Friday, July 17, 2015

Common Stereotypes and Myths About Cats and Dogs

LARGE DOGS ARE ALL AGGRESSIVE:
No dog is born dangerous. People who own supposedly aggressive dog breeds like Pit Bulls, Doberman, and German Shepherds will tell you this. It is how they are raised that determines their temperament. Unfortunately, many dog owners will raise large dogs to be fighting dogs. Here is something to think about: any dog will lash out at humans if he feels threatened. However, a Chihuahua bite is much less serious than a Pit Bull’s.
In a study published in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science came up with the most aggressive dog breeds, and their answer will surprise you. The most aggressive breed was the Dachshund. The study also showed that one in every five of this breed has bitten or attempted to bite their owners.
The least aggressive were identified as Basset Hounds, Golden Retrievers, Labradors, and Siberian Huskies. Pit Bulls and Rottweilers were scored about average, hardly the deadly breeds that society has named them.
DOGS LIKE TASTY FOOD:
Nope. Actually, dogs have very weak taste buds. They eat primarily based on their sense of smell. While they can detect bitter, sweet, salty, and sour, they don’t perceive it the way humans do, and they have only one-sixth the number of taste buds that we do. It is important that, while he may beg for scraps, it is much better for him and you if he is fed healthy, well-balanced meals with high protein and fiber.

DOGS AND BONES:
Another familiar example is the image of a dog snacking on a big, juicy bone. Unfortunately, this practice can be extremely dangerous. Bones, while enticing, can cause many health issues.
Bones are hard enough to crack and fracture their teeth. This can lead to root canals or even tooth extraction. Then there’s the risk of oral injuries. When bone breaks, it splinters. Razor-sharp chips and fragments can become lodged in all sorts of painful places. The digestive system, which includes the esophagus, the stomach, small intestine, and colon, is also at risk of lacerations and punctures due to the pieces of bone that can become lodged inside, any of which can be fatal.

BLACK CATS REPRESENT EVIL:
These poor cats. Long considered to be bad luck and the servants of witches, they have never had it easy. But there is no evidence that the gene for black fur is in any way connected to bad luck. On the contrary; In Japan and the UK, they are prized. Neither are black cats evil. Playful and energetic behaviors, like jumping on your feet or scratching up your armchair, shouldn’t be confused with an attack.
Sadly, what is true about black cats is that they are unwanted. They are only half as likely to be adopted as other cats. It seems that the age-old fear of these felines is enough to overlook such a pet. Every cat, including the black ones, deserve a loving home, because, all superstition aside, they make wonderful pets.

DECLAWING CATS IS HARMLESS:
Imagine if one day a doctor said that, to make sure you didn’t scratch anyone, your nails should be removed— permanently. You’d say no, wouldn’t you? There’s just one problem: that’s what declawing does to a cat. You are removing a crucial part of a cat’s identity, and hurting them in an irreversible fashion.
There are several ways to perform the operation. One, amputate their toes with a scalpel. Two, a laser cuts through bone and tissue, heating the flesh and vaporizing it. Three, cut the tendons that connect each claw, making it impossible for the cat to extend their claws or to even control them.
The truth is, cats scratch. They do it to sharpen their claws, to mark their property, and to calm themselves when they get overexcited. The behavior cannot be stopped by declawing. It often leads to worse problems like aggression or inappropriate urination. Declawing should never be an option. It is dangerous and extremely painful.

CATS AND MILK:
While we have all seen the cute cartoons depicting cats happily lapping up milk out of a saucer, the truth is that, after becoming an adult, cats become lactose intolerant. So, even if you think you are giving your cat a treat, chances are it will make her sick. The lactase in milk often causes a cat to have an upset stomach. 










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