Albuquerque Journal Articles
A new dog with new lessons. Sometimes different is better. Question: I read a few weeks ago that they were trying to create an exact replica of someone’s pet dog. I would give a lot to have a clone of my Westie. I’m sure I’m not the only pet owner who hates the thought of a dog’s short life-span-and would love a second chance at training a smart but ornery puppy. Dr. Nichol: It certainly sounds like an intriguing idea. But think of the great personality traits of a new dog that you would never be blessed to have…
Read MoreHow to know if your veterinarian is doing the job right. Question: Why is there so little standardization between vets? The best ones do extensive prep work, blood testing, fine needle aspiration, etc. and have one person on the heart monitor, one anesthetist, with 3 kinds of anesthesia while others have only one assistant who answers the phone during surgeries. Wouldn’t it make sense to standardize veterinary surgery, like human surgeons are held to certain standards? Most people believe that one vet is as good as another but that just isn’t so. Dr. Nichol: You have raised some…
Read MoreThe Basics Question: What do you have to do to take care of a dog daily? Dr. Nichol: This is a great question. Give excellent food in two measured feedings each day. Pick it up when he or she walks away from it. If you have more than one pet, feed them at the same time but in separate places so they can’t see each other. This prevents competitive eating which leads to obesity. Water: Clean the bowl and refill with fresh water at least twice daily. Pets drink more when the water is fresh. This reduces wear on…
Read MoreCats, with only Two Blood Types have Good Success with Kidney Transplants Question: One of my students asked me if animals of the same species have different blood types like humans. For example: if you needed to give a cat a blood transfusion would you need to find another cat with the same type of blood (for example type A or B etc.) for the transfusion to be successful? Dr. Nichol: Yes, other species have blood types too. Dogs are known to have eight; cats have two. Determining the specific blood type is only important if a pet has…
Read More101.0 F (+ or – 0.5 degrees) Question: I’m curious as to the normal body temperature of a dog. Dr. Nichol: 101.0 degrees Fahrenheit plus or minus 0.5 degree is the official answer, but 100 to 102 is fine. REALLY excited, but normal, dogs can sport rectal temperatures of 103.5. Forget using ear thermometers, though. It will annoy your dog and the darn things don’t even play music.
Read MoreDramamine or a prescription medication given before the car ride will prevent nausea. Question: My 6-month-old Silky Terrier is plagued with carsickness. We have tried traveling on an empty stomach to no avail. We’ve also only taken very short trips–so far 10- to 20- minutes traveling time. Part of our reason for getting a small breed was so he could join in on family vacations. Is there anything we can do to prevent the carsickness or a medication to help? Dr. Nichol: Sorry to hear about all that terrible traveling terrier trauma. The motion sickness that is hounding your…
Read MoreLeave out food & water? Friends who visit your home? Expensive kennels? Here’s how to choose. Question: Soon our children will be back in school and our family has one last vacation planned. We have a cat and a dog but we don’t know where to turn for reliable pet care while we’re gone. Please advise us. Dr. Nichol: You show real concern for those other family members-your pets. Here are some bad ideas first. Do not leave a pet home alone (indoors or outdoors). It’s Murphy’s Law: anything that can go wrong will. The water bowl gets…
Read MoreGet Advice from a Reliable Source Question: Conflicting advice for older dogs and parvo vaccination. I’ve recently been advised by a pet supply outlet that my older dogs (8 year old golden and 13 year old heeler) do not need annual parvo if they have regularly been vaccinated up to this point. The exception they noted was if they were to be kenneled. Is this correct or would you always do a parvo vaccination? Dr. Nichol: Gone are the days when all veterinarians recommended annual boostering. Vaccines have improved and so has the ability to accurately measure immunity. Infectious…
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 because…
Read MoreHealth means more than just ‘Start out slowly, then taper off’. Question: I have a beautiful 8-month-old Bichon Frise puppy who loves to go running with me. I started her off on 10-minute runs, and she has now done one 30-minute run. (She’s always in front of me, pulling on her flex leash!) Am I doing any damage to her puppy joints by having her run with me? And how long do you think it’s safe for her to run? Could she do 10K with me? Don’t tell me I should have gotten a bigger dog – this little sweetheart…
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