5 Myths About Pet Health

Fuzzy falsehoods about your four-legged friends can prevent you from taking the best care of them. Here's what we know.

- By Kate Rockwood

MYTH #1

A warm, dry nose means a dog is sick.

MYTHBUSTER While a cold, wet nose is more typical for dogs, a warm, dry snout doesn't mean your pup is under the weather, says Alison Creighton, a registered veterinary technician with VCA Animal Hospitals. It could just be a result of the actual weather. "A healthy dog, for example, might have a dry nose after lying in the sun or being exposed to heavy winds," Creighton says. But if your dog's nose is dry and the skin around it is red and irritated, or if there are other symptoms like lethargy or loss of appetite, call your vet, as this can indicate a medical problem like dehydration. And don't assume that a cold, wet nose means all is well. "The best way to monitor your dog's health is to keep an eye out for any symptoms or behaviors that aren't typical for them," Creighton says.

MYTH #2

Dogs eat grass when they have an upset stomach.