Dear Dr. Forsythe: Why do people seem so eager to have dogs such as Basset Hounds? I work as a technician at an emergency hospital and have seen these dogs come in with so many problems: bad backs, bloat, and terrible ears. It seems like such a cruel joke that they were bred like that, just for amusement. I prefer useful breeds such as Border Collies and Australian Shepherds (and they seem to have fewer crippling problems too).
Emergency technician
Dear Emergency technician: Thanks for all the hard work you do helping pets in emergency situations, Basset Hound or otherwise. Although enchanting, adorable, and riddled with potential health problems, I must assert that the Basset Hound was NOT merely brought about for amusement. Bred in the Middle Ages by monks, the Basset comes to modern man as a keen trailer of rabbit and hare. The breed’s sluggish, sad-eyed expression is no indicator of this scent hound’s abilities—it has been also known to work raccoon, squirrel and opossum.
On a personal note, my boyhood pet was a Basset named Bounder, and he provided amusement, joy, laughter, and even some worry the day he got up on a table at my sister’s confirmation party and ate an entire pineapple up-side-down cake to completion. I suppose that kind of amusement and those heartwarming boyhood memories are why I adore the breed so much. While it is true that their dwarfism does predispose them to many health risks, they are nonetheless a wondrous breed, and I suggest you consider opening up your eyes and your heart to their many favorable traits in addition to their frailties. They do, after all, add to the wonderful and vast spectrum of dog breeds. Thanks for your question and good luck. (P.s. Border Collies and Aussies are also quite amazing breeds, by the way).
Dr. F
Dear Dr. Forsythe: My cat “Orca” has pancreatitis that comes back regularly, which requires regular trips to the veterinary office. Is there anything that can be done for my sweet fat cat to reduce the recurrence?
Orca’s Mom
Dear Mom: Many cases of pancreatitis in heavy cats are “idiopathic” meaning that we just don’t know the cause. Since cats can be very delicate in general, and their pancreas, which helps digest fat, is particularly delicate, keeping the pet on a regular, steady low-fat diet is essential to minimizing the risk of recurrence.
If in-hospital treatment with fluids and antibiotics have been necessary in the past, and have helped get Orca through one of these difficult episodes, it may be helpful to “pulse” some antibiotics at home. This means going though a period where you would administer a course of antibiotics off and on prophylactically to prevent a recurrence of the disease, assuming that bacteria are playing a role in the disease process.
This may be something worth discussing with your veterinarian during Orca’s next vet visit. Good luck with the kitty.
Dr. F
