In the spotlight
Common pet beliefs: true or false
Compliments of the UK Veterinary Charity PDSA, www.pdsa.org.uk, here are some common beliefs about pets. Are they True or False?
Dogs see in black and white
Wrong. Although dogs have limited colour vision - red and green appear similar to them - tests show they can distinguish blue, yellow and grey objects. Researchers at the University of California found that greyhounds and poodles can spot the odd one out from three coloured panels in return for food. Researchers have also identified receptors at the back of the eye that allow colour vision.A purring cat is a happy cat
Cats usually purr when they're content or enjoying affection from their owners. But purring can also be a sign of pain, anxiety or discomfort. 'There are occasions when purring could mean something other than happiness,' says senior PDSA vet Elaine Pendlebury. 'It could indicate mild anxiety in some situations.The key is to understand other signs, such as posture. Are the ears pulled back? Is the animal crouching or holding itself in a tucked-in position? These could all show a cat in distress, despite its purring.'
Goldfish have a three-second memory
Oh no they don't. Scientists at the University of Belfast have demonstrated that goldfish can learn to avoid parts of their tanks that give them harmless electric shocks, remembering the locations for at least 24 hours.Indeed, earlier research suggests fish have a memory span of around three and can distinguish between shapes, colours and sounds. Researchers have even been able to train trout and salmon to come to a feeding station upon hearing a noise.
Dogs will eat only as much as they need
Dogs are descended from wolves. In the wild, they would hunt and gorge, not knowing where their next meal was coming from. Equally, as pack animals they would eat as much as they could before another dog pushed them away. Domestic dogs follow these ancient instincts despite plentiful food, leading to obesity.'The big problem for dogs comes from treats such as cakes and chocolate,' says Elaine Pendlebury. 'The latter is especially dangerous because it contains theobromine, which can kill dogs.'
Cats and dogs never get along
Forget those Tom and Jerry cartoons of Spike the bulldog chasing Tom around the house. Researchers at Tel Aviv University found that cats and dogs could share a home if they were introduced to each other at an early age - preferably before the cats were six months old and before the dogs reached their first birthday.It also helped if the cat joined the household before the dog. Such animals were able to understand each other's body language, even where it contradicted their own - and avoid fighting like cats and dogs.
Milk is good for cats
Oh no it's not. After weaning, milk is not necessary and could even be harmful, because its calories and fat encourage obesity. A cat's ability to digest lactose (the sugar in milk) reduces as they mature.Cats can even become intolerant to milk, resulting in diarrhea. Owners should give cats limited milk - or none at all. Water is better.
Dogs always have bad breath
Many dog owners mistakenly think a dog's foul mouth odor is normal. It's not. Dogs' mouths can smell if they've eaten something unpleasant, but otherwise it is an indicator of poor health - possibly a sign of dental disease inflaming the gums.Dental disease could affect the heart and may put the dog off its food if chewing is painful. The solution is teeth-cleaning, which is not as onerous as it sounds (some dogs like electric toothbrushes, apparently).
Bad breath could also indicate other problems, such as kidney failure or something trapped in the mouth and rotting - such as a piece of a stick. Equally, a dog whose breath smells of pear drops or nail varnish remover could be suffering from diabetes.
A wagging tail means a happy dog
Not necessarily. In most cases this is true, but dogs also wiggle their tails when they are agitated, tense, anxious, annoyed or ready to fight.'The tail is an important communications device for a dog,' says Pendlebury. ' Different positions and movements mean different things.'
Dr John Bradshaw and Dr Sarah Brown of the University of Bristol found that an erect tail indicates confidence and a lowered tail, but possibly wagging tail, insecurity.
This is why tail docking for appearance is unwise: it robs the animal of a way of displaying its mood and making friends with other animals, which can lead to fights.
A wet nose is a sign of a healthy dog
Not necessarily. It is normal for a dog to have a cool, moist nose. But a warm, dry nose may not mean anything is wrong.A healthy nose should be smooth and even, with no red or ulcerated areas. Dogs tend to lick away discharges, which could be a sign of a problem, so owners need to look carefully to make sure a wet nose is not due to this behavior.
The mistake is to assume a wet nose indicates that all is well,' says Pendlebury.
'Look for other signs: is the dog off its food, depressed, inactive or drinking a lot of water? All these could suggest problems, even if the nose is normal.'
Author: Susan Thixton, Pet journalist
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