Dear Dr. Forsythe: Why do veterinarians always insist on rechecking patients over and over? I have a cat that has kidney failure and she goes to the vet whenever I notice that she isn’t doing very well. Sophie is a great patient but she doesn’t like going in the car. Last time she got sick and needed several tests and fluids and medications, I was asked to bring her back again even though she was much better the next day. Is that really necessary? Do I always need to leave with another appointment? Isn’t it overkill? When is enough enough? At some point you would think they could leave well enough alone and let my poor pet have a little time to relax at home for awhile. I may sound ungrateful but I worry that there is another agenda such as trying to run too many tests that aren’t necessary. What do you think about all these non-stop appointments?
Irritated cat owner
Dear Irritated: It sounds like your cat’s doctor is trying to manage her kidney condition and keep her healthy and alive for a long time. At a risk of sounding rude, why would you have a problem with that?
This reminds me of a client who had a similar cat. Her pet had a severe kidney condition but she wanted to treat the cat conservatively on her own and had us call in a prescription for fluids to Costco so she could give the fluids herself. A couple of weeks ago we called to remind that the cat needed to have blood work rechecked. When she answered the phone she was rude and explained that she couldn’t speak to us because she was at Macy’s shopping. When she finally called back the next day, it was to tell us off and switch to another vet who “won’t insist that I bring the cat for exams. You just want to collect money!”
I’ve had clients be rude before, but when a client with a history of complaining about finances answers the phone while shopping at Macy’s, I practically combust. It shows their lack of respect for what we do as veterinary professionals and points out the serious disconnect they have about the value of our services and importance of managing their pet’s health care in a serious way. The moral of this story? Treat your veterinarian – and hopefully the other professionals in your life – with a modicum of respect as they are likely trying to adhere to the standards of their profession rather than trying to scam a bunch of unnecessary tests for your pet or partake in some untoward activity or shady agenda regarding your pet.
Dr. F
Dear Dr. Forsythe: My dog keeps getting foxtails between his toes. Last week he got another one on his paw and my husband squeezed out a bunch of pus and nothing else came out. He has also got one in his nose before and once in his eye. Is there anything we can do to prevent this? Also, his other foot has a little pink lump forming but we cleaned it with hydrogen peroxide. Is there something else we can do?
Sammy’s mom.
Dear Sammy’s mom: You can try cutting down the weeds in the yard and blowing them away to prevent the underlying problem. Also, be careful where you walk Sammy or let him run. Foxtail season is from late spring through the summer and this season has been pretty bad.
Careful grooming daily to remove foxtails and burrs – the little round prickly balls – is very helpful. This gets rid of the culprits before they have a chance to burrow. Once they are embedded between the toes, they get under the skin quickly and usually need to be removed by the veterinarian with an anesthetic. Keep in mind these little “barbs” have dirt and germs on them so they can create a severe infection wherever they wind up.
Last week I had to retrieve a foxtail out of the lung of a Labrador. It was down inside the bronchiole and causing a terrible cough that sounded like a kennel cough. This required general anesthesia, an endoscope, a special retrieval grabbing tool that fits down through the endoscope, and lots of patience. Thanks for your inquiry about these pesky little weeds. They cause lots of problems for pets in practically every orifice. Check your pet daily and do your best to keep them off the fur.
Dr. Forsythe
