Pets Information

Veterinarians Set Record Straight


Most pet owners have become very educated about their pet and the health of their pet. Still, there are many others who tend to believe in the old wives tales and myths that have been passed around for some time now. I'm sure most of you have heard at least one, and probably more, of the following myths. Veterinarians at the American Animal Hospital Association(AAHA) have since enlightened us to many of those tales and to the facts concerning some of the most commonly heard myths.

Myth: Yeast will prevent fleas from feasting on your pet.

Fact: There is still no scientific proof that yeast prevents fleas, though it is a good source of B vitamins.

Myth: Pets(dogs/cats) will get worms if they drink milk.

Fact: This is no more true for your pets than it is for you! Pets do lose their tolerance for milk early, however, around the age of 6 -8 weeks of age due to their loss of lactose(an enzyme essential for the digestion of milk products). Young animals may have diarrhea if they drink milk due to the above factors. Still, most puppies are infected with worms through maternal milk or during pregnancy which is why treating both mother and litters for worms is so important.

Myth: If a purebred bitch inadvertently becomes pregnant by a mix breed dog, this disallows her ability to have purebred puppies in future litters.

Fact: The only puppies that will be mixed breed are the ones resulting from this breeding. If bred with a purebred mate in the future, those puppies will also be purebred.

Myth:Dogs and cats should be allowed one heat cycle, or one litter of pups, before being spayed.

Fact: A major benefit of being spayed may be lost if this is allowed to happen! Research shows that animals spayed before their first heat have a significantly smaller chance of developing future health problems such as breast cancer.

Myth: Dogs which scoot their rear ends on the ground have worms.

Fact: Sometimes dogs having tapeworms may exhibit this behavior, though the overwhelming majority of animals doing this have inflamed or overly full anal sacs.

The anal sacs are structures located on either side of the anus which when closed up cause an itching or burning sensation in your pets anal area. As a result the animal scoots its rear on the ground to try and relieve this situation.

Myth: Any dog having a black mouth is a purebred.

Fact: Though some purebred dogs have a blackened color inside their mouth, this is no indication of any other animal being a purebred. Pigmentation is the only reason for this color, caused by a substance called melanin. Indeed, this substance called melanin is responsible for birthmarks in humans and also the lack of, or availability of, such skin tones as a tan. This color alone is not indicative of a purebred dog.

Myth:Puppies need calcium supplements for strong bones and erect ears.

Fact: If you are feeding your animals a diet that is nutritionally complete, then no further supplements are needed. Too much calcium, in fact, can be harmful to your dog.

Article written and reprinted with permission of: http://www.pedigreedpups.com/ Purebred Dogs, Puppies and Dog Breeders - "Your New Best Friend"

Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.

Debbie Ray, owner of: http://www.pedigreedpups.com is a lifetime dog lover and owner and breeder of german shepherd dogs for over 15 years.

  


MORE RESOURCES:

Mortgage meltdown results in pets going to pound
CNN - 4 hours ago
With foreclosures disrupting life, from the family house down to the dog house, and as Americans toil through a tough economic landscape, some of their pets ...


Newseum to Host Inaugural Special Opening
MarketWatch - Nov 20, 2008
"First Dogs: American Presidents and Their Pets" features photographs and anecdotes about more than two dozen dogs and their owners, including George ...


A Recommended Sales and Use Tax Proposed by Governor ...
MarketWatch - 6 hours ago
Pets are not furniture. New 'luxury' tax (also applied to furniture repair, auto repair and golf) will result in higher veterinary costs and further shelter ...


Homeless Pets Finding Families at Petland Stores Nationwide
MarketWatch - 21 minutes ago
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio, Nov 21, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The results of Petland's Adopt-A-PetSM survey mean good news for homeless pets at Petland stores ...


Presidential Pets
The Santa Barbara Independent, CA - 7 hours ago
Of those pets, 3 million-4 million are euthanized. If the Obamas decide to choose a shelter dog, it will send the right message to the country. ...
Good pets don’t necessarily make happy campers Sonoma Valley Sun
all 4 news articles


Pets in peace: Burial options when we lose our furry friends
Vital VOICE, MO - 4 hours ago
They come to pick up the pet from the owner’s home or in Valley Park has six private acres that accommodate 2500 pets at this time. pet cemetery in the area ...


Soldier's home burns; pets saved (8:28 am)
Las Cruces Sun-News, NM - 7 hours ago
Collazo said his son was at school when the fire broke out, and the family's 20 pets -- including two ferrets, two dogs and several turtles, mice and fish ...


San Francisco Chronicle

Would you choose your pet over your partner?
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - 2 hours ago
In a study of 900 pet parents by BizRate Research, women said they had a deeper emotional connection with their pets than men did. ...


Family Time: Save pets from holiday stress
Norwich Bulletin, CT - 1 hour ago
Try a pheromone-based product, such as Comfort Zone with DAP for dogs and Comfort Zone with Feliway for cats, which can calm and soothe pets having trouble ...


Protect your pets
Victorville Daily Press, CA - 3 hours ago
"You think you're going to outlive your pets. ... I have two daughters, and neither one would take him. They have kids, and he's not too kid-friendly. ...

pets - Google News

Article List | Index | Site Map
All logos, trademarks and articles on this site are property and copyright of their respective owner(s).
The comments are property of their posters, all the rest is Copyright © 2006 CanadaSEEK.com - All Rights Reserved.