[Dailydrool] Mark and the vet

[Marie Campbell]

Leigh Ann,
    Is it possible that Mark is having an allergic reaction to something?  Does your vet have a partner?  If so, ask your vet to get his/her partner in the examination room to review Mark's chart.  If he does not have a partner, I would ask my dog friends if any of them have an really astute vet.  I would then make an appointment with him/her and take all Mark's Xrays, charts, and meds to this vet for a second opinion.  I know some on the list will balk at this suggestion but a confident, intelligent physician will not be threatened by a second opinion.  If you were closer to me, I am in central Florida--about 30 miles north of Tampa in Wesley Chapel--I could recommend 3 excellent diagnosticians in this area.  I would even consider taking him to the University of Florida College of Veterinary medicine.  They have every specialist imaginable there and they will bring them all in to look at your dog and their prices are very reasonable.  I
 have taken my Newfs there for years. At one time,  I paid $1,700- to a local referral hospital for a consult and testing for tachycardia and laryngeal paralysis on my 11 year old Newf boy.  I went to U of F vet college got the same tests, plus a 24 hour cardiac monitor and meds for only $360-.   This included a consult from both a cardiologist and a soft tissue surgeon.
    Bottom line get a second opinion.  You could be dealing with anything from an allergic reaction to something to lymphoma--sudden fevers and jaw swelling are concerning.  Run do not walk to a second opinion.  The problem with prednisone is it can mask what is going on with your boy or even exacerbate it.
Marie Campbell

Man Plans ~ God Laughs