Animal Skin and Allergy Clinic Blog

If you enjoyed us busting some common pet dermatology myths in our previous blog, read on. We are taking on a few more popular pet myths that everyone seems to know… or not.

Dogs are Colorblind

It is a long held belief that dogs are totally color blind. While they may not see colors as well as you or me, they can distinguish some colors. It is speculated that dogs probably see the world much the same as a person with red/green colorblindness. So while you may not be asking for Fido’s input on redecorating your living room, chances are your pet sees enough color to have an opinion.

Cats Always Land on Their Feet

Cats are amazing and graceful animals, and they often do make spills look surprisingly nimble. Cats are not always able to land on their feet, however; and certainly suffer serious injuries when falling or jumping from very high places.

While a cat’s instinct to right itself may often help him or her to land feet-first, many factors are involved. A surprised or disoriented pet may not be able to land a fall. Falls from a great distance create enough force to cause injuries no matter which end lands first. Falls from a shorter distance can leave the cat with little time to react.

While cats certainly shirk a lot of injuries, it is best to protect your cat from falls by being sure your windows and screens are secure this summer.

Drinking Ice Water Can Cause Bloat

You might recall hearing that giving your pooch ice cubes or ice water on a hot day can cause bloat (also called gastric dilatation-volvulus, or GDV). This serious and life-threatening condition can be any pet owner’s worst nightmare. The stomach actually fills with air and then twists on itself, causing the blood supply to the stomach, and often the spleen, to be obstructed.

But fear not this summer, this pet myth has been shown to have absolutely no founding. There is no known reason that drinking cold water would cause a problem. Be careful though, and don’t allow your hot pooch to down too much water or food too quickly.

Pet Myths Regarding Diet

There is a lot of information out there about what you should and shouldn’t feed your pet. Some of the most common pet myths we hear have to do with food. Some false feeding facts include:

• Cats should drink milk (many adult cats actually are lactose intolerant, which can lead to diarrhea if they do drink milk)
• Canned food contributes to dental disease (really not a factor when compared to regular dry food)
• Feeding only people food is good (it is actually quite involved to create a balanced pet diet)
• Switching to a grain free diet is best for pets with food allergies (the most common food allergies for pets are proteins, not grains)
• Corn is just a filler in pet foods (corn actually can be a valuable nutrition source)

There a lots of myths about pets out there. Some are so ingrained in our daily lives that can be difficult to separate fact from fiction. As always, if you have questions about your pet’s care or health, please ask. We are always happy to help.