I. Preface: Rumors Are More Terrifying Than Diseases

II. In - depth Dissection of 10 Pet - keeping Rumors (with Scientific Evidence)

1. Rumor: Pets can't eat salt; otherwise, they'll lose hair or damage their kidneys.
   • Truth: Pets need an appropriate amount of salt to maintain electrolyte balance. Complete salt - free diets can lead to fatigue, hair loss, and muscle spasms.
   • Scientific Evidence: Wu Yi, an associate professor at the College of Animal Science and Technology of China Agricultural University, pointed out that the salt requirements of cats and dogs are much lower than those of humans, but they're not completely salt - intolerant. High - quality cat or dog food already contains an appropriate amount of salt (about 0.3% - 0.5%), so there's no need for additional supplementation or deliberate restriction.
   • Practical Suggestions: Avoid feeding pets human food with high salt content (such as pickles and cured meat), but don't reject foods with natural salt content (such as fresh meat and pet - specific snacks).
2. Rumor: Shaving pets in summer can help them dissipate heat better.
   • Truth: The fur of pets is a natural "insulation layer." Shaving can damage the skin barrier, leading to sunburn, skin allergies, and even triggering stress reactions.
   • Scientific Evidence: Cats and dogs mainly dissipate heat through their paws and breathing. Their fur can not only block ultraviolet rays but also reduce direct heat contact with the skin. Excessive shaving (especially shaving bald) leaves the skin unprotected and makes pets more prone to heatstroke.
   • Practical Suggestions: In summer, trim overly long hair (keep 1 - 2 cm), especially focus on trimming the hair on the abdomen and paws. Also, ensure an adequate supply of water and a cool environment.
3. Rumor: Beating and scolding can make dogs obedient, and the owner should act as the "alpha wolf."
   • Truth: The "alpha wolf theory" has long been disproven. Beating and scolding only instill fear and a trust crisis in dogs, and may even induce aggressive behaviors such as biting.
   • Scientific Evidence: In the wild, wolf packs operate on a family - cooperation basis rather than "hierarchical suppression." Research by American dog - training experts shows that dogs trained through violence may seem "obedient," but they're actually avoiding punishment out of fear. In the long run, this can lead to anxiety, depression, and damage the human - pet relationship.
   • Practical Suggestions: Adopt positive - reinforcement training (such as rewarding with snacks and praising with commands) to help dogs actively establish correct behaviors. For specific methods, refer to Core Skills of Positive Pet Training.
4. Rumor: Domestic pets are clean, so there's no need to vaccinate them against rabies.
   • Truth: Cats and dogs that seem healthy may still carry the rabies virus. Once the disease breaks out, the mortality rate is 100%. Domestic pets must be vaccinated regularly.
   • Scientific Evidence: The Yongzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention pointed out that the sources of rabies include not only stray cats and dogs but also domestic pets carrying the virus. Even if a pet has never gone out, it may be indirectly infected through mosquito bites or the virus brought back by the owner.
   • Practical Suggestions: Puppies and kittens should receive the first rabies vaccine after 3 months of age, and have a booster shot every year. After being scratched or bitten by a pet, immediately rinse the wound with soapy water for 15 minutes and seek medical advice promptly to assess whether vaccination is necessary.
5. Rumor: When a pet is sick, too many examinations mean "over - medicalization."
   • Truth: Reasonable examinations are crucial for diagnosis, but some pet hospitals have issues such as lack of qualifications, over - charging, and excessive examinations, which need to be distinguished.
   • Scientific Evidence: A survey by Xinhuanet shows that among the more than 34,000 pet hospitals in China, some institutions have problems like "ordering a full set of biochemical tests for a cold" and "attracting customers with a low - priced sterilization package and then increasing the price." However, this doesn't mean necessary examinations (such as X - rays for fractures and blood routine for vomiting) should be negated.
   • Practical Suggestions: Choose a regular hospital with an Animal Diagnosis and Treatment License. Before seeking medical treatment, ask about the necessity of examination items, keep the examination reports and charging lists, and file a complaint with the agricultural department if over - charging is encountered.
6. Rumor: For pet diarrhea or vomiting, just feed human antidiarrheal drugs (such as montmorillonite powder).
   • Truth: Most human drugs are toxic to pets. For example, paracetamol can cause acute liver damage in cats, and ibuprofen can lead to gastric bleeding in dogs.
   • Scientific Evidence: Veterinary experts emphasize that pet diarrhea or vomiting can be caused by various factors such as poisoning, parasites, and infectious diseases. Blindly administering drugs can mask the condition, and the dosage of human drugs can't be adjusted according to the pet's weight, making pets highly prone to poisoning.
   • Practical Suggestions: For mild diarrhea, fast the pet for 12 hours (while ensuring water intake) and observe the symptoms. If there is persistent vomiting, bloody diarrhea, or lethargy, send the pet to the hospital immediately and use pet - specific drugs.
7. Rumor: Only when bleeding occurs after being scratched by a pet does it need to be treated.
   • Truth: Even without bleeding, as long as the skin is damaged (such as scratches or red marks), there may be a risk of contracting rabies or cat - scratch disease.
   • Scientific Evidence: The rabies virus can invade the human body through mucous membranes or broken skin. Being scratched by a suspected rabid animal or having a wound licked by it both pose an "exposure risk." Cat - scratch disease is caused by bacteria on cat claws and can lead to fever and swollen lymph nodes.
   • Practical Suggestions: After being scratched, immediately rinse the wound with soapy water for 15 minutes, disinfect it with iodine, and seek medical advice promptly to assess whether vaccination or the use of antibiotics is necessary.
8. Rumor: Pets can get calcium from eating bones, and it can also clean their teeth.
   • Truth: Sharp bones (such as chicken bones and fish bones) can scratch the esophagus and gastrointestinal tract, causing bleeding, obstruction, and even endangering the pet's life (refer to the "First Aid for Ingestion of Foreign Objects" in Essential Knowledge for Pet First Aid).
   • Scientific Evidence: The calcium in bones is difficult for pets to digest and absorb, and hard bones can wear down the tooth enamel, leading to tooth fractures. Dogs may also accidentally swallow bones while chewing, causing choking.
   • Practical Suggestions: Replace bones with pet - specific chewing sticks and dental - care snacks. For calcium supplementation, choose pet - specific calcium tablets or calcium - rich foods (such as yogurt and cartilage).
9. Rumor: Pregnant women or children can't be vaccinated against rabies because of side effects.
   • Truth: Rabies is a fatal disease, and there are no contraindications for vaccination after exposure. Pregnant women and infants can be vaccinated safely.
   • Scientific Evidence: Rabies vaccine is an inactivated vaccine, and there is no evidence to suggest that it has an adverse impact on the fetus of pregnant women or the development of children. The World Health Organization recommends that any person exposed to a suspected rabid animal should immediately receive a full - course vaccination.
   • Practical Suggestions: Inform the doctor of personal conditions (such as allergy history) before vaccination, and strictly follow the "0 - 3 - 7 - 14 - 28 - day" vaccination schedule. Don't give up vaccination due to concerns about side effects.
10. Rumor: If a pet has a cold, just feed it some human cold medicine (such as Ganmaoling).
    • Truth: Ingredients such as pseudoephedrine and chlorpheniramine in human cold medicine are highly toxic to cats and dogs. One tablet of cold medicine can cause the death of small dogs.
    • Scientific Evidence: Veterinary clinical data show that cases of pet poisoning due to 误食 (accidental ingestion) of human cold medicine occur frequently every year, with symptoms including vomiting, convulsions, rapid heartbeat, and kidney failure.
    • Practical Suggestions: Pet cold symptoms (such as sneezing and runny nose) may be precursors of infectious diseases like canine distemper and feline herpesvirus. Don't self - medicate. Send the pet to the hospital for diagnosis promptly and use pet - specific cold medicine.

III. How to Avoid Being Misled by Pet - keeping Rumors?

1. Obtain Information from Authoritative Channels: Follow veterinary associations, the official websites of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and the official accounts of regular pet hospitals. Reject non - professional advice from "circle - of - friends remedies" and "internet - celebrity pet - keeping bloggers."
2. Consult Professionals: When encountering pet - keeping questions, consult licensed veterinarians first instead of relying on the advice of "experienced pet owners."
3. View Pet Medicine Rationally: Don't blindly reject examinations, nor tolerate over - medicalization. Understand the diagnosis and treatment procedures and approximate costs of common diseases in advance.
4. Accumulate Basic Scientific Knowledge: Learn about pet physiological characteristics, dietary needs, and symptoms of common diseases to build basic judgment skills.