Skin and coat problems

[Gardengirl]

Thanks Colin.

Poor Bobbie is a bit worse for wear - he has bald patches all over the place and his leg is bandaged where they removed the suspicious lump :(  I am having to go to the vets today to pick up some more pain killers for him as he is crying quite a bit so I think the pain killing injection they gave him yesterday has worn off.  It is most unlike Bobbie as he is usually very butch and to hear him crying is quite upsetting. Busby wonders what has happened to him as well. Hopefully he will be better tomorrow.

[Gardengirl]

[Colin_Bellamy-Wood]

Oh! B*gg*r !!!   Poor old Bobby, I have difficulty in coping with animal illness.  Hope you manage OK.

[busy_lizzie]

Hope Bobbie begins to feel better soon after all his tests.  Do let us know Pat, as soon as you hear anything.   :) busy_lizzie

[Gardengirl]

Thanks Colin & BL.  Pleased to say, Bobbie has been alot better in himself today.  Took a while for the anasthetic to work its way out of his system.  Took him to the vet today to have his dressing on his leg changed.  Healing up nicely.  However one of his stitches on his other patches has become infected so we are now on antibiotics for that :(  Have to take him back on Friday to have the leg looked at again and hopefully the bandage can stay off so that the wound can dry up and then it is back to the vets in another week for the stitches to come out.  I do hope that the test results don't reveal something worse than just a thyroid problem.  Keep everything crossed for him :)

[Gardengirl]

Just thought I would post a couple of photos of my poor boy's wounds.  He has been so patient at the vet when he had his dressing changed. It's a shame that just as his tail feathering was growing again he had to have some more shaved off :'(

[Gardengirl]

For those of you who have been following this long running saga of Bobbies problems, I thought you might like to know the latest developments.  The vet phoned me this evening and said they had had the results of the skin biopsies but not the lumps that have been removed.  Apparently, he has an under-active thyroid and has to keep on taking the tablets for that.  However, this is not the complete cause of his skin and coat problems.  The skin is inflamed and the vet said it could be an immune system problem, or (as has been mentioned before) Cushings Disease.  He could have a very mild case of Cushings which could be causing the problems.  As I have mentioned before, Bobbie has had the odd bout of aggression (which is most unlike him) and this could be caused by a build-up of steroids in his body which is one of the symptoms of Cushings.  The vet does not want to start treating for immune system problems as the treatment for this is steroids which could be disasterous if it causes more aggression.  I suppose this means that we will have to visit the hospital for more blood tests.  Poor old Bobbie :'(

Sorry to go on about all this but at least by writing it down I have something to refer back to if I forget any of the facts.

Final up-date soon I hope.

[Gardengirl]

Me again folks ;)  Thought I might as well continue with the saga (we could turn this into a film ;D).  Seriously though, I am so relieved - I heard from the vet today that the lumps they removed from Bobbie were ok.  At least that is one less thing to worry about.  All that remains now is for him to have more blood tests done and this will probably be done within the next week or so as the skin specialist is on holiday until next Tuesday.  

[Muddy_Boots]

You and your pet are putting so much into this, you have every support here!  Know exactly what you are going through and keeping everything crossed for the best outcome!

In the meantime, loads of cuddles for you both!  :D

[eileen]

Hi Pat,

I take it the lumps were just cysts then or little benign tumours?

Thank goodness they were nothing serious!

Best of luck next week. Keep us up to date.

Love to you both. Eileen.

[Gardengirl]

No Eileen, I don't think they were cysts or tumours.  To be honest I can't remember what the vet said they were, ??? I was so relieved to hear that they were ok  :D

By the way thanks Kate for your kind words.

Will keep in touch with the news.  I think folks will be getting fed up with hearing about all my problems, but it does help to share things with your 'friends' :)

[busy_lizzie]

Pat hope you continue to let us know how things are going.  I know how worrying it is when your loved pet is not in good health.  I am so glad you have had some good news about the lumps, and at least once the thyroid tablets start taking affect, I am sure there will be improvement in that direction too.  Still a few mountains to climb, but hopefully the outcome will eventually be good.  All the best and love,  :) busy_lizzie

[Margaret]

Hi Pat.Can I just add my very best wishes for a good outcome to all that you and Bobbie are going through.It sounds like a long and arduous time for you both,but it looks as if at last you are getting to solve the mystery.I know how you feel,our animals are as much a part of our family as the human members.They are so trusting and look to us to help.If only everyone cared as much as you do.Do you have insurance?How old is he?I will be looking out for the update next week.

We are all keeping our fingers crossed for you both.

[Gardengirl]

Thanks BL and Margaret for your kind words.  

Bobbie will be 8 years old on Friday.  We haven't got insurance unfortunately.  We didn't bother in the past and found that we would have paid out more in insurance premiums and excesses than for the treatment.  This time however I don't think that would have been the case :-\

When I have further news I will let you know.  

[Gardengirl]

Just a quick up-date.  Bobbie has to go back to the hospital tomorrow morning for more blood tests.  I think the vet is fairly certain that he may have a mild form of Cushings Disease which could be the cause of not only his skin and coat problems but also his waterworks problem.

I have another problem regarding aggression (which I mentioned earlier on in this thread).  I mentioned this to the vet and she said that it could be that as Bobbie is not 100% at the moment Busby is picking up on that and playing on it.  I mentioned castration and she said this may not help as Busby is now four years old and if they are to be castrated it should be done probably in the first year.  Having said that, there is an injection that can be given which simulates the effect of castration and if this works then it would be ok to go ahead.  I will report back when I have the results of the blood tests.  

[busy_lizzie]

Thanks so much for letting us know Pat.  You and Bobbie are having such a time of it, no wonder if Bobbie is grumpy.  Hope you have the solution to all his problems soon.  Keep your spirits up. love and best wishes, busy_lizzie :)

[Gardengirl]

Well, we finally have a diagnosis of Bobbies problems.  I am pleased to say that he has not got the potentially fatal Cushings Disease.  The latest tests show that he has a condition called Sebaceous Adenitis.  This apparently is all to do with the immune system and unfortunately there is no cure :'(  It can be treated with some drugs (I am not sure what yet) and also vitamins to slow down the process.  I have researched it on the internet and have read reports of people whose dogs are suffering from this condition and the different methods they have tried to help.

The vet has told me that it will take two or three months before we can see any improvement, if any, so we will just have to be patient.  Many of the people who have taken part in the SA survey say that what they are doing has helped so I will probably follow suit and hope for the best.

In any event Bobbie is a very happy, lively dog and that of course is the main thing to be thankful for.

Thank you everyone for your concern over the past few months and I hope that in the not too distant future I will be able to report that Bobbie is looking alot better.

[busy_lizzie]

Hi Pat, Thanks for keeping us up-to-date.  I am so glad Bobbie hasn't got the awful "cushings disease".  At least now you know  the cause of Bobbies problems -  I always feel thats half the battle, and things can be done to help him.  What a long journey it has been for you in reaching this diagnosis. All the best, busy_lizzie  :)

[teresa]

Hi Pat,
Just read the updates and I am so glad you have come to the end of a long road with your lovely dog.
Knowing what the problem is you can cope with it a lot beter. Having a good vet helps I would not like to think how much it has cost you not just in cash but your health must have suffered as well.
I send you and bobby loads of cyber hugs for a speedy recovery for you both.
You will have to send a photo of you both when all is well.
love to you both

[Gardengirl]

Thanks BL and Teresa. I certainly have been a  bit under the weather at times with the worry of Bobbie but feel alot calmer now that we know what the problem is and can go ahead with tackling it.  I will post a photo if we can get him looking a bit better, but it will probably be not for a few months yet.  Some people who took part in the survey said that they give their dogs oil baths or tea tree.  We have some tea tree so as the weather is good at the moment will probably give him his first one tomorrow. Trouble is, he is so big, we can't just shove him in the sink, has to be done outside.  Thanks again......Pat