Subscriber Archive
Your dog wants nothing to do with fleas because they’d make her itch. What she’s unaware of is that these narrow-bodied little broad jumpers can carry tapeworms and plague. She doesn’t want ticks either. Those nasty blood suckers are vectors for Lyme disease and several blood parasites. All of this can be avoided with effective prevention but there may be a downside. What if you could made this simpler with a once yearly injection? Get an email reminder and bring your pupster to her doctor. Bravecto Quantum is new and it works. The active ingredient, fluralaner, has a proven record of efficacy but, in a small number of cases, neurological side effects like seizures, muscle tremors, and staggering have occurred. You may already be giving this insecticide, found in the shorter-acting (12 week duration) Bravecto chewable tablets and Bravecto topical (spot-on). Merck Animal Health has conducted multiple studies on Bravecto Quantum,…
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Fear and anxiety are miserable emotions. Whether a threat is real or imagined a freaked-out dog wants drive off the scary monster who might retaliate. But if he could stay occupied… You know that if he eyeballs another alien invader (anyone other than you) he could lose control all over again. You need to keep him working. Put your hungry dog in the bedroom with a food toy prior to your friends arriving. After everybody was seated and settled try bringing your nervous Nellie out on-leash to find – a “lick mat” smeared with whatever she can’t resist. Dogs will labor for extended periods, focusing on the narrow food-packed grooves, to reach every bit of liver pâte, peanut butter, or whatever. And when they’re done, they are tired.
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Question: I have a cat who eats too fast and throws up. I bought a slow feeder bowl, but it doesn’t seem to be working. Are there any slow feeder bowls that are better than others, or should I try feeding him only wet food. Dr. Nichol: Bolting food and then vomiting are important symptoms. This is not a feline eating disorder. Something worrisome is going on. We shouldn’t just treat the symptoms. Your cat has an internal illness that is causing him to eat like a fiend and then toss his cookies. If he is over age 9, benign thyroid tumors may be responsible. The resulting excessive thyroid hormone, surging through his system, can lead to heart and kidney failure if not treated. These big eaters have racing heart rates. They lose weight while racking up serious grocery bills. Vomiting is often seen. The good news is that this…
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Just because you love your dog doesn’t mean they do as they’re told. Frustrating. People yell, jerk the leash, and repeat commands. Any dog can learn to earn its person’s attention, along with tasty snacks. You can have a good time together, like my dog Mick and I do. Have a look at us in Rally competition (like obedience but more fun). Do you notice him watching me with that relaxed tail wag? Sandia Dog Obedience Club in Albuquerque is the place for good dogs to learn better.
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We have no idea who came up with the idea that cats have 9 lives but we know from research that they are inveterate survivors. A recent study published in Current Biology enlightened my brain on a sleeping survival adaptation. Lateralized Sleeping Positions in Domestic Cats by Sevim Isparta, et al, explained that the average cat sleeps 12-16 hours/day. That makes them vulnerable to predators 60-65% of their lives. A “leftward” posture is preferred by 2/3 of kitties so that when they wake up, they have an immediate, unobstructed view to the left. Their left brain recognizes a threat, allowing their right hemisphere, which is programmed to react faster, to get them out of a jam. Their quick-acting right side also kicks into gear when an unsuspecting mouse, makes a move. Researchers call these snacks on legs “emotionally arousing.” Mmm… Those speedy right-sided reactions save feline lives when the hunter…
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Kindness can be found everywhere from chimpanzees to dog, cats, and people.
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Question: A neighbor got a shelter dog. “Rowdy” appeared to be an intact male. But the new owner said that was how males can be neutered now, just ‘clipped’ but not the testicles removed. I thought the idea of neutering was to not only prevent breeding but also to reduce prostate cancer? Is this a new procedure for male dogs? How can one tell if a male dog has been neutered? Dr. Nichol: Your neighbor may be confusing removal of the testicles with vasectomy or neutering by injection. Any of these methods would sterilize Rowdy but only surgical neutering (castration) would make his status clear to neighbors with binoculars and inquiring minds. His risk of prostate disease as well as hernias and tumors of the rear end (perianal adenomas) would be essentially eliminated. Vasectomies, or “clipping” is seldom done for dogs. A common procedure in men, it means that the…
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Cats can be cranky, pesky, and a bit snarky with other pets. Scolding and water spraying doesn’t teach them better behavior. Instead of reacting badly, our kitties can have fun with their people by working for clicks and food.
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Don’t Let Your Cat Fool You Do you examine your cat’s mouth? 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 teeth. Actually, about the only time that really happens is during the annual physical exam. What? Your cat doesn’t see the doctor every year? Mmmm. Well, don’t feel bad. Pretty much everybody hates going to the doctor. There is a widespread disinformation campaign, surely promulgated by our cats, that they need little in the way of medical care. Nonsense! They are lying because they’re scared. Other than hiding their illnesses kitties are no different than the rest of us. They aren’t programmed to fuss and belly ache because it would expose them as vulnerable to predators. A study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary…
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