Albuquerque Journal Articles
Act Early & Be Careful Question: I have 2 dogs that have been together for 2.5 years. The female has always be passive before the male, however in the last month she has become extremely aggressive, taking his food, even growling when he attempts to get close to us. The male is now showing up with cuts from fights that are happening during the day when we are gone. There have been no changes in their routine. Dr. Nichol: Aggression between family dogs is common and potentially disastrous. The intensity of this type of hostility can advance fast, making it…
Read MoreDangerous but Not Difficult to Control If left to fend for themselves in the wild our cats would survive on prey, displaying their prowess with buff physiques. Instead they park themselves on the couch and eat fast food for felines. The results are often not pretty. It’s estimated that over 35% of cats are overweight or obese leading to diabetes, joint damage, skin disorders, and fatty liver disease. Too corpulent and uncomfortable to run, climb, and jump fat cats live stunted lives. Quoting the late Joan Rivers, can we talk? The World Health Organization’s definition of obesity, “an excess of…
Read MoreAccommodate Natural Needs Question: I saw your web post about why indoor cats like to roll in the dirt. I work out of town. Is there any way to bring this “outdoorness” inside while I’m away? Maybe a box of sand or tiny pebbles like in fish tanks? But will he confuse it with his litter box? I’d appreciate your thoughts, even if you think I’m being silly! Dr. Nichol: Silly? Caring for the essential behavioral needs of wild animals kept as pets should be required of all cat owners. Pets are more than entertainment; they promote better physical and…
Read MoreVaccination is Safe & Effective Have you ever questioned the significance of “emerging” disease threats? Some stay for years while others seem to fade with yesterday’s news cycle. Real epidemics can wax and wane because of changing weather patterns. Generous summertime rainfall is a beautiful thing but standing water can harbor leptospirosis, an almost forgotten risk in New Mexico but a serious problem for dogs right next door in Texas. “Lepto” is a bacterial infection that’s carried in the urine. Cattle and pigs, with their bad table manners and questionable personal hygiene, can quickly spread this disease through contaminated water…
Read MoreWatch Carefully for Clues If I could change one thing about cats it would be their communication skills. They are certainly a social species but in rather different ways than dogs and humans-the champions of chatter. Many cat lovers treasure their pets’ aloofness. Few cats nag. Well, the Nichol family cats do but that’s because we reinforce their bad habits by capitulating to their whims. That cool feline exterior is actually an evolutionary adaptation; betraying a lameness or other infirmity could be a fatal mistake if predators are lurking. But for a house cat, with no risk of becoming lunch,…
Read MoreLitter Pan Choices & Fear Avoidance Question: Last year during the July 4 fireworks, my 5 year old cat tried to use the litter box, messed on himself, and got a urinary infection. Ever since, he messes 6 inches away from the box although he uses it to urinate. I have tried moving the box, but he just moves another 6 inches and messes. Dr. Nichol: I think I’ve figured out what you mean by mess. I’ve often thought my hair was a mess in the morning. Now, I understand what it really looks like. Thanks for that. It’s not…
Read MoreVaccination is Critically Important Veterinarians in New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas have seen a significant uptick in canine distemper cases. The Humane Society of Southern Arizona in Tucson had so many infected dogs they recently halted intakes for 2 weeks to get control of it. Native American reservations have been particularly hard hit. Back in the day, before large-scale vaccination programs, we saw enough distemper in dogs to diagnose it on physical symptoms alone. We can now confirm our suspicions with a reliable blood test but the disease itself hasn’t changed much. Signs are variable but commonly include a pus-like…
Read MoreKidney Failure may Cause Excessive Licking While oooing and ahhing at the beautiful and peaceful new Cattery at Animal Humane last week I was asked about a 17 year old cat. While active and feeling well for her age she’s been licking her coat excessively for several months. When her owner pets her she often finds gooey saliva on her badly matted hair which has been recently falling off in clumps. Cats who don’t groom themselves normally often end up with sticky dread locks that are not so stylish. Itchy skin is one possible cause. A skin scraping and fungal…
Read MoreDisgusting but most likely Harmless Question: Our large back yard is shared by our Russian tortoise and our 5 pound (11 month old puppy) poodle. As soon as “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 visual just isn’t pretty is it? The good news is that her scatological proclivity is most likely benign. For…
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