Albuquerque Journal Articles
Heart Muscle Disease a likely Cause Question: My poor Abby who is still a youngin at 5 years old is having severe problems walking. She is an indoor only cat and has not sustained any trauma. Her problem has been going on for 2 months. She is unable to jump and her walking has gotten progressively worse as she drags her hind legs and frequently stumbles. She does not seem to be in any pain and her temperament, eating/drinking and toileting habits have not been altered. We have tried a pain killer and prednisone and her problems are getting worse.…
Allergies are the #1 Cause Question: We have a Red Bone Coon Hound who is 18 months old. He chews his ears and toenails. He was a rescue dog about six months ago. What can we do to stop this behavior and why does he do it? Dr. Nichol: Dogs who lick, chew, or scratch themselves are miserably itchy. Among many possible causes allergies are the most common. Your big red hound dog could be reacting to airborne particles like house dust and pollens or to his diet. Other considerations include scabies (a type of mange), which can affect the…
Determine that Neutering was Complete Question: My cat is ten years old. This last year he has been climbing on the back of another male cat that we have (who is more subservient) and biting his neck. He holds him still and grinds and sometimes cries out. He has also been growling and hissing at our dog who he has known since a kitten. Now my dog seems to be afraid of him. Dr. Nichol: Nobody is having a good time at your house, including the tough guy. Some would consider his bullying a punishable crime; others might advocate allowing…
Everybody is at Risk; Dogs should Sleep on Floor Question: I have 2 male Chihuahuas, father and son. They have always slept with us. The older one growls when the younger one is near him and starts prancing around on the bed so the younger one prances behind him eventually growling back and then they fight and my husband and I have to break it up. This has affected our sleep and they are causing each other stress, pain, and injuries. Dr. Nichol: Are we having fun yet? This nightly fiasco is putting all creatures great and small at risk.…
Enrich the Environment for a Full Feline Live Question- I have 5 cats and 5 months ago, I saved 3 kittens that were 3 days old. I just adopted 2 of them together to a home and we are keeping the third. Well, the poor little guy is bored, lonely, and depressed. None of my butt head cats will play with him, let alone curl up with him. I feel so bad for him and am trying everything I can to play with him and cheer him up. It’s just so sad to watch Dr. Nichol: Five butt head cats?…
Effort Underway to Outlaw Trapping on Public Lands A few weeks ago in this column I posted a letter telling the story of a dog who spent 3 days caught in a coyote trap. “Bailey” ended up doing fine but the trapping issue continues to smolder. The Journal published some letters on the Op-Ed page. Here are a few of the responses from my facebook page. “In this day and age, that we allow these mindless and cruel devices especially on our public lands is unconscionable. On the trapfree nm web page, there is a petition that welcomes your signature…
Prevent Arousal Triggers; Treat Anxiety, Nausea Question: I need help controlling my Sunny in a car. I have had big dogs all my life but never had this problem and it’s getting scary to travel and worry about the distraction. In all other situations he responds to speech commands and treats. In this he is oblivious to my existence! Dr. Nichol: Oblivious to your existence, eh? I’ve been to that movie. You might as well be raising children. Out-of-control pacing and barking in the car is a common problem. Many dogs have a strong need to interact with everything they…
Prevention is the Best Medicine The time honored American tradition of conspicuous Christmas consumption isn’t just for humans; pets too can be guilty of dietary indiscretion. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center provides the following list of holiday hazards. There are bound to be others. Edibles: alcoholic beverages, chocolate, coffee (grounds, beans, chocolate covered espresso beans), moldy or spoiled foods, onions, onion powder, fatty foods, salt, yeast dough. Plants: Lilies are potentially deadly for cats, poinsettias may cause vomiting or nausea, mistletoe can cause heart problems but usually just stomach upset, and eating Holly leads to vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and…
Microchip and Caring People Saved this Life The following narrative is a difficult story with a good ending and an even better lesson. A friend and longtime reader wrote this and titled it: “A story of Good vs. Negligence!” “My neighbor visited his ranch twice on a recent weekend. It abuts the National Forest near Ruidoso. On the first trip, he noticed a dog in the distance. Accompanied by others 3 days later, he noticed the same dog in the same place. They walked over and saw that it was caught in a coyote trap. They freed the poor retriever’s…
Dementia is Common in Canine Seniors Question: My 13 year Sheepdog has started barking since he came out of kennels in March. I have gotten complaints from my neighbour as I live in second floor flat. My dog is kept in the kitchen where he has an area to walk about since he started to have incontinence about a year ago. Even if he has been out for a nice walk and toilet he is still barking. I thought it was due to seagulls squawking. Dr. Nichol: This poor fellow has been losing his mental faculties dating back to the…