Glad he doesn't need an operation QS, but the steroids and pain pills is serious treatment too. When you said auto immune, it reminded me of my dog, who around a year ago was diagnosed with IMHA
http://www.pethealthnetwork.com/dog...-z/immune-mediated-hemolytic-anemia-dogs-imha, a disease in which the red blood cells are attacked by the dog's own system. He's been on various doses of Prednisone, Azathioprine, Tramadol, etc.
Of course on the Prednisone, the increased thirst and urination was a hassle for us, we'd keep the oven light on in the kitchen, which lighted up the living room and hallway, to see if he needed to be let out in the yard at night, he doesn't make a fuss, very subtle clues for us with him. I still get up at night for him several times, good thing I'm retired.
In fact this is the first week in the past year that he's been weaned off of the Prednisone and Tramadol, and back on his Rimadyl for his arthritis, we'll see how he does, those weekly blood tests he was going through for awhile were too much.
Having Rheumatoid Arthritis must be very painful for your Pete, too bad you had to go through all that testing for a diagnosis. Hugs to your boy, hope the meds help him with his pain.
