Albuquerque Journal Articles
First in a series Boxers in the Night Semi Pregnancy Who doesn’t love newborn puppies? Veterinarians get to turn difficult deliveries into real joy but it’s often difficult. In the early years we tried to close the clinic at 6 PM but late night emergencies were common. It was just after Christmas, at about 9:30 – near bedtime. The Rolling Stones, blasting ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’ on my stereo, were interrupted by a call from the answering service. A boxer was struggling to pass her first puppy. I scribbled down the phone number of a dog breeder…
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What does it take? The holidays are great fun, aren’t they? Singin’, dancin’, and carryin’ on. For you and me, sure, but badly unsettled pets can engage in some unhealthy behaviors because they’re nervous or scared. Be observant. Tense body postures around visitors or startling at sudden noises, hiding, freezing with ears flattened, the head low, and the tail tucked are important clues. Scared dogs may lick their lips and yawn. Highly stressed cats might over-groom. Worried pets need a break from the action. Hide boxes for cats and out-of-the-way resting areas for dogs can help. A food toy loaded…
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Canine Coping Skills for Twins Question: I have a female Doberman, 5 years old, and a female mixed breed dog, age 10. And 8 months ago I became mom of twins. Other dog is great with them from the day one. Dobermann on the other hand is extremely nervous. She continues to cry and go around me in circles when I have a baby in my arms. More time passes, worst she is. That behaviour is provoking other dog and then I have a war between them. We are from Italy. Dr. Nichol: This is a common problem; many dogs…
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Last in a 4 part series Managing Herd Size Facing down this dual feline epidemic (leukemia virus plus herpes) I felt overwhelmed until I made another visit to the Peabody home. Armed with physical exam findings and test results on each of their 24 cats I again toured the house and yard, this time to strategize. Eye and nose discharges are little toxic pools of bacteria and virus. I coached Briana and Nettie on gentle handling of each cat (some were fussier than others) for snot removal and medication. Some needed special feeding. Isolation from the symptom-free, leukemia negative cats…
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Finding a Way to Save Lives Pet lovers can mistakenly assign human emotions to members of a different species. Firmly believing that cats want everything we do doesn’t make it so. Cramming 26 of them into one household caused behavioral and physical stresses that weakened their immunity. The Peabody cat family was sick. A growing number were discharging from their eyes and noses, spiking fevers, and eating poorly or not at all. Worse still, their feline herpes virus (FHV-1) epidemic was advancing. Nasal fluid was aerosolized by sneezing for sure, but there were behavioral factors too. Cats are not little…
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Part 2 in a series At-Home with the Feline Herd Crowded Eccentricity Cattle, pigs, and sheep, rubbing shoulders in large groups, risk spreading infectious diseases, leading veterinary medicine to the concept of herd immunity. A crowd of 26 cats with discharges from their 52 eyes and nostrils presented a serious herd health debacle. No loses were acceptable. In the exam room and in their home I noticed Brianna and Nettie handling each of their kitties in its own special way. They delighted in sharing stories about their antics. At the outset of the upper respiratory outbreak I needed to figure…
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Morbid Fascination? Cats are interesting and entertaining creatures; their people maybe even more so. I’m rather fond of these folks, being part of this societal subset myself. The 1959 Cadillac hearse that rolled up in front of my veterinary clinic drove home the point. Brianna Peabody and her mom Nettie shared a house, and a decent sized yard in Albuquerque’s North valley, with no fewer than 26 cats. Hoarders? No. Doting pet parents of a generous sized family – yes. Some people with innumerable pets can’t or don’t care for them. The Peabodys did everything necessary for Melody, Malady, Milhous…
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What’s in a Name? Most veterinarians don’t make house calls much anymore but I’ve done my fair share. I’ve learned interesting things about behavior that I never expected. Harry and Sally Eastham lived on a few acres in Corrales. They had 3 dogs – big ones: Porgy, Tirebiter, and Papoon. Rounding out the herd were 3 cats, a handful of hens, and a half dozen ducks. They had called me out for annual exams, vaccinations, and heartworm tests. All of this in the dark ages that preceded smart phones and GPS. You couldn’t simply input an address and drive. Sally…
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Question: Do you do debarking or bark softening? I have about a 20# sheltie. Dr. Nichol: I would debark a few people (politicians, mostly) but for noisy dogs, there are better ways. Barking is normal canine communication. Punishments, like verbal reprimands and electric shock or citronella collars seem simple but they create worse behaviors because they fail to address the cause of all that racket. Surgery would be just another symptomatic treatment. Naturalizing your dog’s life will be the best route to peace and quiet. Your sheltie has stressors that his free-living brethren never have to contend with. He’s stuck…
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[alsointhisseries series-slug=”snapping”] Find Out How I was just 8 years old when I made my first trip to the animal hospital with my new puppy. I felt inspired by Dr. Tuck; he was kind to me and my new dog “Scott”. I was fascinated and I was struck by this gentle doctor’s professionalism. I knew right then that I wanted be a veterinarian. Scott was this boy’s best friend but my parents got fed up with his indoor urination mistakes and took him to the shelter. Kindness had no place in the discussion. I missed that little guy but I…
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