People catch their pets eating something they shouldn't four times a day on average

Some pets will chance anything!

Image via Pixabay

The average pet owner catches their animal eating something they shouldn’t about four times per day, according to new research.

A poll of 2,004 cat and dog owners found that 61% have lost sleep over the thought of their pet eating something they shouldn’t.

Another 39% said they’ve even caught their pet rummaging through the trash.

Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of ElleVet, the survey found that more than half (56%) use the words “stop” and “no” to curb their pet’s unwanted behavior, while about one-third (35%) will put their pet on “time out.”

Other misdeeds that respondents cited included unnecessary vocalization (41%), climbing curtains or other furniture (40%) and stealing food off their human’s plate (38%).

But according to Dr. Joseph Wakshlag,  professor of nutrition and sports medicine at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, these habits don’t typically come from a malicious place on the part of your pooch.

“Ingestion of foreign items in many cases can be a learned behavior in dogs, particularly when another animal in the house is playing with it or eating it,” said Wakshlag.

“In addition, research has shown that dogs will ingest or lick foreign objects when they have GI distress, so this behavior should be followed up with questions regarding appetite, nausea or regurgitation.”

The poll also explored the lengths pet owners will go to manage what makes it into their furry friends’ bodies; almost three-quarters (74%) of respondents, for example, will read the reviews of a product before giving it to their pets.

But 39% have gone so far as to test the product on themselves first, with food (56%) and treats (53%) being the most common.

Of those who’ve served as their own pet product guinea pig, 53% did so purely out of curiosity.

And 29% even admitted that the product tasted good to them.

Via SWNS