Albuquerque Journal Articles
Mites or Other Infections are the Primary Cause Question: We took our cat to the vet due to noticing his ear was down and swollen. The vet reassured us his ear will go back down in time. He did tell us Maurice has ear mites. Once that problem is gone will that help the process of his ear going back to normal? Dr. Nichol: An ear flap that resembles a sopapilla may draw a few stares but it’s not Maurice’s primary problem. Also known as the pinna or auricle, his is swollen because of repeated scratching and head shaking from…
Read MoreHeroic Family Cat Derailed a Tragedy Question: I keep seeing this video everywhere and hearing lots of theories about the dog’s behavior. The dog is completely unprovoked, but it also doesn’t seem like he/she sneaks up on the child as I would expect a wolf to sneak up on prey. Is the dog curious and regarding the child as a toy? Is this predatory aggression? Is it fear aggression? As a dog lover I find the video terribly disturbing both because of the dog’s behavior and the people’s behavior (which has led to the dog either not being contained or…
Read MoreTeach Improved Behavior with Gentle Guidance Question: I just got a dog that was free. He is overly aggressive plus I think he was mistreated. He responds to me but is aggressive towards any males or anyone who comes to the door. He was also restricted to his kennel and he growls towards his food. I have never owned a dog before Dr. Nichol: You may have saved a life. There aren’t a lot of people lined up to adopt pets with a history of aggression. Depending on an individual dog’s motivation to growl or snap, many respond well to…
Read MoreLeash in hand, we blissfully soak up the sun on a healthy walk while our dogs are busy cavorting and scavenging for scraps of, well, maybe we don’t want to know. There’s a lot going on inside their bodies, including questionable oral hygiene, that can gradually damage their kidneys. Even while nosing around the yard they inhale airborne junk, shifting their immune systems into overdrive just to neutralize the incoming flow of organisms and debris. For some aging dogs it’s more than external forces driving kidney failure. Heredity can be mighty unkind too, leading to permanent damage from kidney stones.…
Read MoreChoose Carefully & Raise them Together Question: Am I crazy or is this possible? I want 2 cats and 2 large dogs to get along peacefully in our mountain home. Do you think if we could raise them together we would be able to train the dogs to be guardians of the cats? We love caring for dogs and cats and don’t think we could ever live happily without them. Dr. Nichol: Guardians? It is possible that you’re crazy but I like your question anyway. Some cats and dogs do fine together but there are many who have no business…
Read MoreDiagnose First; Treat Second Question: My 10 year old cat has had eye drainage for quite a while. My veterinarian referred us to an ophthalmologist who thought it might be an allergy. Prescription food z/d did not help. He also has recurring sores above both eyes that he scratches open. Dr. Nichol: I’m sorry about your cat’s discharge and the wounds on his face. Having ruled-out eye disease the ophthalmologist may be right about an allergy. Airborne pollens and other particles irritating the tissues beneath your boy’s eyelids could certainly be responsible. Hair loss and chronic wounds on the forehead…
Read MoreGive Dog her own Bed; Avoid Punishment Question: Usually at night my 8-month young mini pinscher sleeps in my brother’s bed and if someone passes by the room she jumps off the bed and barks, if you enter the room, situation is getting worse and if you try to calm her she can even bite you! This is happening every time she sleeps next to someone, no matter who, no matter when and attacks everyone who is “disturbing” her! Dr. Nichol: Pint-sized masters of the universe are not rare. Your miniature pinscher has gotten possessive-aggressive about her people but there…
Read MoreScent Glands, Diet, and Environmental Enrichment Question: This x-ray is of my pet skunk. He is a neutered male, 10 months old. He has gone off his back legs. Dr. Nichol: Your skunk’s x-ray (posted on facebook.com/drjeffnichol) shows a couple of bright ovals near his rear end, suggestive of impacted anal (scent) glands. They are large enough to interfere with normal movement and may be causing significant pain. It’s time to have them removed. The ambience of your home is also at risk. Skunks, I am told, can make rather engaging pets, behaving a lot like ferrets-playful and entertaining. Some…
Read MoreLife is Short; Do Whatever it Takes Question: I have an 8 year old mixed breed (old yeller, lab looking beauty) with arthritis in her right ankle. It swells up with a knot on it and causes her a lot of pain. Our veterinarian recommended Rimadyl, but we want to treat with natural products if possible to avoid long term complications. Dr. Nichol: Dietary supplements can help but they are seldom potent enough to control serious joint pain and inflammation. At some point your sweet dog’s degenerative ankle disease will worsen and she will need more help. Her doctor prescribes…
Read MoreObservant Owners & Thorough Medical Care Saves Lives Cats are America’s favorite pet, yet they are seen less often than dogs in veterinary clinics. Why? I thought you’d never ask. It’s because of the widely held belief that cats are lower maintenance pets. They can stay indoors, munch as-needed from a brimming bowl of non-stinky dry food, and then poop in a box. They pretty much take care of themselves-right? Sadly, this hands-off attitude has led to needless suffering and early death for well-loved kitties. Just last week veterinary internist Dr. Phil Ries gave an excellent presentation to local veterinarians.…
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