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Ear infections are the most common problem seen by veterinarians. Sadly, we don’t’ get the chance to help enough of them in time to prevent severe pain. Redness, swelling, and yeasty discharges are common. By the time the head shaking and scratching starts they’re already advanced. Take a whiff of your dog’s ears and gently massage below the flaps to check for tenderness. Of course, there is a language barrier. If you ask if her ears hurt, and she shakes her head, she means yes. The ear canal is a long tube that courses down the side of their head, then makes a sharp bend toward the ear drum. It’s a warm, dark environment that can be easily overgrown with bacteria or yeast. There are lots of other possible causes including allergies, ear mites, ticks, mange, and foxtail awns. A pet can struggle with more than one of these, all…
Read MoreIf I were an endangered peninsular pronghorn I would feel lucky to live at the El Paso Zoo. This prey species can run 40 – 60 mph because they might have to avoid being a cheetah family’s Sunday dinner. Clearly tame, these girls never worry.
Read MoreWe don’t like seeing our pets itch and scratch. I’ve treated lots of them. Our best management, back in the day, was corticosteroids like prednisone but long term use often led to serious problems. Now we have better, safer options. But, of course, it’s seldom that simple. Once daily Apoquel (oclacitinib) has been a godsend. It calms the itch quickly and seldom causes side effects. Now it’s available as a pork-flavored chewable. Rather than prying your nervous dog’s mouth open or trying to hide the pill in caviar you just gift your pupster or your kitty with an irresistible treat. Sadly, the folks in white lab coats may have done their job too well. Apoquel hasn’t been officially approved for kitties but independent work has found it to be every bit as valuable for them. But regardless of who takes these tasty pills you’d better cat-proof your medicine cabinet. The…
Read MoreIt was rainy in the Pecos Wilderness for Mick’s first hike wearing his backpack. While carrying my water and snacks, he found bones from a deer’s front leg. Under good supervision we let the little guy be a dog, scavenging for his survival. It wasn’t long before he dropped the bone for more sniffing and investigating the natural world. Nature is beautiful, even when it’s wet.
Read MoreLast in a series Had Evie been genetically equipped with a healthy, well-adjusted brain she might have stayed in her first home. Sadly, those folks found her reactive outbursts annoying and, believing that they’d “tried everything”, succumbed to frustration and surrendered her to a shelter. While struggling to cope with that calamity she got lucky. Vicky and Richard adopted her. Change of any kind was not her friend, however. Evie wigged out even worse. She desperately needed structure and predictability. Richard and Vicky taught their girl that by high-tailing it to her Treat & Train, she would earn an immediate reinforcer (beep tone), followed by a treat. At random intervals Richard could then release an occasional snack, keeping his dog’s attention on her very own slot machine. Now he could jump to his feet and enjoy his wife and home without the nipping and barking. Greater distance from Richard made…
Read MoreOMG! Yell, swat, yell some more? Samantha, a sweet basset hound, was the highest-ranking dog in her home but she was not a stable leader. Her pushy, overbearing behavior toward her subordinates was caused by her anxiety not some desire to drive her people crazy. She often lost her impulse control and lashed out aggressively at her canine housemates. Safe antianxiety medication reduced this hound dog’s anxiety, her impulsiveness, and her aggression. Applying frosted window film to the lower portions of the front windows (available at home improvement stores) helped a lot by preventing Samantha and the other dogs from seeing those outside scary monsters.
Read MoreEvery fearful pet is different. Genetics is often the big culprit but life’s traumas can be another major factor. Dogs who’ve been abused, predictably avoid or react badly to their perpetrator but not toward others of that sex. It turned out that before meeting Richard, Evie had only lived with women. From day one in her new home, this dog was a nervous wreck, especially when the big guy lumbered around, rattling the windows with his normal booming voice. Getting in touch with his feminine side was one solution but poor Evie was on-edge, ready to lose her mind, most of the time anyway. The diagnosis was generalized anxiety disorder. Rehearsing a behavior strengthens the supporting neural circuits in the brain. That’s why practice makes perfect. The upshot for Evie was that she could only improve if she stopped reacting to Richard’s movements, not to mention the myriad of everyday…
Read MoreThese splendid birds arrive every fall in our beautiful state. Many folks drive to Bosque del Apache to get a glimpse but we can enjoy these almost prehistoric creatures up close at the Rio Grande Nature Center in Albuquerque’s North valley. If you listen carefully you will hear my family chatting on our Thanksgiving hike. Sorry about that. Crane-speak is more interesting.
Read MoreSecond in a series Despite her struggles, Evie was a fun dog, throwing her toys around and then treating them like puppies. Vicky and Richard were strongly bonded to her. They were willing to do whatever was necessary to help her feel better. Pet parents manage with whatever information they can find. Evie’s folks worried about her damaging their house when they were away so they confined her to a crate. After I advised them to set up a surveillance camera they realized that their dog was not as sanguine as they had thought. Videos showed her barking frantically as she lurched around her wire cage. Returning home they found her shrieking with wild abandon. Sometimes the crate wasn’t where it started. The peanut butter-stuffed Kong, intended as a distraction, sat undisturbed. Evie’s overwhelming joy when bolting for freedom took 15 minutes to subside. Richard and Vicky were saddened by…
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