Albuquerque Journal Articles
Leave 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…
Read MoreWhy that funky body style? Are they all loveable? Question: What are basset hounds good for? Dr. Nichol: That depends on who’s asking and why. Originally Bassets were bred to hunt rabbits. Their short legs allowed them to get into small places like rabbit holes. They are really tenacious hunters. Once they’re on a scent they are be oblivious to everything-all the while howling their little brains out. But that’s their original purpose. What are they good for in contemporary American culture? I asked Basset owners in my family and others who I know well. They’re good…
Read MoreThere are several useful tools; each has its place. All are safe if used properly. Question: Do you know of any health problems related to either prong/pinch collars or head halters? I am doing some research for our training club. Dr. Nichol: I’m glad to get this question because there is a great deal of concern and misinformation about training methods and devises like these. The truth is that, yes they are safe, but there is always a way to misuse and mistreat a dog during training. Most often these problems occur through genuine ignorance from a loving…
Read MoreCarefully consider the maturity of the primary caretaker before adding a new pet to your home. Question: I’m thinking that a pet is a good way to teach responsibility to my children. One is 5 and the other is 3. Do you think they are old enough? Dr. Nichol: Do I look like Dr. Joyce Brothers? (Please say no.) The truth is I see a lot of parents making this decision at various times in the development of their children. And having a couple of bambinos myself, I can add a personal perspective. Number one: Even some…
Read MoreThere 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…
Read MoreEven 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…
Read MoreYour 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:…
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