Cancer detecting canines

Dear Dr. Forsythe: I’ve written you before one time, but I felt like this time I had something really bizarre to share. Last year my daughter’s pit bull pushed into her breast several times very hard while she was stepping into the shower. He smashed it up pretty bad and she got a terrible bruise. Normally her dog “Chopper” is very calm and sweet, so she was shocked when he went crazy and started bashing into her boob. After her breast swelled up, she went to the doctor and they did an MRI and found a tiny but very deadly mammary tumor inside. It turned out to be the most deadly kind of breast cancer a woman can get, and if it weren’t for Chopper letting her know something was very wrong in her body, it never would have been discovered. Now I know I’m a nosy old broad, and last time I wrote to you it was about my dog biting me every time I sneezed and licking me when I got out of my shower, but don’t you think this is more than a strange coincidence? I think Chopper saved my daughter’s life. What do you think?
E. Deaton, Sonoma

Dear Mrs. Deaton, First of all, I love nosey old broads, and second of all, I agree, Chopper most certainly DID save your daughter’s life. The only question is, did he sense there was something abnormal there and hone in on it and repeatedly attack your daughter as if he was going after a foreign substance like a bomb sniffing dog? Or was this a strange fluke, more like a pet becoming loco and going all “mommy dearest” on your daughter in the shower?

My hunch is that Chopper very likely detected something different in your daughter’s body chemistry, sensed something was wrong, and acted on that feeling. Dogs have an amazing olfactory system and will react in primal ways if their instincts tell them something is wrong or someone is in danger.
It sounds like your family owes Chopper a big thank you. Up until now, I have never heard of a “boob sniffing dog” but then again, this is a very special pet in your family. I’d make sure to plan on including him at the five-year cancer survivor’s party, which you should already be planning. Clearly you are one extraordinary family with one talented pit bull. And you never need to apologize for being nosy, Mrs. Deaton. This is one great quality that seems to run in the family – and it looks like it pays off!
Dr. F

Dear Dr. Forsythe: I wanted to know your opinion on how to make up with my veterinarian’s office. I made the mistake of calling my vet a dumb #%$@ after I got my bill while checking out of his office last time. I just got so upset that the bill was so high; I kind of “lost it.” What I didn’t realize was that he was standing right there looking at me from down the hall. I thought I was going to die! I tried to laugh it off but secretly I wished I could have disappeared. Now, wouldn’t you know it, my dog is sick again and I’m really embarrassed to show my face there. I don’t really know how to address the problem and make things better. Should I write a letter and apologize for my bad language? Should I just switch to another vet and chock this up to my stupid temper? How do you suggest I handle this? I was really stressed out about money and didn’t expect so many charges when I checked out. I’m worried that the staff at the hospital thinks I’m a bad egg.

Sign me, Tail between my legs

Dear Tail: Well, I’ll give you kudos for one thing, at least you admit you behaved badly. I had one of my “best” clients throw a temper tantrum in my office last week and then accuse me and my office staff of treating HER badly. So you’re already doing better than many – you are owning up to your bad behavior. I suggest you write a letter of apology for your bad language and simply say that you were very stressed and said something that you realize was unpleasant and unacceptable. Calling your veterinarian a dumb “#%$#” is one good way to soil an otherwise good relationship. I know that the person who pitched a hissy fit in my office will never be someone I’d feel safe around again or a person I would respect, so making amends is a wise and kind thing to do. As far as the staff thinking you are a bad egg, I wouldn’t worry too much about that, as veterinary personnel are trained to cope with a myriad of people in a wide variety of stressful situations. As such, we understand that people say and do many things when they are scared and worried about their pets. I’m sure no one has labeled you a rotten egg, but a kind letter to the doctor and staff may take a bit of the smelly sulfur stink out of your chart. Good luck!

Dr. F