Albuquerque Journal Articles

Rawhide Chews for Dogs

By drjeffnichol | September 6, 2012 | Comments Off on Rawhide Chews for Dogs

An Excellent & Safe Pastime Question: My two mini-poodles love to eat rawhide chews. What are you recommendations on this? Dr. Nichol: Go for it. Rawhides are healthy for the teeth and gums. Once they’re good and soggy and yucky they get swallowed and pass through the system uneventfully. There is no reason to limit the number unless your dogs’ idea of rawhide is your shoes or baseball mitt. Incidentally, many cats also enjoy a good chew. Just soak the corner of a rawhide in warm water to make it more like a rodent for the feline predator in your…

Read More

Anesthetic Safety in an Older Dog

By drjeffnichol | September 6, 2012 | Comments Off on Anesthetic Safety in an Older Dog

Age is not a disease. Safety is really a function of health. Complete lab work will solve the safety question.   Question: My beloved Cairn Terrier is 13 and his vet has recommended neutering him to prevent testicular cancer and prostate problems.  He will also clean the dog’s teeth and remove some warts.  At the equivalent of 91 human years, I’m of course worried about Excalibur surviving the surgery and wondering how long his possible life span might be after such surgery (or, for that matter, without it).   Dr. Nichol: I can understand your concerns about Excalibur’s safety. You…

Read More

Distemper in a Puppy

By drjeffnichol | September 6, 2012 | Comments Off on Distemper in a Puppy

Euthanasia May be Best Question: I bought a puppy. A day later it had diarrhea and green stuff coming from his eyes. I took the puppy to the vet and had the dog tested for distemper. The test came back positive. The vet said that the puppy only had a 3-5% chance of recovery, would be contagious to other dogs, and have neurological problems. So I opted to have the puppy put down. Did I do the right thing?   Dr. Nichol: The decision to end the life of a sweet puppy is extremely hard. This little guy was facing…

Read More

Hiccups in Puppies

By drjeffnichol | September 6, 2012 | Comments Off on Hiccups in Puppies

No Treatment Necessary Question: I never thought I’d be writing to you (sounds like Dear Abby). I have a 5-month-old Basset Hound named Homer who has a terrible problem with hiccups. He seems to get them daily and I can’t imagine using any human remedies on him. He’s a little high strung so I’m afraid that scaring him would kill him! Just joking. Any ideas?   Dr. Nichol: Abby and I are old pals, having shared this page for a while. Lately our readers have been confusing our identities. I’m concerned that, having spent so much time together, we may…

Read More

Diabetes Requires Careful Management

By drjeffnichol | September 6, 2012 | Comments Off on Diabetes Requires Careful Management

Frequent Insulin Adjustments can Create Big Trouble Question: My dog has diabetes.  For a long while, we weren’t able to get her glucose below 200.  Now it will spike or drop with no warning.  I can tell when a problem is coming by her excessive panting.  I check her blood glucose level and give her a small dose of insulin or something to eat.  What can I do to stop this, and why the rollercoaster effect?   Dr. Nichol: You are certainly conscientious about your dog’s care but you’ll need to be careful. Frequent insulin injections and even minor dosage…

Read More

Health Risks to a Dog Who Catches & Eats Field Mice

By drjeffnichol | September 6, 2012 | Comments Off on Health Risks to a Dog Who Catches & Eats Field Mice

Nothing Important to Worry About. Tapeworms & Hanta Virus are Highly Unlikely Question: I recently caught my pedigree-challenged dog chasing and catching a field mouse. She dropped the mouse when I shouted, but I’m sure this is not an isolated incident. Can she get sick if she catches/kills/ingests a field mouse?   Dr. Nichol: Dogs can be such animals, can’t they? You’d never catch a human hunting, killing and eating a defenseless creature. No sir, we’re all so peaceful. Now I feel better.   Your dog is quite unlikely to get any diseases by exercising her predatory instincts.  In fact,…

Read More

Sudden Disappearance of an Older Dog

By drjeffnichol | September 6, 2012 | Comments Off on Sudden Disappearance of an Older Dog

Rattlesnake Bite is a Strong Possibility Question: When I was hiking in the foothills with my two female rottweiler mixes (age 9 and 12) I realized that the older one was gone. We have hiked this same trail so many times. She has always found her way back to me. Now I’ve lost her. I didn’t hear or see anything and my other dog didn’t either. What could have happened?   Dr. Nichol: I’m so sorry for your loss. I suspect a wild animal attack- most likely a rattlesnake, perhaps a mountain lion. You may wish you’d left your older…

Read More

Anal (rear end) Irritation

By drjeffnichol | September 6, 2012 | Comments Off on Anal (rear end) Irritation

Impacted anal glands make a dog scoot and/or lick his/her rear end. Relief is simple but important.   Question: I have a daschund (wienie dog, female) about 7 years old. She seems to be trying to scratch here anus, and unfortunately see can’t seem to reach. She’s a tad over weight. She even drags or circles on the floor in a futile attempt to scratch. I do not find the usual suspects of fleas or ticks. I don’t see any signs of worms. I have sprayed her for fleas. None of this seems to help. Even baths do not seem…

Read More

Rattlesnake Bites

By drjeffnichol | September 6, 2012 | Comments Off on Rattlesnake Bites

Vaccines & Training are Available but Vigilance is the Best Preventative Question: My wife was walking our dog Sasha on an asphalt path and came upon an immature rattle snake. Sasha got nipped on the nose. Within 20 minutes Sasha was admitted to the ICU. She spent two nights hooked up to IVs and given antibiotics. It was a very scary experience (for us, too!). Please warn your readers to be vigilant when walking your pets around open fields. Dr. Nichol: Rattlesnakes are a truly serious threat; 150,000 dogs and cats are bitten annually in the US. Young snakes are…

Read More

Wet Noses

By drjeffnichol | September 6, 2012 | Comments Off on Wet Noses

Wet nose, dry nose-no big deal.   Question: Should my cat have a wet nose?  In the mornings, his nose is wet.  He did have an upper respiratory infection when I got him at the shelter.   Dr. Nichol: Assuming the infection has resolved your cat can have a wet nose because of excessive tearing. Are you making your cat upset? Does he read romance novels in bed? Some of my best friends have wet noses and I’m not complaining.

Read More