sandgrubber Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 I am posting this for a woman who has her dog in my kennel at the moment. She's come in from the country to see the dermatologist at the local Vet School (Uni). To date she as spent around $11,000 on vet bills, and her poor dog looks really awful. She's afraid he won't make it, and is also afraid she's going to end out in a situation where she has to drive into the city regularly for treatment, which will be very difficult for her. He's a curiously long haired dog born in a litter of blue heelers. Lovely temperament. About two years old. Lives in Karlgoolie and the heat and humidity don't seem to help. Symptoms: Massive loss of hair and skin in patches, particularly on face and around bum and genitals. Around 10% of body surface now hairless Ugly, scaly skin remaining -- this cracks and bleeds Loss of apetite and weight loss. Vomiting what owner describes as green bile at times hot, and at times drinking huge amounts of water uncontrollable licking continual movement when asleep distinct smell flicking of ears -- not contagious. He's been around other dogs and none have been affected. Treatment to date includes * elimination of dermadex mites (which he had from birth) -- scrapings showing he is no longer affected * antibiotics * Lupus tests (came out negative) * put on Hills perscription low residue dog food Hopefully the Uni vets will come up with a clear course of treatment . . . but the poor woman has tried all sorts of things with little success. Does anyone have any idea what this might be and how to help the dog get better? p.s. I'll try to get a good photo later. He's at the vet today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badboyz Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 Have they tested for thyroid problems? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loraine Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 Has he had an ACTH test for Cushing's disease? Or has he been on meds that would give him atypical Cushing's (ask the vet) - like steroids for too long! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miranda Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 Has he been tested for cutaneous lymphoma (mycosis fungoides) or pemphigus, both conditions are rare, but there have been cases in Australia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthony mazzeri Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 Hopefully the vet dermatologist can diagnose it as being something as simple as a food allergy so it can be fixed easily, rather than it turning out to be some rare disease. I assume his new Hill's food is Science Diet Sensitive Skin but his problem still persists? If the dog's previous food contained chicken, corn, egg or soybean, and he might possibly be allergic to one of these, then the Hill's food won't help as it contains them too. The suggestion would be to switch to a completely different food with ingredients like lamb & rice and see what happens. It doesn't have to be a special diet, just completely different ingredients to what he's been eating so far - just something he's never eaten before. Here's a good link - peteducation.com - food allergies It would be great if it really was something as simple to fix as just changing food. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbesotted Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 thyroid.thyroid thyroid :::: insist on a full thyroid panel analysed by Dr Jean Dodds in the USA. http://www.itsfortheanimals.com/HEMOPET.HTM I think at this stage i would be consulting with a reputable holistic vet as well. H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 Knowing murdoch it will be allergic to everything & they will say feed it roo & potatoe & then say $1000. Hills would be the last food to give to a skin issue dog. Fox mange can cause issues like that. Living in Kalgoorlie & given the many weird places you can go walking i would be wondering where she walks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bommy Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 would go for cleansing teh system from the inside out holistic vet - must try also coconut oil & low carbs to starve any foreign organisms in the gut that may be adding to the issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scales of Justice Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 (edited) If a young dog which has suffered demodex mites is not able to get on top of the demodex mites within a reasonable amount of time, the condition which you describe ensues, due to the immune system being compromised and the dog will rarely recover fully from demodex once this happens. What you are describing with the bloody scabs and hair loss and even the other symptoms etc. fits the scenario. The demodex mites burrow deep into the tissues and once the scabs and thick roughened areas are present this means that the demodex mites have gone into the lower layers and may not show up on upper skin scrapings. The dog's immune system is probably already permanently compromised. I doubt that this dog will recover if it is this condition. Dogs which become compromised with demodex sometimes need to be put to sleep when they get really bad. The condition is much about the immune system as it is about mites. Get a second opinion. Edited July 31, 2007 by Scales of Justice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Rules Posted July 31, 2007 Share Posted July 31, 2007 thyroid.thyroid thyroid :::: insist on a full thyroid panel analysed by Dr Jean Dodds in the USA.http://www.itsfortheanimals.com/HEMOPET.HTM I think at this stage i would be consulting with a reputable holistic vet as well. H Fully agree and also with it likely being an immunity issue. Thyroid test and holistic treatment both a must. This website is Perth based and the people are extremely friendly and knowledgable. www.holisticanimalmedicines.com.au Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandgrubber Posted August 1, 2007 Author Share Posted August 1, 2007 This website is Perth based and the people are extremely friendly and knowledgable.www.holisticanimalmedicines.com.au Please check the URL. My server says "site not found" so I suspect there's an error somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laffi Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 This website is Perth based and the people are extremely friendly and knowledgable.www.holisticanimalmedicines.com.au Please check the URL. My server says "site not found" so I suspect there's an error somewhere. I think it's probably http://www.holisticanimalmedicines.com/ (Although it's an American website it has good info and once you know what you are after you can find it in Australia) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Rules Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 This website is Perth based and the people are extremely friendly and knowledgable.www.holisticanimalmedicines.com.au Please check the URL. My server says "site not found" so I suspect there's an error somewhere. I think it's probably http://www.holisticanimalmedicines.com/ (Although it's an American website it has good info and once you know what you are after you can find it in Australia) Sorry - yes it is www.holisticanimalmedicines.com (no au on the end!) No, it's not an american site - it is a Perth based company - their office is in Osborne Park - they also have an office in Melbourne. I have been into the office here and the people are extremely friendly and helpful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laffi Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 Sorry - yes it is www.holisticanimalmedicines.com (no au on the end!)No, it's not an american site - it is a Perth based company - their office is in Osborne Park - they also have an office in Melbourne. I have been into the office here and the people are extremely friendly and helpful. For some reason I always thought it's not Australian! Great to know! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lablover Posted August 1, 2007 Share Posted August 1, 2007 Sounds to me, like atopic dermatitis. Wonder if the canine skin specialist will suggest Cylocysporin?. This drug was the only one that helped our case. Very expensive, but worth it. Poor chronically itchy dogs. I would not wish severe atopic dermatitis on my worst enemy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandgrubber Posted August 3, 2007 Author Share Posted August 3, 2007 Thanks for varied advice and opinions. The bill at Murdoch came to over two grand. Still waiting biopsy results. I live next door to a dog shelter and had a yarn with the woman who runs the shelter. She suggested a vet for a second opinion. The second vet apparently didn't bat an eye . . . just said dermodex mites and prescribed ivermectin (sp?), plus some ointment (which appears to be marketed as a treatment for chafed cow udders). The consensus is that the dog will have to be on meds for life, and that the cure may be slow, but the condition can be kept in check so the dog gets its hair back and can go on to a relatively itch and pain free life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormie Posted August 4, 2007 Share Posted August 4, 2007 My vet had a dog like this. He did scrape after scrape looking for demodex mites but was always negative. He then did a biopsy, and low and behold, they found demodex.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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