Billy continues to do pretty well. The long term pred/steroid use are beginning to be a problem in the cartilage/joints. But, of course, we can't do much for 'pain' because all those meds are way too hard on the liver/kidneys (even the 'regular' vets say that!). So he's getting White Flower Oil massaged into his back and neck twice a day.
True to Billy form, he will come up to me and sit by me at my desk and LOOK at the White Flower to 'ask' for it if I forget!! And ... just like me ... it often sends him into dreamland after he gets it!!! Relaxing stuff!
We had a vet appt. with our 'regular' vet this morning. His PCV (pack cell volume) was only at about 37 this morning -- which is lower than it's been, but we're going to keep a close eye on it. That naturally does go up and down, but I don't like it that 'low' at this point.
But Dr. B drew enough blood for a whole complete blood panel so we can check the liver/kidneys, and get the iron/calcium values. But also I had him get enough to send for a check on the cyclosporin. I got the smaller amount pills so I can take him down to 75 like Dr. G. wants. But given that it's been 2 weeks since we had him seen at Gainesville, I thot we'd better check it to know what it was when we brought the level down again. (me being over-cautious again).
Then this papulloma he's had on his mouth had gotten HUGE. And it's starting to drain and have a discharge. At this point Dr. B really felt it needed to COME OFF. He was concerned that this would become a serious infection risk, so he just burned it off. But it did have one significant blood vessel going to it so it was 'feeding' and that's why it was getting so big. I knew it was bothering Billy and he did NOT want it touched so I wasn't able to keep it clean despite the draining.
I hope this doesn't trigger the IMHA again, but we all felt it needed to come off after weighing all the risks.
Dr. B was generally really pleased with how Billy's doing. He looks really good (new pic I took this morning that I'm gonna attach), and he's bright and the tail vibrates at about a zillion miles an hour. Generally he's doing incredibly well -- but the IMHA spectre just doesn't go away, and the high risk doesn't diminish much.
But hallelujah - he's doing well so far. He's happy, and we're trying to keep a serious eye on the side effects of all the meds and mitigate (limit) the damage as much as possible from the steroids. But I thot I'd let everyone who cares to read know -- Billy thinks you guys are all SUPER BUDS!!!
