History Analysis / ArtisticLicenseAnimalCare

** Mice and rats are also often fed milk by their owners, according to a book on rodent care: "...this is fine in small amounts like thimble sized cups for mice and bottle cap sized for rats for a once in a while treat it is alright if 2% or 1% milk." Most mice and rats are omnivores, and like their wild cousins they eat not only seeds, grains, nuts, berries and other fruits, but also worms, insects, fish and eggs -- but milk is not a normal thing. In fact, lactose can give them gas and digestive issues just like anyone who is lactose intolerant, so while it seems OK, it's probably not the best idea to feed your mouse or rat milk even in the 1% grade.

** Most media are aware that chocolate is toxic to dogs, but not cats. Cats are, in fact, even more sensitive to theobromine than dogs since unlike dogs cats are obligate carnivores. Due to lacking a necessary gene, felines cannot taste sugars or "sweetness", and thus have no interest in such a sugary foodstuff. Interestingly, [[YouDirtyRat rats]] can tolerate even ''more'' theobromine than humans, but it's still unhealthy for them due to the caffeine content. Beyond the theobromine issue, the sugar in chocolate can give both dogs and cats tooth decay, just like with humans (and this is a bigger issue with cats and dogs than with humans, since obviously pets can't brush their teeth).

** One persistent image is that of the beautiful belly dancer with a constrictor (either a boa or large python) draped over her shoulders as she performs. This generally isn't recommended for novice snake owners, especially if the snake isn't used to being handled yet, for a few reasons. For one thing, if the snake has eaten, it may do what snakes generally do when a full snake [[StressVomit feels threatened]] (or is moving around too much). It will regurgitate. Second, constrictors are incredibly powerful creatures. If one feels like it's going to fall off, will tighten its grip. This can cause severe injury to the owner (and, in rare cases, even death). Finally, remember how it was mentioned before that snakes regurgitate if they feel threatened? Well, they do something else to deter predators. Let's just say dancing with a python is far less sexy when it's frightened and decides to ''poop'' all over you.

** People trying to make their pet Hognose Snake play dead. While this can be fascinating to watch, it is a very bad idea to make a pet snake do this. This is because playing dead is a defense mechanism used to deter predators. It can cause stress in the snake and greatly shorten their lifespan.

** Contrary to popular belief, puffing up isn't the only way these fish defend themselves. Many novice puffer owners learn the hard way that their new fish is more than willing to express its annoyance (or fear) of its owner by biting their fingers. This can actually cause serious injuries due to puffers having extremely sharp teeth and powerful jaws. Larger species have even been known to bite off the fingers of their owners.

* Fictional accounts that depict [[InterspeciesFriendship pets of different species getting]] along, simply because they share the same owner, can be a potential recipe for disaster if the pets in question are, in their natural habitat, predator and prey. Despite what a story or cartoon might say, assume terriers, cats, and ferrets will ''always'' attack smaller furry animals, rats will ''always'' attack small birds or reptiles, and pond turtles will ''always'' attack fish.

* Most animals have a very short memory when it comes to understanding cause-and-effect, especially if the link isn't directly obvious. Media that depicts an animal [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone feeling guilty]] after being scolded for something it did ''hours'' ago is complete hogwash. At best, most creatures will remember something along the lines of, "Last time I got in the crate, I went to the vet [[AfraidOfDoctors and that was scary]], so I do not like the crate." In most cases, they will not understand why their owner is throwing a hissy fit at them after coming home and seeing that they [[UrineTrouble peed on the carpet]] (so why do they look "guilty" when you come home and they've done it again? Well, if every time you come home, you scold your pet, the pet learns that [[FalseCause you coming home is the reason you're mad at them]], so that moment in time becomes one that they dread). If you're going to scold or punish an animal, the best time to do it is during the offending act or a few seconds after it; then move on, stop being (or at least, stop behaving) angry, and reward it when it does the ''right'' thing instead. Despite what the cartoons may tell you, your pets ''aren't'' going to agonize over their own bad behavior for very long, if at all.

* Alcohol and coffee are much more toxic for a dog or cat than for a human. While dog owners may see the animal licking a small amount of spilled coffee or beer and assume it will be fine, in large quantities (an entire cup of coffee for a medium sized dog) it may kill the poor animal, while it just distresses a human. Hops in beer is also toxic. It's safer to never give the dog coffee or alcohol.

* A common, romantic depiction of raptors (eagles, hawks, falcons, etc) is to have the bird sitting on the hand, arm or shoulder of its owner, ready to fly off at command. In reality, this is a terrible idea for two reasons. Firstly, it is an innate instinct of the raptor family birds to GoForTheEye and it is severely advised to not have them sit anywhere on your person but on your outstretched hand. Secondly, even on said outstretched hand, Raptor talons are designed to tear meat to ribbons--they can easily cut through human flesh and clothing. Most handlers wear heavy leather gloves to protect themselves. It's also very strongly recommended that you keep the bird attached to you via rope. You should ''never'' pet a bird of prey (with the notable exception of some hand-raised owls) either. They ''hate'' it.

** People who own pufferfish tend to want to see them "puff up" [[StockAnimalBehaviour like they do in the movies and cartoons]]. The problem? This causes severe stress to the animal (remember, pufferfish inflate themselves to frighten away predators) which can shorten its lifespan. Not only that, but pufferfish can be seriously injured or even die while puffing up. Some species of puffers (typically saltwater species) will even release toxins into the water when frightened. In a small tank, this can result in the puffer itself ending up being lethally poisoned.

** Goldfish don't live very long in goldfish bowls. They thrive better in aquariums, artificial ponds or both. Sadly, this one is still widespread in advertising, as many companies still market small bowls as being for goldfish.

** Some lizards' tails will actually ''break off'' if pulled on too hard, and then [[{{Squick}} wiggle around frantically for several minutes after being detached]]. This isn't accidental--predators are likely to grab the lizard by its tail, and letting it pop off often distracts the predator long enough for the lizard to escape--but it's not a fun experience for the lizard either way. If you have a cat who likes to hunt, you are probably familiar with this.

** Goldfish don't live very long in goldfish bowls. They thrive better in aquariums, artificial ponds or both. Sadly, this one is still widespread in Advertising, as many companies still market small bowls as being for goldfish.

* Fictional accounts that depict pets of different species getting along, simply because they share the same owner, can be a potential recipe for disaster if the pets in question are, in their natural habitat, predator and prey. Despite what a story or cartoon might say, assume terriers and ferrets will ''always'' attack smaller furry animals, rats will ''always'' attack small birds or reptiles, and pond turtles will ''always'' attack fish.

** Inversely, some people feel that [[AllAnimalsAreDomesticated a wild animal will always love and trust their owners]] if raised from a young age. This only turns out to be the case with some animals. Typically, the animal will ''only'' trust a select few people, and react wildly and aggressively to everyone else. Others will want nothing to do with people at all once they reach adulthood. So basically, leave wild animals in the wild. If you feel that you ''must'' intervene in a wild animal's life for whatever reason, promptly take it to a wildlife sanctuary or anywhere else where there are professionals who can handle the situation in the correct manner.
* Most animals have a very short memory when it comes to understanding cause-and-effect, especially if the link isn't directly obvious. Media that depicts an animal feeling guilty after being scolded for something it did ''hours'' ago is complete hogwash. At best, most creatures will remember something along the lines of, "Last time I got in the crate, I went to the vet and that was scary, so I do not like the crate." In most cases, they will not understand why their owner is throwing a hissy fit at them after coming home and seeing that they peed on the carpet (so why do they look "guilty" when you come home and they've done it again? Well, if every time you come home, you scold your pet, the pet learns that you coming home is the reason you're mad at them, so that moment in time becomes one that they dread). If you're going to scold or punish an animal, the best time to do it is during the offending act or a few seconds after it; then move on, stop being angry, and reward it when it does the ''right'' thing instead. Despite what the cartoons may tell you, your pets ''aren't'' going to agonize over their own bad behavior for very long, if at all.

** A cat playing with laser toys is funny to watch, but many professionals don't recommend them because the cat can get stressed because it doesn't get the relief of catching something physical. String toys are better. And if you use a laser toy anyway, '''never shine the laser into your cat's eye or anyone else's eye''' because they can cause permanent vision loss and damage. Children in particular should never be allowed access to a laser toy -- they are likely not to take this seriously enough and do it anyway, or may do it on accident.

** Any time a cat is fed straight ruminant milk. Especially if it's a kitten. Cats are always lactose intolerant; some less than others, but any more than a very small amount will cause an upset stomach and diarrhea. Watering down the milk can help make it easier to digest, but it's not necessarily 100% effective. You can give your cat either goat's milk or special pet milk such as Cat-Sip available cheaply at pet supply stores (this is different from the milk replacement formula for kittens). Also, cream and yogurt are less harmful for cats than regular milk. So long as your cat doesn't throw up or display other digestive problems, you can give ''small amounts'' of regular milk as an ''occasional'' snack, but it's still not recommended. Some cats can eat cheese safely. Give him tiny amounts and watch out for diarrhea.

** Most media are aware that chocolate is toxic to dogs, but not cats. Cats are, in fact, even more sensitive to theobromine than dogs since unlike dogs cats are obligate carnivores. Due to lacking a necessary gene, felines cannot taste sugars or "sweetness", and thus have no interest in such a sugary foodstuff. Interestingly, [[YouDirtyRat rats]] can tolerate even ''more'' theobromine than humans, but it's still unhealthy for them due to the caffeine content. Beyond the theobromine issue, the sugar in chocolate can give both dogs and cats tooth decay, just like with humans.

** While rabbits will eat carrots, they should be fed sparingly if at all. Feeding a rabbit a diet consisting solely or mostly of carrots is like feeding a child nothing but candy bars; it will not end well. The bulk of a rabbit's diet should consist of dried grass hay (alfalfa is too rich) and a wide variety of fresh greens, of at least three varieties a day and varying which three (but not iceberg lettuce which has no nutritional value and too much phosphorus). The typical rabbit may require a few ''cups'' of greens and hay per day. Pellets should really only be fed to juvenile and pregnant rabbits, and anything else (including carrots) shouldn't exceed a tablespoon per day, even less for small breeds.

** Any show portraying hamsters (most particularly Syrian hamsters) living happily in pairs or groups. A normal Syrian hamster would eventually kill even a litter-mate, as they are loners by nature. Male-female pairs may occasionally work, but would lead to the female breeding continuously till she dies of exhaustion. Some types of dwarf hamsters can be kept together without incident, provided they've known each other from a young age and are provided adequate space so that nobody feels overcrowded. If kept in a tiny cage together, they'll still act just as aggressively towards each other as their Syrian cousins.

** In the US, it is still unfortunately common and accepted to get cats declawed despite this practice increasingly being banned in many other countries. The reason it is such a concern is that it is essentially the exact same thing as amputating the last bone off a person's finger, and can lead to various problems like lasting pain or sensitivity for the cat when it walks, or even at first glance seemly unrelated issues, like urinating outside of the litter box (this can happen if it is painful for the cat to step on the litter, and/or if the cat is stressed because of the declawing). Most people get their cat declawed because they mistakenly believe it to be only like a simple permanent nail trim and an easy way to "solve" minor behavioral issues that can be trained out of the cat or managed, but declawing may just cause the cat to have other, often worse behavioral issues, like increased biting or anxiety.

* Most psittacines -- parrots, cockatoos, cockatiels and parakeets - are extremely social. They are extremely intelligent, extremely social creatures and ''will go insane'' if left alone. Never have only one bird unless you are home all the time and prepared to pay ''lots'' of attention to her. Keep the bird in an area of your home where most of the "action" is. It's better to have two or more. Clean out the spare room and make it the "birds' room" and let them fly around and socialize in there.

*** There is actually something called "[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angel_wing angel wing syndrome]]" that is sometimes found in waterfowl living near human areas. It's basically a twisting/defect in one or both wings that renders the bird flightless, and it may be connected to nutrient deficiencies caused by bread consumption. Effected birds usually die early. It's permanent in adult birds, but in young birds it may be reversed by treatment and a more appropriate diet, without bread.

** A common sight in media is to see a rather [[BalloonBelly bloated-looking snake]] due to it eating a large meal. In reality, snakes do sometimes die because their stomachs rupture from eating too large of a meal. Unfortunately, novice snake-owners tend to not know this and think their snake only needs one very large meal a month to sustain itself. Yes, snakes can go for a long time without food (especially after a good-sized meal). But, it's safer to just feed the snake a modest meal more often (how big and how often depends on the size and age of the snake).
** One persistent image is that of the beautiful belly dancer with a constrictor (either a boa or large python) draped over her shoulders as she performs. This generally isn't recommended for novice snake owners, especially if the snake isn't used to being handled yet, for a few reasons. For one thing, if the snake has eaten, it may do what snakes generally do when a full snake feels threatened (or is moving around too much). It will regurgitate. Second, constrictors are incredibly powerful creatures. If one feels like it's going to fall off, will tighten its grip. This can cause severe injury to the owner (and, in rare cases, even death). Finally, remember how it was mentioned before that snakes regurgitate if they feel threatened? Well, they do something else to deter predators. Let's just say dancing with a python is far less sexy when it's frightened and decides to ''poop'' all over you.

* Don't think a turtle or tortoise can escape? Try again. Novice turtle owners may let their new shelled friends roam in their backyard only for said turtle to make a getaway. They may be slow, but they are persistent. It's important to keep a close eye on a turtle if it's allowed to spend some time outside lest it manages to make it to the neighbor's yard or into any sort of danger.

** Many shows/cartoons/etc. feature a child (often a male) showing off his (or sometimes her) pet amphibian (often a frog, but newts/salamanders and toads are sometimes featured) by carrying it around or by it poking its head out of the child's pocket. In reality, amphibians have '''very''' sensitive skin and it's generally recommended that they are NOT handled unless you have rinsed your hands of any soaps or whatnot that could potentially injure said amphibian.
** On the subject of amphibians, several novice Axolotl (a fully-aquatic salamander native to Mexico) owners tend to keep several in an aquarium at once. Axolotls are cannibalistic and, unless they are roughly the same size, will attempt to eat one another.

** People who own pufferfish tend to want to see them "puff up" like they do in the movies and cartoons. The problem? This causes severe stress to the animal (remember, pufferfish inflate themselves to frighten away predators) which can shorten its lifespan. Not only that, but pufferfish can be seriously injured or even die while puffing up. Some species of puffers (typically saltwater species) will even release toxins into the water when frightened. In a small tank, this can result in the puffer itself ending up being lethally poisoned.

** Inversely, some people feel that a wild animal will always love and trust their owners if raised from a young age. This only turns out to be the case with some animals. Typically, the animal will ''only'' trust a select few people, and react wildly and aggressively to everyone else. Others will want nothing to do with people at all once they reach adulthood. So basically, leave wild animals in the wild. If you feel that you ''must'' intervene in a wild animal's life for whatever reason, promptly take it to a wildlife sanctuary or anywhere else where there are professionals who can handle the situation in the correct manner.

* Ferrets are very frequently mistaken for wild animals due to their scruffy, weasel appearance. While there are species such as the Black Footed Ferret, pet ferrets are no more wild than a Siberian Husky is a wolf and have been domesticated since at least Ancient Egypt. They're domestic animals who can't survive on their own however are frequently depicted in fiction as being able to. Even a few real world laws against ferrets mistake them for exotic pets.

** A cat playing with laser toys is funny to watch, but many professionals don't recommend them because the cat can get stressed because it doesn't get the relief of catching something physical. String toys are better.
*** The far more important thing to worry about with laser toys is to '''never shine the laser into your cat's eye or anyone else's eye''' because they can cause permanent vision loss and damage. This is why a child should never be allowed access to a laser toy - they are likely not to take this seriously enough and do it anyway, or may do it on accident.

*** An alternative to giving a bird bread is to feed something more species appropriate. It's usually tasty to the bird anyway.