The Cause and the Effect

Carla brought her dog, Pepper, to the Greenfield Animal Clinic. Pepper was scratching all the time, and there were red marks on his skin.

The vet looked at Pepper carefully. “Your dog has a skin disease,” she said. “It's common in summer.”

“What's the cause?” Carla asked. She gave the vet all her attention.

“Often it's the grass, or tiny insects, or food,” the vet said. “We can't always know the exact cause. But we can treat the effect.”

She showed Carla a small bottle. “Use this cream every day. Because the skin is dry, the cream will help it feel better.”

“Will it work fast?” Carla asked.

“It depends on Pepper,” the vet said. “Some dogs get better in a week. Others need a month. But if you use the cream every day, the marks will go away.”

Carla watched Pepper scratch one more time. “Did you hear that, Pepper? No more scratching soon.”

The vet smiled. “He understands the effect. The cause is harder to explain to a dog.”