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6 Myths About Puppies

The internet is full of puppy myths and “DIYs” that can do more harm than good. Some of these myths are harmless, but others can cause serious damage to a puppy. Like the myth that motor oil will cure mange. Um, no. It won’t cure mange. And this is exactly what we’re talking about. While there are many helpful tips and tricks out there that make raising a puppy easier, the six myths we’ve listed down below are definitely not among them. We urge you to always consult with your vet before you try any DIYs or “insider tricks” on your puppy.

Garlic can prevent fleas

We’re not quite sure where this myth came from, but the internet is full of garlic DIYs for preventing and curing fleas. Some methods say that you should spray your pet with diluted garlic while others say to feed your pup garlic to get rid of its flea. The only problem is that garlic can be toxic to dogs, and so would need to be used caution after meticulous calculations have been made. All in all, this method is not reliable and can be dangerous. Consult with your vet to learn more about flea prevention and treatment methods.

You can take your puppy’s e-collar off at night because he’ll be sleeping

Believe it or not, your puppy won’t understand the concept of “don’t touch your wound during the night because you’re supposed to be sleeping.” Just like humans, puppies often get up at night. Sometimes it’s just for a few seconds, other times they may wake up and decide to get a snack or drink of water. The moral of the story is that if your vet has told you to keep your puppy in his e-collar after a surgery or treatment, it’s best to keep him in that collar until he’s cleared by his vet; nights included.

Dogs only eat grass when they’re sick

Some dogs just like to eat grass, while other pets who only eat grass may actually have a condition called Pica. While true, that some dogs may eat grass to soothe an upset stomach or cause vomiting, your pet eating grass is not a sure sign that he is sick. Some dogs eat grass just because they like it. Another popular theory is that dogs eat grass because their ancestors (wolves and foxes) consumed many greens when devouring their prey’s intestinal contents. Our ancestors ate foods that we now consider odd because that’s what was available during their time. It doesn’t mean that we’d about to start eating those foods; the same goes for your dog.

If your dog eats grass now and then he’s probably ok. But if your dog only eats grass, or consistently vomits after eating grass, we urge you to talk to your vet to find the underlying cause of your pup’s cow-like behavior.

Purebred dogs are healthier than mixes, or mixes are healthier than purebreds

This myth sounds a little Harry Potter-like to us. There’s nothing that says every purebred will be illness free or healthier than any mixed breed dog. In fact, some purebreds are more prone to certain genetic illness or conditions than mixed breeds, such as boxers flat-faced dogs (also known as Brachycephalic breeds), labs, and more. That’s not to say that a mix will be healthier than a purebred. The fact of the matter is that there’s no way to say which variety of parentage produces genetically healthier dogs.

If your puppy’s nose is wet, he must be healthy

Wouldn’t it be easy if things were this simple? Sadly, this statement is not entirely true. While a dog’s nose is typically wet, that doesn’t automatically mean that he’s healthy. Sick dogs can have wet noses, and healthy dogs can have dry noses. You’ll need to rely more on alternative symptoms when checking your dog’s health, such as appetite, activity level, and mood.

People also seem to turn to puppy’s noses to check their temperature. Sadly, the only way to accurately check a puppy’s temperature is with a rectal thermometer. A normal puppy temperature is anywhere between 100.5 to 102.5 degrees F.

If your pet has an open wound let them lick it to help it heal

Please don’t do this. Your pet decides if he wants to eat something by putting it in his mouth; he uses his mouth like we use our hands. Letting your puppy lick an open wound puts your pet at risk for serious infections at the site of the wound and an internal infection from ingesting infected matter or substances.

Check the Facts with PetPlace

There’s no need to be afraid to consult Google every now and again when you have a simple puppy question like, do canine teeth in puppies grow back, or does a plastic dry dog food container pose risks? Lucky for you, our vet expert Dr. Debra has been answering all of our reader’s most popular puppy questions for years. But if you’re ever in doubt about your puppy’s health, we urge you to contact your vet to discuss any of your pressing puppy questions or concerns.