Once More Unto the Breach

Raleigh’s latest appointment at the veterinary hospital yesterday had good results. His stomatitis is diminishing, as I thought it might be, based on Peachy’s behaviour with his food. (He ‘fights’ with it much less now while chewing, and is less picky about the menu.) Even a cursory examination of the boy’s mouth showed much less red.

This prompted the doctor to halve Raleigh’s steroid dose; he will now take the same amount of medicine but once a day, instead of twice. This will continue for a week, when he will be re-assessed. The veterinary will be on holiday then, but I can still contact him about the patient, and send him photographs of Raleigh’s mouth (assuming I can take them) via the telephone.

The pleasing outcome of the visit was followed by Raleigh’s eager return to the safety of home, where he showed me that he continues to gain confidence. He didn’t hide at all, and was ready for dinner, of which he ate a large amount.

Peachy may still need to be on prednisolone (the steroid he is taking) for some time, but the doctor suggested a possibility of a portion of a tablet every few days, or some similar dose. I don’t want to get ahead of myself, however, so I will be happy with yesterday’s results, and with the fact that Raleigh is clearly suffering less discomfort. I think this will be a good Christmas for him.