Indian society is full of notions about pets and pet parenting. Some can be true but others might be vague and unscientific. Let us differentiate between the myths and facts and know about their crux. Our veterinarians are here to bust such myths and help you know the scientific explanation and reasons behind them. Check out the blog below on 5 Common Myths Around Pet Parenting!
1. Feeding Milk
We Indians have always been fond of feeding milk to the home-kept dogs as well as to stray dogs. However, do you know that most of the dogs are lactose intolerant? This means that dogs are unable to fully digest the sugar (lactose) in milk. As a result, they experience diarrhea, gas and bloating after consuming dairy products. The condition of lactose malabsorption is usually harmless, but its symptoms can be uncomfortable. Remember, milk is not harmful to pets, but it can lead to dietary discomfort.
2. Deworming
It is a common assumption that dogs who remain at home do not need deworming. Having an indoor dog who mostly stays inside the house needs regular deworming too. If his contact with the outer environment is less, then you can extend the intervals between two deworming periods. In any case, deworming is necessary for every dog and skipping it leads to major health issues. Also, the dose of deworming depends upon the current body weight of your pet. Avoid using the same dose of dewormer you used last time and always weigh your dog before deciding the dose of dewormer to prevent under/over dosing. Once your puppy turns 1 year of age, shift from syrup to tablets for deworming like Worm No More.
3. Food Cooked With Spices
Home-cooked food is better than market feeds packed with tons of preservatives. However, this doesn't mean we can feed the same human food we eat because Indian dishes are prepared with dozens of spices and excess oils, which are not good for your dog. If you opt to feed your dog home-cooked food, make sure you are not using species while cooking. Simply boil the food with no oils or spices.
4. Ear and Teeth Cleaning
Cleaning the ears or teeth of dogs is often overlooked. This is one of the biggest mistakes pet parents make as it invites multiple problems and infections. If you are not taking care of oral hygiene of your dog you might notice yellow teeth, weak gums, bad breath or underlying signs of serious issues. Similarly, not cleaning his ears causes bacterial and fungal ear infections which can be extremely painful and uncomfortable as dogs start continuously scratching his ears and in extreme cases, he might keep his head tilted to the side of infection. All these problems can be avoided by using Regular Hygiene Combo that helps in maintaining ear cleanliness and dental hygiene.
5. Improper Bathing
Some pet parents often think that bathing is not required by their dogs or some believe that dogs need bathing every day like humans. However, both notions are wrong. Not bathing them leads to a buildup of debris whereas bathing them every day leads to dry skin by washing all the essential oils, inviting multiple skin problems in both cases. The recommended bathing schedule in summers is every 15 days while in winter bathing once every month. Moreover, using human shampoos is not advised as it disrupts the dog’s skin pH, causes allergic reactions and strips away essential oils. Use a natural dog shampoo like Shampooch that is free of harmful chemicals and promotes a healthy skin and shiny coat.
If you are a pet parent enthusiastic about learning informational tips and tricks, stay tuned with us for regular updates. Together, let's explore the World of Petcare!
