I took Beni to Cornell today for another recheck with the Opthalmology Dept. This was a 7 week visit and the longest span between visits that I have scheduled. With that... everything was looking good with the eye. He tested very well with the tear test this time and there was also no signs of any corneal abrasions. The pressure tested at 11... up slightly but still a very good reading. The doctors were very pleased with the progress and noted that the lens was the clearest yet and they were able to get a better look at the pupil or at least the best they can given that the cataract is in the line of sight. It seems for now that there hasn't been any ill effects from my okaying the change in meds in regards to the Xalatan back in September.
However.... with all of the good news regarding Beni's eye... there has also been a new development. He has a sort of tumor or growth on his lower right thorax region just behind his right leg. It's a lump or bump that I discovered while brushing him a couple of months ago. Given that with three dogs you always find some kind of lump or bump and they come and go I made a mental note to just monitor it. Over time I noticed it didn't go away and seemed to be getting larger. I took Beni to my vet who aspirated the growth and sent 4 slides out for testing. She couldn't hazard a guess at what she saw though she did say that she didn't see any mast cells present.
I got the report back about 3 weeks ago and Cytology made the determination that it was something called a plasmacytoma. While technically a tumor... they are mainly benign... and mostly not harmful but nonetheless the recommendation is to have them removed. This one happens to be vascular in nature. I waited until today's visit so I could get some insight from the Optho doctors regarding the possibility of Beni having to undergo anesthesia and the effects that could have on his occular pressure. After the resident did his examination he summoned the doctor who was also accompanied by an anestheisiologist. The doctor said that while the anesthesia could affect the pressure it is mostly a drop in pressure that occurs. I mentioned about the danger of Beni's restricted airway and the anestheisiologist said they have a technique where the anesthesia is given intravenous resulting in a heavy sedation. She said that Beni would be monitored constantly throughout the procedure with the anesthisia team and should a problem arise they could always intubate using a smaller tube. The doctor said he would be more concerned with Beni's eye drying out during the procedure given the fragile nature of that situation. He would recommend to double or triple the ointment used. I told him that I would want Optho in on all aspects of the procedure up to and including any drugs or meds that Soft Tissue Surgery would be administering so not to counteract any of his eye meds. So right now I need to set the schedule for the procedure to be done and alter my work week. When the student came back with Beni's paperwork she said she had just recently come off of her rotation with Soft Tissue Surgery and from what she saw it should be a relatively uncomplicated procedure... my thought was only if Beni's luck were to change.
Right now my head is spinning with this latest development. I'll keep everyone posted as things progress.
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If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went.
