Albuquerque Journal Articles
Pets, without question, feel pain just as we do. Better pet hospitals treat & prevent pain. Question: I have often wondered about cats and dogs and pain, especially when Skippy, our wonder cat with 3 legs, had most of his hind leg amputated to the hip. He came home the evening of surgery and my wife and I took turns holding him all night. He did not seem to be in pain, but rather out of it or a little crazy from the anesthetic. Isn’t pain medication typically given for this kind of thing, and for such procedures as…
Read MoreHidden problems like joint pain, organ disease, & thyroid trouble can be found with lab testing. Proper treatment can improve life quality & life expectancy. Question: My 14 year old Brittany Spaniel, Beckett, is beginning to show her age, a lot like her owners. Cataracts, hearing loss, and arthritis are among her maladies. She has gone from a very frisky youngster to a timid little baby in the last year or so. Her latest quirk is chattering her teeth, both when she is awake and asleep. I don’t think she is cold, since she has decided to become a…
Read MoreWounded, bleeding tails are a miserable mess. Here are some answers. Question: I have a small problem with my chocolate Labrador. Her tail at the end is hairless and when she wags her tail and hits it on anything it bleeds. We’ve tried to bandage it but she takes it off. We are really at wit’s end on this. Splatters of blood are everywhere she goes. It’s not infected or anything like that. Can you help? Dr. Nichol: What a mess. You not only need help getting your dog’s tail to stop bleeding, you need some one who’s…
Read MoreIt’s fatal in 50% of dogs who have it. It must be treated quickly & aggressively Question: What is done to treat Hemolytic Anemia? My 9 year old Airedale- Shepherd mix Dog has been diagnosed with Hemolytic Anemia and I searching for treatment options. Thank you in advance for your help. Dr. Nichol: The problem that has beset your dog is complex and quite delicate to treat. The full name for this disease is Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA). It means that your dog’s immune system is building antibodies against the surfaces of her red blood cells and…
Read MoreUmbilical hernias are common in puppies. Most are insignificant. A few can be dangerous. Question: We have a 10 week old white German Shepherd puppy and I just noticed a lump about the size of the tip of a pinky finger on her tummy below her rib cage. What could it be? Dr. Nichol: You describe an umbilical hernia. This is a birth defect that is usually quite minor. The lump you are noticing is likely to be a small amount of normal fat that has slipped into the location of the umbilicus (belly button). The hernia, an…
Read MoreAnal Glands are a common cause of rear end discomfort. It’s usually easy to remedy. Question: Is it an old wife’s tale or a fact that if a dog chases its tail that it will go crazy and have to be put to sleep? This sweet little Spitz also loves to chase her tail. I would appreciate any help in these two areas. Dr. Nichol: Tail chasing: Sometimes I feel like my live could be described that way. Will I go crazy and have to be put to sleep? If that happens this column won’t grace this newspaper…
Read MoreLong toenails make for painful arthritic feet. Black nails are hard to trim safely. Here is the how-to. Question: I’ve recently acquired my deceased mother’s dog. I’m taking her to the vet soon to have her checked out and to get shots updated. My main question is her toenails are so long that they curve and lay to the side. Can I trim them back to the normal length without causing her any harm? I’m really concerned about her. Dr. Nichol: Caring for your mother’s dog is a genuine act of love. Your compassion for that little girl…
Read MoreSurgical removal is only necessary for field dogs. Question: We recently adopted a 6-month-old German Shepherd-mix puppy from an animal shelter. He is “double dewclawed” on his hind legs. Do they need to be removed? One vet said they should be removed; the other said it’s optional. I’m planning on walking him every day in fields and on forest trails, also some rugged hiking in New Hampshire. I understand that removing dewclaws is more of a prophylactic measure–“just in case” they get snagged–as well as cosmetic. (Personally, I don’t care what his feet look like!) What are the chances…
Read MoreWhat do they really need & what’s unnecessary. Question: My kids and my wife and I have decided that we want to have a pet but we can’t agree on a dog or a cat so we got both. We know they need shots but I’ve called a few vet clinics and I’m getting different answers on how many shots they need. Can you advise us on what’s best? Dr. Nichol: Boy, am I glad to hear this question. It is painful for me to recall the number of these babies who have died of preventable diseases only…
Read MoreOur best methods at disease prevention have a down side risk. Here are the facts. Question: Last year, my standard poodle had a very severe reaction to her annual vaccinations. In fact, she almost died. She was literally unable to move without a great deal of pain and her eyes were glazed. She was treated but barely survived. They told us that they give the same dosage of vaccinations to all dogs, whether Chihuahua or Great Dane. I find that hard to believe. Now, I am extremely reluctant to chance it again. And why is it necessary to vaccinate…
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