Albuquerque Journal Articles
Diagnosis may be Complex; Relief is Essential Question: I have a Great Pyrenees dog, 10 years old. For the past 6 months he acts like he has sleep apnea: he tries to get to sleep, but constantly awakes unable to catch his breathe. He’s big. He doesn’t seem to have it worse when he’s running or barking (which he does less and for shorter periods now – but he’s old) he does often seem to be breathing heavier even when just resting. He’s always groaned when he lies down. Likely arthritic, but I don’t give him anything for it. Lung…
Appetite Loss is the Greater Concern Question: My cat has an ear hematoma. It was first drained and then injected with steroids. Her veterinarian also gave her ear drops for a yeast infection and an injection of antibiotics. This has been going on for about a week and now she’s not eating. I’m afraid I might lose her. Dr. Nichol: Your kitty’s appetite loss is a serious red flag; a dangerous series of physical events can be set in motion by a failure to eat, especially worrisome for cats who are overweight or obese. The end result can be terminal…
Diet can Help but Manual Expression is a Must Question: I have a 2 year old Apple head Chihuahua. Her name is Sunny and so is her disposition! She has had a problem in the past needing her anal glands expressed. Our veterinarian recommended a list of several different food choices. I have tried several on the list, however they all have small kernels and she chokes on them easily. Last night I was in fear of performing a doggy Heimlich maneuver. Dr. Nichol: Anal glands just have to be the most unfun, uncouth, and undignified part of a dog’s…
Gainful Canine-Specific Employment is Needed Question: We adopted a little basset hound about six weeks ago. He is a lover. And by that, we mean a real lover! He is humping the male cats and the other male basset. Frequently! Passionately! He was neutered in late March. Does he still have testosterone in his system? The cats and other houndie just move away when he tries to mount them. He spends a lot of time wandering around the house, moving the chew-bones and toys from hiding place to hiding place. Dr. Nichol: Oh, that kind of lover. Ahem. How embarrassing.…
Feline-Specific Choices for Behavioral Well-Being Question: Last week in your column you answered my letter about Russell, the cat about town. Well, we opened the door and he gradually got used to being in the house. He acquired his own chair, wakes up, and goes to the door to be let out. One cold night we put him in the laundry room. When we opened the door in the morning he yelled at us and walked out the front door. He still likes to spend most of his days in our house. His latest adventure involved a black cat in…
Every Painful Ear needs Medical Attention Ear disease is the most common problem seen by veterinarians and there are still too many uncomfortable pets flying below radar. Redness, swelling, and nasty smelling discharges are frequent findings even when dogs and cats are brought to us for unrelated reasons. Many smolder quietly for weeks or longer. By the time the ear flapping, head tilt, and scratching starts, an infection may already be advanced. Look carefully, handle those ears to check for pain, and take a sniff. The language barrier doesn’t make it easy. If you ask a pet if her ears…
Assertive Personality must Learn to Earn Everything Question: My five month old Australian Shepard mix is constantly biting and chewing. If he’s not trying to eat rocks on his walks, he’s snatching tissues out of our hands, trying to gnaw on our arms/hands/legs/shoes/furniture. We have an arsenal of chew toys, bones and rawhides but when we try to correct him, he bares his teeth and snaps. Dr. Nichol: Sounds like the terrible twos. Not truly aggressive, your high-status, assertive puppy expects to get whatever he wants. If you’re hoping for a personality change you’ll need to invest in a brain…
Lab Work & Treatment should be Started Soon Question: I have a male cat, 20 months old, who gets sneezing fits, sometimes sneezing 9 times in a row (all without the courtesy of screening his nose with a paw!!). He was a stray we got through Animal Control. This morning he sneezed several times, then had a string of mucus from his nose with a black spot that looked like dried blood. When he sneezes at night he manages to sneeze in my face! He seems to be feeling somewhat lethargic today. Dr. Nichol: The gross volumes of cat snot…
Car Trips can Improve Question: About 4 years ago we adopted a Lab/shepherd mix, Maggie. We’d love to take her places but anything other than a short trip to Grandma’s causes frothing at the mouth and eventual vomiting. Having the windows wide open seems to help. Is there any hope of being able to go several hours in the car without a catastrophe? Dr. Nichol: Poor Maggie’s motion sickness has her green behind the gills with vertigo as she drools copiously from nausea. This embarrassment has been visited upon her so many times that she now anticipates the misery of…
Your Dog is Not a Wolf; You Don’t need to be Alpha Question- I added a rescue Labradoodle to my pack about a year ago. She’s always looking for something to eat. She’s well fed but when she gets something in her mouth she’s not supposed to have she won’t drop it and will growl at me if I try to take it from her. She scares me. I don’t know if she’ll bite me and I am clearly not alpha with this dog. Dr. Nichol: You can abandon the power struggle. It is actually rare for a dog to…