I have a big heart!

So, I had to stay at the vets yesterday... I really hate it when mom leaves, but everyone was super nice and kept calling me Super Star Corbee!  --even though they had to drug me up because I went a little cracker crazy when the momma left, BOL!  Anyway, Dr. Gordon wanted me to go back so I could see Dr. Clemente -he's a great vet in our area and the only one who performs stem cell surgeries.  But he's also a good heart doctor guy.  So, he used some wand thing and we were able to see my insides on a screen.  The wand thing showed that I have a big heart.  I told Dr. Clemente this was old news, but he said this type of big heart meant something other than being a lovey Corbin.  He said it means my heart is having a difficult time pumping blood through it.  He also said I was pretty young to have this type of issue... ya know, I haven't even turned 3 yet!!! 

Corbin: 2 years, 10 months, 29 days

So, Dr. Mike stopped in to visit me on his day off and to chat with Dr. Gordon and Dr. Clemente about me.  They put me on two new medications -one that the momma let a growl out about because it's $170 a month.  But, anything for the Corbin.  Now, the big question is... what the heck happened to the Corbin's?  4 months ago, I was a happy, healthy, crackery, hyper, spaztic Corbin... now I'm a big hearted, bumpie havin', ouchie feelin' skinny Corbin.  Dr. Mike thinks that this heart issue might be caused by the prednisone I've been on to help control my ouchies.  He said it's not a normal side effect, as the prednisone doesn't typically effect the heart, but it can cause me to produce extra sodium, which would put more pressure on my heart to pump my blood.  So, he reduced my prednsone intake in hopes that will help.  The momma's gotta go out and buy me a bigger pill case!  But, he knows I'm a very strong, healthy Corbin normally... so he doesn't think this will be a life long heart issue, he thinks it's just another symptom of whatever it is that's wrong with me... enhanced by the prednisone.

I'm a big hearted lover, no doubt.

Anyway... so this morning I did find myself more alert.  I kept watch out the window for a bit, but then I got tired and took a nap.  The momma says my gums are looking better and Dr. Gordon gave her the "ok" to give me more food.  BUT the momma only increased my food by 1/4 of a cup -she always aires on the side of caution -slow and steady wins the race, or something like that.  But I'm also getting two scoops of canned food and when the momma leaves for work in the morning she gives me a bone or Kong that she's stuffed with canned food and treats and stuck in the freezer.  I'd rather have it Dad's way... where he just wants to give me the WHOLE can of food and like 87 cups of dry food.  Yep, that sounds like the way to go to me!!!  Oh well.

I may have gotten scrawny, but I can still protect my home!

I do go back to see Dr. Mike tonight.  He talked with the momma yesterday about stealing a piece of my bumpie... it would be a pretty simple procedure and a pretty easy recovery and it might give us an answer.  Dr. Mike is a bit concerned because my bumpie hasn't gone away - although it also hasn't gotten bigger.  But after 2 weeks, I still have some discomfort when he gets in there and pushes on it.  He says it feels like scar tissue, but we can't figure out what would cause me to have scar tissue there... Anyway, I'll let ya know what he says tonight and what we decide to do. 

He's going to do what to my bumpie?!

I'd like to thank everyone again for the support.  It surely means a lot to me, and I know it helps the momma.  She's been super worried.  I did over hear her talking with Dr. Mike about taking me to Cornell University.  They're still holding off on that - mainly because I don't show any signs of pain when I'm at the vet -even with my big heart, as soon as I got to the vets my pasty white gums turned bright pink!  The only physical sign I've really shown at the vets is my weight loss and I flinch in pain when they play with my bumpie.  Otherwise, the momma is glad my vets trust her!  So, instead of going to Cornell -a teaching hospital where about 30 students would be poking and proding and feeling me up... we might go to another specialist a bit down state.  But we're going to explore my bumpie first, I think.  We should have a plan tonight!

Typing this was a lot of work... Time for a snooze.

Thanks again, everybody.  I love you all and hope to get better so everyone can stop worrying about me! :-)