In this article Clínica Veterinaria Somo, your trusted veterinary centre in Somo (Cantabria), wants to debunk several myths about pet health that are, unfortunately, very widespread and that can pose a risk to the health of our furry companions.
Common health and pet myths you should know about
“Our dog should have a litter of puppies before we spay her to prevent tumours”
This is one of the most popular myths and one we hear most often at our centre, and it is absolutely false. Contrary to popular belief, spaying or neutering our pets early minimises the risk of developing tumours in the reproductive system.
In fact, preventive spaying or neutering is one of the best choices we can make as owners, since it brings several benefits for our pet's health, whether male or female, both in terms of health (preventing cancer and uterine infections) and behaviour (reducing aggression, eliminating territorial marking).
“My pet will gain weight once I have it neutered”
Neutering does help to slow down their physiological metabolism to some extent, but this does not mean that our pet is going to gain weight, since it only means they will need a lower calorie intake. So all we have to do is choose a food formulated for neutered pets or reduce their calorie intake with a smaller portion.
“There's nothing wrong with giving our pet leftovers or human food now and then”
Ideally, our pets should only be fed on kibble and/or food recommended by a vet, since there are many foods whose consumption can be harmful to their health (very fatty and salty foods, bones, garlic, onion, sweets, chocolate, etc.).
“There's no need to deworm my pet on a regular basis”
Fleas are endemic parasites in Cantabria and act as carriers of diseases such as mycoplasmosis and canine tapeworm infection (caused by mycoplasma and dipylidium caninum, respectively). It is very common to see patients that have picked them up during a walk, or we may even bring them in from outdoors ourselves.
The same is true of ticks, which pose a serious danger to your pet's health by transmitting conditions such as babesiosis (through the inoculation of parasites of the babesia genus) or Lyme disease (caused by the bacterium borrelia burgdorferi).
“My dog eats grass to purge itself and that has always been a good thing”
Our pets are not grazing animals and grass cannot be part of their diet. The very act of eating grass may be linked to the presence of stomach problems or a poor diet. So if you notice that your pet eats grass often, it is important that you consult a vet.
“If the tick's head stays inside, the dog will die”
This is also false. A tick's head remaining inside our pet will only cause a small local reaction that will be cleared by their body.
“I've switched my dog to a food with lots of protein”
Our pet is not a bodybuilder, so it does not need such a high protein intake to stay in top shape and free of disease. The best thing is to consult a vet, who will tell us the ideal food for our pet based on its specific needs and characteristics.
“How often a well-meaning myth ends up harming the pet. When in doubt, always check with your vet.”
Clínica Veterinaria Somo, your trusted vets
We hope this article is useful to you and helps you take better care of your furry companions, and to dispel these myths that are so widespread and yet so dangerous for our pets' wellbeing.
At Clínica Veterinaria Somo we offer you quality veterinary advice and care so that your pet stays healthy and protected.
Frequently asked questions
Will my pet gain weight when I have it neutered?
Not necessarily. Neutering slows their metabolism to some extent, so they will simply need a lower calorie intake: just choose a food formulated for neutered pets or reduce the portion.
Do I need to deworm my pet on a regular basis?
Yes. In Cantabria, fleas are endemic and transmit diseases such as mycoplasmosis and canine tapeworm infection, and ticks can transmit babesiosis or Lyme disease, so regular deworming is important.
Is it good for my dog to eat grass to purge itself?
Pets are not grazing animals and grass should not be part of their diet. Eating grass may be linked to stomach problems or a poor diet, so it is best to consult a vet if your pet does it often.
