Bacca's skin funk is back! Really bad!

[BarbV]

As I have read from the beginning,and trying to piece together what has been done,and what has not,I have to ask the same question..why has'nt a skin scraping been done from the beginning.
I think after all the OTC meds,this & that,I would have had it done to begin with to rule out staph etc..

Sure hope they get it figured out,and it turns out not to be serious.

The timing of everything is very convaluted and complicated.

As many of you know Bacca was diagnosed with hypothyrodism at only about 15 months old. This diagnosis started from a freakish swelling in his mouth and glands one morning. Several rounds of bloodwork later, the diagnosis was made and he was put on Thryro-Tab meds.

In one of his regular rounds of bloodwork to test his medications, suddenly we started seeing signs of liver abnormality. He was put on milk thistle and I reduced his protein levels and while liver levels were still out of range, they were improving.

This fall, he was due for his next round of bloodwork. Thyroid tested well, but liver was starting to deteriorate again. Vet recommended we do an ultrasound. I held off, frankly because, in every other respect, he's been like a whole new dog. Full of energy, eating, even starting to play again. I didn't see a sick dog there. And Christmas was coming.....

After that, he suddenly started to develop this skin funk. Large coin sized patches of oily flakes, and hair loss on his rear and underbelly. Aha! I've read about this in The Canine Epidemic. Classic side-effect of hypothyroidism. Back to the vet we go in early January, and $200 later he now is on antibiotics for 3 weeks and special shampoo. It actually looked like it was starting to work. His coat is improving and the scabs seemed to be getting better.

Then finally, for the liver, we finally did the ultrasound this week. And that's when the potential bomb dropped. That the skin funk may not be because of being hypo, but may be far more serious......

Up to now, there was no real reason to connect the two diseases. A skin biopsy was not done because it was assumed by both the vet and I that it was due to his hypo and that a round of antibiotics would take care of ....as it would be an staph infection, btw.

But now a new potential diagnosis.....I know my vet will be pissed at the vet tech for leaving that voicemail until she had consulted further with her colleagues, but I'm actually glad he did, but it gives me a chance to read up on this so I can ask the right questions.....

Calling Dr. Mac and Dr. Shellie! Any advice?????

 

[Justicemom]

I am sorry that you have gotten this news with Bacca.

This falls into the reason we do not make diagnosis over the net. Skin, all skin, conditons in dogs look very similar even to the trained eye. The only thing I can suggest is talk to your vet about a full skin diagnostic workup- some of the things they may suggest will be an impression smear, skin scraping, culture, possible fungal cultures, biopsy and histopath if your vet feels it is warranted.

I am not sure of the results of the liver ultrasound but I have only seen this in a few cases of end stage liver failure. Most often the dog was also showing jaundice, ascities ,weight lose as well as the skin changes which were mostly pad changes and pressure type sores.

Unfortunately that is as much as I can speculate. Wait for your vet to talk with you and then expect they will want to work it up further.

 

[BarbV]

I am sorry that you have gotten this news with Bacca.

This falls into the reason we do not make diagnosis over the net. Skin, all skin, conditons in dogs look very similar even to the trained eye. The only thing I can suggest is talk to your vet about a full skin diagnostic workup- some of the things they may suggest will be an impression smear, skin scraping, culture, possible fungal cultures, biopsy and histopath if your vet feels it is warranted.

I am not sure of the results of the liver ultrasound but I have only seen this in a few cases of end stage liver failure. Most often the dog was also showing jaundice, ascities ,weight lose as well as the skin changes which were mostly pad changes and pressure type sores.

Unfortunately that is as much as I can speculate. Wait for your vet to talk with you and then expect they will want to work it up further.

Thanks Dr. Shelli

That was kind what I thought too based on what I able to determine from my own research. I'm not seeing those specific symptoms at all. If anything Bacca has gained a kilo this winter.

I expect that she's just covering her bases and will probably smack the vet tech for revealing that to me prematurely.

That being said, everything about Bacca has always been finding things early. I mean, that it's just not normal to keep finding things going on with a dog that isn't even 5 years old yet.

It's like we keep pulling back the onion skin and finding something else.....

 

[famous seamus]

Thanks Dr. Shelli

That was kind what I thought too based on what I able to determine from my own research. I'm not seeing those specific symptoms at all. If anything Bacca has gained a kilo this winter.

I expect that she's just covering her bases and will probably smack the vet tech for revealing that to me prematurely.

That being said, everything about Bacca has always been finding things early. I mean, that it's just not normal to keep finding things going on with a dog that isn't even 5 years old yet.

It's like we keep pulling back the onion skin and finding something else.....

Barb I know just how you feel. There is so much out there and it can get to hair pulling and the inevitable frustration.

With my experience it was a roller coaster ride with Seamus, up up and down down and you are right about the onion peeling to reveal something else.

Bacca is so young and age is on his side, that and his wonderfully loving and astute mother.

Hugs,
Kate

 

[BarbV]

Barb I know just how you feel. There is so much out there and it can get to hair pulling and the inevitable frustration.

With my experience it was a roller coaster ride with Seamus, up up and down down and you are right about the onion peeling to reveal something else.

Bacca is so young and age is on his side, that and his wonderfully loving and astute mother.

Hugs,
Kate

Well thanks....most of the time I feel like a terrible mother because I don't haul him to the vet everytime something comes up....because there is always something else coming up.

Most times, I just monitor him close, do some research and see if he rebounds. He usually does eventually - until lately/ That's the weird thing with him.

I almost did not spend the $500 for the ultrasound, simply because I don't know what more its going to tell me that I don't already know. Over the last 4.5 years, Bacca's bills have mounted to over $6000! I know, crazy.....and ongoing still....his meds will probably to continue to cost me $1,000 per year, never mind his ongoing testing.

I go crazy thinking about what would have happened if some other owner had him instead of me......

 

[take4roll10]

I hope his results are not what the vet tech suspects. How unprofessional of him\her to leave you a message like that when s/he is not 100% sure.

Have you heard from the vet yet? Thinking of you and Bacca!

 

[Lightplum]

I hope his results are not what the vet tech suspects. How unprofessional of him\her to leave you a message like that when s/he is not 100% sure.

Have you heard from the vet yet? Thinking of you and Bacca!

I agree especially since the diagnosis they left you is only confirmed by skin biopsy...I wonder if you were to back off with this vet and talk to your breeder and let her bounce ideas off of either other breeders or even her own vet. I think you will make better progress that way...especially if its a breeder vet. I hate to say it but ive seen more pet owners get the run around from too many vets..I know there are great ones out there and even on this forum...but sometimes some vets see frustrated pet owners and just throw out any diagnosis to pop them a pill and make them shut up.

 

[Tagg]

I am hoping and praying that Bacca is not affected with this. Sending healing thoughts to you both.

 

[mcemily]

Oh gosh, Barb... I am keeping you and Bacca in my thoughts! I've got my fingers crossed that it isn't that hepa-whatsits syndrome.

 

[BarbV]

I agree especially since the diagnosis they left you is only confirmed by skin biopsy...I wonder if you were to back off with this vet and talk to your breeder and let her bounce ideas off of either other breeders or even her own vet. I think you will make better progress that way...especially if its a breeder vet. I hate to say it but ive seen more pet owners get the run around from too many vets..I know there are great ones out there and even on this forum...but sometimes some vets see frustrated pet owners and just throw out any diagnosis to pop them a pill and make them shut up.

Unfortunately, the breeder is no help. Bacca is from a very established lines, and she is not aware of any similar issues with any of his litter, previous or current litters. Bacca seems to be a total anomoly.

Still have not heard from the vet yet, which tells me that she is stymied too, and not making any rash diagnosis (the vet tech just had a big mouth, I think).

I agree with you totally....I'm sick of tests and more pills and more tests and more pills....

Going back to Staph....he's on this last 9 days of Claveseptin (amoxicillinum). Would that normally resolve a Staph infection?

Poor Bacca has lost almost all of his undercoat on his back, sides and belly. His belly is also shaved because of the ultrasound, but his ruff, chest and butt are still fully coated with no sign of infection yet.

Sigh, I'm at my wits end. And this after another $1,000 of testing....