Rosie sees Fred (well, not quite)

Concern over Rosie has many wondering....what happened? She went to the vet, of course. Dr. Fred has changed so much in the past 30 years. For years he had a solo practice in a storefront. We have been with him from his start. He single handedly cured our collie (Josh) of heart worms, but the cure ultamately did the poor dog in at 12...Fred handled that too. That was twenty years ago. Today Dr. Fred has three vets and a bunch of assistants and a computer system. We get good care there, so don't get me wrong, but a young female is sent in to take a history and look at the pooch and it goes like this:
"What is wrong with your dog?"
"She has trouble holding her urine. She always used to be able to go for long periods and would never think of urinating in the house."
"Humm. I see you had her in six months ago for the same thing."
"Yep, got some anti-biotic for a bladder infection and she got 95% better."
"Well, she is 12 and dogs do wear out at that age."
"Yep, we are here to see if she is wearing out or has a bladder infection, again."
"I need to take her for a walk to collect a specimen."
"Is it OK for me to go with you...she pees on my command?"
Reluctantly...."Yea, we have to go out the back way."
Once outside, I say: "I will take to that grassy spot so get ready. This doesn't take long."
Catching up, but not hurrying, she says: "OK."
I say, "Are you ready?"
"Sure, sure....
I say the magic words: "Potty, Rose."
She says: "Oh my gosh, there she goes...." With that I see the saucer going this way and that under Rose's furry frame and she stands up out of her squat.
She says...slightly flustered: "That was quick...wow."
I said, "Do you need more? She has plenty from where that came from."

As it turned out, that was fine.

Diagnosis...low grade bladder infection with protein leaking from the kidneys. All other checks are that of an 8 year old. Kidney disease is probable, but not rapidly progressing at this point. Take a two week course of anti-biotic and see how that plays out.

So Rose is relegated to the garage...on a leash when the door is up and loose when it is down. We do not have windows in our garage, so I put a night light out there for her....she barked once or twice, but basically is doing ok with it. She just looks sad when I won't let her in.

The women vet who did the case after the assistant caught the pee was very nice. And I am sure they see all kinds. But Fred has been a vet for 30 years and taken care of our dogs and cats and whacked them when the time came. And for people 30 or under to explain the facts of pet life to us 60 somethings is a bit much. I am glad we are not on a first name basis with the staff...that would be way too expensive. Thirty years ago we paid for meds and five bucks for a half hour. Friday, we paid for each test in the urine and blood panel and get this...$5.50 for catching her urine. Next time they will get it in a salad dressing bottle with the label still on.