Albuquerque Journal Articles
Second in a series Politicians vie for our attention and, for very different reasons, so can dogs, especially if they catch us looking. Decide what you want before getting covered in spit and hair –from dogs that is, not from primary candidates please. If you love dogs you may be tempted to have more than one. That can work fine if you live off the grid, on 100 acres of National Forest, in a cave. As a human, you would be the de facto leader of that canine group. Your subordinates would be survivors, hunting and scavenging, while competing for…
First in a series Human relationships can start out really well, but then go sideways. Is there something wrong with us if we don’t get along with somebody? I don’t think so. Behavior disorders can be real problems in species with complex brains – like us and our pets. But most creatures are functional with others. Our happiness and connectedness with others begins with compatibility. Wet kisses and full body contact feel wonderful but love at first sight can go wrong. The dogs in my life have entertained me and they’ve consoled me. They’re a lot like a human soul…
Question: Bob is our orange tabby kitten we got from a rescue home. He’s 6 months old now and is a really sweet guy but he always has pus and scabs in his eyes. Sometimes he sneezes and we don’t think he feels very good. We’ve tried Poly B and Oxy ointment. It didn’t help. Dr. Nichol: Bob’s not a happy camper. Have a helper offer him little bits of tuna while you soften and slowly wipe away the discharge with a warm, moist piece of cotton or Kleenex. If you gently pull down on a lower eyelid, you’ll see…
Question: I discovered that Rocky (5 month old Jack Russell) is growing his adult canine teeth however his baby teeth are not coming out. Will they come out on their own later? Dr. Nichol: Retained baby (deciduous) teeth is a common bump in the road of adolescence for small breed dogs. At age 5 months, those little choppers may not fall out on their own. If they’re allowed to stay beyond the toddler phase, the much bigger permanent teeth will arrive right next door. Food particles, hair, and even plant material can get jammed in the gap between them. This…
Question: Our 5 year old German shepherd, Barney, is nearly the most perfect pet except for when he goes for a ride in the car. Every time he sees a pedestrian or, even worse another dog, he goes ballistic. He barks like he’s the most viscous creature, ready to devour everything in his path. I think he enjoys being this bad ass. He’s obedience trained and has an AKC good citizen certificate. Dr. Nichol: A-hem. This is a family newspaper, you know. You could have described Barney as a bad rear end or perhaps a bad hiney. We’ll let it…
Question: Three months ago we adopted a spayed 5 year old female cat. She’s very loving and we adore her. But lately she gets these wild streaks and has scratched and bitten our legs, even drawing blood. It’s usually preceded by meowing and sometimes yowling. We spray water on her and scold her. In a few minutes she’s loving and sweet again. We’re retired homebodies so she gets lots of attention. Dr. Nichol: Springtime can bring out the call of the wild. There are risks to life in the great outdoors but that is your cat’s innate habitat. Her natural…
Can’t you just share some love or a snack without all the pushing, shoving, or maybe even a growl or worse? You can but your canine leadership will need some refinement. Keep your dogs in line without hurting anyone’s feelings.
Has your cat ever had a fight? I don’t mean with a spouse or HOA but with a marauding feline neighbor or housemate. Squabbles may start and end with spitting, verbal putdowns, and posturing but when it’s game-on, an altercation can turn dangerous. Feline behavior is complicated and, in many ways, quite different than our species or our dogs.’ Some cats prefer to be part of a group (colony) but they can just as easily go it alone. Except for females and their young, kitties don’t need each other to survive. Unlike us and our dogs, they don’t cry out…
The Food and Drug Administration, along with independent researchers, have discovered a possible link between grain-free, “legume-rich” pet foods and a potentially life-threatening heart disease called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Deficiency of the amino acid taurine may be another significant factor. Specific categories of diets have been linked to heart disease. A group of Newfoundlands, who were fed a lamb and rice diet, have developed reversible DCM linked to taurine deficiency. Golden retrievers, American cocker spaniels, and Dalmatians also appear to be vulnerable. Vegan and vegetarian diets have been implicated but limited ingredient foods manufactured by Hills and Royal Canin have…
Last in a series Rather than indulging in frivolous ego-driven jealousy, like humans, our dogs live in the moment. They compete because they’re programmed to worry that food or proximity to their leader might vanish, causing them to wander aimlessly in the abyss, wither, and die of starvation, isolation, and heartache. Polly’s aggression was turbo charged by her severe anxiety disorder, very likely genetic in its origin. Her squabbles with Holly were already beyond name-calling and hair pulling; a shootout with life-threatening injuries, or worse, was right around the corner. My clients wanted an immediate end to the hostilities but…