Picture an adorable little kitten lapping up a dish of milk, and then forget it forever. The “fact” that cats love milk is actually a myth. Felines — and canines, too — don’t have the ability to break down dairy’s lactose. Giving milk to pets could actually lead to vomiting, diarrhea, or other issues.

Believe it or not, that’s not the only myth out there concerning your pet’s health. If you’d like to avoid a trip to the veterinary care center (and would like to avoid vets and veterinarian technicians’ bills), then forget these “facts.”

If a Dog’s Nose Is Warm, It’s Sick.

The best way to tell if a dog has to go to the pet wellness center is to observe its behavior. If it’s acting off, then chances are something’s wrong. By that logic, if a dog’s nose, which is typically cold and wet, is warm and dry, it needs to go to the veterinary care center. While that might make sense, it’s not actually true. All a warm nose indicates is that the dog’s nose is warm. It’s their behaviors and habits that need watching.

A Purring Cat Is a Happy Cat.

Although cats do purr when they’re happy, they also purr when they’re sick, stressed, injured, or frightened. Cats will even purr as they’re dying. All purring is is an expression of a strong emotion, which does not have to be joy. It’s the feline equivalent of humming or groaning. Though you won’t need to rush your kitty to the veterinary care center every time it purrs, it could be a sign that something might be up.

Dogs Don’t Need Their Teeth Brushed.

Though some might think it’s silly to brush a dogs teeth, it’s actually a very necessary part of their hygiene, as it prevents oral diseases. Though it might be tricky to brush a dog’s teeth, it needs to be done. If you have trouble taking care of it, many veterinary care centers offer this service.

Who would have thought that giving cats milk would give them bowel problems? Or that dogs with warm noses don’t need to go to advanced veterinary care centers? Or that purring cats actually might have to go to veterinary care center? The more you know!

If you have any other weird pet heath myths, feel free to share in the comments. Refernce materials.