Albuquerque Journal Articles

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…

Question: Our 13 year old cat has stopped eating altogether. He has gone from 15 lbs. down to 13 in two weeks. We took him to a local veterinarian and they ran tests and found he only had a small heart murmur so they put him on Clavamox & enalapril. He’s just wasting away before our eyes.   Dr. Nichol- Rapid weight loss in an overweight cat is a bad sign because fatty infiltrates in the liver can cause that organ to fail. Your kitty must take in nutrition immediately. If he is to have any real hope of long…

Age doesn’t Matter; It’s a Great Move for All Cats Question: My daughter wanted to know if having her cat neutered at one year of age could change his personality.   Dr. Nichol: There is no hard and fast rule that applies to every cat; like all of us, they are individuals. Having said that, most unneutered adult male cats spend their lives prowling the single scene, spraying trees and houses with graffiti, and whipping the snot out of other cats who blunder into their territory. Many are fathers but few of them ever take their kids camping. They tend…

Many Possible Causes Question: What is your recommendation for placing an 11 month old cat who now has all but her canines removed, because of plasmacytic lymphocytic stomatitis, with other cats? I fear that whatever virus that’s involved might be transmissible to certain vulnerable individuals.   Dr. Nichol: This is an important question with a nebulous answer. Feline stomatitis is a painful, debilitating swelling of the gums that can make eating even soft food an excruciating event. The only permanent cure for most affected cats is extraction of every tooth-including the canine (fangs) and incisor (front) teeth. There has been…

Risks and Test Results Assessed in Light of Physical Health Question: Our two adorable kittens have been diagnosed with feline leukemia. We are concerned they will not survive their shots or spaying. Being that they are 5 months old, I’m worried that the female will get pregnant from her brother.  Is there a feline birth control pill or shot?  We love these kittens and have gone through so much with them.   Dr. Nichol: I know what you mean about protecting those babies. Kittens seem so vulnerable. The good news is that feline leukemia infection alone will not increase the…

Most Causes can be Treated at Home Question: Our old cat Spunky (13 years) is a disagreeable animal but I hate to see him decline. Two years ago we let the vet clean his teeth. I decided then I would not subject him to any more tests or treatments. He’s very thin but eats at least 6 times a day. He’s always been an outdoor/indoor cat as we live in a rodent habitat (the North valley). I haven’t seen him with a mouse in ages so what can we do to give him a comfortable retirement?   Dr. Nichol: Spunky’s…

Potentially Deadly: Malignancy & Diabetes are Manageable if Treated Early Question: My cats are brother and sister; they are 14. My female cat has had a small lump near her female parts for 5 months. I am not concerned because she has maintained her weight, happiness and eats and drinks well. Is there anything I should be doing? Also my cats’ litter box has been pretty disgusting lately. I have been changing it every week but the urine smells A LOT and the litter is completely drenched and sometimes there are little tiny bugs.   Dr. Nichol: I am concerned.…

Nose Temperature is Never Reliable; a Thermometer is Much Better Question: Is a cold nose an indicator of health in a cat (like a dog) or is it OK if a cat’s nose is warm? Dr. Nichol: I’ve enjoyed thousands of canine and feline noses in my years of practice but, contrary to folklore, their temperatures have no meaning whatever. Good ways to monitor your pet’s health are to watch for a change in appetite, weight, water consumption, urine, stool, and activity level. Be concerned if your pet consistently breathes fast or with difficulty, coughs, sneezes, wheezes, or develops lumps…