Guest RANDCMOORE31 Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 We adopted a little dog in June last year that we believe might be a Silky x Maltese. Her age has been guesstimated to be 5 and she was desexed prior to coming to us. When she arrived she had quite soft downy hair on her head but the hair on her back is long, white and quite coarse. The backs of her ears and the bottom of her legs from the knee down were bald. Her hair continued to fall out and hair loss seemed to cycle round her body - she had quite a bald patch on the top of her head, very little hair on her undercarriage, chest and sides and bald patches along the back. It seems she has no undercoat. Additionally, she drinks quite a bit and often has a little cough after a drink, finds it difficult to settle - wandering around as if she doesn't quite know what to do, is quite a stressy little dog and often trembles and pants and is right under our feet - particularly after a long walk or a run on the beach - again not being able to settle at all when she gets overtired? She also really feels the cold - and sometimes has very cold feet. Initially our Vet tested thyroid, hormones etc and didn't find anything amiss. Skin scrapings also highlighted nothing. They trialled her on a course of prednisone in case it was an unusual presentation of Cushings. It didn't help. We've tried a diet of Hills Ultra ZD to eliminate food allergies - also had no effect. We've bathed twice a week in malaseb and then another shampoo the specialist prescribed for the last year - with no change. We took her to a Specialist Dermatologist in September last year. He thought it might be telogen defluxion - caused by the stress of everything she'd been through - and that her hair would grow back spontaneously. The hair loss did stop for a period of about 3 weeks in December and hair had grown back - but resumed hair loss and hasn't stopped since. She doesn't really seem itchy and her skin is fine - no redness, irritation, sores, thickening or anything else you might expect from a skin problem or allergies. We had the blood tests done again and her T4 thyroid level was low but a diagnosis of hypo-thyroidism was not supported by the TSH blood test. He decided to try her on Thyroxine anyway to see whether it makes a difference - but it hasn't. Next step apparently is a skin biopsy - but he doesn't seem convinced that this will provide any meaningful information - and that in the couple of skin conditions it might highlight - the treatment is worse than the symptoms. He seems at a bit of a loss really. I'm not a vet - but I can't help thinking its hormonal. It seems like she produces too much cortisol or adrenaline or something and that this affects her. I apologise for the long post - but wondered whether anyone might have had something similar - or seen something similar in silky's? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Arcane Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 I was wondering if the unsettled trembling could be White Shaker Syndrome? I don't think hair loss is a symptom but maybe just being stressy is causing idiopathic hair loss? can you post a picture? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RANDCMOORE31 Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 I was wondering if the unsettled trembling could be White Shaker Syndrome? I don't think hair loss is a symptom but maybe just being stressy is causing idiopathic hair loss? can you post a picture? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RANDCMOORE31 Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 I've had a maltese previously with White Shaker Syndrome and her trembling is quite different to that - that was more an involuntary muscle spasm type thing - whereas this trembling is more like being extremely cold (but accompanied by panting). I don't have a recent photo here - but will try and post one later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuralPug Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 (edited) Trembling accompanied by panting could be a stress reaction? Not sure how that could affect her coat but if she is suffering from too much serotonin this could produce trembles. I would probably try Rescue Remedy as a gentle way to treat that. What can't hurt is an immune system booster (google commercial booster products avaialble or I'm sure DOLers will be happy to tell you what has worked for them). Your gut feeling that it is some sort of internal imbalance is probably correct and if you assist her immune system to work at peak her body may be able to rebalance itself and all the symptoms may disappear. If that happens, you may never ever know exactly what the inbalance was but you will have a happy healthy dog which, if you are not a breeder, is all that is important. Boosting the immune system is one of the reasons that dogs can have spectactular health improvements after changing to a BARF or raw diet. ETA: forgot to mention that since she has been back and forth to vets and specialists I assume that diabetes has been tested for and ruled out? It can cause a number of her symptoms. Edited May 4, 2012 by RuralPug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RANDCMOORE31 Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Trembling accompanied by panting could be a stress reaction? Not sure how that could affect her coat but if she is suffering from too much serotonin this could produce trembles. I would probably try Rescue Remedy as a gentle way to treat that. What can't hurt is an immune system booster (google commercial booster products avaialble or I'm sure DOLers will be happy to tell you what has worked for them). Your gut feeling that it is some sort of internal imbalance is probably correct and if you assist her immune system to work at peak her body may be able to rebalance itself and all the symptoms may disappear. If that happens, you may never ever know exactly what the inbalance was but you will have a happy healthy dog which, if you are not a breeder, is all that is important. Boosting the immune system is one of the reasons that dogs can have spectactular health improvements after changing to a BARF or raw diet. ETA: forgot to mention that since she has been back and forth to vets and specialists I assume that diabetes has been tested for and ruled out? It can cause a number of her symptoms. Last urine test did show some ketones - but the specialist didn't think these were relevant - as she's not really displaying any symptoms of diabetes. However, when next she goes - we will take another urine sample for checking to confirm this. I've tried Rescue Remedy (it doesn't have much effect on her) and I use a thunder shirt to try and assist her to calm. I had her on Vets All Natural Health Booster and Flax Seed Oil - but the Specialist told me to "Stop the Quackery" so I stopped giving both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 maybe give the specialist a coronary, and phone THESE FOLKS, and see if they can help you . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RANDCMOORE31 Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 maybe give the specialist a coronary, and phone THESE FOLKS, and see if they can help you . Thanks - I will give them a go - as the Specialist costs a lot - and I just don't feel as though he really knows what to do with her - and I don't know where else to go. I tried looking up endocrinologists - as maybe that's who she needs to see rather than a dermatologist - but I can't find any listed for SA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Arcane Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 maybe it's some sort of combination of metabolic & neurological issues. Some form of vaccinosis? I wonder Would the new vet school out at Roseworthy know of an endocrinologist or perhaps be interested in looking at her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RANDCMOORE31 Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 maybe it's some sort of combination of metabolic & neurological issues. Some form of vaccinosis? I wonder Would the new vet school out at Roseworthy know of an endocrinologist or perhaps be interested in looking at her. I'll look them up as well and see whether I can get anywhere. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xyz Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 (edited) Has Cushings disease (hyperadrenocorticism) been ruled out formally with blood tests (ACTH tests)?. Edited May 4, 2012 by Xyz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shepherds Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 maybe give the specialist a coronary, and phone THESE FOLKS, and see if they can help you . Can thoroughly recommend those folks.....a lot of the time "quackery " provides far better outcomes.....the specialists just don't want to admit it, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RANDCMOORE31 Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 maybe give the specialist a coronary, and phone THESE FOLKS, and see if they can help you . Can thoroughly recommend those folks.....a lot of the time "quackery " provides far better outcomes.....the specialists just don't want to admit it, Thanks all - I will give the natural route a try - I think - as we just aren't getting anywhere - and the hair loss is actually getting worse. Even with a jumper and a blanket - she is still shivering - and we haven't even got to winter yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 shivering is not always to do with cold AFAIK , it is also a sign of stress/anxiety/fear, and can be present when there is pain . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RANDCMOORE31 Posted May 6, 2012 Share Posted May 6, 2012 She does both - shivering and trembling (which is usually accompanied by panting and being right under your feet - and not knowing what to do with herself). I really wish we could find the problem and help the poor little soul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polgara's Shadow Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 I haven't got much to add for a possible diagnisis. However I really admire your perserverence in exhausting all avenues to find the cause of your adopted dog's problems. Your new doggie has certainly landed on its paws finding a home with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RANDCMOORE31 Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 I haven't got much to add for a possible diagnisis. However I really admire your perserverence in exhausting all avenues to find the cause of your adopted dog's problems. Your new doggie has certainly landed on its paws finding a home with you. Thank you - we just want her to have the best life she can and to be happy and healthy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 I haven't got much to add for a possible diagnisis. However I really admire your perserverence in exhausting all avenues to find the cause of your adopted dog's problems. Your new doggie has certainly landed on its paws finding a home with you. Thank you - we just want her to have the best life she can and to be happy and healthy. I echo Polgara's admiration. Good on you :D . I hope you manage to find an absolute answer and solution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alibi Posted May 7, 2012 Share Posted May 7, 2012 (edited) I had a silky who would lose all her hair from both her ears, both her back legs from the knees down and on the bridge of her nose, the hair on the ears and nose would grow back but fall out again (it was all even off both sides). After lots of tests came up with no results the vets put it down to hormones (she was desexed though). Other than that she did drink abit of water but everything was tested and she was determined to be healthy. Good luck getting results, i know how frustrating it can be. Edited May 7, 2012 by Alibi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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