Albuquerque Journal Articles
Don’t Wait for Symptoms-Have your Dog Examined & Tested FDA consumer alert: “Federal officials are warning consumers and veterinarians to be on alert for potentially deadly hyperthyroidism in dogs that have eaten Blue Buffalo Co. and WellPet food. The three separate alerts, posted Monday (March 27) by the Food and Drug Administration, include test results from three dogs and samples of “BLUE Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Red Meat Dinner Wet Food for Adult Dogs” and/or “Wellness 95% Beef Topper for Dogs.” “Investigators are sure the source of the active thyroid hormone in the food is from animal gullets — laryngeal…
An Enriched Indoor Life would Improve Kitten’s Well-Being Question: My daughter has a 6 month old Tonkinese kitten. She brings any toy with catnip in it to her food bowl. She has to clean them off. She is doing her residency in anesthesia and leaving food out is necessary. What can she do to stop this habit? Dr. Nichol: OK, let me get this straight. Your daughter brings any toy with catnip in it to her food bowl? Oh, brother. I did my residency in veterinary behavior medicine so I’ll address the cat’s antics but take a pass on…
A Head Halter is a Great Leadership tool Question: I read the post on your facebook page about the Pyrenees/Anatolian shepherd and felt an instant kinship! Our 1 year old Aussie shepherd is driving us nuts. In addition to nuisance barking at everything that moves, tearing around the house and the yard like a crazy bull in a china shop, she barks and lunges at strangers when I take her for walks. People cross the street to avoid her. She has not bitten anyone, but jumped on and scratched a lady, and now I’m worried about taking her to a…
Consider Mouth Pain from Dental or Kidney Disease Question: My long haired cat (Ragdoll) will be 16 this month. He gets badly matted. I have tried cutting out the mats, but they just come back worse than ever and around his rear which he doesn’t like being messed with. I’ve called groomers and veterinary clinics and they say “no” he is too old to be sedated for shaving. I am willing to do it myself and wondered if you could recommend a shaver for this type of procedure (low noise). Dr. Nichol: Of course dread locks are all the rage…
Head Halters are Safe and Effective Question: How do you feel about choke collars for dogs? Dr. Nichol: You ask a complex question with behavioral as well as physical implications. Walking a dog is a lot more fun when everybody is under control but jerking on a pet’s neck can have unintended consequences. There are good alternatives. Most thick furred brutes like malamutes and Chow Chows are sturdy and difficult to injure but some small breed dogs like miniature poodles, Yorkies, and Pomeranians have collapsing tracheas (windpipes) that can suffer permanent damage. Many others, including dachshunds, beagles, and Maltese, have…
Ear Mites Cause Pain & Injury Question: Hey my name is Christina and I live in North Carolina. I have a tom cat his name is Checkers. Tuesday I saw that his inner pinna has swollen. I was wandering is there anything I could do to help with the swollen part? Dr. Nichol: Hey Christina – it’s nice to get a letter all the way from the Tar Heel state. I could tell right away that you weren’t from these parts. New Mexicans see a puffy ear flap on a cat or a dog and think of a sopapilla. Your…
Attitudes toward Animals Matter Question: I’m concerned about the dog Dodo mentioned in your 2/10/17 column. “Dodo” can mean a stupid person, not one who might warrant respect. Or someone who acts stupidly, as the dog in your column who walks in a circle with his head tilted. I think these people should rename their dog: Sunshine, Sunny, or something that sounds like they care about him. My neighbor had a sweet pit bull whose name was Dip Stick. See what I mean? How awful! I’ve noticed that whenever I’ve dwelled on something with feeling, by continually looking at a…
Inner Ear Infection vs. a Brain Disorder Question: My dog is 4 years old, weighs 4 kilograms, no fever, his name is Dodo. Yesterday, he could not go straight but circling with his head tilt towards one side, but he eats well (we’ve been hand feeding him). Today is the second day of this syndrome. My family could notice small improvement as he could go straight in small distance, but we are now very worried and afraid of his situation. Can you tell us what is going wrong with our dog? We love him very much! Dr. Nichol: Dodo’s problem…
A Safe Haven Before Visitors Arrive Question: My cat Haley is 10 years old. When I have visitors she will attack them even when they are sleeping. She has attacked 2 babysitters. After 2 years she finally is ok with the current sitter. Yesterday my 16 year old had a friend over. The death growl started and she looked like she was going to launch through the air. She went under my bed then enters the 3 year old who said “It’s ok Haley”. Haley immediately stopped growling and rubbed him. Dr. Nichol: Haley’s aggression is partly territorial. Strangers look…
Allow the Little Ones to Drag the Leash at Home Question: I have a 4 month old cavachon puppy, adorable, playful, and lovable. Her name is Joy. On leash walks she emits the cry of a banshee, bucking wild bronco, putting on the brakes, and rolling. No amount of patient standing or treat offered helped, cuddled and held her to no avail and finally lying dead weight I carried her inside. I’ve had dogs all my life, none ever reacted this way. Dr. Nichol: The recently minted cavachon is a cross between a Cavalier King Charles spaniel and a bichon…