Albuquerque Journal Articles
A Steady Diet of Dry Food is Best Question: I’m a new dog Mom. Is it okay to give peanuts to my little dog? She won’t eat peanut butter but loves those peanuts. Is it okay to give can pumpkin when she has not gone #2 in a day or more? I’ve given her some baby food pumpkin and apple which she loves and that seems to work. I also give her a 3.5 oz of Cesar gourmet filets along with some dry food twice a day? Dr. Nichol: That’s quite a menu. Peanuts are fine, in moderation. While not…
Read MoreHave a good Christmas? Great! The carousing and cavorting has only begun. With New Years Eve right around the corner everybody who’s anybody is certain to accessorize with glo-sticks and glow-in-the-dark jewelry. Lots of laughs for us but for an inquisitive pet the experience can quickly turn from exhilarating to excruciating. Biting through the chewy plastic casing releases the vile tasting luminescent dibutyl phthalate. Your furry friend’s festive frolicking will plummet at warp speed as he drools, foams, and shakes his head. Swallowing even a small amount will cause retching and vomiting. Cats have been known to dash around and…
Read MoreTime to Cat-Proof for the Holidays Canine dietary indiscretions like chocolate, raisins, grapes, and turkey carcasses are well known. Let’s be fair; cats deserve recognition for their high risk Christmastime binging too. Tinsel tops their list. Once swallowed peristaltic movements often advance it safety toward the proper exit but if a strand gets hung up, those back and forth motions cause major trouble. Wads of tinsel form serious obstructions. Lengths of it saw holes in the intestinal wall. At our house recognized a choice: decorate with tinsel or have a cat. We’ve chosen our cat. The silica gel packs included…
Read MoreAnxitane can Help with Social Anxiety Question: I have a 5-year old female border terrier who is almost the perfect pet. The problem is that I cannot bring her with me when I visit someone else’s home. Even if I let her empty out before we enter, the first thing she does (even on a leash) is mark her spot. She does this going to the vet or to the groomer. I would like her to come with me when I play at my weekly card games (like my former companion did) but cannot trust her. Dr. Nichol: We can’t…
Read MoreThe right Medications can make a Big Difference Question: Marley is a 2 year old, male tabby with his right rear leg amputated at the hip. He is getting around amazingly, a few weeks after surgery, full of speed and grace, but about every hour, his backside spasms for a few seconds- he hops involuntarily backwards, meows in distress/pain/confusion. Otherwise he rests contentedly, purrs when petted and is very chatty with his tail held high. Could it be nerve pain? Dr. Nichol: I am concerned about Marley. Losing a leg is unfortunate for any pet but outcomes are usually successful,…
Read MoreHead Halters are Safe and Effective Question: How do you feel about choke collars for dogs? Dr. Nichol: You ask a complex question with behavioral as well as physical implications. Walking a dog is a lot more fun when everybody is under control but jerking on a pet’s neck can have serious consequences. Not all dogs are equally at risk. Most thick furred brutes like malamutes and Chow Chows are sturdy and difficult to injure but a substantial number of small dogs like miniature poodles, Yorkies, and Pomeranians have collapsing tracheas (windpipes) that can suffer permanent damage. Many others including…
Read MoreTerritorial & Fear-related Aggression is best Avoided Question: My cat Haley is 10 years old. When I have visitors she will attack them even when they are sleeping. She has attacked 2 babysitters. After 2 years she finally is ok with the current sitter. Yesterday my 16 year old had a friend over. The death growl started and she looked like she was going to launch through the air. She went under my bed then enters the 3 year old who said “It’s ok Haley”. Haley immediately stopped growling and rubbed him. Dr. Nichol: Haley’s aggression is partly territorial. Strangers…
Read MoreIgnore Bad Behavior & Teach Focus on Leader Question: I have a 3 year old female border collie. We have stopped going for walks because of her atrocious behavior, which ranges from screeching like a pterodactyl, to whirling like a dervish. This is with a Halti leader. We have tried BAT. Other dog owners give us dirty looks or worse, make comments. She is such a wonderful dog at home. She does have 2 very good dog friends. Dr. Nichol: I feel your pain. The Nichol family is also afflicted with a socially challenged but well-loved Border collie. Our “Miss…
Read MoreThe Right Food Matters but a Cat must Eat it. Question: My 14 year old cat has had increased urination. The vet gave antibiotics, ruled out diabetes, and prescribed c/d diet. Cher snubbed her nose at it. Two days without eating I gave her Fancy Feast. Google says dry food causes urinary tract. I need to change foods, but to what? Dr. Nichol Cher’s been fussy ever since she and Sonny split up. A great singer, but what a Prima Donna! You were right to be concerned when she skipped her meals. Cats, especially those who are overweight (Cher, of…
Read MoreSurgery plus Stem Cells can make a Huge Difference Question: I have a 3 year old cockapoo and she was trying to jump and did something to her leg. She cried for about 30 seconds, it was horrifying. She was born with loose kneecaps. My vet was telling me about stem cells. I’m skeptical with any new procedures. Are there side effects or possibly future problems? She loves to play and I’m afraid it might happen again. Dr. Nichol: Knee pain is common in small dogs. If your cockapoo has somewhat bowed rear legs, one or both of her knee…
Read More