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Second in a series “Little Dog” had matted fur and a dangling leg but he was in otherwise good shape, for a 20# canine street urchin. The damage was long past any hope of improvement; only amputation could relieve this boy of his constant ache. With Marty already attached to him I remember thinking that all three of us were lucky to have met. Surgery was uneventful. Little Dog went on to live a long and playful 3-legged life. Pretty soon a nice lady, Jan, began to accompany Marty to Little Dog’s veterinary appointments. It was clear from the start that this was no summer fling. They’ve raised an excellent family, their children learning compassion by example. After their last dog passed on, and now empty nesters, Jan emailed me that she and Marty might be ready for a puppy. So I sent her a link to my puppy selection…
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It’s driving you crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy… Trash and canine trash talking cause more human angst than theft, murders and all the rest of the mayhem.
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First in a series Frustrations come with every job. I’ve been lucky. Problems that have risked baldness, you know – tearing out my hair – have been followed by good things. Most pets get well. Bonds are forged with their people. Veterinary medicine is challenging but it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. A few years into my life as owner of the Adobe Animal Clinic I’d sent Amos, Heidi, and our other staff home on time, most days, but as we got busier they started looking frazzled. So I hired Mike, a high school student, to come in after hours to vacuum and mop. He did OK for a month or two. One morning I arrived to find our gas anesthetic machine on its side with its valve wide open, the reservoir empty. Well, that just wasn’t normal. Who could have done this? Mice from the feed store next…
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Most dogs who try to bite or escape in a veterinary clinic are frightened. You can reduce anxiety by slowly and gently leading your dog from behind a squatting doctor. A dog who may bite should wear a basket muzzle. We shot this video with my own dog, Miss America. She has passed on now. She was an excellent actress, not to mention a delightful pet. We miss her still.
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Do you examine your cat’s teeth? That would mean putting him on a table under a bright light with an assistant gently holding his shoulders as you slowly open his mouth big enough to see all of his choppers. Actually, about the only time that really happens is during the annual physical exam. What? Your cat doesn’t see the doctor every year? Don’t feel bad. A lot of cats hate the veterinary clinic. There’s a widespread belief that kitties little need for medical care, that they pretty much take care of themselves. What nonsense! Other than hiding their illnesses they’re no different than the rest of us. They just aren’t programmed to fuss and belly ache. Everybody needs periodic physical exams to head-off smoldering problems. A study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association established a strong link between chronic dental disease in cats and kidney failure.…
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Who wants to be crowded like a bunch of sardines, which are quite dead in the can by the way? These chickens and geese enjoy a big enclosure where they can pursue behaviors that are natural to their species, like pecking the ground for bugs and rolling in the dirt. Nobody in this group has their nose in anyone else’s business. Pet lovers take note: adopting too many cats or dogs leads to crowding and stress. Aggression and physical disease are a common result. These happy wing flappers laid really tasty eggs. We just got back from their home at an 11th century rehabbed Italian castle.
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Question: I have 2 cats, 10 months old. We have recently let them go outside. A few days ago another cat showed up in our garden. I took my cats inside as I was afraid they were going to fight. They kept hissing at each other through the window. When I went outside to shoo the new cat away she turned out to be very friendly. Should I let my cats outside and see what happens? Dr. Nichol: Your fuzzy visitor knows the difference between a kindly human and a couple of scaredy cats holed up behind a window. She has you on her A-list but she regards your kitties as low-end competitors. She’d have them for lunch. Indoor cats lead sheltered lives, protected from cars, dogs, and infectious diseases, not to mention real-life lessons in neighbor relations. Unlike their free-roaming adversary yours have limited experience in feline street talk.…
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Question: I have a 55# pit mix, Molly, with food guarding. I have pet gates set up for feeding to avoid conflict but recently the gate got left open. Molly walked over to my 10 pound dog to eat her food, the little dog growled and Molly attacked. I intervened immediately and no one was injured. I took Molly to a trainer. They put an electric shock collar on her. This doesn’t sit right with me. Molly was extremely uncomfortable and the shock collar does not seem like a long term solution to me. Dr. Nichol: Most dogs are sure that a famine is only about 20 minutes away. If they don’t get all of the food right now, they won’t get any of it. Their concept of scarcity is genetically programmed – and it’s served them well for millennia. Electric shock for Molly’s natural behavior won’t rewire her brain…
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Last in a series Jamie’s mandatory retirement from obedience competition at age 11 was followed by an acting gig, appearing in the Albuquerque Little Theatre production “Of Mice & Men”, to rave reviews, I might add. Not even the casting director noticed her two missing teeth. Cathy and Jeff have said that she may have been the best dog they ever had – but they’ve thought that of each of their dogs. Jamie was nobody’s fool. She never chased another horse. When Jeff and Cathy went rummaging through stacks of old photos it came to them why Jamie’s massive facial/skull remodel would have been worth it to her – the great jack rabbit chase north of Cheyenne, Wyoming. They’d pulled off the road to see the original ranch house of the “My Friend Flicka” book, in the midst of nowhere, and let their 4 dogs out to sniff and investigate.…
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