Albuquerque Journal Articles

There is a good method to taking it slow & careful. A gentle dog should fit in well-eventually.   Question: Five days ago I got a young dog. I already had three cats . I’ve let the cats run loose at night and kept the doggie in the bathroom. I let them all sniff under the door. I’ve taken the dog with me in the daytime and let the cats be able to go into her bathroom to check out her scent. I’m not comfortable letting her roam the house yet with the kitties. The cats are not hiding and…

Even small breed dogs need good manners. Taking a puppy to school gets you both trained-and your lives together get better.   Question: We just got a brand new puppy and are we ever excited. She is perfect. She’s a miniature poodle and she’s 12 weeks old and she’s already making potty outside and she comes to us when we call her. But I think dog school would be a great idea but my husband says that she’s just a little dog and we can train her at home and why would we want to take her to a place…

Your Veterinarian should be there for Guidance & Support Question: I have a 17 year old cocker terrier. She now has multiple problems and is on many meds. She is deaf and can’t see that well. My dilemma is this: When is the appropriate time to think about “putting her to sleep”? I love her with all my being and have a difficult time even thinking about this let alone asking about it. She still runs around and loves to eat and get treats. The last thing I would ever want to do is make her suffer.   Dr. Nichol:…

Daily Vitamin C will provide a healthy lawn.   Question: We have a 6-month-old blue heeler, female; she is slowly turning my grass yellow.  Is there anything that I can do to prevent my grass from dying?   Dr. Nichol: 250 mg. (two hundred fifty milligrams) of vitamin C once daily will acidify her urine and cause the grass to grow lush and green in those spots instead of brown and dead.     Question: I read in your column that in order to neutralize a female dog’s urine you should give 250 unit of vitamin C. Should I give…

Everybody has one. Here’s how to hunt one down.   Question: Why don’t dogs and cats have belly buttons like people?   Dr. Nichol: Well, the truth is that they do but they’re just a bit more modest about it. I’ve examined the tummies of countless dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits, hamsters, gerbils, rats, mice and guinea pigs and everybody has one but they are all strangely unfestooned with rings and studs and starburst tattoos. Each of them is discreetly covered with hair. Nonhuman mammals never seem to display their navels. I just don’t get it.   To find your dog’s…

Do your Best job of Diplomacy Before calling Animal Control Question: One of my neighbors has had his Labrador confined behind his house (on the windowless side) for years.  Never walks him, now had a debark collar installed.  The dog is outside day and night, very lonely.  I have tried to talk to the neighbor, but the answer has been “mind your own business.”  What organization can I contact to do something to help this poor, lonely creature?   Dr. Nichol: You are a kind soul to want to help this dog. Boredom is a destructive force. Creatures of any…

Be Careful with “Designer” Dogs; Inbreeding Often Spells Poor Health & Bas Temperaments Question: I will be getting an Argentine Dogo puppy form a breeder in Austin in a few weeks.  She will grow to 90-105 pounds, will she be able to fit under the airplane seat at 8 weeks old? Why do people crop dogs’ ears? How long does it take for the ears to heal? Have you ever seen Argentine Dogos in NM? Should I consider giving her a sedative for the airplane ride, checked in or under the seat?   Dr. Nichol: Dog breeds that are rare…

They have some Issues of their Own but are Better in some ways than Large Dogs Question: A couple of weeks ago there was an article in the Journal about all the “negatives” of adopting “very small” dogs because of their teeth and other health problems.  I’ve been thinking about adopting a small one but this article has put me on hold. I like Chihuahuas and Shih Tzus.   Dr. Nichol: It got my attention too. It’s true that small and toy dogs face special issues. On the flip side there’s a long list of large breed problems only rarely…