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Canine Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA & IMHA) - skin problem - phoebe - any advice?
| Hi guys when I was cleaning Phoebe's eyes & putting in her viscotears/optimmune drops I noticed she did not want me to clean near her nose. On further examination I noticed that she has a crusty-type small lump on the right side of her nostril. Had noticed the last few days that she had been licking quite a lot but put this down to hot weather/drugs. Took her straight to vet (mrs paranoia I think they call me!!!) but my own vet on holiday - so locum in - he said short of doing a small needle biopsy (where they would have to knock her out) we would not know exactly what the lump was. He suggested rubbing vaseline on and monitoring the lump over the coming weeks!! As I am a very hands on person - and having lost my precious Macauley to Mast Cell Tumours last year - (still recovering) - I do not want to leave this to chance and was wondering if anyone had any ideas what this could be, what can I do (if anything) and where can I go to for advice. I will be contacting Alistair and Marg at Royal Dick on monday just to see if it is a reaction to the drugs (?) or if they think it needs further investigation. today's vet said that sometimes intervention can make things worse and so I am between a rock and a hard place. I know with MCT the sooner they are caught the better. Have, co-incidentally, just been reading AIHA skin disease and wonder if this is just part of Phoebe's condition. Any advice would be most appreciated, and yes, I am paranoid when it comes to Phoebe, but I think that it goes hand in hand with this disease. Please keep Phoebe in your prayers and thoughts and that it is just something that will disappear by itself - here's hoping!! Kind Regards Gill & Phoebe |
| gill uk |
| Gill, you could try putting some vitamin E on it. Just poke a needle in a cap and squeeze the gell on you finger then rub over her nose. If anything it'll help keep the nose hydrated and prevent cracking. I've had great success using this with Tessy. Hope it helps. Johnny & Tessy |
| Johnny |
| Gill Nollaig has had a couple of crusty scabs(wouldn't say lumps) around her muzzle and on her body but they just fell off and went away,they didn't give her much bother,just noticed her scratching body slightly more.I showed them to the specialist vet and he wasn't worried by them. He said could just be a seasonal allergy.I personally think it's either the drugs(prednisolone or cyclosporine) that cause them or it could just be because the immune system is out of whack anyway with the prca that they get these slight skin complaints. However,ask the vets anyway at Royal Dick to put your mind at ease. Thanks for the reply about Forceval etc... Take care Kathleen |
| Kathleen North Ayrshire |
Gill, AIHA dogs often have skin issues. Like Johnny with Tessy, I had success with Vitamin E-oil. I found a bottle with straight oil, not capsules. I also give Kahlu a good dose of Omega-3 oil on his food every day. (Vet formula) If it does not help it can certainly not hurt. I hope you are just dealing with a skin issue. Best wishes, Brigitte & Kahlu |
| Brigitte BC Canada |
| Gill I'm so new to the condition of PRCA that I can't make any sensible suggestions as to causes - but I know in humans with compromised/suppressed immune systems, the skin is often the first sign that the immune system is not working to the best of its ability - after all, the drugs used in PRCA and AIHA do just that, they suppress the immune system. Like, Kathleen wrote, it could be the drugs - the leaflet inside the atopica box mentions something about skin reactions. I also sympathise greatly about the loss of Macauley last year - my two girls are currently lying together and the thought of losing one of them is inconceivable. My previous vet also mentioned primrose oil for skin problems - though I've never used it. Had success using vit e and aloe vera for dry skin. Take care, Claire |
| Claire Cumbria |
| thanks everyone - have got some vit e capsules and will try this on phoebe's nose - will be speaking to Royal Dick tomorrow - hadn't seen the skin reaction note in the atopcia box (thanks claire) as I tend not to read these (otherwise I'd never get a moments peace checking for everything. Phoebe already has omega-fish oil and Royal Dick has asked me to reduce them to 3 times a week. Phoebe also eats mackeral and tuna which I know is rich in Omega-3's. Its such a worry but knowing that some of the other furbabies have had similar problems puts my mind at rest (for the moment!!). The vet suggested putting vaseline on which I have been doing for two days, but I like the sound of the Vit-e better. Will keep you all posted on her progress - next blood test in 2 weeks as she has started reducing the Preds. Lit candles at Mass this morning for all furbabies with this disease and have asked members of the Church to pray for them too - as someone said - it can't hurt and may help!! My email is now up and running again (after nearly 5 days not receiving emails) so anyone wishing to contact me can do so - sorry about returned emails but it was totally out of my hands. Take Care Kind Regards Gill & Phoebe xx |
| gill uk |
This thread was discussed between 08/08/2009 and 09/08/2009
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