Albuquerque Journal Articles
Protection for Diminishing Birds Question: I was disappointed in your reply to the owner of the “trophy hunting cat” in the July 19 Albuquerque Journal. While you made good points about diseases transmitted to pets and potentially to humans, you missed the opportunity to address another serious issue: birds, small mammals and reptiles killed by domestic and feral cats. This cat owner should have been chastised for allowing this cat to kill “helpless animals”. They seemed to be proud while they should really feel ashamed. Animal species are declining and many bird species are plummeting. I also love cats and…
Tularemia, Plague, Rabies, & Hanta Virus Question: Our formerly feral five-year-old cat is now a tamed cuddler, purrer, and a chatterer. Her favorite activity is catching baby rabbits, baby squirrels, lizards, mice and birds. She is proud to bring these finds in, which get tossed out immediately. Could she contract Hantavirus or other diseases from hunting these wild animals? Dr. Nichol: Your feline wild child is in predator heaven but you are right to be concerned. Rodents, lizards, and rabbits are in generous supply, birds not so much. Then there’s infectious disease. A recent update from State Veterinarian Dr. Ralph…
Heart Disease Related to some Diets The growing popularity of grain-free diets for dogs has worried many veterinarians for quite a while. The FDA, along with independent researchers, has recently discovered a possible link between grain-free, “legume-rich” foods and a potentially life-threatening heart disease called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Deficiency of the amino acid taurine may be another significant factor. A recently reported study involved golden retrievers – a breed that, prior to the rise in popularity of grain-free diets – was seldom afflicted with DCM. Many of these dogs ate foods that listed beans, peas, or lentils among their…
Question: I need help controlling my Sunny in a car. I have had big dogs all my life but never had this problem and it’s getting scary to travel and worry about the distraction. In all other situations he responds to speech commands and treats. In this he is oblivious to my existence! Dr. Nichol: Oblivious to your existence, eh? I’ve been to that movie. You might as well be raising children. Pacing and barking in the car is a common problem. Many dogs have a strong need to interact with everything they see flashing past them. This behavior can…
Fighting Among Household Cats Relationships among multiple indoor cats could devolve into a slugfest. The head banana may lurk in the shadows, pounce, and scare the snot out of an unsuspecting subordinate. Wounds and abscesses can be lanced and irrigated but the fear can last a lifetime. Be observant. Watch for one cat blocking access to the litter box. Does he stare at the mild-mannered kitty until she gets up and moves? Is anybody getting slapped around while resting? How about a victim cat who skulks along the baseboards doing a terrified rodent imitation? The rules of social engagement for…
A Crowd of Cats Question: One of our foster families has a cat with bladder disease. She had a UTI, which has now cleared up after medication. She is now on gabapentin, but is still not always using the litter box. Her family is using Feliway and is isolating her from the other cats, but things are slow to improve. It is one of our higher-density foster homes. Dr. Nichol- There is a flip side to the kindness of fostering homeless pets. Cats with no history together, and crowded into a house, are prone to severe stress. Bullying and intimidation at…
Dangerous to Each Other & People Question: My 2 dogs have been together for 2.5 years. The female has always be passive before the male, however in the last month she has become extremely aggressive, taking his food, even growling when he attempts to get close to us. The male is now showing up with cuts from fights that are happening when we are gone. Dr. Nichol: Aggression between family dogs is common and potentially disastrous. The intensity of this type of hostility can advance fast, making early management essential. There are no simple solutions. Many cantankerous canine housemates compete…
Beware of Sugar Substitutes in Prepared Foods Did you know that dogs and cats are not little people in furry suits? They’re like us in a lot of ways. They snuggle, play, and talk to us, sometimes more than other people. Maybe that’s why we keep them as pets rather than, say, cockroaches or earthworms. Don’t assume too much. There are species differences that can lead to trouble. People food – especially the processed kind – can blindside you and your dog. A sugar substitute called xylitol is rapidly growing in popularity. It can show up in the most unexpected…
Kitties often Speak Non-Verbally Question: Having watched your Facebook Live on cats who fight, I wonder about how do two cats living in a house communicate with each other? Dr. Nichol: Cohabitating cats communicate almost continually. Sometimes referred to as socially asocial many could as easily survive alone as live in a feline colony. Genetically programmed for solitary hunting, our kitties are largely wild animals we keep as pets. Despite their rugged individualism, cats living in groups swap lots of information. They use body postures as signals in most cases. But if they’re pushed by the stresses of indoor confinement…
Be Wary: Serious Trouble may Lurk Question: What is your view of “cat grass?” Dr. Nichol: I have never used cat grass. I don’t eat it, smoke it, grow it or mow it. On the other hand, the two Nichol family cats, Tony and Gaston, are rather fiendish about it, almost like catnip. But they’re adults so I mind my own business. From a scientific perspective, there isn’t much known about cat grass. Ingested plant material tends to alkalinize the body but veterinary internists and nutritionists don’t believe that most cats would eat enough to predispose them to urinary disorders…