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Post by suziriot on Nov 15, 2012 20:11:37 GMT -5
I'm at my wits end with these dogs. The thyroid tests for Otis came back normal. So last week we did $600 worth of yet more tests on Otis. More bloodwork, ultrasound, X-rays, more urinalysis, cytology on skin bumps. Looking for tumors, inflamed lymph nodes, irregularities with internal organs, etc. Tests for Addison's and Cushings (he was tested for both two years ago when he had a seizure) and... nothing abnormal. Skin cytology showed bacterial infection, so he got antibiotics and it actually has cleared up a lot. Urine showed very slightly elevated levels of bilirubin, but the bilirubin in his blood was normal. He had not lost any more weight since he had been at the vet 3 weeks prior, so that's something I guess. But he's lost 15 pounds total since last year. He's not emaciated, but the vet agrees he is too thin. I know the difference between healthy and trim, and he needs another 7 lbs on him to be at a healthy weight. And he has lost hair and his coat is dull and flaky. We're going to see if a change to his diet helps and go from there. If anybody has any suggestions please throw them at me. Then on Monday Lebowski started peeing weird. It was clear he had a UTI, and then I saw he had an ear infection. So he's on antibiotics and ear drops. THEN last night I get home from work and let Dharma out, and one of her suture scars from the tumor surgery looks all red and nasty. It had looked perfectly healed and fine just that morning. She'd obviously been licking at it. It had opened back up and looked like some of the tissue was necrotic. Vet saw her this morning and removed the necrotic tissue, put some silver nitrate in there, and put her on an antibiotic. I've been keeping the thing slathered in neosporin since last night. It is NASTY looking. Obviously the prednisone is hindering her healing, but we can't take her off of it because of the cancer treatment. I don't understand. Our house is super clean. Brook is a chef, so he is obsessive about germs and dirt. They eat very healthy, never get human treats, and even drink uberfiltered water. But they've all got cancer and infections and mystery illnesses! , I'm losing my mind!!! So glad we started pet insurance years ago. Just wish my pups were all in perfect health.
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Post by maryellen on Nov 15, 2012 21:42:15 GMT -5
i would have otis have his thyroid tested ,,, and he might need a change of food if the thyroid comes back normal. what food is he on and how old is he? oh poor Lebowski and Dharma!! you definitely got hit hard
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Post by suziriot on Nov 15, 2012 21:51:39 GMT -5
He's had two different thyroid tests now, both normal. All the dogs have been on Blue Buffalo Basics Salmon and Sweet Potato for a couple years now. Vet suggested mixing Otis's with TOTW's puppy food.
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Post by maryellen on Nov 15, 2012 21:56:27 GMT -5
did your vet do the total thyroid its all of them (t3, t4, tfree etc)
its possible the blue buffalo isnt working anymore due to him being a little older.. you could mix puppy food and see how it goes, he might need more fat as metabolism probably is changing
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Post by suziriot on Nov 15, 2012 22:18:42 GMT -5
I believe so. The blood was sent to an outside lab. I don't remember now what it was called, but I have all the reports. I'll take a look and post the info. Forgot to say that Otis will be 6 in February. He's always been on the small side. He was 52 lbs at his heaviest and looked best at right around 45. He's 36 lbs now, which is exactly the same weight as scrawny 3-legged Dharma. :/
You may be right that he just needs different food. We'll see how the puppy food works. I really hope it's as simple as that.
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Post by emilys on Nov 15, 2012 22:56:38 GMT -5
so sorry for all the dogs. you know it's "just" a coincidence. There's nothing wrong with you or your household... hugs..
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Post by melonie on Nov 15, 2012 22:58:30 GMT -5
I know I've said it before, but I'll keep saying it, Vetericyn works amazingly well on skin problems. It really does work and I will always keep a bottle on hand! I use it on Wrinkles any time she starts getting pink, or anything else that appears on her skin. I've used it a lot on Winstons pimples this year, and for the first time in 2 years we've avoided Temaryl for his allergies. (used bathes and aveeno lotion, and this stuff, and an the iodine mixure) Sadly CM is their spokes person, but I did find this w/out his face on it: vetmedicine.about.com/od/veterinaryqa/a/Vetericyn.htm
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Post by maryellen on Nov 16, 2012 6:17:44 GMT -5
i am betting for otis its the food... at 6 his metabolism is changing so he might need more fat in his food.. some dogs on Blue tend to be leaner due to the food...
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Post by adoptapitbull on Nov 16, 2012 6:50:41 GMT -5
I'm sorry, Suzi. I know how frustrating it can be. It makes you feel like you are not a good dog mom when they keep getting sick or hurt, which you and I both know couldn't be farther from the truth!
As for the skin, have you tried Show Stopper? I had Snorts on that for a bit when he got mange the first time. Poor bugger has awfully flaky and dry skin. In addition, I've top dressed his food with Alaskan salmon oil. It smells like death, but the dogs go nuts for it. Both definitely helped.
For weight, give Nutri Drench or something similar a try. We use it here for small kids or does who need some extra weight. I have a generic version of it and it lists the amount for dogs per day. Something like a few tablespoons a day should do the trick.
If all else fails, send Otis to my mom's house. She'll put weight on him....*eye roll*
I hope things get better for you and your crew!
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Post by adoptapitbull on Nov 16, 2012 7:08:21 GMT -5
Also, have you given Otis a strong dose of wormer lately? It's the first thing we do here when a critter is looking thin.
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Post by loverocksalot on Nov 16, 2012 8:11:34 GMT -5
Im sorry all this is going on Suzi. Its too much to have all the dogs have an issue.
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Post by michele5611 on Nov 16, 2012 8:56:39 GMT -5
Sorry Suzi and pups! I know exactly how you feel. Sometimes in spite of how well taken care our beloved animals are they get sick! Both my previous dogs lived very long healthy lives. While they were well taken care of and loved I have gone above and beyond for Harley nothing but the best foods, supplements, vetinary care and yet she is the one that has cancer and kidney disease. It makes you so angry, sad, and bewildered. It's like when you hear about the marathon runner who drops dead of a heart attack or the non-smoker who gets lung cancer.
As far as other causes for Otis- just throwing this out there but atypical cushings and or atypical addisons?
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Post by suziriot on Nov 16, 2012 9:40:30 GMT -5
Thanks so much everyone... I know I can always count on my forum friends for some good suggestions. Allison, vet ruled out worms or other parasites. That was my first thought too. Michele, we discussed atypical Cushing's or Addison's that would not show up on tests, and we're still pursuing that route. Our vet is doing some research and reaching out to her specialist colleagues. There's another blood test that she wants to do, but it requires some enzymes that are not available in the US right now. Some kind of shortage or something. She wants to get this figured out as much as we do. It may be that a change in food does the trick, but she said that she's concerned it's more because she has been his vet since we rescued him at 6 months old and feels the changes are pretty dramatic. Dharma's leg looked disgusting this morning when I cleaned it up and put more neosporin on it. Brook told me that when he took her in yesterday our vet started calling her Little Miss Hot Mess. And BTW, Dharma is the little princess at our vet's office. When we bring her in - which is now 1-2 times each week - everyone stops what they're doing and gushes over her. Not that she doesn't deserve it, but Brook thinks it hurts our other dogs' feelings LOL.
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Post by michele5611 on Nov 16, 2012 9:55:17 GMT -5
Sounds like your vet is def. on top of things!
Dharma is certainly worthy of all the love and attention she is receiving and sounds like a real trooper. Hoping you can get some kind of diagnosis for Otis. I can only imagine how frustrating and scary this is.
As always keep us posted.
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Post by sugar on Nov 16, 2012 10:55:52 GMT -5
I second looking into ShowStopper. Chubby can't be on it because of his chicken allergy, but my last rescue dog Bunny had awful skin/coat problems. Her fur was sparse and dull and she was always itchy and flaking. After a few weeks on ShowStopper her fur grew in beautifully and no more itching.
ps: Don't feel like this is something you are doing or not doing when it comes to your dogs. The pet parents are this board are some of the most loving, kindhearted, paranoid, guilted, sweet and caring dog people anywhere. Sometimes dogs are just buttheads and like to make us worry about everything.
pps: My vet refers to Chubby as "an adorable pile of problems", so yeah it happens.
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Post by Dave on Nov 16, 2012 11:46:29 GMT -5
pps: My vet refers to Chubby as "an adorable pile of problems", so yeah it happens. Oh, my Lola is a train wreck. Definitely my vet's favorite when it comes to billing. Now Rocky is having skin problems. Yeah, big surprise for my blue boy. Suzi, you're doing great. All you can do is jump on things when they happen, and sometimes they happen all at once. Just take it one problem at a time. I know, all the advice and support in the world doesn't keep it from sucking.
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Post by melonie on Nov 16, 2012 12:46:09 GMT -5
I've started calling Wrinkles "Honey Boo Boo" because she's cute in that train wreck sort of way.
Sent from my XT881 using proboards
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mayhemkb
Member
Otter as a pup
Posts: 87
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Post by mayhemkb on Nov 27, 2012 13:12:48 GMT -5
ShowStopper has my vote too. It is costly but keeps their skin just tiptop. Even has cleared several dogs skin up who had issues with sebaceous cysts that I know personally.
For the Veterycin just buy the industrial bottle of Chlorhexadine and dilute it 1 part to 3 of water and you have a supply of that at a waay cheaper price.
My Otter had a really hard time keeping weight on when his anxiety was way up. When he calmed down at his new home he put on weight to beat the band as he was not always moving. To get weight on him in our home we made a homemade mix of kibble, egg, offal meat and raw chicken and he always seemed to need a starch in addtion to that no matter how much of the other stuff we were putting in-so a nuked or baked potato or sweet potato really did him good.
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