Subscriber Archive
Last in a series Who Knew? I fidgeted, I hoped unnoticed, as I conducted a final exam of Lila, the Boxer mama and the qualifying 6 of her original 9. I carried the tired but stable mother to her owner’s semi truck while Ms. Adler lugged the box of puppies. I quickly bid her adieu and hurried back inside. My partner Dr. Virginia Vader and our nurse Bobbi had been hard at work. I just had to snuggle those 3 white orphans. For Gretchen Adler, our Boxer breeder client, this was just business. Had I known when she called, that she expected us to neglect healthy infants of unwanted color, I might not have accepted the case. But could we do that ethically? Morally? We received a gift that night, 3 of them actually. Those little white wrigglers were hungry. We warmed up some Esbilac (puppy milk replacer), broke out…
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These Border collie puppies play well with others but there is more to life than fun and games. There is also hiking, snuggling, and fun and games. One of them gets to be the new Nichol family dog
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Second in a series Caesarians in dogs and cats usually go well. Lila, the Boxer mama on my exam table, was not entirely tuckered out; her vital signs were strong. We started warm fluids IV and administered morphine for gentle sedation and pain control. Lila relaxed and accepted the oxygen mask and gas anesthesia. Once she was intubated and her abdomen prepped she was wheeled into surgery. Gretchen Adler, the owner of this nascent Boxer family, knew exactly what she wanted. Reluctantly donning the surgery cap and mask that I had pressed into her hands she stated unequivocally, with added eye roll, that she had assisted in several C-sections and had “never been required to wear a get-up like this.” Taking a moment to look her straight in the eye, I said, “Ms. Adler, we’ll be glad for your help in reviving Lila’s puppies but I will not risk post…
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First in a series Boxers in the Night Semi Pregnancy Who doesn’t love newborn puppies? Veterinarians get to turn difficult deliveries into real joy but it’s often difficult. In the early years we tried to close the clinic at 6 PM but late night emergencies were common. It was just after Christmas, at about 9:30 – near bedtime. The Rolling Stones, blasting ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’ on my stereo, were interrupted by a call from the answering service. A boxer was struggling to pass her first puppy. I scribbled down the phone number of a dog breeder I had never met and made the call. The Stones’ lyrics replayed in my brain later that night. Before I could finish, “This is Dr. Nic—”a hard-edged voice broke through, “My bitch needs a C-section. She’s been pushin’ for 3 hours and nothin’s passed. How soon can you operate?” Who…
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What does it take? The holidays are great fun, aren’t they? Singin’, dancin’, and carryin’ on. For you and me, sure, but badly unsettled pets can engage in some unhealthy behaviors because they’re nervous or scared. Be observant. Tense body postures around visitors or startling at sudden noises, hiding, freezing with ears flattened, the head low, and the tail tucked are important clues. Scared dogs may lick their lips and yawn. Highly stressed cats might over-groom. Worried pets need a break from the action. Hide boxes for cats and out-of-the-way resting areas for dogs can help. A food toy loaded with your dog’s favorite treat will focus her brain on something enjoyable. Consider a Twist & Treat, a Toppl or a Kibble Nibble. Give her the food-loaded toys in another room before your guests arrive and pick them up when they leave so your dog learns that great things happen…
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Canine Coping Skills for Twins Question: I have a female Doberman, 5 years old, and a female mixed breed dog, age 10. And 8 months ago I became mom of twins. Other dog is great with them from the day one. Dobermann on the other hand is extremely nervous. She continues to cry and go around me in circles when I have a baby in my arms. More time passes, worst she is. That behaviour is provoking other dog and then I have a war between them. We are from Italy. Dr. Nichol: This is a common problem; many dogs who were raised without children can wig-out when alien pink wrigglers suddenly arrive in their home. Your twins must be great fun but I’m betting that they’re a whole lot of work too. You know what to do with them but your Doberman hasn’t a clue. This dog is not…
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Last in a 4 part series Managing Herd Size Facing down this dual feline epidemic (leukemia virus plus herpes) I felt overwhelmed until I made another visit to the Peabody home. Armed with physical exam findings and test results on each of their 24 cats I again toured the house and yard, this time to strategize. Eye and nose discharges are little toxic pools of bacteria and virus. I coached Briana and Nettie on gentle handling of each cat (some were fussier than others) for snot removal and medication. Some needed special feeding. Isolation from the symptom-free, leukemia negative cats was a must. Both of these infectious diseases had to be contained. I really liked these people; I would never be condescending but I needed to be clear. Once we all agreed on housing which cats in which specific rooms and who would stay together inside and keep their distance…
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Finding a Way to Save Lives Pet lovers can mistakenly assign human emotions to members of a different species. Firmly believing that cats want everything we do doesn’t make it so. Cramming 26 of them into one household caused behavioral and physical stresses that weakened their immunity. The Peabody cat family was sick. A growing number were discharging from their eyes and noses, spiking fevers, and eating poorly or not at all. Worse still, their feline herpes virus (FHV-1) epidemic was advancing. Nasal fluid was aerosolized by sneezing for sure, but there were behavioral factors too. Cats are not little people in furry suits. In some respects they are wild animals we keep as pets. They can certainly form strong bonds but they are genetically programmed for outdoor survival in loose social groups. For some, a solitary life works best. Indoor crowded communal cohabiting made Briana and Nettie Peabody’s cats…
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