Curious Facts About Your Pets You Must Know
Pets have been such an important part of our lives for so long that it's difficult to fathom a period when people didn't think it was a good idea to become friends with these furry, four-legged critters. Cats have been domesticated since at least 3,600 B.C.E., while dogs have been kept as pets since at least 30,000 B.C.E. Despite being our companions for millennia, we continue to discover new things about our animal companions on a daily basis. Here are some facts about your pet you must know.
1. You can make your pet sick and vice versa It is uncommon, but it does happen. Cats, dogs, and ferrets have received the H1N1 "swine" virus from their ill owners. Most cases are minor, but a few pets have died as a result of it, thus veterinarians recommend frequent hand washing and separate beds while the owner is ill. E. coli bacterium strains can be shared by dogs and humans as well. It can go either way too. And it is recommended that you shouldn’t kiss your pets. Your pet’s mouth is more often a house of bacteria and parasites which can also be salmonella and campylobacter. These bacteria enter a dog's mouth when they eat rotten food or use their tongue as toilet paper. Then, with a kiss, these bacteria are transferred from dog to person, sometimes coupled with a bad bout of diarrhea.
2. Dogs can smell hypoglycemia A diabetic owner's dog can detect a serious dip in blood sugar and signal the owner to take action by pawing, licking, whimpering, or barking. Some canines have even been trained as diabetic support dogs. 90% of the time, their nose for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is right.
3. Dogs can learn your language According to Stanley Coren, Ph.D., the brightest, best-trained breeds have the same capacity to understand human speech as a 2-year-old kid. These dogs can understand up to 250 words, compared to 150 for the normal dog. Some of the breeds are German shepherd, Doberman pincher, chow chow, golden retriever, basenji, and Afghan hound.
4. Cats smell with their mouth Yes, cats do smell with their mouth. They have a very time scent gland at the roof of the mouth called the vomeronasal organ. To sniff anything they open their jaws wide to draw the smell to this organ. This often called Flehman reaction is often seen in male cats looking for a female cat in heat.
5. Limping can be an indicator of lung problem If your dog is limping you must rush to your vet as fast as can. It can be a sign of pulmonary disease like lung cancer or heartworms. Swelling and discomfort in the legs might result from cancer in the chest activating the leg bones to produce new tissue. A cough is a more common symptom of lung cancer, while around 25% of dogs have no symptoms until the disease is discovered on a chest X-ray.
6. Cats kiss with their eyes According to feline specialists, cats communicate by blinking slowly. It's a peace symbol among felines, used to put other felines at home. This alluring blink, aimed toward a human, conveys warmth, even love. People may reciprocate the affection by "blowing a kiss" back in cat body language with a lengthy look and gradual blink. The soothing blink is effective on domestic cats, stray cats, and even wild tigers.
7. Whale eyes of dogs When a dog turns their head aside while swiveling its eyes around to keep you in sight, this is known as the "whale eye," and it indicates that the dog is scared or defending something. Their eye whites will appear in a crescent form. Disturbing them may cause them to snarl or snap. The tense appearance is completed by a stiff posture. Dogs have a sideways view during more calm moments as well: there will be less white showing and their body will appear comfortable.
8. Milk is not good for your cat The long-held notion that cats need milk is untrue and offering your pet a saucer of cow's milk can cause diarrhea. Kittens typically drink their mothers' milk until weaned, and adult cats might enjoy the taste of cow's milk. But adult cats lack lactase, the enzyme required to break down the lactose sugar in milk. The end outcome is frequently unpleasant and messy: diarrhea.
9. Cats don’t always land on their feet Cats excel at landing feet first over short distances because of their very flexible backbone. They do, however, occasionally land on their heads. And their feet cannot "break" the fall beyond one or two flights. Their bodies and heads can smash with the ground, resulting in catastrophic injuries. Cats having access to an elevated, open window may get so engrossed in a bird that they lose their equilibrium and tumble, a condition known as high-rise syndrome.