Albuquerque Journal Articles
Last in the series The biggest reason Irene developed arthritis is because she’s reached her golden years. This would not have occurred in the wild. As she aged in that competitive environment, with pain and stiffness, partial blindness and diminished hearing, she would have lost her edge. There are no veterinarians in the tropical forests of Asia. Her 58th birthday would not have arrived without the Biopark’s excellent animal care staff. Because of them her good quality of life should extend into her 60s and maybe her 70s. Dr. Carol Bradford started Irene on a safe and effective antiinflammatory/pain reliever…
Third in a series We suspected Irene’s legs were too uncomfortable for her to stay lying down long enough for quality shut eye. But there was more; she’d accumulated additional maladies over her 58 years. And, hey, which AARP member among us hasn’t? The ABQ BioPark’s elephant herd includes Alice, born in 1974, and her daughter Rozie, a 1992 model. And, much as their natural ranging sisters would, they get along fine. Albert, the stud with tusks, was born in 1998 to Calvin and Lilly at African Lion Safari in Ontario, Canada. Albert moved to the BioPark in 2003. Irene…
Second in a series A highly skilled, and tired elephant Will Rogers once said, “I have always felt that the best doctor is the veterinarian. He can’t ask his patients what is the matter…he’s just got to know.” Old Will had a point. When I queried Irene, the Asian elephant, about why she wouldn’t lie down long enough to catch a few Zs, she just smiled. Who knew elephants could be smart alecks? Clearly, we would have to resort to modern medicine. Dr. Carol Bradford, of the ABQ Biopark, had already x-rayed Irene’s feet and found them normal. She would have…
First in a series A big, older girl with a gentle soul was having a hard time sleeping. She laid down during the night but popped back up after a few minutes. She was also getting easily startled. There had been a lot of birthdays along the way, accompanied by a thick medical record. Everybody was worried. Her doctor contacted me for behavioral advice. No, not for herself – for her patient. Jeez. Sleep happens in the brain but problems elsewhere in the body can have an impact. Veterinary behavior medicine includes all of it. So I offered to have…
Last in a series As Scott slowly recovered from distemper he began to eat on his own and even play. It was a huge relief; my best friend was going to be OK. To my parents, though, he was “a dog.” Actually, they were right. We love our pets like little people in furry suits, so shouldn’t they comport themselves like good children? Canine brains are hard-wired differently. Scott was genetically programmed to point and retrieve birds with mental focus, along with a generous helping of physical stamina. Confined to the kitchen, only allowed outside on-leash to prevent damage to…
Third in a series
It was with gravitas that I began young Scott’s feeding regimen. I knew I was up to the task.
Second in a series Father and son trundled off in the family station wagon to a somewhat dilapidated quasi-farm. In the corner of an ancient barn sat a plywood enclosure of delightful Britanny puppies scampering around their haggard-looking mama. Looking back, it’s clear how badly she needed a break from the unrelenting demands of puppy production. Because I was a boy it somehow made sense to me that a male puppy would be a good choice. The first cuddler to hop into my lap was my immediate BFF. My father’s childhood cocker spaniel was named Scott; my dog would be…
First in a series I’ve always loved pets. I remember watching Lassie and Rin Tin Tin on TV, enthralled with the loyal bond between these dogs and their children. By age 8, I just had to have one of my own. Making it happen was a long shot. My father was not an approachable man but I somehow mustered the courage to ask if I could have a puppy. He intoned, with stark clarity, that I alone would be responsible for all dog-related chores: feeding, training, exercising, and clean-up. I was committed – more than ready, although I had no…
Question: A therapy dog has a developed a phobia of his owner’s vehicle. Maybe something traumatic happened at the groomer, since that’s when it started. It’s a 2 year old collie named “Laddie”, related to the movie dog(s) Lassie. I thought of feeding him in the vehicle for a week or two, tossing hot dogs inside, using a ramp with a line of hot dogs. I’m pretty sure forcing him into the vehicle is a bad idea. Dr. Nichol: Wow – related to Lassie? I’m star struck just answering your question. You have the basics but you’ll need to slow…
Egg shortages, bird flu, cat flu, sick people – OMG! We have a serious problem with no end in sight. Here’s an update. Just 12 cats in the US tested positive for avian influenza (H5N1) in 2023. There were 49 last year and 13 already last month. Some of these were barn cats, many more lived in cities and suburbs; a few had never been outside. Bird flu strikes cats fast with lethargy, poor appetite, coughing, sneezing, eye and nose discharges, and in the worst cases, loss of balance, walking in circles, and even seizures. It’s been fatal in 71%…