Subscriber Archive
Dogs who are told to get off the furniture repeat their crimes when the boss is out of sight. Consistency and kindness matter.
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The time honored American tradition of conspicuous Christmas consumption isn’t just for humans. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center provides the following list of holiday hazards for pets: Alcoholic beverages, chocolate, coffee (grounds, beans, chocolate covered espresso beans), moldy or spoiled foods, onions, onion powder, fatty foods, salt, yeast dough. Lilies are potentially deadly for cats, poinsettias may cause vomiting or nausea, mistletoe can cause heart problems but usually just stomach upset, and eating Holly leads to vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and lethargy. Drinking fertilized tree water results in stomach upset. Stagnant tree water (and, hey, whose isn’t?) is a bacterial breeding ground. Consumption leads to vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. Chewing electric cords can result in electrocution. Ribbons or tinsel can cause intestinal obstruction. Batteries contain corrosives. If swallowed they can cause ulceration to the mouth, tongue, stomach and intestines. Glass ornaments can be chewed and swallowed. I don’t have to…
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Do your pets crack under holiday pressure? Together we’ll reach peace on earth.
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Severe reactions, nightmares, escape attempts; even aggression can indicate PTSD in dogs. Harsh training methods or physical trauma can provoke this lifelong disorder. There is help for this tough problem.
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Question: I show mini dachshunds and have a bald tail which urgently needs some hair. He did have folliculitis and follicular hyperplasia, which were treated with cortisone and antibiotics and these have cleared up, but needs to get the coat back urgently. No fungus or mites, as have treated in case, and is a fit healthy dog otherwise. Could you tell me about the Rogaine treatment? I have really tried everything. Dr. Nichol: You have a bald tail? Ahem. Shouldn’t that be, well, you know, private? I’m a veterinarian so I know something about this, on pets anyway. Let’s go down that path. I’m glad you haven’t tried minoxidil (Rogaine). If you were to apply it to any part of this pupster, you should expect him to lick it off and suffer poisoning similar to having eaten it directly out of the can. Symptoms would include vomiting, low blood pressure,…
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Question: We have a smart, beautiful 5-month-old collie. He has the bad habit of always wanting his mouth on us, usually biting. He’s not mean at all. It just seems that biting or mouthing is his favorite way of communicating and playing. We don’t like it. It hurts. We are expecting a grandchild in a couple of months and we can’t have the puppy biting the baby. Dr. Nichol: Your puppy is enjoying you much as he would another puppy. He’s an active young hellion, play-fighting with the nearest warm body because he has no one of his ilk for mutual mouthing and slobbering. Reprimands would be pointless. There are people who believe that since it’s the puppy’s mouth that causing trouble they should hit him on the mouth. Please don’t do that; you would only damage your good relationship while teaching the little guy nothing of value. It’s the…
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Question: We have a 10 year old cat named Mary. She has been sneezing for almost 2 years. We can find no correlation nor cause for this. We tried chlorpheniramine with no result. Mary recently had a full panel bloodwork and UA with nothing outstanding. She is in good health. Her sneezing is clear. Dr. Nichol: Poor Mary. That infernal sneezing needs to end. Her lab profile ruled out major infection; the failure of chlorpheniramine, an antihistamine, suggests that she is not allergic. This is not a rare problem. Most cats with a history of upper respiratory symptoms start with a feline herpes virus infection (FHV-1), leading to long term inflammation. The downside can be permanent changes to the “architecture” of their nasal passages, making it impossible to reach a cure. Tooth root infections are another consideration. Sadly, for a feline senior, another possibility is cancer. Chest x-rays would allow…
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Normal Aging? Dementia? Barking, pacing, clingy, soiling? Older dogs and cats who cry, act lost, and stare at walls are not normal. We can help but our best improvements are in early cases. Learn to notice the first signs in dogs and cats over age 10. Advanced senility can improve.
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