As you know, we took Jake to an oncologist/internist in Tulsa yesterday.
She did a chest x-ray and ultra-sound. Her conclusions were these
regarding his aggressiveness (and more or less, his lethargy): 1) from the
ultra-sound it looked to her
like when his platelets were real low, blood may have leaked into his
bladder causing pain--he *had* a urinalysis a couple weeks ago,and my vet
found nothing. The internist said she'd talk to my vet about possibly
repeating the test--until then I could use Hills C/D diet even though if
they found some different crystals in the urine, it might mean a different
diet. The C/D wouldn't hurt, but it may not help; (2) behavior problems
stemming from being pilled twice each day, and going to the vet monthly
for immunoregulin shots--he may just have *had* it; (3) a brain tumor
which could be detected by a catscan which could be done by a neurologist
in Missouri. If it's a brain tumor, it could probably be removed
surgically. This option I've completely ruled out. I won't subject Jake
to the stress of even going to a neurologist, much less having surgery.
If he were otherwise healthy, I would probably do it, but with his low
platelets . . . the way it is, we'll be lucky to have him around many more
months. She did say if the aggression continues, we could try feliway or
something else.
With all this, I decided to switch to C/D and start feeding Jake Iam's wet
food and mix in home-made protein (chicken, egg, yolks, liver, etc). I
also decided to cut back to once a day medicine and only the necessary
stuff with *one* another item (right now it's vit.c. and thymus in one
capsule). I won't bring him in to have monthly immunoregulin shots unless
his mood improves. I'll try subq at home *if* it doesn't stress him to
give him a shot (I have my doubts).
I'm subtly trying to work healthy things that he will eat and drink into
his diet, i.e. putting aloe vera juice into the water, mixing his
interferon with liver, which he loves (making sure it's only 10% of his
diet).
He'll have to stay on the prednisone, which I hate--but he'll bleed to
death if he doesn't. I've read where giving it every other day does less
to suppress his immunity. I'm going to check with the vet and see if we
could give a double dose every other day. Perhaps a miracle will happen,
and eventually we can lower the dosage.
Sorry to make this so long. Any suggestions/input would be really
appreciated. Nancy