Albuquerque Journal Articles
Medication only needed until Healing is Complete Question: I have a 6 month old foster kitten and she has seizures of unknown origin. She has a healed fracture of her front leg and a crooked tail. Phenobarbital was prescribed twice a day but she is during well on just a night dose. Is it possible she could improve to the point of not being on any daily meds? She is a really personable kitty love bug, is starting to walk, run, jump, and do “kitten” behavior. Dr. Nichol: This little survivor took a major thrashing that I suspect included having…
Read MoreNatural Behavioral Outlets Essential to Well-Being Question: I am a new mom to two wonderful shelter dogs, including Moxie, a 15 month old pit bull/heeler. She has never urinated or defecated in the crate at night, but has consistently urinated in the crate during the day. I have tried making the crate smaller, coming home in three hour intervals, putting the crate away from my other dog, covering the crate, taking all bedding out of the crate, feeding her in the crate. Nothing has worked. I have let her roam in the house, and while she does not have any…
Read MoreSurgical Management is Best for Young Dogs Question: My dog Lola is a happy 3 year old Lhasa-poo. Recently, she eagerly ran down the stairs and hurt her leg. Her diagnosis was ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. I left the animal hospital crying. While researching online, I read non-surgical treatments are possible for dogs less than 30 pounds. Some articles advised against “rushing into knee surgery” and encouraged self-healing by restricting activity. Dr. Nichol: The knee’s anterior (cranial) cruciate ligament (ACL) is a mighty important little strap of tissue because of the front-to-back stability it provides. Any human who has faced…
Read MoreMake Success Easy; Avoid Punishment Question: I have two cats, Puppy and Critter. Puppy uses the Litter Robot to urinate but defecates right in front of it. When I catch him I sharply tell him no and bad. When I catch him defecating in the Litter Robot I pet him, praise him, and give him snacks. I cleaned up his feces for the second time today and out of frustration, pushed his nose into his mess. My girlfriend told me that could have bad consequences and showed me your site. Dr. Nichol: Positive reinforcement matters. Punishment usually fails because it…
Read MoreAvoid Fear Triggers & Teach Scared Dog that Strangers are Safe Question: Our 6 year old, mostly red healer, was rescued from an Indian reservation, then rescued again with her companion dog after her owner died, then rescued by us because of dominance issues in her adopted home. She came without her companion. She had serious separation anxiety and some nervous urination. We moved and now she is urinating on the beds whenever she is threatened (emotionally) by visitors, i.e. grandkids or houseguests. We can deal with her anxiety, but we sure would like her to quit peeing on the…
Read MoreThe Doctor Informs & Advises. The Owner Makes the Call Question: Last week you advised an owner of a Great Pyrenees to get expensive tests for her dog’s breathing problems. At 10 years old, that gentle giant is OLD. At what point do advise simple stuff and keeping the dog comfortable? Limiting exercise, losing weight (which you did suggest), maybe symptomatic help like asthma meds or prednisone but just letting nature take its course for a dog who’s near the end of its typical lifespan anyway? The dog didn’t sound that uncomfortable to me. This has been going on without…
Read MoreDiagnosis may be Complex; Relief is Essential Question: I have a Great Pyrenees dog, 10 years old. For the past 6 months he acts like he has sleep apnea: he tries to get to sleep, but constantly awakes unable to catch his breathe. He’s big. He doesn’t seem to have it worse when he’s running or barking (which he does less and for shorter periods now – but he’s old) he does often seem to be breathing heavier even when just resting. He’s always groaned when he lies down. Likely arthritic, but I don’t give him anything for it. Lung…
Read MoreTaste Bads & Funner Alternatives. Avoid Punishment Question: My cat has a terrible chewing problem. He chewed through my curling iron cord, leaving exposed wires. He chews the plastic top on my water bottle, the plastic on my shoe laces, my computer and printer cords, and cell phone cords. Is there any type of discipline you recommend? I love the cat but I’m so frustrated. Dr. Nichol: Frustrated? You sound positively flummoxed. You’re crashing your hard drive. You may be tempted to chew your computer mouse! Back away slowly and take a few deep breaths. I get it. Our cat…
Read MoreA More Enriched Environment will Provide Healthy Alternatives Question: My dog brings feces into the house from outside almost as an “offering”. How can I stop that behavior? Dr. Nichol: Maybe she’s like Lassie and she’s trying to tell you something. These tokens could represent your dog’s depth of feeling for you or her payment for room and board or perhaps an honest critique of your cooking. You want the truth? Some dogs play with their feces like toys because they exist in an otherwise sterile environment and it’s all they have to do. Remove temptation by cleaning up the…
Read MoreCare for the Behavior & the Physical Pain Daffodil (not his real name) is a cat who complained so much and so loudly his owners could hardly talk over the din or sleep through the night. He followed one of them constantly but hissed at the other four household cats. He demanded food often but would eat only a little and then lobby hard for more. Daffodil also had a long history of diarrhea and painful vomiting. A change in diet brought an end to his physical symptoms but sharing a home with a gaggle of cats he didn’t even…
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