I understand your concerns, I get it really I do. There is nothing that a specialist can tell me that my vet can not. She received her education form The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008. The very place that is my only option to see a specialist. So, until we have run out of all options for her care I'm going to keep calm and keep her as comfortable as I can. Yes, even if that means another round of antibiotics and more steroids.
Maybe what you don't understand is if she has this disease Systemic Lupus Erythmatosus SLE and more than likely she does. This is a
life long disease,
there is no cure, she will have to live with this for the rest of her life. There are no other options other than to keep it under control with medications and the steroids and hope that is does not cause damage to her internal organs and it probably will. I am doing my best not to freak out so the I can deal with my baby the best I can. I'm no good to her if I fall apart and until we run out of options there is no need to go anywhere else. I am very confident that we will have a diagnoses soon. We would have but I felt it would be to much for her at the time. That's on me, I opted out of the more intense blood work and the biopsy and that was not a smart move on my part. I regret it and believe me I'm beating myself up for that choice so please just don't tell me I told you so. The infection was bound to return it was just a matter of when.
Here is a veterinarian article that better explains the disease and treatment;
01 Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) - VeterinaryPartner.com - a VIN company!
Most of this I don't even understand:
PROVET HEALTHCARE INFORMATION - Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)