Malcolm Riordan, DVM, has been the veterinarian at Woods Humane Society since 2005. Malcolm resides in Morro Bay where he has found geographic fulfillment.
Photo by Mimi Ditchie
Photo by Liz Goodenough
Fast Food
|
Myths, Beliefs and Assumptions
of Pet Owners:
Oral Traditions?
by Malcolm Riordan
For me, one of the greatest of mysteries in veterinary medicine remains this: Why and how is it that so very many pet owners are under the spell of the exact same myths? Really, it's astounding.
I have come to believe that the closely held beliefs of pet owners must be passed down by word of mouth from one generation to next without written form. Oral traditions? Whatever; these myths, beliefs, and assumptions are so well entrenched and widespread that veterinarians grapple with them, if not hourly, then daily, before lunch. Let's look at a few.
Myth: Most sick animals have been poisoned.
Reality: Poisoning is uncommon compared to how often pet owners suspect it. Often the suspected 'poisoning' is actually, say, due to a fever from a treatable infection. With pets, intentional or malicious poisonings are very rare. When pets have been poisoned, typically it is their humans who have placed that poison in the house, yard, or garage without the awareness or intent that the pet would consume it. Think most of rodent bait/poison, snail bait/poison, and automotive antifreeze containing ethylene glycol; these all taste good. Also, consider improper use of or exposure to insecticides. Special notes for cat owners (you just think you own them): cats will fastidiously groom off anything that happens to get on their coat or feet, including noxious substances they would never otherwise consume or eat. As well, certain veterinary products that are safe when topically applied to dogs are poisonous when mistakenly applied to cats.
Myth: Animals who behave poorly were probably previously beaten or abused at a young age.
Reality: There are simply just not enough evil humans to accomplish all the fabled beating and abuse that pet owners ascribe to their pet's previous environment! Untrained, ill-mannered, unsocialized, insecure in certain situations, under-exercised or having a shy or difficult personality: now that would be what you are seeing. Dogs and cats are incredibly observant and studious at figuring humans out! See how they run . . . a house or an owner. If we, as pet owners, would be a fraction as observant and studious to learn and understand dog and cat behavior - and how to 'run' them – the poor behaviors currently attributed to mythical beatings would magically disappear.
Myth: If being poisoned or prior abuse does not seem feasible, then the problem must be due to worms.
Reality: Perhaps nothing - other than unconditional love - motivates pet owners more than suspecting or, worse, seeing evidence of worms. From the way people react to this, you'd think some alien, miniature snakes were going on! Yet in daily practice, gastrointestinal worms are usually just a low order problem, something that can be diagnosed and eradicated without breaking a sweat; not to mention that these worms are easy to prevent.
Myth: Never forget that almost all dogs are purebred; that it is highly important to assign a breed to your dog.
If you are uncertain as which breed your dog is, simply look in a book with pictures of the breeds. If your dog resembles a certain breed, then that's what it is. Uncommonly, no picture will seem to match, so you probably have a 50/50 purebred mixture. Go back and review the pictures, picking out the first two pictures with a feature that resembles your dog. Consider spending a lot of time at your first visit trying to get the vet to participate in this popular game.
Reality: In the overall picture of canines reproducing throughout history, human arranged pure-breeding of dogs is only an isolated side-show to the big picture. Really, what are the chances of an un-neutered male purebred dog randomly hooking up with another wandering purebred dog, this one un-spayed and in heat? Sure, some owners of purebreds don't have their dogs fixed, and do not have fences, leashes, or common sense . . . but not enough to account for all the fabled mixed pure-breeds that pet owners seem to feel that their dog just simply must be. What is so illogical, implausible, or inglorious about having a dog that is just 100% pure dog - no labels attached?
My thanks to Dr. Michael Obenski, a vet's vet, for decades of inspiration
and coping skills.
Below are a few of many pet pictures submitted to the Humane Society of the United States Spay Day 2010 Photo Contest. To see more, vote, donate, or submit your own pet's photo, click on their contest page:
Clyde
|
Mimi Geneva
|
Nala
|
Mattie's Cat
|
Liam
|
Nila
|
Come out to Woods Humane Society, or click on the logo below, and take a look through
some of the 100+ adoptable dogs and cats waiting for you to 'graduate' them into a new life.
|
