I'm so sorry, Wendy! 
Rest in the knowledge that we send our love and thoughts to you all, daily xx
Rest in the knowledge that we send our love and thoughts to you all, daily xx
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My girl is sick... again.
- Thread starter Prushanks
- Start date
Prushanks
Hot Topics Subscriber
It's been a while since the last update. She had a few "hopeful days" after the email i had sent the specialist but then she would go up and down. I took her in Tuesday and he was concerned and frankly baffled by her skin condition- over a dozen pea to quarter-sized pus filled lumps that eventually burst and leave holes as well as some weird thickened skin patch over her withers that cracks and is icky too. He did 3 punch biopsies with C&S and we should be getting results Friday-ish [hopefully]. He said he has seen this kind of thing before, but on dogs not from this area, or those that travel/exposed- Miesha is from an hour away, never left the area and has had practically zero instances of exposure to anything questionable. On a positive note, the Doc is pretty sure she doesn't have GI lymphoma - so her IBD is being well managed on the Pred.
So here is where we are with it all. Given all circumstances the Specialist laid out an outcome of basically 3 possibilities:
1 - this skin condition *could* be the underlying trigger for her IMPA that may be showing its ugly head due to being on immunosuppressants. If the biopsies and C&S come back as a treatable/curable condition, treating/curing the condition will allow the IMPA meds to work correctly and she could possibly come back 100% and even eventually get off meds all together.
2 - It could be cancer.
3 - results could come back with no real answer or not be linked to her IMPA etc. In this case, the situation is such that she is really not responding to the [affordable] medications and not likely to do much better than this - which is a 17month old Dobe living at 40% capacity at best. Every "hopeful day" is paid for the next day. She can't do anything she likes because there is a physical price to pay, which won't stop her from trying. Goodness help me if there is a rabbit in the yard when she goes outside... she takes off and will either stumble painfully and limp for the next few days or she will not stumble and still be stiff limp the next few days. On and off fevers, and just plain sleeping all day until night when she gets her feisty half hour. You can see she wants to do everything she used to do, and would if i let her. It's not fair.
So, given all circumstances for her and for us - just hope its possibility 1 because the latter two we have already made final decision for.
Post biopsy:
So here is where we are with it all. Given all circumstances the Specialist laid out an outcome of basically 3 possibilities:
1 - this skin condition *could* be the underlying trigger for her IMPA that may be showing its ugly head due to being on immunosuppressants. If the biopsies and C&S come back as a treatable/curable condition, treating/curing the condition will allow the IMPA meds to work correctly and she could possibly come back 100% and even eventually get off meds all together.
2 - It could be cancer.
3 - results could come back with no real answer or not be linked to her IMPA etc. In this case, the situation is such that she is really not responding to the [affordable] medications and not likely to do much better than this - which is a 17month old Dobe living at 40% capacity at best. Every "hopeful day" is paid for the next day. She can't do anything she likes because there is a physical price to pay, which won't stop her from trying. Goodness help me if there is a rabbit in the yard when she goes outside... she takes off and will either stumble painfully and limp for the next few days or she will not stumble and still be stiff limp the next few days. On and off fevers, and just plain sleeping all day until night when she gets her feisty half hour. You can see she wants to do everything she used to do, and would if i let her. It's not fair.
So, given all circumstances for her and for us - just hope its possibility 1 because the latter two we have already made final decision for.
Post biopsy:
Last edited:
Poor Miesha and you. You both are always in my prayers. Praying for no cancer!!
blacknrust
Hot Topics Subscriber
Sending hugs and prayers to you and Miesha.
Sweet Miesha, my thoughts and continual prayers are with you, gorgeous girl xx
My heart breaks for you both. I truly hope it's possibility number one. I will continue to pray for her and you and hope that she will make a full recovery. On the bright side with the lumps appearing is that, that could give the doc a real answer for you. I just hope it's a good answer. God I would be a nervous wreck, I'm so sorry for you all, give miesha lots of hugs from us.
bomary
Hot Topics Subscriber
Sweet Miesha. Absolutely, obviously, fervently, and continuously praying for it to be #1 on the list of possibilities. I love that baby, and I hate how much you guys have already dealt with in these short few freaking months...truly rips my heart out. As you know, no matter what the report says, I (and DCF) are here for you and support you as you deal with this scary and gut-wrenching situation.
I love you guys, and you are seriously in my thoughts every day. (You're in Mom O'Mary's thoughts, too....any time she sees that I'm on the forum or thinks I'm texting/talking to you, she says, "Is 'our' Miesha okay?")
Gigantic human and Doberman hugs to you and that baby girl.
I love you guys, and you are seriously in my thoughts every day. (You're in Mom O'Mary's thoughts, too....any time she sees that I'm on the forum or thinks I'm texting/talking to you, she says, "Is 'our' Miesha okay?")
Gigantic human and Doberman hugs to you and that baby girl.
Prushanks
Hot Topics Subscriber
Waiting for results is so frustrating.. i have the nagging feeling i won't be hearing until Monday when the Doc is back in the office [he works mon-thurs] even though they do have an Internist in over the weekend, it is a very busy specialty and 24hr emergency practice. I can understand that.
And as i think about all the possible results, and as i am baffled by this weird skin presentation i continued to research to keep my mind off the wait. What is funny is that i completely missed a bigger picture with "possibility #1"... The Chicken or The Egg idea. How the hell can we know? If its an infection, it is just as easily [if not more probable] an opportunistic one come on after the start of immunosuppressants rather than some mysterious infection that wasn't killed by the Doxy or Cephalexin she was on back in the beginning of this journey. My limited and outdated veterinary knowledge hinders and infuriates me but also makes me keep pressing to investigate it further to find an answer that makes sense. I want the pieces to fit. I want that Ah-Ha moment.
I wanted it to be so simple.. "if this ---> then that" to make this all easier to swallow. But i don't think it will be. Hell, i think in reality they may be Boils [commonly caused by Staph], which can develop in an immune-compromised dog. "Boils" or not, an infection developing after start of immunosuppressive regimen lends itself back to possibility #3.. and whether this skin situation is diagnosed as an infection or not, how would we know if it developed before onset or after. Treating an infection will likely just treat an infection and leave the situation the same... a 17month old pup suffering from idiopathic IMPA, forever susceptible to infection and illness due to the required treatment, living an uncomfortable, emotionally and financially draining life.
Sometimes the answer is the simplest possibility... but i hope for that Hail Mary pass.
[sorry to ramble on, just trying to organize my feelings. Will keep you updated on the pending results.]
strykerdobe
Hot Topics Subscriber
We don't feel like your rambling on. Sorting your feelings, second guessing and more and more questions. We are all here to listen and try and help to get you through this as a Dobermann family. It is very frustrating trying to find answers.
Just some ideas to throw out there and think out of the box.
Seeing a Holistic/Integrative Vet.
These are very good without side effects of antibiotics.
Not discontinuing them but but adding these.
Think about giving Garlic. A very good antiviral.
Garlic For Dogs: Poison Or Medicine? - Dogs Naturally Magazine
Try adding some Colloidal Silver to water and spray on those areas.
Five Immune-Boosting Uses of Colloidal Silver - Dogs Naturally Magazine
8 Proven Colloidal Silver Benefits and Uses - Dr. Axe
Another option to look into is CBD Oil. These have a large range of benefits!
www.petreleaf.com
www.cannapet.com
A very good read by Dr. Jean Dodds on
Immune-Mediated Polyarthritis in Dogs
Just some ideas to throw out there and think out of the box.
Seeing a Holistic/Integrative Vet.
These are very good without side effects of antibiotics.
Not discontinuing them but but adding these.
Think about giving Garlic. A very good antiviral.
Garlic For Dogs: Poison Or Medicine? - Dogs Naturally Magazine
Try adding some Colloidal Silver to water and spray on those areas.
Five Immune-Boosting Uses of Colloidal Silver - Dogs Naturally Magazine
8 Proven Colloidal Silver Benefits and Uses - Dr. Axe
Another option to look into is CBD Oil. These have a large range of benefits!
www.petreleaf.com
www.cannapet.com
A very good read by Dr. Jean Dodds on
Immune-Mediated Polyarthritis in Dogs
I swear by colloidal silver. We make our own, @Prushanks if you're interested, text me and I can send you links on all the info to get started. we use it ourselves, and give it to the animals both topically and internally. We (he lol) have done tons of research on it and fully stand behind it.
WiglWerm
Hot Topics Subscriber
Oh poor baby Miesha, sweetie, you are in my prayers! She is a fighter and so is her momma! Please know we are here for you! Praying for GREAT answers!!!
Totally agree with the Colloidal silver. Hear GREAT things about CBD oil, some people I know use it with their dogs for pain relief.
Totally agree with the Colloidal silver. Hear GREAT things about CBD oil, some people I know use it with their dogs for pain relief.
Prushanks
Hot Topics Subscriber
Hey everyone.
The biopsy and culture results are in and i can't say that it is a surprise, but still really sucks. Turns out even though the Specialist politely dismissed my "diagnosis" of Calcinosis Cutis, saying that it's way too early for that to be a possibility... well, turns out that was the diagnosis - a side effect of steroids. The culture is only partially back and only two bacteria, a weak, susceptible Staph and some gram-negative that they are still waiting for the rest of the results for. What this means is that it is not the "trigger" of her IMPA. It is not Cancer. It is only the side effects of the drugs that are just not effective for her and our situation remains the same.
Where she stands with her condition is that it is a trial and error to see if anything works - but the next tier of meds to try are so unaffordable and given Miesha's case, the doctors aren't too optimistic that she'd improve much more. She has been the exception to many of the rules throughout this whole thing. Average onset for IMPA is 2-6yrs - her onset was 15 months. Drugs that normally work well, aren't. Even a side effect that according to the Internist shouldn't develop for many months yet [if at all], developed in less than 2 months from start of steroid therapy. My little girl certainly likes to to be ahead of the curve...
She had a really good [hopeful] day on Friday... Saturday she could barely walk and slept most of the day. I took her out today and tried a little slow, gentle flirt pole.... the rest of the day she was limping and stiff. What kind of life is this? We have some decisions to make. I want to thank you all for your continued warm wishes and love.
Wendy
The biopsy and culture results are in and i can't say that it is a surprise, but still really sucks. Turns out even though the Specialist politely dismissed my "diagnosis" of Calcinosis Cutis, saying that it's way too early for that to be a possibility... well, turns out that was the diagnosis - a side effect of steroids. The culture is only partially back and only two bacteria, a weak, susceptible Staph and some gram-negative that they are still waiting for the rest of the results for. What this means is that it is not the "trigger" of her IMPA. It is not Cancer. It is only the side effects of the drugs that are just not effective for her and our situation remains the same.
Where she stands with her condition is that it is a trial and error to see if anything works - but the next tier of meds to try are so unaffordable and given Miesha's case, the doctors aren't too optimistic that she'd improve much more. She has been the exception to many of the rules throughout this whole thing. Average onset for IMPA is 2-6yrs - her onset was 15 months. Drugs that normally work well, aren't. Even a side effect that according to the Internist shouldn't develop for many months yet [if at all], developed in less than 2 months from start of steroid therapy. My little girl certainly likes to to be ahead of the curve...
She had a really good [hopeful] day on Friday... Saturday she could barely walk and slept most of the day. I took her out today and tried a little slow, gentle flirt pole.... the rest of the day she was limping and stiff. What kind of life is this? We have some decisions to make. I want to thank you all for your continued warm wishes and love.
Wendy
Wendy I am so sorry for both of you we are all here to support you no matter what you ultimately decide. She's been such a fighter and so have you. I know you are doing all that you can, I can only imagine the emotional roller coaster and daily anxiety you have been going through. I just want you to know you're not alone in this battle you have all of us here to offer shoulders to cry on. I'm still praying for the both of you <3
we are all here to support you no matter what you ultimately decide. She's been such a fighter and so have you. I know you are doing all that you can, I can only imagine the emotional roller coaster and daily anxiety you have been going through. I just want you to know you're not alone in this battle you have all of us here to offer shoulders to cry on. I'm still praying for the both of you <3
bomary
Hot Topics Subscriber
My heart is broken for you guys. Every day I just want to hear that the whole freaking thing has turned around, it was some kind of fluke, and she is acting like an 18 mo. old Dober butt. I canNOT stand that you are having to think about these things and that your "baby girl" can't do normal "baby girl" things.
I 100% know that you will do what is best for that baby, and you have my support, love, prayers, thoughts no matter what.
Side note...I have never seen that pic before, and it is absolutely freaking adorable!! She is a sweet, smart, beautiful and loving girl in a wonderful home.
Hugs to all of you...I am sure this is confusing to your "littles."
I 100% know that you will do what is best for that baby, and you have my support, love, prayers, thoughts no matter what.
Side note...I have never seen that pic before, and it is absolutely freaking adorable!! She is a sweet, smart, beautiful and loving girl in a wonderful home.
Hugs to all of you...I am sure this is confusing to your "littles."
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