Owning a dog is a fantastic experience, but it also requires a lot of time, effort, and a good amount of research too.
But despite that, many still aren't aware what is and isn't safe for our four -legged friends. For example, Google searches for 'can dogs eat white chocolate' have increased by 130 percent in the last 30 days.
With that in mind, Victoria Kerr, pet nutritionist at natural pet food specialists Naturo, has shared some of the common misconceptions when it comes to our furry friends
Victoria comments "While chocolate is an indulgent snack for humans, it isn’t for dogs. Chocolate ingestion can result in significant illness with symptoms that range from vomiting and diarrhea to seizures.
"There are much better snack alternatives to feed your dog such as apples, green beans, and carrots, all of which can be found in your kitchen."
Another myth that the expert has debunked is the idea that a cold wet nose means that a dog is healthy.
Contrary to belief, Victoria explains that there are a few reasons why your dog might have a wet nose, and not all of them are positive.
The expert comments: "Dogs can’t sweat like humans can to maintain body temperature so in most cases dogs pant and lick their nose, and as saliva evaporates from their nose and mouth, it helps a dog cool down and regulate their body temperature."
Essentially, a wet nose might signal that a pub is tired and might need a break when you're taking it out for a walk.
One more myth which many wrongly believe is that a wagging tail only signals that a dog is feeling happy.
Dogs will wag their tail to convey a range of emotions including happiness, nervousness, feeling threatened, anxiety, submission, and excitement.
Victoria comments "There are many variations of the tail wag and the common myth is that it just means a dog is friendly and approachable, this is wrong.
"A short wag usually happens during greetings when a dog is feeling tentative whereas big broad wags indicate a friendly dog who is not threatening anyone.
"A slow-moving tail however might mean that your dog is feeling anxious."
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