Dear Dr. Forsythe: I have the chance to adopt a bearded collie from my cousin who is moving overseas. What do you think of the breed? Do they have a lot of health problems? What are they like? Would you recommend them for families? Thanks.
CC, Sonoma
Dear CC: Beardies, as they are called, are bouncy, bubbly and sometimes boisterous. They are also strong-willed, sturdy and sensitive, They do require an abundance of grooming, with weekly brushing to the skin to removed tangles and prevent mats. I would say YES! Grab the chance to have this lovely pet in your life. You will never regret it for a moment. I treat several at my hospital. Most of the Beardies I see have been in excellent health and require only preventive care. They make handsome show dogs and loving family pets. When you first set eyes on one, you will be spellbound. It is said of this dog, he “will have a noble breadth of brow, an air of still strength born of right confidence, and you will look into two snow-clad eyes, calm, wistful, inscrutable, their soft depths clothed on with eternal sadness—yearning for the soul that is not theirs — know then that you look upon one of the line of the most illustrious sheep dogs of the North.” Good luck with this wonderful new family jewel.
Dr. F
Dear Dr. Forsythe: I have a very old Siamese cat who had bloody urine and needed to go to the vet. I was a little irritated because I only wanted antibiotics but got presented with a bill for a urine test and a shot of antibiotics and they also wanted to run a blood test and take an X-ray. I knew that she had an infection and told the doctor before going into the exam room it was a bladder infection and all she needed was some medicine. I just don’t understand why it has to be so complicated and I got so annoyed when they tried to do so many tests that I just took her home. I had some left over antibiotic from another vet and I gave it to her and it seemed to help. Please share this with your readers.
Mrs. C, Sonoma
Dear Mrs. C: I understand your frustration at hoping to come in and pick up a prescription for antibiotics for a presumptive bladder infection and then being told that your aged, senior cat with bloody urine might have a more serious bladder or kidney condition that required more testing. It sounds like one of those situations where the concerns of the veterinarian and the ideas that you had about your pet’s situation truly didn’t match very well.
It sounds like you brought your Siamese into the hospital with a pretty strong idea that you already knew the diagnosis. So you may have felt that your veterinarian was wrong to suspect that the bleeding from an old cat could have been due to a transitional cell carcinoma, bladder stones, infection secondary to diabetes or even a traumatic injury (even though these are fairly common in older cats). Some clients use the internet and then make their own conclusions about a problem with their pet. So when they enter the lobby for their appointment, they are full of suggestions. However, occasionally, this type of client (the “on line veterinarian”) sometimes comes in treating the veterinarian like a middle man you’d rather cut out of the situation rather than a trusted doctor who is valued to diagnose and treat your cat. I guess after reading the letter you wrote, I’d ask you: which type of client are you?
If your cat was lucky enough to respond to the antibiotics you gave him, that is fortunate. If the bleeding was the result of a bladder infection, perhaps all is well. I must say that with a senior pet like you have, I still think the risk of other problems and additional health issues warrant a close monitoring of the pet and high quality medicine from a veterinarian that you trust and respect.
Good luck with your super senior cat!
Dr. F
