Surprising Facts and Myths About Dogs and Cats.....by Debra of Sleepy Cat Designs

Recently on www.WebMD.com, I found an interesting slide presentation about myths and facts involving dogs and cats. You can find it at this link: http://pets.webmd.com/slideshow-surprising-things-about-dogs-and-cats.

From that website, below you will find just a few of the most interesting ones that I especially enjoyed and which you can review now, until you have time to go through the whole thing which consists of 27 different and possibly surprising things about dogs and cats:

Dogs Can Smell Diabetes – Fact!! Dogs can sniff out a dangerous drop in blood sugar in a diabetic owner and alert the person to take action by pawing, licking, whining, or barking. A few dogs have even been trained and placed to work as diabetic service dogs. Their nose for low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) is correct 90% of the time, according to their trainers. Amazing!

(From www.Office.Microsoft.com/images)

Dogs Can Learn 250 Words - Fact!!
The smartest, best-trained breeds are similar to a 2-year-old child in their ability to understand human speech, according to researcher Stanley Coren, PhD. These dogs understand up to 250 words, while the average dog can understand 150 words. The smartest dogs are Border collie, poodle, German shepherd, golden retriever, and Doberman pinscher. Of course, almost all dog owners are going to say their dog, of any breed or mixed breed, is the smartest in the world!!

Newborn Puppies Don't Wag – Fact!!  Puppies don't wag their tails before they are about three weeks old, with some not doing so until seven weeks old. Vets believe tiny puppies are able to wag their tails, but they're too busy sleeping and eating to bother!! As they become more alert, tail wagging starts as a kind of sign language: a peace sign to rambunctious littermates or when begging for food.

(From www.Office.Microsoft.com/images)

Dogs See in Black and White - Myth!! Canine researches say dogs see blue, violet, and many more shades of gray than humans. They also see better in low light and can pick up the slightest movement which makes them good hunters. They probably do not see red, orange, yellow, or green, based on examination of the color-sensitive cone cells in canine retinas.


Warm Nose, Sick Dog – Myth!!  The temperature of a dog's nose changes easily and is not a good sign of illness. It can be hot and dry after lying in the sun or cool and wet from dipping into the water bowl. Better signs of illness are lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, coughing, or a body temperature above 102.5˚F on a rectal thermometer. So, what causes the wet snout? It comes from ducts that carry tears toward the nose.

(From www.Office.Microsoft.com/images)

Smoking Kills Cats and Dogs – Fact!! Secondhand smoke increases the risk of at least two fatal cancers in cats: lymphoma and oral carcinoma. Housecats get a double dose of toxins by breathing cigarette smoke in the air and by licking the residue off their fur when grooming. Dogs with long noses may develop cancerous nasal tumors from living with a smoker, and short-nosed breeds are more prone to lung cancer. Another great reason to quit smoking, right?

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So, there you have it...these are just a few examples of some amazing facts and myths involving the four-legged family members we cherish.

If you have been thinking of adopting a cat or dog, it's a great time to do so! Be sure to check out your local shelters where so many deserving animals are waiting for a forever home. They deserve it, and your life will be enriched beyond measure as a result. Many shelters are offering special helps and incentives to make it easier to adopt during National Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog month (October).

~~Submitted by Debra of Sleepy Cat Designs and Sew Bizzy Gifts, her two ArtFire studios where she offers a variety of affordable handcrafted items for people and pets. Her soft and comfortable safety collars are worn by kitty cats all over the world!

Debra is participating in a special one-week promotion this month to support the Crafting for Animals Guild spotlight charity, Close to Home Animal Rescue, with a 10% donation of all sales from 10/23 to 10/29 when the coupon is used. And Debra will be sending a free gift with all orders during that week using the coupon in her studios. You can read all about it by clicking HERE or the box below. Many other fantastic guild artisans are also participating!

The Tough Work of Search and Rescue Dogs.....by Debra of Sleepy Cat Designs

Sometimes when watching reports about natural disasters that have claimed many lives, we hear briefly about search and rescue teams working to find survivors and those who did not make it. It must be a horrendous task for anyone willing to help with this.

Recently in a newsletter from www.gopetplan.com, the insurance company which supplies a policy for my cat, Chester, I read about dogs who are trained to help the people doing these types of jobs and how much the dogs really make a difference in this daunting work. You can read more about it at www.SearchDogFoundation.org.

It’s a truly amazing organization which provides the kind of help that most of us could never give, no matter how much we want to help. The majority of people sitting at home watch the reports and feel so sorry for the devastated families and animals who have just been through a disaster of some sort. But, without the search and rescue teams, these disasters would take an even larger toll on the families and friends affected by such tragedies.

The dogs work so hard and yet never ever complain. Some even lose their own lives in an effort to locate the missing. Really gut-wrenching work for the dogs and the humans involved but the kind of job that has to be done, a vital part of the entire recovery process for all concerned.

9/11 Mike Scott & Billy
Photo: Andrea Booher, FEMA News Photo

Because money is one of the most needed resources during natural disasters of any type, many of us try to donate what we can to support different groups during such tragedies. And I wanted to be sure we know about this organization so we can help a little bit at times as well so they can continue providing this extremely important service. It’s an expensive undertaking to train the dogs as well as provide the services of the rescue teams when needed. Sadly, they are needed far too often these days.

Jim Boggeri & Recon - Hurricane Katrina

Stock Photo from website

So if you are looking for a new organization to support from time to time, please consider SearchDogFoundation.org. They make it easy on their website to learn all about what they are doing and how any donations can be made and will be appreciated and put to good use.

I was very moved by what I read on the website after reading the article I mentioned above. And that is why I wanted to share this with everyone.


Submitted by: Debra of Sleepy Cat Designs and Sew Bizzy Gifts; Debra has loved many dogs and cats and other furry friends over the last 5 decades and continues to support various rescue groups and shelters in the Tucson area as well as nationwide whenever possible. Be sure to shop with Debra in both her ArtFire studios in honor of National Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month; read all about the special coupon promotion HERE or the box below.