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  #1  
Old July 6th, 2006, 10:26 PM
sammiec sammiec is offline
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Unhappy UPDATE: Briggs' skin condition

The update is we have no idea what it is or what's causing it. All I know is she's in pain and VERY uncomfortable.

She was on Vanectyl P for about 2.5 weeks and it's done nothing for her. She's now on Novo Pheniram (antihistamine). It's doing nothing for her either.

We have to wait 10 days so that she has no medication in her system before we can start the skin biopsy.
She has lesions on her face, body, neck, ears... it's so ugly, and looks SO painful, I can't even pet or hug my puppy for fear of causing her more discomfort. :sad:

I am just heartbroken and feel sick to my stomach that she is in so much pain. I am on the verge of tears everytime I look at her sad eyes and see her discomfort.

*Sigh* I just want this time to pass VERY quickly and see improvements in my poor puppy.

Please keep Briggs in your thoughts!

Thanks for reading. :sad:
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  #2  
Old July 7th, 2006, 01:03 AM
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OntarioGreys OntarioGreys is offline
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I know how horrible that can be

I had a cocker that had an automimmune disease and his skin would look so horrid at times

Something similiar to Willy's throat area 7th dog down but wider spread and each year the flare up got wrose

http://canidae.com/company/customertest/canidae1.html

it was a constant battle to keep the skin under control

he was on prednisone daily, and antibiotics when it got bad, later we had to apply cortisone creams, later added in coal tar shampoo baths to the point they had to be done every other day. If your vet has not done so yet ask him to run thyoid blood panel, food allergies can also cause, so you might want to try one of the Natural Balance food for allergies to see if that helps

http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/allergy/home.html

Of sourse the skin biopsy may rule out or confirm some disease, if it does at least you will know what you are dealing with
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  #3  
Old July 7th, 2006, 01:27 AM
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I don't know if any of this information will be helpful. It sounds very painful, for both of you. At this point, you would probably be thrilled to find it was a food allergy.

http://www.vetinfo4dogs.com/dskin.ht...s,%20allergies
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  #4  
Old July 7th, 2006, 02:43 AM
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Poor doggy! That must be so horrible for both of you.

I just remembered this thread from a while back and though maybe it might help... http://www.pets.ca/forum/showthread....inc+deficiency
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  #5  
Old July 7th, 2006, 02:58 AM
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Have they ruled out mange.That looks awful and if very painful to the dog. I hope Briggs gets some relief soon. Is there anything topical you can put on him to soothe it a little like maybe tea tree oil. Just to help with the discomfort.
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  #6  
Old July 7th, 2006, 06:24 AM
Toonces Toonces is offline
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I am so sorry for you and your pup, it does sound like a autoimmune disease, could be a form of phemphigus, have them check fot that aswell. here is a good link about it.

http://www.upei.ca/cidd/Diseases/imm.../pemphigus.htm

to you and Briggs
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  #7  
Old July 7th, 2006, 07:13 AM
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Sammiec,I am so sorry to read about Briggs,so sorry she's in pain and hope she'll be ok soon
I still have her"Please don't kill me!"poster on my message-board,the Anti BSL one.
Looking at her sweet face,I cannot imagine having to watch her in pain, for her to recover!
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  #8  
Old July 7th, 2006, 09:25 AM
sammiec sammiec is offline
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Thanks for all the information and well wishes.

I cried myself to sleep last night. I just feel like I am not doing enough for her. I am going to the vet office today to get more topical cream - it helps eliviate the pain/itching and has a bitter taste. I have to see if I can even apply anything while we wait for the medication to get out of her system.
We've discussed a food allergy, but the vet feels the biopsy is the best thing do to rule out infection/disease before trying foods - since they take so long to rule out.

She's depressed, she can't play outside because it flares up like crazy when she rubs herself in the grass. Since she's had no reaction to the strongest allergy medication he's really confused about it being an allergy.

I guess after the skin biopsy we do prick tests to determine allergies and then foods.

The info that you've posted, I will read it through and present it to the vet this afternoon. Thank you for taking the time to look for it! Briggs thanks you too. :sad:
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  #9  
Old July 7th, 2006, 09:39 AM
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This may be totally off the wall, but before you put on the cream, why not try a salt water bath. Of course, sea water is the best but regular salt and water will do. It can be very soothing. My old granny swore by salt water, she thought it was some kind of magic elixir that restored balance to her system. A bit of a mystic, my gran.
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  #10  
Old July 7th, 2006, 09:52 AM
sammiec sammiec is offline
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Thanks Badger. I may try that if I can get her still long enough You think Epson salts would work??
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  #11  
Old July 7th, 2006, 10:45 AM
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Epsom salts is magnesium sulphate, not the same. Use regular salt, not too strong but you should immediately get the saltiness when you put it on your tongue. How about spritzing her with a spray bottle? If she has open wounds, it may sting (but will do no harm). That's the only drawback I can think of.
Maybe you could do a little experiment, choose one area which isn't too bad and spray it a couple of times a day, see if there are any beneficial changes.
But mainly I was thinking that it would soothe her.
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  #12  
Old July 7th, 2006, 04:31 PM
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Sam,would not 100% Aloe gel give her some comfort??
I have tons of skiter-bites and love to cool the itch with Aloe...
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  #13  
Old July 7th, 2006, 04:46 PM
sammiec sammiec is offline
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Well, I called the vet about the Epsom salts and he said a bath would be good, and to go ahead. But then I was in the area and went into his office and talked to him about the biopsies and her condition right now. He said to forego the bath and put NOTHING on it for 10 days and schedule the biopsy.

So Briggs is going for the biopsy July 17th. I have a collar for her, and she has to wear socks on her paws for 10 days so that she can't stratch anything. :sad:
He says that this is the best option only because she's in such bad condition that he doesn't want to waste more time on medications that aren't working and causing her so much discomfort, it's best to get down to the problem now. So, that's it. My poor baby.

Thanks for reading. :sad:
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  #14  
Old July 7th, 2006, 05:06 PM
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I'm so sorry to hear this. I really hope your baby gets better.
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Old July 7th, 2006, 07:01 PM
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I have nothing to offer info-wise... however, please know that you & Briggs are in my thoughts. Briggs... positive vibes coming your way!
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  #16  
Old July 12th, 2006, 12:14 PM
sammiec sammiec is offline
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Thanks for the positive vibes Jesse and Jessi

She's been doing alright this week so far. 4.5 days remaining until her biopsy.

She hates the Buster collar and I only use it when she's extremely irritated. That hasn't been to often though. I just tell her "leave it" and she stops licking and scratching.



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  #17  
Old July 12th, 2006, 03:37 PM
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Awwww Sam,she looks soo unhappy:sad: but I am glad she seems to be feeling better.
I am a real scratchy person,could not imagine not beeing able to scratch an itch.
Hugs to Brigs and that it will soon be over.
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  #18  
Old July 12th, 2006, 04:20 PM
Prin Prin is offline
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Aw, she looks so sad. :sad: I hope you find something out soon.
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  #19  
Old July 12th, 2006, 04:22 PM
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I'm so sorry. I hope your poor puppy feels better soon. I'll keep her in my thoughts.
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  #20  
Old July 12th, 2006, 06:29 PM
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I'm so sorry for your puppy!I hope your vet finds the problem so she can get treatment and a speedy recovery
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  #21  
Old July 13th, 2006, 03:00 AM
Toonces Toonces is offline
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sending big hugs an posititive thoughts to you and Briggs
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  #22  
Old July 13th, 2006, 05:51 AM
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Briggs does not look like the happy dog we usually see, I hope Briggs is feeling better really soon. Poor baby
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  #23  
Old July 13th, 2006, 06:06 AM
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Awww poor Briggs:sad: she looks so sad, I hope she gets better soon.
In that pic, she looks alot like sweet Hank (RIP) did?? what was the condition Hank had? Toonces will know.
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Old July 13th, 2006, 06:27 AM
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Here it is, from Toonces thread
" Hank has a auto imuine disorder called Mucoid Pemphigus "
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  #25  
Old July 17th, 2006, 09:13 AM
sammiec sammiec is offline
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Happycat, I don't like the HAD and RIP part.

Thanks for your well wishes. Briggs is at the vet right now, I just got back from dropping her off. I really hope in a couple days we find out the cause and have my happy puppy back.

I'll keep you updated with her progress. But, please keep her in your thoughts. I pray, pray, pray this is treatable. I couldn't imagine life without Briggs. I am just heartborken at the thought. :sad:
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Old July 17th, 2006, 09:25 AM
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Sam,tons of happy thoughts and good vibes that she'll be ok :love: :love:
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  #27  
Old July 17th, 2006, 09:33 AM
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Good luck Briggs...
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  #28  
Old July 17th, 2006, 09:46 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sammiec
Happycat, I don't like the HAD and RIP part.

Thanks for your well wishes. Briggs is at the vet right now, I just got back from dropping her off. I really hope in a couple days we find out the cause and have my happy puppy back.

I'll keep you updated with her progress. But, please keep her in your thoughts. I pray, pray, pray this is treatable. I couldn't imagine life without Briggs. I am just heartborken at the thought. :sad:
I'm so sorry, I didn;t mean to scare. Hank was an elderly abused dog (Toonces foster) and it wasn't the desease that killed him.
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  #29  
Old July 17th, 2006, 02:50 PM
Toonces Toonces is offline
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Your right Happycats, Hank pased away due to other complications nothing due to his MP, his leasions had all cleared and you would have never know he looked the way he did a yr ago when he wen to the bridge.

Sammiec I hope everything is ok and it is nothing serious, will say a pryaer for you and Briggs
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  #30  
Old July 17th, 2006, 05:43 PM
sammiec sammiec is offline
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Thanks for the clarification, you had me so scared!

She's home. We just got back from the vet. She's had 6 biopsies done. Some stitches and she's sleeping. She's wearing a buster collar right now, but I think I'm gonna put a t-shirt on her later on... when she wakes up.

Should be 2 - 5 days until we get results, I'll let you know!
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