101 Myths About Pets Debunked

Pets aren't just fuzzy critters that are allowed in the house - they're members of the family. As a responsible pet parent, you want to do everything in your power to keep your furry friends safe, healthy and happy.

Unfortunately, myths and misinformation about pets and how to care for them seem to spread faster than fleas. Most pet owners have the best of intentions when they share advice on how to keep pets parasite-free or well-fed, but much of what they say is inaccurate and even downright dangerous.

I wrote this book because I put my cat's life in grave peril by listening to a friend's well-meaning but highly dangerous advice. I thought an indoor, spayed, female cat that was on veterinary food for bladder health was not at risk for urinary tract infections. What a fool I was.

There's no way for me to know how long Bagheera was in agony with a blockage - she couldn't tell me. By the time I sorted it out, she needed a very painful nine-hundred-dollar surgery to correct the problem. My vet said if I had left it another day, Bagheera would likely have died. One hundred percent of blockages that go untreated are fatal to cats.

I felt like a horrible parent. I almost lost one of my dearest pets because I was misinformed. If I had only looked into the matter sooner I could have spared her unspeakable pain and suffering.

My close call with Bagheera got me to thinking - what else had I been misinformed about?

Quite a lot, it turns out.

I was overwhelmed by the flood of misconceptions I found in my research. I knew if a very experienced pet owner like me could be dangerously misinformed there must be many, many more pet parents who believe they're giving their pets the very best of care, but are, in fact, endangering the lives of their favorite furry friends.

I want to share the research I uncovered from the most reliable sources available: Veterinary schools, pet organizations like the A.S.P.C.A., practiced veterinarians, pet scientists and more. I want to help inform other pet parents in the hopes that I can prevent other animals from suffering due to misinformation.

I hope you enjoy the book. I hope you learn from it. I hope the knowledge it contains prevents as much pet suffering as possible. If you know other pet parents who would benefit from this information, please send them a recommendation (it only takes a second) and feel great knowing the impact you've had on the pets in your life, plus the pets your friends choose to share with. The benefits for pets everywhere are infinite.