Albuquerque Journal Articles
It’s Easy to Give them a Break & Keep them Safe Thanksgiving is great fun, isn’t it? Family, football, turkey, pie, and beer. Well, maybe for you and me. Keep a close eye on your pets. 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. Stressed cats might over-groom. Pets need a break from the action. Hide boxes for kitties and out-of the-way resting areas for dogs will allow them to sit out the political discussions.…
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Stressed Cats Struggle Behaviorally and Physically Do you live in a litter pan or suffer through feline caterwauling and brawling? Take a long gulp of coffee just for maintaining your sanity. The story of Larry, Moe, and Curly (not their real names) is sure to help you feel better. Moe was so young when he left his mother that he required bottle-feeding. With no real concept of playing well with others he powered through a youthful bout of kidney failure but then advanced to periodic vomiting and chewing plastic wrappers. Losing his lunch furthered Moe’s social isolation but it was…
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Chocolate is Dangerous for Dogs Halloween is great, isn’t it? You can go incognito and so can your dog. And the snacks, oooh, they’re to die for, aren’t they? But if it’s a dog who indulges – even a little- chocolate can be fatal. Of the vast array of goodies consumed in mass quantities during the holidays, chocolate is certainly the most dangerous for dogs. Whether they devour one piece of candy at a time or raid the whole bag you have a medical emergency. Chocolate and cocoa products contain caffeine and methylxanthines, substances we humans handle with no problem.…
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A ScareCrow will Prevent Intrusions by Neighbor Cats Question: I have a spayed female cat who mostly stays indoors and but likes to go out in the evenings. There are a couple of male cats who wander into her territory. The angry, fighting, howling cat words are loud and scare me. My first tendency would be to yell and pull her to safety, though more than likely I would get scratched and bit as well. What should one do to help the animal without getting myself hurt? Dr. Nichol- We would like to think of these visitors as fine…
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Picking the Greatest Puppy for Your Life Sharing your life with a great dog is like any important relationship. Start out on the right paw and everybody has a shot at success. Behavioral research shows that puppies do better if they stay with their mothers and litter mates until at least age 5-7 weeks. Picking the right breed is important but remember that puppies are unique individuals. You’ll want to pay attention to the different temperaments within each litter you consider. They’re not appliances that roll off an assembly line. I recommend first choosing the racy appearance of your shiny…
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Phobia of Celestial Assault Balloons Fiesta is fun for us, but it’s not much of a party for pets who freak-out from those cosmic monsters leering and looming over them. Even the far-off hiss of a propane burner or a multi-colored speck in the distance can trigger overwhelming terror for dogs who’ve logged a few frightful fiestas. There’s nothing logical about phobias. Dogs with this irrational fear haven’t been physically assaulted by balloons but like humans with unfounded anxieties, they need special consideration. Hiding, trembling, and nervous panting are indicators of serious misery. Simple avoidance will reduce the risk of…
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Careful Evaluation & Dosing are Critical to Success Question: I have a 14-year-old diabetic cat. She was healthy and stable; her insulin (glargine) dose was 1.5 units. About a month ago she became lethargic and indifferent to food. Her fructosamine was 400 and there was sugar in her urine. Her insulin was increased to 2 units. She’s had good and bad days since then but hasn’t completely returned to her normal self. Is Prescription Diet m/d best for her? There seem to be canned foods out there that are lower in carbohydrate and higher in protein. Dr. Nichol: When diabetes…
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The Mind-Body Connection is Worth Investing Lulu is a sweet, 2 year old Australian cattle dog. She was adopted from a shelter just 2 months before she and I met. She had itchy skin and a rather delicate gut. She’d already started eating a special diet and was taking an anti-itch medication called Apoquel. Lulu landed in my exam room because of her sudden reactive aggression toward men of all shapes and sizes. Actually, anybody who rushed onto the scene could trigger Lulu’s fear-related displays. She never actually bit anyone. Those histrionics were intended to send a message. “Scary monsters…
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Panic is No Fun for Anybody Buddy, a really cute 2 year old girl dog, lost her composure and released a bladder full of urine with almost any hint of excitement. When I met her she was scanning the room, on the lookout for any possible threat to her well-being. She held herself somewhat low, her weight shifted back. Her tail hung at about 30 degrees below the horizontal. It didn’t move. Her ears were retracted. She was still under control, but not by a lot. Sweaty paws, to be sure. I quietly invited Buddy and her mom to follow…
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Propranolol can Help Question: I have a 5-year old female border terrier who is almost the perfect pet except when I visit someone else’s home. Even if I let her empty out before we enter, the first thing she does is mark her spot. She also does this going to the veterinarian or to the groomer. I would like her to come with me when I play my weekly card games but cannot trust her. Dr. Nichol: There’s a lot of pressure in trying to be the perfect guest: witty and socially adroit while charming the host sans faux pas.…
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