Albuquerque Journal Articles
“You are invited to get my help with a behavior problem by participating in a Zoom group behavior conference. Visit https://drjeffnichol.com/zoom-group-conferences/ to sign up.” A colleague of mine recently treated a couple of tiny homeless feline littermates. One baby had a fractured leg, the other a back injury. These kittens were found in bad condition and, since neither speaks a human language (all they’ll say when asked is “meow, meow, meow”), we can only guess at what happened. Baby bones heal fast. Within a couple of weeks the girl kitty with the leg fracture was a fully functioning…
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Acne isn’t a Heart Breaker Question: I am wondering how cats develop feline acne. Dr. Nichol: We used to think that these unsightly carbuncles and blackheads on cats’ chins were infections and that some of these pets, despite their excellent upbringings, had questionable personal hygiene. With further research it turns out that feline acne is related to a dysfunction of the hair follicles. It does not reflect a flawed character. There can be comedones (black heads), papules (little red bumps), crusts, scabs, pustules (white heads), hair loss, and in severe cases, pain. Some kitties face only one bout of chin…
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Sharing your life with a great dog is like any important relationship. Start out on the right paw and everybody has a shot at success. Behavioral research shows that puppies do better if they stay with their mothers and litter mates until at least age 5-7 weeks. Picking the right breed is important but remember that puppies are unique individuals. You’ll want to pay attention to the different temperaments within each litter you consider. They’re not appliances that roll off an assembly line. I recommend first choosing the racy appearance of your shiny new dog-that’s the breed. Then carefully sort…
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Simple Oral Medication Ends Bed Wetting Question: I have a 3 year old blue heeler female. She is house trained. Lately in the evening just after her supper while she is sleeping in her bed she urinates laying down. She seems to not realize it. Dr. Nichol: This is a stressor for your heeler; dogs have an innate need not to foul their sleeping area. Assuming that your girl is in good health, and spayed, she is most likely leaking urine because of a weak bladder sphincter muscle. Before starting treatment your veterinarian needs to rule-out internal problems, like bladder…
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She may be Telling you She is Sick Question: A Facebook friend just adopted an 8 year old female cat who she says is perfect for her. The cat seems happy, plays and purrs. The problem is this poor woman is exhausted. The cat talks a lot all day and all night. When Catherine described her new cat on Facebook she is so tired she can hardly string three words together. Dr. Nichol: Chatty Cathy Kitty has plenty of opinions, including that she is perfect for your friend Catherine. Keeping this loquacious cat occupied with feline-specific behavioral opportunities could reduce…
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Blood Clots from Heart Disease Question: My poor Abby who is still a youngin at 5 years old is having severe problems walking. She is an indoor only cat and has not sustained any trauma. Her problem has been going on for 2 months. She is unable to jump and her walking has gotten progressively worse as she drags her hind legs and frequently stumbles. She does not seem to be in any pain and her temperament, eating/drinking and toileting habits have not been altered. We have tried a pain killer and prednisone and her problems are getting worse. Bloodwork…
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Splendid Excavating Alternative Question: We have a self-watering backyard. Our 1 ½ year old very tall, very strong, mixed-breed Doberman-Great Dane tore up all the lines! So now we are in the process of getting a landscaping contractor to redo them. How do we keep her from doing it again? All I can think of is going around the yard with her, pointing and showing her the lines, and saying, “NO” in a very loud voice. Even if she figures out what I mean I’m afraid she won’t apply it to the other lines. Dr. Nichol: Your dog won’t get…
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Question: Our large back yard is shared by our Russian tortoise and our 5 pound (11 month old) poodle. Last spring, when “Tortie” came out of hibernation, our puppy started spending a lot of time outside. I then discovered why: the puppy was finding and eating Tortie’s poop!! Gross. Can she get sick? Dr. Nichol: Your poodle puppy, that delicate little flower, has become a tortoise stalker, motivated by her taste for – well, the good news is that her scatological proclivity is most likely benign. For expert advice I contacted reptile specialist Dr. Robin Lane. I learned that Tortie…
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Cooperation Earns Food Question: My wonderful, elderly Ellie (13 years) is difficult to work with when she has an ear infection, eye infection or other medical problem. She wiggles and I cannot properly medicate her. She’s not above taking a nip at me. There are no muzzles for Shih Tzu’s because they have no snout. When I take her to the veterinarian, it takes me holding her front legs, an assistant holding her snout and body down (making it difficult for her to breathe). It’s most disturbing to me and Ellie. Dr. Nichol: You and Ellie are not alone. A…
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The doctors, staff, and volunteers at Albuquerque’s Animal Welfare Department do what it takes for the homeless pets they treat but post-operative recovery is sometimes harder than the procedure itself. It can be tough on everybody. My work with the Placencia Humane Society in Belize put my skills to the test. We came well equipped for field medicine thanks in large part to my readers. Donations included electric clippers, an otoscope, and cash for vaccines, heartworm prevention, and antibiotics. Most Belizeans are pretty stoic in their acceptance of the bugs, hurricanes and floods visited upon the one-room wooden houses on…
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