Weekly article archive

The following questions and answers have appeared in my weekly column in the Albuquerque Journal since July, 1996. Each week a new one is added. You'll find information on the physical and behavioral maladies of dogs and cats and a few other species too. I invite you to use the search feature to find the specific answer that you and your pet need.

Rattlesnake Bites

Teach Avoidance without Electric Shock Question: I need information on humane rattlesnake “proofing” techniques for dogs. It seems to me that keeping your dog on leash would be a better…

Cantankerous, Curmudgeonly Cats

Cats are simpler pets to care for than dogs, right? Uh, no. They are every bit as complex and just as prone to pain as any of us. We can…

Kiss, Lick, or Eat a Toad?

Third in a series Our pets have good lives: a comfy bed, 3 squares, and flat screen TV. But they aren’t little people in furry suits. Beneath that cuddly exterior…

Dog with an Idle Mind

Dogs need to spend time doing dog stuff. They are natural scavengers. They need to use their brains, mouths, and paws to survive. Food-dispensing toys and puzzles keep these little…

Alita’s Poisoning Diagnosis

Second in a series “Alita”, the spaniel mix on the treatment table, wore the expression of a dog who knew she needed help while wishing she were anywhere but in…

Stop That! Training Better Behavior

A dog can act out in embarrassing, destructive, or even dangerous ways. If you could just teach them to stop those bad behaviors! Training can help but you’ll need to…

How We Wish They Spoke a Human Language

First in a series It was about 8 in the evening. I was juggling one appointment after the next, along with sick pets who needed to be worked into the…

Cat Pee on Furniture

Do you live in a litter pan? OK, not really – but does it feel that way when you find cat urine around the house? I feel your pain; one…

High Risk Tail Chewing

Question: We have a 12 year old German Shepherd female who started chewing on her tail! She sits on it between her back legs and chews until the hair is chewed…