Albuquerque Journal Articles
Every Painful Ear needs Medical Attention Ear disease is the most common problem seen in veterinary clinics and we still aren’t treating enough of it. Redness, swelling, and nasty smelling discharges are frequent findings even when dogs and cats are brought to us for altogether different reasons. Many smolder quietly for weeks or longer. By the time the ear flapping, head tilt, and scratching starts an infection can already be advanced. Look carefully, handle those ears to check for pain, and take a sniff. The language barrier doesn’t make it easy. If you ask a pet if her ears hurt…
Prevent the Angst by Uninviting Strays Question: My male neutered cat Giorgio has been acting out for about a year; he is 100% indoors. Sometimes a cat outside will make him hiss and growl, but he also lunges if I go nearby even an hour later. He continues to have a low growl and will attack anyone or my other cat with viscous intent. He then goes under a bed and will stalk and continue to growl for 3-5 days. All is well in the food and deposit department. Dr. Nichol- Giorgio is certainly one mad cat, but at least…
A Head Halter is a Great Leadership tool Question: I read the post on your facebook page about the Pyrenees/Anatolian shepherd and felt an instant kinship! Our 1 year old Aussie shepherd is driving us nuts. In addition to nuisance barking at everything that moves, tearing around the house and the yard like a crazy bull in a china shop, she barks and lunges at strangers when I take her for walks. People cross the street to avoid her. She has not bitten anyone, but jumped on and scratched a lady, and now I’m worried about taking her to a…
Careful Evaluation & Dosing are Critical to Success Question: I have a 14-year-old diabetic cat. She was healthy and stable; her insulin (glargine) dose was 1.5 units. About a month ago she became lethargic and indifferent to food. Her fructosamine test was about 400 and there was sugar in her urine. Her insulin was increased to 2 units. She’s had good and bad days since then but hasn’t completely returned to her normal self. I’m no longer convinced that Prescription Diet m/d is the best for her. There seem to be canned foods out there that are lower in carbohydrate…
Protein & Sodium Restriction may trump Kitten Food Question: A year ago I contacted you about an older cat, overweight. I thought you said to feed her canned kitten food but now I am wondering if that should be cat food instead. She has been on Purina kitten & cat food all of her 13 years till a year ago when I started adding Iams kitten food. Dr. Nichol: Cats have evolved for stalking, maiming and consuming helpless creatures. Doughnuts and fries are not on their menus. Canned kitten food, with its high protein and low carbohydrate and fat composition,…
No Electric Shock Collar; Enrich this Dog’s Life Instead Question: I have a Pyrenees/Anatolian shepherd who is 1 year old. He barks constantly. If nothing is out there to bark at, he barks at birds and such. My husband is considering an electric bark collar. I know it is in his breed to bark, but are there any other suggestions before the collar? Dr. Nichol- Why in the world is your husband considering an electric bark collar? Isn’t it the dog who’s barking? You need to act fast. The poor man is being driven mad. Barking is a normal part…
An Important Summertime Threat Maggots are worse than disgusting; they are among the most dangerous summertime hazards to pets’ health. Confronting these flesh eaters and their unmistakable odor is a truly memorable experience. Maybe you don’t want to read this over breakfast. Similar in size to grains of rice maggots are the larvae of the common house fly. They are attracted to rotting garbage, road kill, and the sticky secretions from inflamed skin. Infestations occur during hot weather when moist, reddened lesions become quickly infected. “Hot spots” spread fast. Also known as acute moist dermatitis these rapid onset disasters are…
All Meat Diets cause Thiamine Deficiency Question: Our cat had a possible stroke 3 weeks ago. Every other day we are thinking he’s getting better. The next day he’s not. He’s 11 and has never been ill before. He tries to move away from his basket to urinate! We feed him water with a syringe and he is eating soft food! Dr. Nichol: Strokes are uncommon in cats. When they occur they are typically caused by high blood pressure from kidney failure. Other possible causes for your kitty’s symptoms are head or spinal cord injury, brain tumor, heartworm, excessive…
Cats can Learn to Earn Treats by Taking Medicine Question: How do I give a pill to a cat? My previous cats have been cooperative, but this cat is much more difficult. She foams and drools after I have given her a pill and I am not even sure she swallows it. Dr. Nichol: I have known many cantankerous cats like yours. Some have learned from experience to fear these wrestling matches; for others it’s the pill’s bitter taste that causes them to froth and panic. Fast and furious attempts to get it “over-with quickly” instill even greater dread,…
Changing Clothes, Washing Hands Best Question: I’d like to volunteer at a cat shelter, but I’m wondering if I could inadvertently transmit disease to my cats at home. Dr. Nichol: That’s an important question. After caring for stray kitties infectious organisms like upper respiratory viruses and feline distemper could get a free ride to your cats on your hands and clothing. For the latest on preventing the spread of infectious disease I contacted Dr. John Romero of the Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department. Clearly, the best ways to avoid being the Typhoid Mary of feline infectious disease are to…