Dog Community

Infections - Again

Posted : 1/29/2007 8:00:02 PM

Not sure many remember, but it was last year at this time that Sassy developed the nasty infection on her tummy. We treated with Keflex (I think that's what we started with) and it didn't respond, so we did a culture and sensitivity and it grew all kinds of nasty things. Based on that, we changed antibiotics (to Cipro, Clindamycin, Simplicef, Zeniquin...not sure, cause she ended up on all of them at various points). She didn't respond to the new meds either, so we did a skin biopsy, which ruled out pemphigus (sp?) and anything other than a deep infection. After a couple more weeks of meds (now into April or May), I said "no more" and stopped everything. Amazingly, she started healing and was fine in a few weeks. She did have other issues though, so I had her allergy tested in June and found out, she's allergic to everything in her environment. Vet thought we should try Atopica and so she's been on that since Aug/Sep and had been doing well.

Well, a few weeks ago I noticed she was starting to get the sores on her feet (between the toes). I called the vet and she said suggested putting her on Keflex for a week to see if it helped. It didn't, so I took her in and the vet was unhappy in how swollen the feet were (me too). She also said she thought there might be some muscle atrophy in the back legs. I asked if it could be from the Atopica and she said "no, only steroids would do that". She thought maybe arthritis and did some stretching and checking and said she didn't see any signs of a problem. She thinks Sassy's just not walking much because her feet hurt so bad [

]. So she did a culture and switched the meds to Zeniquin and Clindamycin and said give it 10 days and if she's not better, we need to biopsy the feet. Well, I'm happy to do whatever it takes to get her healed, but I'm thinking "here we go again" and it's just the merry-go-round of drugs. Meanwhile, Sassy looks miserable and I know her big ole lab paws are just hurting her so bad. I can't soak them cause they're too sore and I know it would hurt like crazy (not the soaking, but I'd absolutely have to get them dry). I said to the vet "if at any point you think we should start the allergy shots, let me know" and she said she would but she still thinks the Atopica is better for helping Sassy immediately. I did comment that I hadn't noticed Sassy licking her feet at all and she said that's because the Atopica makes her non-itchy. I guess they still have allergic reactions, but they just don't react to it.....I don't know, but I sure wish I could help this poor girl once and for all [X(].

Kim White

Posted : 1/29/2007 8:33:22 PM

Oh Cathy Im soooooooooo sorry to hear this.....

Hey listen Im just throwing this out there but when Alley went the last time he told me to use Malaseb wipes on her feet and under her armpits for the bacteria that the antiboitics weren't reaching. I know how NASTY the toes and inbetween the pads can get. They can get down right mean and sore. Do you think these wipes might help? Ask your vet.

I like you wish for a "once and for all " too. But Iv realize this isn't going to happen in her life time .... She went off Baytril on Wednesday and lastnight itched all night long ............

Just when you think you see that pot at the end of the rainbow its moved...LOL And I keep searching for it... that is how it is like with Alley...

Hang in there... She is lucky to have a determined mom like you....and one that is clearly on top of her needs.

All the best
Kim

dyan

Posted : 1/29/2007 8:35:29 PM

Oh Cathy,,,I'm so sorry. How frustrating! The ups and downs are so hard. Personally, I wish you would do the allergy shots...but who am I to say,,,,I am just someone whos dog benefited from them. I'm sure your vet knows what is best for Sassy. How interesting though that the allergies would still be there, with her feet swollen but her not reacting from them.
I hope and pray for you guys to finally get the answer to all this.
Wondering since it was just about a year ago that she had trouble,,,if it could be something about this time of the year and whats outside causing a reaction?

cakana

Posted : 1/29/2007 9:39:31 PM

Wondering since it was just about a year ago that she had trouble,,,if it could be something about this time of the year and whats outside causing a reaction?

Thanks Kim and Dyan. It's nice to hear from others who truly understand. Dyan - I've thought the exact same thing and one of the things Sassy tested highly to was molds, so I can't help but feel that this might be an issue for her in the winter. I'm not even sure how effective allergy shots are for stuff like that, but maybe I should discuss it with the vet. DH gave her a bath today with the medicated shampoo, so I'm not sure if that'll help or not. As for using the wipes, honestly, short of sedating her, there is no way you could rub these feet. The best you could do is to soak them in something therapeutic and then try to dry them as best you could. Sadly, I tried that last year and Sassy literally goes into "freak out" mode when you hold her feet in something. You might get one done, but that's it. There's no getting her into the tub (she weighs 77 lbs) and even if you could once, you wouldn't fool her a 2nd time. She's totally unmotivated by food, so it wouldn't help to put doggy caviar on the wall...she'd have none of it [:-]. I'll call the vet tomorrow to tell her the meds aren't working and see what she says.

jessies_mom

Posted : 1/29/2007 10:07:56 PM

. As for using the wipes, honestly, short of sedating her, there is no way you could rub these feet.

I can't imagine how I'd feel if Jessie's feet were that sore; they were never as bad as Sassy's; poor girl [&o]. Jessie's not very allergic to molds but they can put antigens from them in the allergy serum if a dog needs it. Have you discussed the possibility of rush immunotherapy with your dermatologist; Jessie didn't have it but she wasn't as bad as Alley or Sassy. This is so heartbreaking; she was doing very well with the Atopica until lately. I'll be praying for you and Sassy.

cakana

Posted : 1/29/2007 10:28:38 PM

I can't imagine how I'd feel if Jessie's feet were that sore; they were never as bad as Sassy's; poor girl .

It's heart wrenching. I hate seeing her feeling this badly and I don't know how to help her. I'm so sick of feeling this way and watching her suffer. You know, I'd forgotten about the rush immuno therapy though, and I'm going to ask the vet about it. Thanks for reminding me of that.

jessies_mom

Posted : 1/29/2007 11:02:09 PM

You're welcome; there is always steroids when nothing else will help. I hate to mention them because of the potential side effects from using them long term , but at least you know there is something that will help her feel better if nothing else works.

cakana

Posted : 1/30/2007 4:47:45 PM

You're welcome; there is always steroids when nothing else will help. I hate to mention them because of the potential side effects from using them long term , but at least you know there is something that will help her feel better if nothing else works.

Well Janice, I guess you had your psychic cap on [

]. I just got off the phone with my vet and she said she wants to put Sassy on 3 days of pred and see if it helps. She's as disturbed by the lack of response to the antibiotics as I am. I told her that I can barely get Sassy to walk 10 steps and she's very obviously depressed and in pain. I really hope things turn around soon for her. Last year when Sassy had the infection on her stomach, we tried a few days of steroids and it did absolutely nothing. As much as I dislike having to use them, I'm really hoping the provide some relief this time.

jessies_mom

Posted : 1/30/2007 7:30:37 PM

Awwww, poor Sassy [&o]; it sounds like she's really suffering. I really hope the steroids give her some relief.

sallya

Posted : 1/30/2007 10:55:58 PM

Has she seen a dermatologist? Did you test for yeast on the feet? Trudy had that and that didn't even show up on a scraping test, BUT it responded to the meds right away. A derm. is the best thing. Did she get the skin testing and allergy shots?

cakana

Posted : 1/31/2007 12:02:11 PM

Has she seen a dermatologist? Did you test for yeast on the feet? Trudy had that and that didn't even show up on a scraping test, BUT it responded to the meds right away. A derm. is the best thing. Did she get the skin testing and allergy shots?

Sally - yes, she's been seeing a dermatologist for well over a year now, they did do a skin scraping and that's when we started the Clindamycin and Zeniquin 8 days ago. The vet said she saw "rods & cones". Is that bacteria? Heck, you'd think I'd know this stuff by now [8|]. Sassy's pretty much had everything in the derm vet's and my bag of tricks. We did the 12 wk elimination diet, the allergy testing, and we'd been using Atopica with success. BUT, when Sassy gets an infection, it seems to be a huge challenge to clear up. That's what we're dealing with right now.

On a positive note (I hope), when I got home last night she seemed better and was walking with less trouble. I gave her one of the prednisone pills anyway, but when I got up this morning, she was even better than last night. I don't think the pred helped that quickly, so I'm hoping the antibiotics are finally starting to work. I called and left a msg for my vet and said that I was going to hold off on the pred and see if she continued to improve. I figure if I keep giving the pred now and she does better, we won't know if she was healing from the antibiotics or the pred worked. So, that's where we're at for now.

jessies_mom

Posted : 1/31/2007 1:26:52 PM

On a positive note (I hope), when I got home last night she seemed better and was walking with less trouble. I gave her one of the prednisone pills anyway, but when I got up this morning, she was even better than last night.

That's good news; I hope she keeps getting better. Do you think the infections are hard to clear up because of the fact that her thyroid is low?

cakana

Posted : 1/31/2007 1:34:12 PM

Do you think the infections are hard to clear up because of the fact that her thyroid is low?

She's been on thyroid meds for a year and a half and we've done several checks and it's always okay. The vet did a complete senior panel a few weeks ago to rule out liver or kidney disease, but also included thyroid and it was fine. Her weight is excellent, her fur is absolutely beautiful right now, very thick and shiny, so she's not showing any signs like she did pre-thyroid meds. I had them run an adrenal type of panel last summer and it too was fine. That's the frustration. Everything always looks okay, except for the infections and the difficulty in clearing them up.