Albuquerque Journal Articles
Yeast & Bacteria + Skin Oils Question: We have two small dogs – a Chihuahua and a terrier mix – that have a “body odor” problem. We can give them a bath today and within two days the odor is back. I have owned a number of dogs in my lifetime (I’m 81 years old) and this has never been a problem. Is it their food? Dr. Nichol: Even during times of social distancing B.O. can be a family stigma. The good news is that while your dogs’ odorousness does not indicate a character flaw bit it shouldn’t be their…
Social Distancing is Best Question: My mother-in-law is living in nursing home/hospice. We are seeing her Miss Pearl twice a day for feeding and social time. We would love to move Pearl across the dirt road to our home. She loves our pair of Goldies, but loathes our calico with ululating passion. We are considering bringing her over to the yard (1 acre orchard) and letting her play with dogs and accept the scent of our cat. Will successive approximations of approach break down the barrier? Rehoming is not an option for the shy, 11 year old Pearl. She was…
Wet your Cat Question: I have two kittens about nine months old. They have access to water and dry food all day and I give them wet food in the morning and evening. Is that too much? Should I change their feeding habits? I’ve noticed that when one of them visits the water bowl it seems like she drinks forever. The other one rarely visits the water bowl at all. Should I cut down on the dry food? Dr. Nichol: Have all the dry food you want. Your dietary proclivities are none of my business; I’m a veterinarian, for cryin’…
Modern Treatments – Better Healing Question: I have a 3 year old cockapoo and she was trying to jump and did something to her leg. She cried for about 30 seconds, it was horrifying. She was born with loose kneecaps. My veterinarian told me about stem cells. I’m skeptical with any new procedures. Are there side effects or future problems? She loves to play and I’m afraid it might happen again. Dr. Nichol: That missed jump may have strained the tendons that support and guide your girl’s knee caps (patellas). Rest and anti-inflammatory medication can help in the short term…
Work with COVID19 Restrictions Question: With stay home in place, what do we do if we get an 8 week puppy who needs classes and socialization? Dr. Nichol: You are right to make this a priority. The sensitive period for puppy socialization is ages 3-12 weeks. This means healthy, happy play and handling with lots of gentle people, dogs, and cats of various descriptions. A series of classes, with each puppy pupil current on vaccinations, is the gold standard. The developing canine brain will accept – for a lifetime – nearly any creature who treats them well. Dogs who missed…
Most Cats are Not Party Animals Question: I adopted two female cats a couple of years ago. The younger one has always been energetic and playful. The older cat recently died. I’m now wondering if my remaining cat “needs” a friend. I’d prefer to not adopt an additional cat due to the risk of unknowingly choosing one that comes with high medical bills or potential behavior problems, since my current cat was the dominant one. Dr. Nichol: Relationships can be challenging. The maxim, “You can pick your friends but you can’t pick your relatives” doesn’t apply to pets. A bullied…
Treatment Matters Question: My cat Harry is very special at age 14, a little flame point Siamese. He suffers from an eye condition that became much worse several months ago. What freaks me out is the brown discoloration in one eye. I’m crippled and stranded, so it’s scary. Despite it all Harry works hard to rid the house of mice and even likes my flugelhorn playing as long as it’s Misty or Pink Panther. I’ve been playing a good set here and there, though. Maybe if I’m lucky I’ll cheer somebody else up. Everyone who plays something, please open your…
Don’t Panic-Be Careful Staying home is a real drag but if you have pets you’ll never be alone. We don’t need social distancing from them, do we? Here’s the update which, of course, is subject to change. Idexx Laboratories tested thousands of canine and feline specimens and found no positives for the coronavirus strain that causes disease in humans. Idexx has stated that, “These new test results align with the current expert understanding that COVID-19 is primarily transmitted person-to-person and supports the recommendation against testing pets for the this virus.” Simple, yes? No. A Pomeranian in Hong Kong had a…
Why must a Dog Act-Out? Question: I walk my 2 year old standard poodle on a trail. He’s a great dog. When he’s on a leash he often rears up and barks at dogs we meet who are on- leash too. I need to keep the leash on (he gets free runs at the dog park). The rearing and barking make him seem like a dangerous dog, but he’s not. Dr. Nichol: The simple answer would be to drop your leash. Just letting your high energy dog run amok would be great fun for him but it would be impractical…
She’d Feel Better if She Could Cry Question: One of my dogs has a crusty discharge from her eyes. It doesn’t wipe away, and when I pull it off, the skin underneath is red and sore. After reading your column on rabbits recently, I wondered if it could be mites, but if there’s such a thing as dog eye mites, the net won’t tell. Dr. Nichol: We get serious competition from the Internet. Dr. Google expounding on eye mites would make for fake news. There are worms, called Thelazia, that can live beneath the eyelids but these are rare in…