Albuquerque Journal Articles
My excellent and, sadly, late colleague Dr. Sophia Yin presents a wonderful method for giving injections to cats. The pet parent with this diabetic kitty can learn to make it a good experience rather than a source of fear. Complications like Urinary Infections Derail Good Control Question: I have a 14-year-old cat who was diagnosed with diabetes about 3 years ago. She was stable; her insulin (glargine) dose was 1 1/2 units. A month ago she became lethargic and indifferent to food. Her fructosamine test showed 400 and there was sugar in her urine. Her insulin was increased to 2…
Ask Questions & Make Informed Choices Question: I am writing to you to vent my frustration toward the excessive fees charged by veterinarians. We took our pet for a routine annual physical and were charged $206.01. (For my last physical, I paid $135.75.) Today, we took her to have her teeth cleaned and paid $276.08 including a ten percent senior discount. (Mine cost $100.46.) Why you see fit to charge more than even we humans pay is beyond me. I am, candidly, beginning to question whether all of the new recommended tests are necessary or are just a means of…
Loss of Territory; Stress with New Indoor Cats Question: I was at my mother’s for her birthday and there was this beautiful cat on her porch. I petted and loved on her and then I learned that she was a stray in the trailer park. Mom suggested I take her home seeing that I am a big cat lover and already have 3 calicos. She is eating and drinking in my apartment but stays close to my door. She will come to me when I call her (Cleo) but she seems to be grieving. She ignores my cats unless they…
Question: I have a 1.5 year old neutered male Yorkie who is exhibiting aggression at all human family members except me, the mom. It doesn’t matter whether I’m holding him or he is just walking around, if anyone comes near he will growl and bark. When I am not home, he is fine with all other family members. Dr. Nichol: Your dog is over-bonded to you, becoming hyper-aroused and protective when your family comes close. Anxiety is likely to be at the root of the problem. Our dogs watch us often for behavioral cues. Any worry that your little…
Older Cats need Special Care Question: I have a 17 year old long haired female cat that was diagnosed with chronic renal failure two years ago. She has received 100 ml subcutaneous fluids twice a week. She has dropped from 9.5lbs to 7.4lbs. In the last week I have been finding clumps of her hair on the floor and mats in her coat. Should I take this as a sign of end stage renal failure or just seasonal shedding and mats? Dr. Nichol: You must have taken really good care of your kitty for her to have reached 17.…
Disgusting but most likely Harmless Question: Our large back yard is shared by our Russian tortoise and our 5 pound (11 month old puppy) poodle. Last spring, when “Tortie” came out of hibernation, our puppy started spending a lot of time outside. I then discovered why: the puppy was finding and eating Tortie’s poop!! Gross. Can she get sick? Dr. Nichol: Your poodle puppy, that delicate little flower, has become a tortoise stalker, motivated by her taste for – well, the good news is that her scatological proclivity is most likely benign. For expert advice I contacted reptile specialist…
Declawing is so ‘90s (actually ‘60s) Question: I am 72 and have had cats since I can remember. We recently lost our last cat and I feel lost without another companion but my wife insists that any new cat be declawed. I just can’t agree to that. What is your advice? Dr. Nichol: I feel the same way about removing normal anatomy. The two Nichol family cats remain clawed and generally well-behaved but they aren’t perfect. The chair I’m parked in as I write this missive has been injured by those naughty boys. It would seem logical to correct…
Research Supports other Alternative Therapies Question: A friend started using CBD oil for her dog that has severe epilepsy and it seems to be minimizing the number of seizures. I wanted to see if it might be a possibility for my dog. He freaks out when he sees strangers and he gets startled sometimes at just regular noises around the house. Dr. Nichol: Cannabidiol (CBD) is derived from hemp and contains only miniscule amounts of the “high” producing chemical THC. There is some published information on CBD’s presumed mode of action for the treatment of human pain, schizophrenia, and…
Our American tradition of conspicuous Christmas consumption isn’t just for humans. Your pet can be a pig even without being a pet pig. Edibles: Alcoholic beverages, chocolate, coffee (grounds, beans, chocolate covered espresso beans), spoiled and fatty foods, onions, onion powder, salt, yeast dough and marijuana are all dangerous and potentially deadly for pets. Plants: Lilies are potentially deadly for cats; poinsettias may cause vomiting or nausea; mistletoe can trigger heart problems but usually just stomach upset; and holly leads to vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and lethargy. Drinking fertilized Christmas tree water causes stomach upset. Consuming stagnant tree water (and whose…
I recently shared the story of Sherman, a well-loved cat with long-standing defensive-aggression in veterinary clinics. It was so bad that his people quit taking him for routine wellness exams. As a result his kidney failure wasn’t diagnosed until its advanced stage. Cats have become the most popular pets in America because busy people assume that they’re low maintenance. That badly flawed notion is widely believed because cats hardly ever complain. These pets are actually very different than you and I. Sometimes referred to as socially asocial, cats certainly form relationships but they don’t rely on them for survival. Except…