Jackie Kellum

Jackie Kellum is a RN from NYC and CA, retiring in San Juan Cosala with her husband. For 12 years we provided foster care for abandoned motherless infant kittens and puppies, and now due to circumstances I only rescue kitten babies. During my many years volunteering with Anita’s Animals, I was given the privilege of writing a regular pet Column in the Ojo starting December 2010. Even with a column name change to “If Our Pets Could Talk” in August 2017, the purpose of the writings remain the same - help pet owners better understand their pets, learn what they can teach us , recognize their health needs and provide them with the best care possible.

Jackie Kellum

YOU and Your Doctor Are Your Medical Team – October 2026

Information in this column is provided for general educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding individual medical concerns. The topic this month is diverticulitis. First, it helps to understand the different terms. Diverticula, diverticulosis and diverticulitis Diverticula are small pouches or

YOU and Your Doctor Are Your Medical Team – October 2026 Read More »

YOU and Your Doctor Are Your Medical Team – August 2026

Understanding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a medical condition (ICD-9 Code 780.71) that is also referred to at times as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) or systemic exertion intolerance disease (SEID). CFS is a chronic disease — a biological condition, not a psychological disorder. The exact process of how the disease develops and progresses

YOU and Your Doctor Are Your Medical Team – August 2026 Read More »

YOU and Your Doctor Are Your Medical Team – June 2026

This month’s topic is fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes widespread pain, tenderness, fatigue, and other symptoms such as sleep disturbances and cognitive difficulties. It is not an autoimmune disease, but it can co-exist with conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Anyone can develop fibromyalgia, although it is more common in women and

YOU and Your Doctor Are Your Medical Team – June 2026 Read More »

If Our Pets Could Talk – April 2026

Senior Dog Mobility Like humans, a dog’s health and strength change with age. Their range of motion may decrease, making simple movements more difficult. Mobility limitations can result from many causes, including arthritis, hip dysplasia, injury, illness, neurological disorders, breed-specific conditions, developmental issues, and normal age-related changes. As dogs grow older, they may show behavioral

If Our Pets Could Talk – April 2026 Read More »

YOU and Your Doctor Are Your Medical Team – February 2026

Each of us no doubt thought that “Childhood” diseases like whooping cough, mumps, measles and chickenpox are only just for kids. Sadly, that is not totally accurate. Adults CAN get childhood diseases because: (A) Protection provided by childhood vaccinations can fade over time. You can have intermittent immunity, or no immunity. (B) There’s a decline

YOU and Your Doctor Are Your Medical Team – February 2026 Read More »

YOU and Your Doctor Are Your Medical Team – January 2026

Each of us no doubt thought that “childhood” diseases like whooping cough, mumps, measles, and chickenpox are only just for kids. Sadly, that is not totally accurate. Adults CAN get childhood diseases because: (A) protection provided by childhood vaccinations can fade over time. You can have intermittent immunity, or no immunity. (B) There’s a decline

YOU and Your Doctor Are Your Medical Team – January 2026 Read More »

YOU and Your Doctor Are Your Medical Team – December – 2025

The topic this month is an overview of restless leg syndrome/RLS, also called Willis-Ekbom disease, which is a neurological condition distinguished by an overwhelming urge to move the legs, often accompanied by unpleasant sensations. These sensations can be described as crawling, itching, tingling, burning, pulling, twitching, jerking or throbbing, and usually becomes worse when sitting

YOU and Your Doctor Are Your Medical Team – December – 2025 Read More »