Here is some more fact and fiction this one is about pets..i thought they were very interesting
Dogs are Color blind..
Truth: The Basis for this myth is not known..
Dogs do see in color. However, they see differently than most people do and are less able to distinguish between colors. Veterinary ophthalmologists have determined that dogs see like people who have red/green color blindness. Dogs eyes have receptors for blue and green shades, but not for red shades. As a result, it appears that dogs cannot easily distinguish between yellow, green and red, but they can identify different shades of blue, purple and gray. Color is only one of many visual stimuli that dogs detect in their environment. Brightness, contrast, and especially motion, are extremely important to a dogs interpretation of what it sees
Cats Always land on their feet..
Truth:although cats do instinctively try to fall feet first, they commonly break bones or suffer other injury when falling from heights..
This is perhaps one of the most widely known and dangerous of all myths regarding cats, because unfortunately many children have tried to prove that it is true. It is not. Cats are indeed very athletic and agile animals, and they do have a unique instinctive ability to twist themselves around in mid-air to correct their position during a fall. However, if a cat is surprised, sick, disoriented or injured, it is unlikely to be able to adjust its position to land feet-first. Of course, if it falls from a great height, a cats ability to reposition itself will not matter, because the force of the fall will cause serious injury or even death whether the cats feet hit the ground first or not. Moreover, if a cat falls from a short height, it may not have enough time to twist around and land on its feet.
If a dog's nose is warm, it means it's sick...
The origin: There is no identifiable origin for this myth. People just seem to think that a dog with a warm and/or dry nose is sick, and that a dog with a cold wet nose is well.
Truth: If a dog has a dry or warm nose, it means that he has a dry or warm nose. A dry nose or a mildly warm nose has nothing to do with the overall health of a dog
If a dog is wagging its tail, it is happy
The origin: Most dogs do wag their tails when they are happy. As a result, people associate a wagging tail with a happy dog.
The truth: In many cases, a dog that is wagging its tail is happy, or at least is expressing excitement or pleasure. Tail-wagging certainly does express a strong state of emotion, much like a smile does in people. However, just like a human smile, a dogs wagging tail does not necessarily reflect happiness or something positive. Dogs frequently wag their tails when they are agitated, irritated, tense, anxious, annoyed, frightened, angry or aggressive. Interestingly, researchers have found that dogs do not normally wag their tails when they are alone, even if they apparently are happy or are in a pleasant situation. Tail-wagging seems to be a behavior that is reserved for times when the dog is in the company of others.
Cats have nine lives...
The origin: This myth probably stems from the fact that cats are very supple and resilient animals, even when they are ill or injured. Cats have a keen ability to get out of situations that would probably be the death of lesser animals. There are many reports of cats surviving for lengthy periods of time in very harsh conditions, even without easily accessible food or water. The related myth that cats always land on their feet may also contribute to the myth that cats have nine lives. Nine is considered by many to be a
lucky number. In some cultures, the myth is that cats have seven lives. Either way, cats are considered to be lucky.
The truth: Of course, cats do not have nine lives Cats are mortal. However, they do tend to be very healthy, hearty animals that can take care of themselves in most any situation, whether indoors or out. They are nimble, intelligent and resourceful. But, like all other mammals, cats only have one life to live.
A dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's mouth..
The origin: Dog saliva was once believed to be antiseptic, and some people still believe it has healing properties. The basis for this belief is not known.
The truth: A dogs mouth is not cleaner than a persons mouth. Dog saliva can be toxic to some bacteria, but it carries its own population of bacteria and other infectious organisms. That population is just different from the assortment of bacteria and other germs in the human mouth, based largely upon differences in diet. There is a reason for the term, dog breath. People with weakened immune systems and young children probably should not have direct contact with dog or cat saliva.
One Year of Dog Life is equal to 7 human years...
The truth: Contrary to popular belief, there is no exact formula to gauge how much a dog develops or ages in comparison to so-called people years. Aging is as individual for dogs as it is for people. Taking a dogs age and multiplying it by 7 is an overly simplistic formula and does not reflect a dogs actual developmental status. A more accurate rough guide is as follows:
1-year-old-dog equals a 15-year-old human.
2-year-old-dog equals a 24-year-old human.
4-year-old-dog equals a 32-year-old human.
7-year-old-dog equals a 45-year-old human.
10-year-old-dog equals a 56-year-old human.
15-year-old-dog equals a 76-year-old human.
20-year-old-dog equals a 98-year-old human.
Cats purr because they are happy...
The origin: This myth, like many others, doesn't have a precise origin. It probably comes from the fact that most cats do purr in the presence of their owners when they are being petted, which we interpret as a sign of happiness.
The truth: Most cats do purr when they are happy. However, that is not the only time they purr. Cats will sometimes purr when they are sick, stressed, injured, frightened or in pain. They also can purr when they are giving birth, and even as they are dying. Purring seems to be more an expression of some strong emotion - whether positive or negative - than it is an expression of any particular emotion, including happiness. Purring by a cat might be similar to humming or whistling by a human: it commonly is done out of happiness, but it may also be done as a result of stress, fright or discomfort.
source msn and By Cynthia Carlson, DVM
Canada played Jack and the Beanstalk.
