1) If my dog rubs its bottom on the ground it must have worms
An extremely common misconception. Although intestinal worms will give a dog an itchy bottom, there is a much more common cause – full anal glands. Anal glands are two tiny cyst-like sacs that sit just inside the bottom and secrete a foul-smelling scent marker onto the dogs faeces. When they become over-full a dog will scoot or rub its bottom on the ground to try to empty them. If it persists, a vet or vet nurse can empty them manually to relieve the discomfort.

2) Cats like people who dislike them the best
An interesting theory and plenty of people have stories of a cat that seems to be attracted to the cat-hater in the room. There is probably a bit of truth in the theory that some cats prefer people who avoid eye-contact with them and don’t rush towards them with out-stretched hands, which for the nervous cat can both be somewhat threatening. However, a recent study failed to prove that cats consistently prefer the company of those that ignore them. It really depends on the nature of the cat. Some love attention and fuss, while others are more circumspect and approach more cautiously.

3) A cat or dog licking its wound is good for the wound
A small amount of licking might superficially clean a minor wound, but dogs’ and cats’ mouths are full of bacteria and a cat’s tongue is incredibly rough (almost like sandpaper). If they excessively lick a wound or surgical site they will do it a lot more harm than good. They will chew out stitches quickly and spread bacteria to deeper layers of a wound. It is much better to clean a wound with disinfectant or saline than let a pet lick at an open wound. It’s also not true that a dog’s mouth is ‘cleaner’ than a human’s mouth so don’t let them lick you! I’ve seen what my dog eats and I wouldn't want that smeared on my face.

4) Dogs eat grass only if they are sick
Owners are well aware of a dog’s ability to gorge on grass and make itself sick when it needs to. However, many dogs will eat grass occasionally and for these dogs it can be completely normal. Some seem to habitually graze on grass and for them it isn’t associated with being sick afterwards – they consume only a modest amount without any ill effects. As to why some dogs enjoy eating grass – the jury is still out. Perhaps some dogs just like the taste!

5) Cats have nine lives!
No one really believes this one but it’s an interesting saying and its origin has been around for centuries. In different cultures the number varies – in Turkish and Arabic legends cats have six lives, while in some Spanish speaking regions the number is seven. Cats’ relative dexterity and agility probably contribute to the idea that a cat can escape from various tricky situations relatively unscathed. They have a remarkable righting response which means they can flip over and land on their feet when falling from heights, and studies have shown that they survive falls well due to their light frames and ability to absorb the impact of a fall.