Bone cancer...
#41
Posted 14 May 2007 - 12:53 PM
I have a sneaking suspicion that these sores are from him walking in our pond about a week or two ago, which is fed by a small creek that runs under the road. They're doing some major construction on the road and I think the pond may have been contaminated by fuel or some other chemicals from the construction vehicles and are causing these lesions.
I truly don't know what else to attribute them to. He has a vet appointment for tomorrow for his annual check-up, so I'll have the vet check him out again.
#42
Posted 15 May 2007 - 01:48 PM
Now I'm off to research autoimmune diseases.
#43
Posted 15 May 2007 - 02:20 PM
http://www.canismajo...g/autoimmn.html
Autoimmune diseases of the skin
As a group, autoimmune diseases of the skin are uncommon to rare in frequency. Diagnosis is often difficult, especially for the general practitioner who may see one or two cases during a career. Skin biopsy and immunofluorescent staining are generally required to diagnose one of these diseases, and the prognosis for recovery may vary. Our old friends the corticosteroids are the primary mode of therapy.
"Pemphigus complex" is a group of four autoimmune skin disorders characterized by "vesicles" and "bullae" (blisters), erosions, and ulcers. In "pemphigus vulgaris", common pemphigus, the lesions are usually found in the mouth and at mucocutaneous junctions, those borders of haired skin and mucosal tissues. Such areas include the eyelids, lips, nostrils, anus, and prepuce or vulva. There may also be skin lesions in the groin or axillae (armpits). The blisters are thin, fragile, and rupture easily. The skin lesions are described as red, weeping, ulcerated placques.
In contrast, the lesions of "pemphigus vegetans" are thick and irregular and proliferate into vegetative lesions marked by oozing and pustules. It is thought to be a more benign form of pemphigus vulgaris.
"Pemphigus foliaceous" is rarely found in the mouth or at mucocutaneous junctions. The blisters are only temporary; redness, crusting, scales, and hair loss are more common presenting signs. Pemphigus foliaceous usually begins on the face and ears and often spreads to the feet, footpads, and groin. Secondary skin infections are common, and fever, depression, and anorexia may occur in severe cases.
"Pemphigus erythematosis" looks clinically like foliaceous and is frequently found on the nose. Ultraviolet light aggravates this form of pemphigus and can lead to a misdiagnosis of nasal solar dermatitis (Collie nose). It is considered a benign form of pemphigus foliaceous. The term "bullous pemphigoid" sounds a lot like "pemphigus," and clinically this disease resembles that group of diseases. The same type of vesicles and ulcers may be found in the mouth, at mucocutaneous junctions, and in the axillae and groin. Differentiation is possible only through biopsy. Evaluation of the vesicles is critical to the diagnosis, and because they rupture so soon after formation, a dog must often be hospitalized and examined every two hours until the biopsies can be taken.
"Discoid lupus erythematosis" is thought to be a benign form of systemic lupus (to be discussed next month) and is an autoimmune dermatitis of the face. It is most common in Collies and Shelties; more than 60 percent of affected dogs are female. The lesion is often described as a "butterfly pattern" over the bridge of the nose and must be differentiated from nasal solar dermatitis and pemphigus erythematosis.
Finally, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada-like syndrome (VKH) is an extremely rare syndrome, possibly of autoimmune origin, leading to depigmentation and a concurrent eye disease. The black pigments of the nose, lips, eyelids, footpads, and anus fade to pink or white, and there is an acute uveitis (inflammation of the eyes) Early treatment may prevent blindness, but the pigment loss is usually permanent. As you can see by the above descriptions, many autoimmune diseases are similar in appearance. Except for discoid lupus, there is no breed, sex, or age predilection for these problems.
As in other autoimmune diseases previously discussed, the primary goal of therapy is to suppress the body's immune response with large doses of systemic glucorticoids. More potent drugs like Cytoxan or Imuran are used if steroids fail. Gold therapy has been advocated for the pemphigus group or pemphigoid. In cases where nasal depigmentation has occurred, tattooing the affected area helps prevent the sunburn and squamous cell carcinoma that may follow.
The prognosis for discoid lupus is usually good, but it is variable in the other diseases. Many dogs with VKH are euthanized due to blindness. Breeding affected dogs is not recommended. Currently, little information exists on the heritability of autoimmune skin diseases.
#44
Posted 16 May 2007 - 07:58 AM
I tell you, they will be there long before any of us.
-Robert Lewis Stevenson-
Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit,
you would stay out and your dog would go in.
-Mark Twain-
#45
Posted 16 May 2007 - 08:08 AM
I hope the vet didn't give him any vaccinations... They can cause/contribute to auto-immune diseases... and if he is suffering from an auto-immune disease he is NOT healthy and vacs should only be given to healthy animals...
Joni
Emmalin Jane, George, Clyde, and Rascal (meow & hiss)
From the Bridge - Cosmo (12/2005), Katie (7/2006), Mr. Munchkin (11/2008), Bella DSA, CGC (1/2009), Skitter DSA (12/2010), Beau (11/2014), and Calvin (6/2017)
"The world of the generous gets larger and larger... The on who blesses other is abundantly blessed; those who help other are helped." Proverbs 11:24-25
"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy" Psalms 126:5
#46
Posted 17 May 2007 - 10:11 AM
Poor Gunner, I hope he does all right. Just out of curiosity how old is he?
Thanks. He's about 8 or 9 years old now.
#47
Posted 17 May 2007 - 10:16 AM
Poor Gunner!!! Hope he feels better soon!!!
I hope the vet didn't give him any vaccinations... They can cause/contribute to auto-immune diseases... and if he is suffering from an auto-immune disease he is NOT healthy and vacs should only be given to healthy animals...
You know, I didn't know this until AFTER my vet had given him his vaccinations. I'm switching vets. I think this guy sees me as nothing more than a means to put his kids through college. I've already given him over $2000 worth of vet care this year...this is ridiculous! It cost me over $430 this past week for annuals (check-up, vaccinations, heartworm testing and preventative, & baseline blood panel and EKG for Mia) for two Dobes. Not to mention the guy gave Gunner his vaccs after telling me he may have an auto-immune disease!
How do you politely go about getting your dog's records without making them feel as though you're deserting them after many years of a good relationship? There's a vet on the other side of town that practices holistic medicine. I used to go to him a long time ago, and although he's not really the conversational type (he's a little shy), he knows his stuff and he's a LOT cheaper than my current vet and I like the fact that he does holistic as well as conventional medicine. He's just a 40 minute drive away....oh well, it'll be worth it I think.
#48
Posted 17 May 2007 - 10:49 AM
How do you politely go about getting your dog's records without making them feel as though you're deserting them after many years of a good relationship?
- With all the problems we've been having lately, I'm starting to keep a file of my own on my pets...
--or-- - We're planning a trip and I want complete medical records of each of the dogs with me, just in case... (this did happen to me with Bella and I didn't have them and had to try to remember what had been done and when plus you should have copies of shot records when you cross state lines anyway)
There is a great group out on yahoo groups "BeyondVaccination" that you can learn all about vaccinations... they are pretty much a "no vac" group but have a lot of interesting info so you can make your own, informed decision...
Edited by jmnodwell, 17 May 2007 - 10:55 AM.
Joni
Emmalin Jane, George, Clyde, and Rascal (meow & hiss)
From the Bridge - Cosmo (12/2005), Katie (7/2006), Mr. Munchkin (11/2008), Bella DSA, CGC (1/2009), Skitter DSA (12/2010), Beau (11/2014), and Calvin (6/2017)
"The world of the generous gets larger and larger... The on who blesses other is abundantly blessed; those who help other are helped." Proverbs 11:24-25
"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy" Psalms 126:5
#49
Posted 17 May 2007 - 10:52 AM
I have more than one vet and keep a full set for myself... since Coreen has practiced in many different places, I started keeping copies of stuff so I had them...
- With all the problems we've been having lately, I'm starting to keep a file of my own on my pets...
--or--- We're planning a trip and I want complete medical records of each of the dogs with me, just in case... (this did happen to me with Bella and I didn't have them and had to try to remember what had been done and when plus you should have copies of shot records when you cross state lines anyway)
Great suggestions, Joni!!
#50
Posted 17 May 2007 - 10:58 AM
Joni
Emmalin Jane, George, Clyde, and Rascal (meow & hiss)
From the Bridge - Cosmo (12/2005), Katie (7/2006), Mr. Munchkin (11/2008), Bella DSA, CGC (1/2009), Skitter DSA (12/2010), Beau (11/2014), and Calvin (6/2017)
"The world of the generous gets larger and larger... The on who blesses other is abundantly blessed; those who help other are helped." Proverbs 11:24-25
"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy" Psalms 126:5
#51
Posted 17 May 2007 - 11:08 AM
You're welcome!!! I also keep current-ish pictures of each pet with me along with copies of rabies certificate and city license...Great suggestions, Joni!!
but I am known to be a little anal and over-organized...
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Edited by jmnodwell, 17 May 2007 - 11:13 AM.
Joni
Emmalin Jane, George, Clyde, and Rascal (meow & hiss)
From the Bridge - Cosmo (12/2005), Katie (7/2006), Mr. Munchkin (11/2008), Bella DSA, CGC (1/2009), Skitter DSA (12/2010), Beau (11/2014), and Calvin (6/2017)
"The world of the generous gets larger and larger... The on who blesses other is abundantly blessed; those who help other are helped." Proverbs 11:24-25
"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy" Psalms 126:5
#52
Posted 17 May 2007 - 11:13 AM
It cost me over $430 this past week for annuals (check-up, vaccinations, heartworm testing and preventative, & baseline blood panel and EKG for Mia) for two Dobes.
This does seem awful expensive .... we just took are 3 dogs in for check-up, vaccinations, heartworm testing and preventative and walk out with a $225 bill.
#53
Posted 17 May 2007 - 11:37 AM
When I called the vet I just said "since you are already going to be here, how about bringing vaccs for the dogs and cats?? I had an auto pay for the round trip of $70.00 but with everything he did..........I couldn't beat the price.
No blood was pulled though. He doesn't make us do it as long as our dogs are on heartworm preventative from march - nov. Usually I don't start it until end of April and he never says a word. I will never get heartworm in the winter. An old vet of ours told us it is useless, why buy it when there isn't any skeeters out?? True. SAves us about 4 mo. anyways, and with the amount of animals we have, it surely helps.
Melissa K.
#54
Posted 17 May 2007 - 01:30 PM
I will never get heartworm in the winter. An old vet of ours told us it is useless, why buy it when there isn't any skeeters out??
I started giving heartworm preventative year round several years ago after a local vet said that he had two dogs develop heartworm over the winter. I have ladybugs in my house in the winter, and see an occasional fly, so I think it would be possible for a mosquito or two to be hiding in a crevice. It is expensive, but I figure, less than treating a case of heartworm
#55
Posted 17 May 2007 - 03:21 PM
Kenny, Akina (R.I.P.) & Tanner
#56
Posted 17 May 2007 - 08:10 PM
That did worry me some I won't lie. But I also gave it the last time in Nov.
I feel like my pets are spoiled rotten and very well cared for and trust me we spend in the thousands each and every year for all of them. Hopefully this NEVER bites me in da butt!!
Melissa K.
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