hoping to move home soon, but it’s been a long time since I moved with a pet.

I’m considering Prof Edward Coleman’s feelings in this far more than my own; he likes to wander to other gardens and, although he settled quickly here, I’m moving nearer a busy road, so I’m thinking of ways to try to keep him in the garden.

Smell of dairy goodness

This brought to mind an argument I had with a family member over that joyous idea that rubbing butter on your cat’s paws will stop it from straying. This family member declared that, because the butter “smells like home”, it knows to come back.

I asked if they would shove slices of cheese between its paws or place a Dairylea triangle on its head if no butter was available? But apparently THAT was a ridiculous idea.

This then got me on the topic of other “crazy myths” people have around pets.

Ingrained untruths

So, myths… which ones have you heard?

• Dogs don’t ever need a caesarean because the puppies only grow to the size of the mum’s pelvis.
• Staffies have big heads because their skulls split when they are fully grown.
• Dogs’ tongues have antiseptic on them, so it’s good for them to lick a wound.
• Animals that are related won’t mate with each other.
• Feeding your dog garlic gets rid of fleas (and its kidneys).
• Fish only grow to the size of the tank they are in.
• Renal pet food has more salt in it to make them drink more.

Even just typing this short list is making me sigh at the hurdles we need to overcome when communicating with clients. Many of these myths are so ingrained that, however you challenge them, clients refuse to accept they might not be entirely true.

Strange, but true

But when animals also have insane truths like:

• a tarantula’s leg can grow back
• a gecko’s tail can grow back
• cats can give birth to a single litter of kittens with multiple fathers (superfecundation)

…maybe the myths are easier to believe!

I’m sure you can all add to this list with other joys – maybe regional variations exist? And how do you counter these in your clinic?

Please share, as I think we could all do with a little extra help in the consult car park right now.