I saw this thread just as I finished responding to your other. I would ABSOLUTELY make a tummy tube the VERY last option. It is expesive, risky and drastic surgery. We were forced into putting a tummy tube into our cat Tiger because he had developed Hepatic Lipodosis. He died that evening from a heart attack. He was only 8 years old. Of course we then discovered that he had both Hepatic Lipodosis and Pancreatitis. We were pretty much (pardon my french) screwed at that point.

I understand that you like your vet and trust him but a second opinion never hurts at all.

Denyce