Albuquerque Journal Articles
A great way to keep a dog occupied & maintain healthy teeth & gums. Question: I have a healthy 3 1/2 year old female Great Dane. She really likes rolled cowhide chew toys. I let her have one about 5 days a week. Someone at my wife’s work told my wife that cowhide chew toys are bad for dogs. What’s the scoop? Dr. Nichol: You’ll hear old wives’ tales of all kinds. For example that feeding dogs sugar will give them worms or that allowing them to stick their heads out the window of a moving car will…
Read MoreFine-as long as the pig & the dog aren’t related. Question: I was wondering if pig ears are bad for dogs. Dr. Nichol: I’ve always thought that this should be a matter of personal preference. If a dog has no ears at all, then pig ears are better than none. On the other hand a guy or gal with a decent set of God given ears should just be happy and accept themselves as they are. Now eating pig ears is a different story. It seems to be quite a delicacy and does no harm. I have…
Read MoreFeed no bones. Eat without your pets. Table food leads to trouble. Question: Our one-year-old female Jack Russell Terrier might have swallowed some fish bones. She seems fine, but I am worried about if they will hurt her in her stomach and cause problems. Should I be worried and take her to the vet or just love her as usual. Dr. Nichol: The reason for your concern is that you love this girl. The good news is that she’s not likely to have any real problems from fish bones. Unlike beef, pork, or poultry bones fish bones are thin…
Read MoreAre you crazy? Dogs & cats don’t eat corn in the wild. They need meat, right? Question: Can animals, dogs and cats, digest corn? I know that in most cat/dog food the number one ingredient is ground corn meal, or something like that. If they can’t digest it, isn’t most of the dog food you feed your dog or cat is just ‘running though them’? Dr. Nichol: Don’t you know that reading food labels can be dangerous to your health? Why, you can become anxious and stressed. Let me help both you and your pets to live a…
Read MorePrescription diets r/d & w/d make it easy to help your pet keep that slim figure. Question: I have my dog on diet food & he is now @ his required weight. Should I change to regular food or give him more of the diet food, because he acts like he’s starving all the time. Dr. Nichol: Good job! Do you know how often I preach my weight loss sermon to the owners of fat dogs? It’s really remarkable. I tell people that their dog is overweight. I say it delicately. But I get these looks of disbelief.…
Read MoreSecond hand or otherwise this stuff is poison. Question: Hi. My dog, Bruce, is 5 years old. He likes to eat chocolate. I heard that chocolates are toxic to dogs. Is this true? There’s one other thing I’m really concerned about. I’ve been giving my dog candies since he was about 3 months old. I smoke a lot and I eat candies when I do. After smoking I give my dog what’s left of the candy. Is this going to affect his health in any way? I once asked my veterinarian about that and she said that she encourages…
Read MoreLow thyroid function is a factor for some obese dogs. Question: We have a 4 year old male whippet (Echo) with a severe weight problem that we have been trying to get under control for some 8 months. We have tried many different diets. With some he was so hungry in about 2 hours that he would begin crying and trying to open the food container. We even had to put childproof locks on all the cupboard doors because he would open them looking for food. Could there be a problem with his thyroid? He also at times appears…
Read MoreNo Hypoallergenic Diet Controls Weight. Add Fiber Question: My cat Annabelle was 16.5# of love, but with Science Diet r/d she is now down to 15#. Unfortunately she is showing signs of food allergy (according to a cat dermatologist), and I’m having trouble finding alternatives that are high fiber and low fat. Dr. Nichol: Both of Annabelle’s problems, her weight and allergy, are important. There is no combo diet. Use Hill’s hypoallergenic diet z/d. Feed ¼ cup morning and night. Offer raw carrots the rest of the time. Don’t let her take up smoking; singing or meditation are much…
Read MoreHere’s how to enforce a safe & effective diet for the rotund feline. Question: I have a male cat that weighs 22 pounds. I have him on lite cat food (Science diet) but he doesn’t lose any weight he just craves more food. He pushes the other cats out of the way to steal their food. I’m not sure what the best approach is. My other cats are all of a healthy weight (four in all). Dr. Nichol: This boy sounds like Jabba the Hut. If I were you I’d take control or he may start to eye…
Read MoreFeed an excellent diet & forget the rest. Question: Can you tell me your thoughts regarding supplements for young pups? It seems there are differing opinions as to whether or not it is necessary. He is on Nutro’s Natural Choice for ‘dogs’ not ‘pups’ which the breeder (and many others) have suggested. Dr. Nichol: You are an excellent dog owner. I wish everyone loved their pets the way you do. Supplements. Feed a high quality, balanced dog food (not puppy food) and additives are unnecessary. Is it OK to add to the diet anyway just to be sure?…
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