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It is so unsettling, in some cases tragic, when family dogs fight. It’s the most common problem seen by veterinary behavior specialists, with loads of research to support our treatments. Some do well but despite our best efforts others fail to improve. You need to recognize the early indicators of trouble. One of the dogs in this video wants to play. The other would like to engage but then gets agitated. Notice the hair standing up over the pit bull’s shoulders (piloerection). He threatens the brown dog but does not bite. That muzzle is not a good solution. If it were smaller it would prevent panting. A muzzled dog can’t bite but his fear and hostility will still worsen. Is it OK for this to continue? The pit bull is not enjoying a peaceful life. He is trapped in a small room with no escape from his pesky housemate. In…
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Second in a series Gucci wasn’t just having another routine bout of vomiting. Her 104.2 degree fever spoke major inflammation. It wasn’t too late; her immune system was fighting hard. A normal or low temperature would have meant that she was failing. I had time but only a little. We snapped a couple of abdominal x-rays and found trouble. Intestinal loops should appear in sharp focus, with a few small gas pockets. Gucci’s were blurred with lots of gas free in her abdomen. I took a small fluid sample, did a quick gram stain, and had a look under the microscope. Bacteria in prodigious quantities shouted the game plan: exploratory surgery – right now. Rather than making a quick “exam room” decision I had stuck to my training. The time spent gathering diagnostic information had already paid off. We were facing a leaky gut; septic peritonitis was already underway. Generous…
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Grooming or petting a cat can be dangerous. Watch for dilated pupils and rippling skin. Physical problems can underlie serious aggression.
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First in a series Vomiting is nobody’s favorite pastime. Sadly, some cats retch from time-to-time. Finding the cause can be tricky. I learned early that even when I was sure I had the answer, I needed to be ready to be wrong. Unexpected clues – easy to miss – change treatment plans, like right away. A cat with a history of hurling sat on my exam table with a complaint of recent vomiting. The nice lady, Jerri Samuelson, fixed me with a hopeful expression as she stroked “Gucci”, her 2 year old female tortoise shell. “Hi, Ms. Samuelson, I’m Dr. Jeff Nichol. When did this cute girl start vomiting again?” “Well, she’d been doin’ OK but all of a sudden, in the past 3 days, she’s stopped eatin’, then she started pukin’, and now she’s got squirts.” Well, alrighty, then. Routine stuff, I thought. It was a Saturday morning. I’d…
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Jumping, nipping, barking – Don’t yell. Don’t punish. A tired dog really is a happy dog. You can have a blast with your dog while s/he does all the running around. Agility is fast work for a dog while its person walks short distances. You and your pupster can do it in your yard. Group classes are good fun and the equipment is cheap. This tunnel, from bettersportingdogs.com, cost $72. Mick runs back and forth for fun. He also earns treats and toys. Best of all, he’s a calmer, quieter young hellion.
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Why? Fix it! Question: What do you do about a cat acting out sexually? We’ve had Sebastian “Basti”, 20 months old, for a year. He was neutered at 8 months. He’s very sweet but recently he has started humping my bedding, my clothes, and he attempts to hump me. He bites the object on its surrogate neck and does pelvic thrusts and butt flutters. Frankly, it’s off-putting. Basti gets along with our other 2 cats. They climb trees and play in our large yard. Dr. Nichol: Butt flutters, eh? Ahem. A delicate subject indeed, although not for Basti. He is not shy about his amorous proclivities, possibly related to testosterone levels normally not seen in neutered cats. His brain is driven by his hormones. Don’t feel bad. It happens even in the best families. Testosterone is produced in the testicles. Neutering removes these reproductive organs. But despite having had this…
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This fledgling hawk looks big enough to fly solo and catch rodents on the run but she’s still just a youngster. Mom was nearby, communicating freely. We think words of encouragement. We encountered this refreshing wildlife in Albuquerque’s Open Space. Nobody seemed concerned about Mick Nichol, the silly Border collie puppy.
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Fourth in a series Dogs with separation anxiety can freak-out badly if they feel boxed in. With the crate left open and outdoor access through his dog door, Harvey had the choices he’d needed all along. It’s hard to wring your paws and fret while scrounging for survival, so I advised Don to bury food toys in an outdoor digging box before leaving home. Now this hungry spaniel had to work for a living, darn it. No more loafing around and belly aching. Carefully dosed antianxiety medication plus at-home treatments with a pulsed electromagnetic field device (Calmer Canine) reduced Harvey’s anxiety, making it much easier for him to succeed. Still, the poor dog struggled with an unsolved mystery behavior. Residency training in veterinary behavior medicine prepared me to diagnose and treat a myriad of malfunctions between the ears of non-human species but wild lunging at a clothes dryer? That was…
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Close the window blinds during storms. If possible keep your dog in an interior room with less outside sound White, pink, or brown noise (downloadable from the Internet) can be played at the start of the earliest indicators that a storm is approaching. There is scientific evidence behind the value of these frequencies. Only trial-and-error will determine which, if any, of these will help your dog. Through a Dog’s Ear is specially designed music that you can play when a storm is predicted. Research has supported this method. http://throughadogsear.com/ You will be able to manage your dog effectively if you are at home throughout these days. During storms allow him to stay where he is most comfortable. Many dogs like the bathroom because the plumbing grounds the electrical charges. If your dog is trained to a Gentle Leader, leave it on; it may help him remain calm. Finally, ask your…
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