<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><HTML><FONT COLOR="#800000" SIZE=5 PTSIZE=18 FACE="Basque" LANG="0"><B>well, the long awaited results of Buddy's lab work are in, and they aren't good...this test is 78% accurate and concludes that there is a bladder tumor...now the big question is where to go from here...we can do an ultrasound which costs several hundred dollars and is 99% conclusive, but does that really buy us anything...Buddy is on previcox, and that would have to be stopped until it cleared his system and then piroxocan would be started...i don't understand how that helps--it is on my list of questions for Dr.Luke tomorrow--as that is listed as an NSAID also, which indicates pain relief, but nothing to shrink the tumor, yet it was explained to me as doing just that (i think)...Buddy is about 13 years old and i'm wondering if doing nothing is also a choice...Dr.Luke said that would give him 6-10 months, whereas the results with treating were very good...another question on my list are the side effects of piroxican...also there are stomach problems to be expected while the previcox is being withdrawn...another option is to take him to the very well respected animal clinic at the University of Pennsylvania for another opinion...i am in such a quandry and haven't slept much since given this information on friday...at the moment, he seems fine and like himself, with the arthristis problems to deal with...can't imagine what he will be like without the previcox while it is being withdrawn; i know he will be going down in the back end despite an increase in the tramadol at that time...so my drool family, please let me know what you think...like so many others on this list, i count on you all...Rene'e<BR>
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