Albuquerque Journal Articles
Blood Pressure control becomes Key to Long Term Success Mungojerrie, the 14 year old kitty whose story graced this page last week, had become a heavy drinker and a world class urinator. His lab work led to a diagnosis of stage II kidney failure. Treatment with Hill’s k/d diet plus daily warm subcutaneous (under the skin) fluids would remain the foundation of his management but he needed more. Feline anatomy is veterinarian-friendly. We can actually feel cats’ kidneys by gentle external palpation, able to differentiate those of normal shape and size from a pair that’s shrunken and lobular. During Mungojerrie’s…
Read MoreLab Draws require Gentle Handling Mungojerrie, a 14 year old male kitty, has been a cherished companion to a man who fell for and married a woman of fine character with a penchant for dogs as well as cats. Mungojerrie swallowed his feline pride and adapted, only to be confronted soon thereafter by the entry of a baby boy, now an active toddler. Our protagonist in this tale of mirth and woe continues to accept life’s challenges with stoicism and grace. Cats don’t generally welcome change; Mungojerrie has soldiered through. Mungojerrie appeared to be aging gracefully until his people noticed…
Read MoreConsult your Veterinarian for Perspective Question: We have a Staffordshire bull terrier, 14, stiff and a little weak on his back legs, sleeps a lot, and now seems to be going deaf, barks a lot, and stares into space. He asks to go to toilet and eats and drinks normally. A year ago we lost our rottie to a brain tumor. She was at her worst for two weeks before I realized what I was supposed to do, carrying her to the toilet because she could not stand. I was selfish and I knew that I had to end her…
Read MoreDirty Tricks & Booby Traps Question: Is there anything we can put around our trees to keep the neighborhood cats from using them as their personal cat box? Dr. Nichol: What? You don’t want your landscaping festooned with cat poop? Worried about getting parasites from gardening in your own yard? Are your indoor cats using your carpet as their bathroom because those local ruffians are taunting them with the feline equivalent of graffiti? Here are tips courtesy of the Cat Diva plus a pearl from the annals of operant conditioning. Cats like a soft, dry bathroom, so keep the soil…
Read MoreHarsh Punishment can Work but Humane Treatment is Reliable & Safe Question: I appreciate last Friday’s column about shock collars. However there is one particular use for which I found it invaluable. My 4 month old terrier mix was chasing cars even on a leash. A neighbor k9 officer loaned me a shock collar with strict instructions to set it on maximum so that she would not acclimate. It worked beautifully; I only had to shock her twice. Now 14 years later she has never again chased a car. Dr. Nichol: It’s hard to argue with your success but it…
Read MoreRebuild Trust with Slow Desensitization Question: I brought our dog Oscar to a reputable trainer who recommended an electronic collar. I didn’t know how bad it would damage Oscar’s trust. Ever since the training, no one can get near him with a brush, especially around his neck. He goes nuts biting, growling to get me away. Otherwise, he loves me very much and trusts me. I tried the electric collar around my neck to see how bad it could be. It knocked me on my butt and made me feel even more horrible about what I did to my best…
Read MoreQuestion: Our small rescue dog is 14 years old. During a recent senior checkup we discovered a bladder stone (from an ultrasound during a draw for urinalysis). She has no symptoms. She is increasingly distressed when we go to the veterinary clinic (panting, shaking, defecating). What is the worst case scenario if we do nothing? I love my dog, but I do not want to upend her mellow senior life. Dr. Nichol: I appreciate your concerns. We consider different factors with a canine senior on cruise control. Some problems advance so slowly that they never catch up to the pet’s…
Read MoreFlurbiprofen: Safe for Humans-Deadly for Cats Do you need relief from joint or muscle pain? How about a skin cream that would avoid the side effects of oral antinflammatories and pain relievers? Many physicians are now prescribing topical medications that contain the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) flurbiprofen. It’s made a real difference for many people but it can deadly for their cats. Flurbiprofen (former brand name Ansaid) has been around for a while in oral and ophthalmic forms. It’s now available in pain creams that may also include the muscle relaxant cyclobenzaprine. The snuggling that makes life with an affectionate…
Read MoreRapid Growth can lead to Bone & Joint Disease Big breed dogs are at higher risk of joint problems like hip and elbow dysplasia. Heredity is a factor but so are early nutrition and weight. Here is an update on healthy dietary management of puppies who will someday reach size large to gargantuan. The right food matters in part because rapid growth due to overfeeding or from a diet that is too calorie dense puts excessive load on soft, immature bones and joints. The result can be lameness and permanent damage. Life stage labels, like growth and adult on the…
Read MoreEvaluate for Skin Disease before considering Behavioral Causes Question: My cat is pulling out her own fur several times a day- lots of it. She has bald patches now. She is 10 years old and had one other episode like this last summer that lasted 2 weeks and then stopped. She started this again a couple of weeks ago. Nothing has changed in the house. She seems fine otherwise. Dr. Nichol: Your poor kitty is suffering. Some over-grooming cats struggle with anxiety but research has shown that 85% of them have itchy skin. Behavioral signs may also be seen. Handling…
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