10 Urban Pet Myths That Drive Vets Crazy

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Pet Health, Ask A Vet, Animal Sites We Love

Although I keep hoping that its time will come, the Internet hasn't done much to dispel some erroneous thinking on the subject of pet healthcare.

If anything, the Web is fueled by the kind of rumor mill sensibility that leads to even more misinformation on the subject of pet health and pet care. Case in point: the widespread willingness to believe that someone actually microwaved a pet to dry it off.

SEE ALSO: 5 Dog Myths That May Be All Wrong

To that end, here's my list of urban myths that drive me crazy!

1. A Cold, Wet, Dry or Warm Nose Tells Us Something
Although some pets' noses might be capable of offering us some useful information, most of them do not - which is why veterinarians do not rely on this information at all when taking stock of a pet's history and physical exam.


2. "Happy Pet" Behavior
People have a thing about assuming that pets are really happy when they exhibit certain behaviors, which can lead to all kinds of poor decision-making. A tail wag doesn't always mean that a dog is pleased to see you. A stiff tail wag, in fact, is a sure sign that you should watch your step.

A purring cat is not always a content cat. If that were the case, my right arm wouldn't be as scratched up as it is at the moment. After the owner of a new patient swore that her cat was a "purring angel," I reached to pet her and got a sharp set of claws in response to my advance. She was purring though.

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Cat Hates Disc Drive

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Cats, Funny Animal Videos

A few months ago, we showed you a video of a cat who was obsessed with a fax machine. We joked that the cat was fixated on outmoded technology. Well here's a cat who's a bit less of a luddite. Just a bit, though. I mean, a disc drive? Seems a little '90s. Come on, cat; hasn't anybody told you that physical media is dunzo? It's all about downloads and iPads and Kindles now. Get your mind off of that ol' coffe-cup holder!

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Zootoo Review – 5 Great Products for New Kittens

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Cats, Pet Product Reviews

Last week, we highlighted some essential products for pet parents who have added a new puppy to the household during the holiday season. But what if you're ringing in the New Year with a new kitten instead?

In addition to lots of affection and warmth, your fuzzy ball of love will need a few pieces of pet gear to stay content and healthy. To help first-time cat owners start off on the right paw, our friends at Zootoo rounded up some of their favorite products for new kittens.

Featuring top-quality, fresh ingredients such as chicken, ocean whitefish, and spinach, Freshpet Select Roasted Meals will give your young feline a protein-packed, healthy meal with real meaty flavor. The recipe also includes such vitamins and minerals as Vitamins A, B12, and E, as well as folic acid, to help promote wellness for your growing feline.


Gentle and effective, Espree Natural Kitten Shampoo uses natural ingredients such as jojoba and aloe vera to keep your kitten smelling as sweet as she looks. The formula contains such vitamins as A, D and E to keep fur healthy and shiny, and the cleanser is potent enough to handle most grooming jobs if you have already have older cats in your family.


Full of useful tips for keeping your kitten healthy and happy, Kittens for Dummies by Dusty Rainbolt casts a wide net and reels in just about everything there is to know about taking care of young felines. Packed with information, the book also contains sections covering your kitten's behavior and psychological health.


Awaken your kitten's love of playtime with the Kong Naturals Crinkle Fish with Feathers Cat Toy. This engaging product is light enough to encourage young cats to bat and toss the toy, but sturdy enough to allow felines to grab onto their prized catch and carry it around the house. And all of the materials and dyes used in the toy are derived from renewable resources.


A no-fuss cleaning method if you're traveling with your new kitten, PetWipes To-Go from Petkin use aloe vera and Vitamin E to create a mild solution for handling messes when away from home. And these non-toxic, alcohol-free wipes are suitable for use on both dogs and cats, making them ideal for multi-pet households.

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Giving Cats Pills – 5 Things Every Owner Needs to Know

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Cats, Pet Health, Ask A Vet

Want to learn how to give your cat a pill in 20 easy steps? Get in line.

Although it may seem pedestrian and trite at first blush, this is a serious subject. There's nothing as sad as having to euthanize a patient because an owner can't or won't deliver the necessary drugs as directed.

SEE ALSO: 9 Secrets Your Cat Knows, But Won't Tell You

It happens -- and more often than you'd think.

Medicating felines is a stressful thing that colors much of our veterinary working lives, which invariably gets me thinking about cat owners who protest too much. Honestly, have they ever tried pilling a resistant hamster?

My point is not that felines aren't tough to medicate. It's that all animals are hard to medicate --- humans included. This is why drug delivery is such a crucial issue in medicine. In case you can't already tell, this topic is a personal favorite of mine. Maybe it's because I have trouble giving one of my dogs any kind of oral medication whatsoever or perhaps it's because I'm aware of my own less-than-perfect behavior when it comes to taking meds.

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French Bulldog Tries to Talk

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Dogs, Pet Training, Funny Animal Videos

Have you ever wished that your dog could talk? If so, did you really think it through? This might be one of those classic be-careful-what-you-wish-for situations. Even with the mental capacity for language and the desire to speak it, it's not as if the physical facility would allow for easy or coherent speech. You'd probably get only a string of frustrating whines and grunts, and then ask your pooch to please just go back to barking.

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Cats and Eagles Are Pals 4 Life

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Birds, Cats, Funny Animal Videos

Cats have two natural enemies: dogs and birds. Dogs chase cats, and cats hunt birds. Twas ever thus. That's just science.

But what happens when that bird isn't a tiny, possibly delicious songbird flitting about the trees in your yard, but a rather large bird of pray, like an eagle? Does the hunter become the hunted? Surprisingly no. It turns out there is honor about hunters. At least in this instance.

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Baby Lion Cub Practices Its Roar

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Cats, Funny Animal Videos

No one's born fierce. Even the most ferocious, intimidating animal in the kingdom was once an adorable puffball. Take this lion cub, for example. Man, it really wants you to be frightened of it. But we're sorry, little one; you're just not scary yet. Every time you try to roar and that little squeak comes out, we just want to hold you and snuggle you and tickle your furry little belly. Don't give up, though. You'll get there.

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Animals Behaving Badly

This article is from Paw Nation Humorist Linda Lombardi, author of Animals Behaving Badly, takes inspiration from the animal kingdom to share with us some of the more salacious things that those cute and supposedly cuddly critters do when we humans aren't looking. Don't worry, no people were harmed in the writing of this story.

About a year ago, it was reported that some wild dolphins in Australia had been spotted moving across the surface of the ocean while standing upright on their tails. They had apparently learned the trick from a former dolphin-show performer who'd been released from captivity. This caused much excitement among scientists, who were fascinated by this striking example of cultural transmission in animals.

SEE ALSO: Your Pet Behaving Badly? Here's What to Do

Here's what I wanted to ask these dolphins about their new skill: "Why bother? Most people already think you guys walk on water."

Who does the PR for dolphins, anyway? They're geniuses - whoever these people are - because there's no animal whose reputation is more out of line with its true nature.

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Panda Loves Snow

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Funny Animal Videos

Half the point of all of these holidays being celebrated in winter is that we need excuses to celebrate at this time of year more than any other. Particularly if you live in a snowy climate, winter is dreary at best. Besides the lack of daylight for months on end, there's lots of inconvenient and sometimes dangerous weather to look forward to.

But now the holiday season is wrapping up, and winter is just getting started. It might seem like there's nothing to celebrate. But take a tip from this adorable panda. Don't think of your holidays as a reason to avoid thinking about winter; use them as a reason to celebrate winter itself. He wants you to see that snow is a gift. Sure, he doesn't have to commute to work every weekday morning. But can't you still access that piece of your heart that remembers what it was like to be a kid, when snow meant free time and fun?

Watch this video, and then make yourself a cup of coffee or hot chocolate, and curl up on the couch, maybe in front of the fireplace, and appreciate all winter has to offer.

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Penguins Fetches Newspaper

This article is from Paw Nation

Filed under: Birds, Exotic Pets, Funny Animal Videos

We're tired of dogs getting all the credit for being the loyal pets who fetch your newspaper and your slippers. They're not the only ones who can do that, jack! Why not get yourself a penguin? Who knows what else those little buggers can accomplish?

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