e sse nt i al pets
Old Wives
TALES
by Lori Scarlett, DVM When I was pregnant with my first child, my brother suggested I needed to get rid of my cats because they “suck the breath” out of babies. This is obviously an old wives tale and not based in scientific fact at all. My cats did like to sleep in the crib (before I brought my baby home) and liked to be near the baby as I was holding him. They all sniffed the baby’s face, but I saw no “sucking of breath.” This advice likely came from people who thought cats were evil (or just didn’t like them, like my brother). I don’t recommend rehoming your cat when you’re starting a human family, but I would keep the cat out of the crib when the baby is there. If the baby should suddenly move and startle the cat, the cat might scratch or bite. It might be worthwhile to get a second crib just for the cat! Old wives tales are supposed truths passed down over generations. These truths are really just superstitions or claims with exaggerated or inaccurate details. Although we may think we’re 22 | m a d i s o n e s s e n t i a l s
smarter than the average “old wife” from the 1500s, I still have people mention or ask about them. One common misconception is that you can tell if a dog is feeling well because it has a cool, wet nose. In actuality, a warm, dry nose is perfectly healthy. One of my dogs has some anxiety issues, and when his nose is wet and dripping, then I know he is stressed. The only nugget of truth is that a dry, crusty, or cracked nose is not normal and may need treatment. Perhaps we only think about a dog’s cool, wet nose when they boop our warm skin in the summer. I often hear people say a dog is happy because they see the dog’s tail wagging. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Dogs with relaxed ears and a whole butt wiggle are happy or excited, but if the tail is slowly wagging side to side and the ears are up, it’s best to keep your distance; the dog is assessing the situation before deciding how to act. That action might be to bite.
Cats wag their tails too, but that motion communicates different things than a dog. A swishy tail usually means the cat is excited. Watch your cat’s tail when they’re focused on a bird outside the window. As their excitement mounts, the swish becomes more of a twitch and may culminate in the cat pouncing. A more vigorous wag or thrashing of the tail means agitation. The best thing if you see that in a cat is to stop what you’re doing and back away. If you don’t, you’re liable to get swatted or bit! If you do get bit, don’t assume that the dog or cat’s mouth is clean. There are a lot of bacteria in those mouths! Some people think that it’s good for a dog to lick a wound, as it helps clean and heal it. This is not true. Dog tongues can do a lot of damage to the skin, and the bacteria in the mouth can cause further infection of the tissue. If your dog (or cat) is excessively licking at an area, try to clean it with some soap and water; cover it with a sock, t-shirt, or other wrap; then schedule an appointment
