Allergies? Or Worse?

Has your vet expressed on opinion about whether or not it could be pemphigus or discoid lupus?

This vet says Vasculitis after consulting with a dermatology specialist.  None of the meds have really helped. 

This condition presented itself in just a few hours time and they charged me almost $1000 in biopsies for CANCER?  Makes no sense.  If it hadn't been 2AM I would have had better sense than to fall for that... I really feel like a sucker.  :(

Appt. tomorrow with a vet specializing in allergies and dermatology.

Fingers crossed! 

I am not trying to scare you or worry you anymore than you already are, but I felt compelled to post this, just in case it helps you. 

I just ran across this thread, & when I saw your dog, I immediately thought of a friend's schipperke who dealt with this issue a few months ago.  It initially presented like your dog.  Elvis would improve a little, & then he would have a big setback. 

His owner took him to an internal medicine specialist, who did biopsies.  The biopsies showed that it was pemphigus & he was started on pred & azothioprine.  Those drugs failed to supress the immune system enough to stop the outbreaks, so his owner took him to a dermatologist who decided to start him on triamcinalone & cyclosporine.  That drug combination didn't work either.  During a recheck with the dermatologist, he mentioned that there is a certain type of liver cancer that can mimic pemphigus.  They pulled blood for a chem panel, & Elvis's liver enzymes were through the roof. 

Elvis went in for an ultrasound & possible biopsies of his liver.  The ultrasound showed a very large, nonresectable mass in his liver.  His owner decided to wean him off the drugs, & let him live out what life he had left. 

I went with my friend the day he helped Elvis cross over.  This is what he looked like that day.

Well... this specialist was certainly thorough.  She read thru Rowdy's history from the other vets, talked to the pathologist who had done his biopsies, and checked him out from head to toe.  Looked at all my photos, too.

Her diagnosis was... PUPPY STRANGLES.   

She said the areas with hair loss are actually scarring, and unfortunately that is permanent.  The good news is she wants to begin weaning him off the steroids immediately and says there will probably be no further issues.

I would be happy and relieved... but I'm afraid to believe she's right.  Puppy strangles, and my dog is 10 years old?????

I don't know WHAT to think!