Albuquerque Journal Articles

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…

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…

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…

A new vaccine by Red Rock Biologics can reduce the risk of painful injury and death from rattlesnake bites in dogs. The vaccination is given in two doses about one month apart. To remain effective it is boostered every 6 months; a good idea since rattle snakes may be encountered year ’round in New Mexico. Possible vaccine side effects can include an allergic reaction and swelling at the site of the injection.   Just because your dog lives here doesn’t mean he has to have this; more vaccinations aren’t always better. An immunized dog who is bitten should still get…

Also covered in the Snake Bites section of this book, this answer will provide additional detail.   Question: Last year my friend’s dog got snake bit. I have a new puppy and we plan to hike a lot and it’s already getting warm. What happens if we find a snake? What should I do if my puppy gets bit?   Dr. Nichol: This is a subject that strikes fear into the hearts of most of us. The type of snakes you might run into has everything to do with the part of the country where you plan to hike. Coral…

Bone Lesions can only be Controlled with Long Term Medication Question: After we moved to Tucson in 2002 our Keeshond developed Valley Fever which didn’t invade his lungs or spine, but led to almost complete disintegration of his bones in his front legs. He stays on fluconizole for 4 months or so, then his titer is normal, so he goes off it.  About six months later he starts going lame again, so the titer is run, he goes on the drug for 4-5 months. When he is on the drug, he acts like a young kid again, running and bounding around.  Is…

Overweight Dogs Stealing Food Food Competition is Normal-Feed Separately Question: I have two dogs who eat each other’s food nearly every day to the point where the lab is becoming over weight. I try to catch them “in the act” but that’s not always possible. What can we do to help them?   Dr. Nichol: Dogs are competitive eaters for a reason. Despite the abundance of food in your home your two Labs are sure a famine will be starting in about 20 minutes. Competition for food is the reason obesity is common in multiple dog households.   Feed your…

Cataracts are Common but Treatable Question: My 10-year-old heeler cross, Maeve, was diagnosed last year with diabetes. She has responded very well to the twice-daily insulin injections and the low-fat dog food and in most ways is doing just great. However, she now appears to be completely blind. What are the options for her blindness?   Dr. Nichol: Maeve is not alone.  Cataracts occur in 3/4 of diabetic dogs within one year of the onset of their disease. Blindness is the most common diabetic complication but it doesn’t have to be permanent.   Cataracts are described as a clouding of…

No Need for Concern about the Use of Jugular Veins Question: My 95 pound sheepdog mix has been a blood donor for the past year.  I was happy to allow him to give blood for other dogs until I learned that they draw blood from the jugular vein (I had assumed it was the leg). I am concerned about the risk in drawing blood from this vital blood vessel.   Dr. Nichol: You and your excellent dog are providing an even greater service than you may realize. Upwards of 75% of dog and cat owners regard their pets as children.…

Nose Temperature is Never Reliable; a Thermometer is Much Better Question: Is a cold nose an indicator of health in a cat (like a dog) or is it OK if a cat’s nose is warm? Dr. Nichol: I’ve enjoyed thousands of canine and feline noses in my years of practice but, contrary to folklore, their temperatures have no meaning whatever. Good ways to monitor your pet’s health are to watch for a change in appetite, weight, water consumption, urine, stool, and activity level. Be concerned if your pet consistently breathes fast or with difficulty, coughs, sneezes, wheezes, or develops lumps…