Albuquerque Journal Articles
Variety is the spice of life-but cats can get gas & diarrhea. Pick a good diet & stay the course. Question: I live alone and my cat is my constant companion. I know I spoil her but I can’t help it. She’s 4 years old and I have noticed that she seems to grow tired of a particular food after a while. So, like the doting cat mother I am, I give her something different. The problem is that I often find loose or fluid stool in her litter pan. She smells gassy too. What can I do? …
Read MoreKitties love milk-But it’s not part of a balanced diet-Unless you’re a calf Question: I am in first grade and have an assignment that is asking why cats like milk. Why do they like milk? Dr. Nichol: Cats enjoy milk for the same reasons that people do: It tastes great. And that’s because it has plenty of animal fat and protein. Cow’s milk makes a fine diet for baby cows-not really for cats. The best thing to feed a cat is cat food. But you like milk and so does your cat. So I think you can each…
Read MorePreventable with Medications, a Diagnosis is still Essential Question: I have a 15 year old terrier cross. She is very healthy, however the last time I had her teeth cleaned, they said her heart beat too slowly from the anesthesia and they had to wake her up and that her teeth could no longer be cleaned. She has a black growth on her leg. In the last six months it has increased to the size of a pecan. Is this something that needs attention? Dr. Nichol: Regardless of anesthetic concerns your dog may have a cardiac problem as well…
Read MoreSurgery can be a Life Saver Question: Our Keeshond has laryngeal paralysis, acts like he is gagging all the time, and when he gets excited he lies down literally gasping for air and can’t breathe or get up. He is at least 13 years old, has always been in great health. Dr. Nichol: Laryngeal paralysis usually affects large breed older dogs. Most cases are caused by a degeneration of the nerve supply to the larynx, reducing airflow. It is treatable with a surgery called a laryngeal tieback. The problem progresses slowly enough in some to make the procedure…
Read MoreHeart Disease, the most Likely Cause, may Result in Sudden Death Question: Do dogs faint? Yesterday I noticed my 6 year old female German Shepherd appear to faint twice. We were playing fetch when she suddenly wobbled, then fell over on her side. After 30 seconds she got up. This morning she had another bout. Does this need investigation? Dr. Nichol: Your dog’s fainting problem is serious business. There are many possible causes for a German Shepherd of her age to pass out, but heart disease tops the list. Her worst case scenario could be sudden death if she has…
Read MorePremium Quality Clumping Litter is Safest Question: I recently switched from using clay litter to clumping litter. I noticed that it’s extremely dusty when pouring it into the litter box. Is this dust harmful to my two kitties when they dig or to me when I stir and scoop? Dr. Nichol: It can be downright irritating to the lungs of a cat with a history of smoldering upper respiratory disease or asthma. That kind of tissue insult can result in an outbreak of illness. A premium brand (meaning more expensive) should have fewer of those tiny particles and do…
Read MoreCongestive Heart Failure is Common & usually Responsive to Treatment Question: My dog is 16 years old and has not been to the vets in a long time. He has a very bad cough and I have been giving him an herbal product called cough-x. Is this safe? I don’t want him on drugs at his age. Dr. Nichol: You are gambling way more than necessary. While there are many causes of coughing in older dogs, congestive heart failure is among the most common and most treatable. There are other possibilities including bronchitis, cancer, collapsing trachea (windpipe), foreign material,…
Read MoreCanine Flu Vaccine Available By now we’re all aware of the H1N1 swine flu. Canine flu (H3N8), while not contagious to humans, is also on the upswing. Fortunately New Mexico’s dog population has so far been spared. Dog flu has been around since 2004, a likely mutation of the equine influenza virus. What’s new is the vaccine, released by Intervet/Schering-Plough in June of this year. According to Cynda Crawford, D.V.M., Ph.D., professor of shelter medicine at the University of Florida, “Canine influenza is a highly contagious respiratory infection that has a significant impact on dogs housed in shelters, kennels…
Read MoreA Possible Serious Epidemic-Dogs have No Natural Immunity Dog lovers need to be aware of a new infectious disease called dog flu. So far there have been no cases identified in New Mexico but it’s been seen as far west as Texas. This virus can be transmitted through the air by coughing as well as by contamination of equipment, clothing, and the hands of caretakers. Seen first in racing greyhounds in Florida dog flu can spread rapidly in kennel and hospital settings. Like any epidemic in its early stages it’s hard to say whether this will become a major…
Read MoreLatency causes Repeat Infections; Eye Infections are the Worst Part Question: We adopted a one year old male orange tabby in January, 2005. He had been in the city’s shelter and then the humane association. He was very ill with what our vet called herpes virus-high fever and upper respiratory congestion. It took him 5 weeks to recover. Ever since, he periodically gets coughing spells, very loud and uncomfortable. Is this kind of “leftover” common? Dr. Nichol: Your cat’s symptoms are consistent with feline viral rhinotracheitis, the most common infectious disease of cats. Caused by a herpes virus (FHV-1), rhinotracheitis…
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