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Finding a Way to Save Lives Pet lovers can mistakenly assign human emotions to members of a different species. Firmly believing that cats want everything we do doesn’t make it so. Cramming 26 of them into one household caused behavioral and physical stresses that weakened their immunity. The Peabody cat family was sick. A growing number were discharging from their eyes and noses, spiking fevers, and eating poorly or not at all. Worse still, their feline herpes virus (FHV-1) epidemic was advancing. Nasal fluid was aerosolized by sneezing for sure, but there were behavioral factors too. Cats are not little people in furry suits. In some respects they are wild animals we keep as pets. They can certainly form strong bonds but they are genetically programmed for outdoor survival in loose social groups. For some, a solitary life works best. Indoor crowded communal cohabiting made Briana and Nettie Peabody’s cats…
Part 2 in a series At-Home with the Feline Herd Crowded Eccentricity Cattle, pigs, and sheep, rubbing shoulders in large groups, risk spreading infectious diseases, leading veterinary medicine to the concept of herd immunity. A crowd of 26 cats with discharges from their 52 eyes and nostrils presented a serious herd health debacle. No loses were acceptable. In the exam room and in their home I noticed Brianna and Nettie handling each of their kitties in its own special way. They delighted in sharing stories about their antics. At the outset of the upper respiratory outbreak I needed to figure out how in the world to get my arms around this gathering storm. So I made a home visit. These folks were no strangers to pet loss. Each kitty who transitioned, rather than being cremated, was embalmed by Brianna the mortician. Remains were lovingly arranged, each with its own memorial.…
Morbid Fascination? Cats are interesting and entertaining creatures; their people maybe even more so. I’m rather fond of these folks, being part of this societal subset myself. The 1959 Cadillac hearse that rolled up in front of my veterinary clinic drove home the point. Brianna Peabody and her mom Nettie shared a house, and a decent sized yard in Albuquerque’s North valley, with no fewer than 26 cats. Hoarders? No. Doting pet parents of a generous sized family – yes. Some people with innumerable pets can’t or don’t care for them. The Peabodys did everything necessary for Melody, Malady, Milhous (affectionately called Mr. President), Joan the Uninteresting, well, the individual personalities and their fitting monikers went on. Nettie, a retired lady with a magnanimous personality, managed the household. Brianna worked full time as a mortician. Since death doesn’t take evenings, weekends, or holidays off, those who care for the departed…
What’s in a Name? Most veterinarians don’t make house calls much anymore but I’ve done my fair share. I’ve learned interesting things about behavior that I never expected. Harry and Sally Eastham lived on a few acres in Corrales. They had 3 dogs – big ones: Porgy, Tirebiter, and Papoon. Rounding out the herd were 3 cats, a handful of hens, and a half dozen ducks. They had called me out for annual exams, vaccinations, and heartworm tests. All of this in the dark ages that preceded smart phones and GPS. You couldn’t simply input an address and drive. Sally was actually pretty good at explaining that we should turn left at the stop sign, then right at the big cottonwood, and then you can’t miss it. (Of course, we missed it.) At the end of her instructions, that I so painstakingly scribbled onto my left palm, was this admonition,…
Question: Do you do debarking or bark softening? I have about a 20# sheltie. Dr. Nichol: I would debark a few people (politicians, mostly) but for noisy dogs, there are better ways. Barking is normal canine communication. Punishments, like verbal reprimands and electric shock or citronella collars seem simple but they create worse behaviors because they fail to address the cause of all that racket. Surgery would be just another symptomatic treatment. Naturalizing your dog’s life will be the best route to peace and quiet. Your sheltie has stressors that his free-living brethren never have to contend with. He’s stuck behind a fence or inside a house. Essential to his behavioral genetics is the requirement to protect your home from invaders of all species. With that @#%*! fence, how can he check the ID of passing canine scoundrels? If he gets frightened and can’t run for the hills when a…
[alsointhisseries series-slug=”snapping”] Find Out How I was just 8 years old when I made my first trip to the animal hospital with my new puppy. I felt inspired by Dr. Tuck; he was kind to me and my new dog “Scott”. I was fascinated and I was struck by this gentle doctor’s professionalism. I knew right then that I wanted be a veterinarian. Scott was this boy’s best friend but my parents got fed up with his indoor urination mistakes and took him to the shelter. Kindness had no place in the discussion. I missed that little guy but I stuck with my plan. I was going to make a difference. There were clear triggers for Kipper, the Catahoula, to lunge and snap at his boy’s mother. So I made a suggestion. I told Mom that by talking to her young son in quieter tones she could reduce the risk…
The Nichol family is planning to add a puppy. I’ll share my preparations and training plan. Everybody can win.
[alsointhisseries series-slug=”snapping”] Who’s to Blame? Fear is often the in-the-moment reason for canine aggression. Adrenalin-driven reactions aren’t always bad; it’s actually a survival mechanism that’s built into all of us. But if it gets out of control it can lead to defensive aggression, injuries, and more fear. As I gathered the history on Kipper, the Catahoula mix, I came to learn that he endured frequent emotional outbursts from his female owner. The whole family was on edge. Mom unloaded often, triggering Kipper to react. This waiting for the other shoe to drop, for humans and other species, causes a problem called anxiety. It’s the worry that something unpleasant may be lurking around the next corner. I treat a lot of anxiety and fear. Mutual caring – empathy – is another emotion that’s shared by dogs and humans. It’s part of the reason so many of us share our homes with…
Taking a stroll with your dog isn’t a walk in the park if they jump, lurch, and growl. Some are so wild they chew the leash.