Dog_Horse_Girl Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 (edited) Ruby can't take a trick. She had mange as a young dog and it took a move down south before it was "cured". She's also had an infection in her hock joint, TWICE. And she suffers from skin allergies - very bad reactions that see her constantly scratching. Anyway, she's been on pred for the skin allergies and instead of getting better, the itching has gotten worse. Plus she started losing fur on her head...so off to the vet again yesterday. It's mange again. Also she's started limping and we thought the pred had arced up her hock but have just realised today, it's the OTHER leg. So, weekly injections for the mange, and I guess we go back for a diagnosis for the hock, more antibiotics for the infection...plus painkillers to help her feel more comfortable. This poor dog has had no luck from the time she was whelped. Except in us adopting her, of course! Please let this be all for Ruby...she could use a bit of good luck. Edited April 18, 2009 by lillysmum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBL Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 Oh poor Ruby Lilly had a run of bad-luck too but nothing like Ruby. She sends Ruby big Lilly-licks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danois Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 (edited) How have they diagnosed the infection in the hock? Generally Pred can cause hair loss issues - obviously not here though as you have the mange diagnosis. Poor Angs had very bald thighs went he was on it. Edited March 29, 2009 by Danois Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daisy Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 oh poor Ruby sending her BIG hugs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puggy_puggy Posted March 29, 2009 Share Posted March 29, 2009 Is the Pred prednisalone? I know that steroids can slow down and even stop healing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dog_Horse_Girl Posted March 30, 2009 Author Share Posted March 30, 2009 Is the Pred prednisalone? I know that steroids can slow down and even stop healing. Yes, pred it is... No firm diagnosis just an educated guess based on two previous episodes with very similar symptoms. She's lame (completely lame) in the leg. She'll be going back on Saturday for her second ivermec injection so I'll be asking for a joint tap or X-ray at the same time. She has to be the least lucky dog (health-wise) that I've ever known. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staffyluv Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Poor baby, I hope she feels better soon LM... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mika Posted March 30, 2009 Share Posted March 30, 2009 Sorry to hear your dog is unwell .We have had some experience with mange and it can be very hard to eliminate.How long since she had it last?Is it possible it was never completey gone and the mites have increased again to a level that you have noticed the baldness?We ended up seeing a specialist who said it can need intense treatment over a long time to get on top of it.Was she retested at the end of her treatment to ensure they were all gone?and this can also be repeated again a few weeks later just to make sure.I hope things get better for you soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dog_Horse_Girl Posted April 1, 2009 Author Share Posted April 1, 2009 Sorry to hear your dog is unwell .We have had some experience with mange and it can be very hard to eliminate.How long since she had it last?Is it possible it was never completey gone and the mites have increased again to a level that you have noticed the baldness?We ended up seeing a specialist who said it can need intense treatment over a long time to get on top of it.Was she retested at the end of her treatment to ensure they were all gone?and this can also be repeated again a few weeks later just to make sure.I hope things get better for you soon. Mange mites are present in low levels in most dogs. In Ruby's case, in 2001 she developed a severe case of mange which resisted ALL treatment for a period of nearly 12 months. We moved from Darwin to a cooler climate and the mange symptoms abated. We also realised that she had allergies which probably didn't help with the itching. She has been symptom-free since late 2001 and a skin scraping in early 2002 revealed a low mite load. The hair loss has only just recurred in the past few weeks but she's been itchy since the start of the humid weather (Oct last yr). She's going back on Saturday for a second injection and to have another look at her lame leg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mika Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 Sounds like you have done the best for her.Seems a long time since original mange episode for it to reoccur.Allergies seem particularly bad this year maybe its the humidity.I hope all Ruby's problems are soon under control and wish you all the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dog_Horse_Girl Posted April 4, 2009 Author Share Posted April 4, 2009 It gets worse. When OH got home yesterday, Ruby had vomited several times. She then had another vomit followed by the runs, then another vomit, more rushed toilet trips...PLUS the worst hives I have EVER seen had sprung up between the time we left for work and getting home. If you can imagine the most dejected and uncomfortable dog, then multiply it by 1000 times, that would be Ruby at the moment. Our lovely vet thinks the latest reaction is definitely a food allergy response - the gastric upset is a likely indicator combined with the speed at which the hives developed. So begins a novel foods elimination diet (sweet potato and a fish protein source), cooked - if no reaction after two weeks, re-introduce foods one at a time. She's had three injections this morning: mange/tick, anti-histamine, antibiotic, plus oral antibiotics for two weeks. ;) We weren't charged for the consult, just the medications - I can't figure out if that's because she'll be a weekly patient for a while or because I volunteer at the shelter which is run by the practice but either way, I'm so grateful for his kindness towards us. I can't believe the run of bad luck Ruby's had. :D He suspects the lameness is yet another infection in the joint; he also says she may have an immune-deficiency disease such as Lupus but these things are very tricky to diagnose. For now, it's a wait-and-see scenario in regards to the allergy response and the lameness. Please send Ruby some calming, healing vibes. Poor love could do with it. ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBL Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 Goodness me - poor poor Ruby A big, but gentle cuddle from us Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muttaburra Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 Sorry to hear Ruby is in the wars. Thank heavens she found someone like you to help and follow through her treatment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danois Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 Did you ask your vet about what I suggested in PM? Did your vet discuss the fact that her immune system is suppressed due to the cortisone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dog_Horse_Girl Posted April 4, 2009 Author Share Posted April 4, 2009 (edited) Did you ask your vet about what I suggested in PM? Did your vet discuss the fact that her immune system is suppressed due to the cortisone? It could be IMPA, and the prednisone certainly had a negative affect on her immune system while she was on it but that side effect hasn't diminished significantly as yet IF the mange is attributed to a lower immune resistance and I think it is. Unfortunately, she was very resistant to its treatment as a young dog, but apparently this is less likely as the dog ages? In other words, the mange should respond to treatment more readily now she's aged almost 9. But it could be Lupus too. The symptoms from yesterday are almost certainly from a food source - I'd given her some "dog roll" for breakfast yesterday, which she doesn't normally have (vet says it's most likely a preservative that she has reacted to) and I would think that is more than plausible. ;) She had Niramine (anti-histamine); Dexadreson (also for allergic reaction) both by injection this morning - no prednisone due to the inter-relationship with the joint issue. Plus the Ivermectin for mange, and she has 10 days supply of Cephalexin tabs (antibiotic) - vet is trying the path of least resistance first in terms of the joint problem due to her history with joint infection. He prefers to try a broad spectrum antibiotic first rather than push for X-rays and taps due to the invasive and expensive nature of the latter. If the symptoms are still present in five days, we can be reasonably confident that the lameness isn't being caused by infection or infection alone. We can only hope her comfort levels improve as she's quite miserable ATM. And she keeps looking at me as if to say, "Why do I feel so crappy?" Edited April 4, 2009 by lillysmum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danois Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 Joint taps are very simple and not invasive at all. My vet simply used a fine gauge needle and drew out fluid. This was send off for testing and they also put it in a petrie dish to see if any culture would grow (indicating bacterial infection). I do not remember it being expensive at all. Just the pathology cost. Go to Yahoo Groups and search for one called CIMDA. Canine Immune Mediated Diseases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dog_Horse_Girl Posted April 4, 2009 Author Share Posted April 4, 2009 Joint taps are very simple and not invasive at all. My vet simply used a fine gauge needle and drew out fluid. This was send off for testing and they also put it in a petrie dish to see if any culture would grow (indicating bacterial infection).I do not remember it being expensive at all. Just the pathology cost. Go to Yahoo Groups and search for one called CIMDA. Canine Immune Mediated Diseases. Thanks for the groups tip - will check it out. I can't remember what the cost was last time for the joint tap...but I do remember Ruby was very sore afterwards. She also had bloods and a urine test from memory. Our vet is very good with keeping the cost of his services low - with three dogs, that's important to us, but of course most important is how they are treated. Remember too, that in Darwin, samples are sent over to WA because there's no lab here - vets do the 'ïn rooms" items themselves but bloods etc have to go to external labs. That adds to the path costs significantly. You have a lot of knowledge in this area...I really appreciate your input Danois. Many thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danois Posted April 4, 2009 Share Posted April 4, 2009 Sorry - I should correct myself - it was not a joint tap - it was a tap of the fluid around the joint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dog_Horse_Girl Posted April 5, 2009 Author Share Posted April 5, 2009 Ruby's symptoms have diminished significantly in the past 24 hours since her injections. She's not even scratching at the mange sites today. I know we have a long way to go with her, to find the underlying cause of these issues, but seeing her comfortable again makes me so much happier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puggy_puggy Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 Good to hear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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