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Vets: Pet Owners Make Lots Of Mistakes

NEW YORK (CBS 2) -- You may think you know what's best for Fido or Fifi, but vets say some of the most dangerous mistakes pet owners can make were also some of the most common, CBS 2HD's Kathryn Brown reports.

"There's a lot of myths out there that people assume," said veterinarian Ryan Gorbutt.

One of the biggest is that milk is good for cats. In fact, Gorbutt told CBS 2HD, most cats are lactose intolerant.

"A lot of people assume that milk is OK, to leave a saucer out, and it can actually cause an irritation to the GI tract, causing them to have diarrhea and vomiting too," he said.

Another common mistake is giving your dog a bone. Gorbutt said certain types can come apart apart, leading to serious infections, and it's nearly impossible to tell which bones won't break.

He recommended giving dogs Milk-Bone-type treats instead.

Overfeeding is another mistake, and one many pet owners make.

It can be nearly impossible to resist the big sweet eyes but vets said it's really imporant for pet owners not to give in and give them extra treats that could make them sick.

Despite what you may think, tail wagging isn't always a sign your pup is happy. Knowing their body language is critical to preventing a serious accident.

The bottom line: vets say having a pet is an enormous responsibility and it's up to pet owners to make sure they know what's best for theirs.

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