 | Home > Off Topic > Dog owners please help with diagnosis |
 
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| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731   
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Over the past months, our 5 year old terrier has become really lethargic and not really interested in food. Also, her normally pink skin (she's blond), especially on her tummy, has gone almost black. She's had her blood tested and, although borderline, her thyroid values are all in the normal range. However, the vet has had us give her thyroxin for a month but there's no improvement. The vet (normally very good) is stumped.
Has anyone else seen this or have any ideas what it could be? Cheers Matt Tell someone you love them today because life is short. But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... |
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9th Jul 2014 5:32pm |
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| domcoutts Member Since: 08 Dec 2011 Location: Kent Posts: 111  
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My partner, a practice manager at a vets, mentioned that yeast infections can cause similar symptoms and terriers are more prone than most breeds. Might be worth a check.
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9th Jul 2014 8:39pm |
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| Muddybigdog Member Since: 11 Apr 2014 Location: Suffolk Posts: 1025 
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One of our chaps often gets seasonal alopecia where he loses hair and has black skin underneath, a few questions, have you change the dogs food? Have your carpets or floor been treated / cleaned with strong chemicals? Has your vet taken any swabs looking mites, skin infections either bacterial or fungus or yeast infections, have you introduced new foods/treats? Has the dog been washed recently in a strong shampoo?
It sounds like an allergy to me, even heat/sun may cause these symptoms, the vet could try giving a prednisone, cortisone injection or the so-called 'allergy shot' Keep us posted Jumped ship to reliability - Mitsubishi L200 Puma 90 XS - Sold D3 - 2.7 S x2 (both Sold) Freelander 2 HSE - Sold Freelander 1 - Sold Disco 2 - Sold |
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9th Jul 2014 8:49pm |
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| munch90 Member Since: 26 Oct 2013 Location: guildford Posts: 3558 
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we had a great Dane with thyroid problem , her hair started falling out in patches but skin stayed pink , put on weight went up to 16st
she went on to tablets hair grew back that's all I can remember as it was quite a few years ago |
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9th Jul 2014 8:50pm |
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| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731
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Thanks guys
Stress seems one possibility and her coat has become quite dry (no sores though, thank God) but she had the problem a year ago before we adopted a new puppy. Despite the addition, it seemed to get better, but then worse again. The new dog has calmed down a lot but it hasn't helped 
I'll get her checked for yeast infections (don't think she has mites). We haven't changed her food for years but I think it might actually be a good idea - I was wondering if perhaps the weight-control food (although good quality) might be missing something. I'll also get blood tests done for allergy then. Anything we should look for in particular? We hardly use floor cleaners 
so I'm not sure what it could be unless it came from outside. Cheers Matt Tell someone you love them today because life is short. But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... |
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9th Jul 2014 9:00pm |
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| borderterrier Member Since: 09 Dec 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 1677 
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It's impossible to diagnose over the internet and without seeing the animal in person and speaking to the owner to get the dog's symptom history. My wife is an army veterinary surgeon and pretty much only treats dogs (we don't have hamsters or guinea pigs in the army). Her thoughts (not withstanding she hasn't seen the animal) are that a simple blood test would not necessarily pick up the problem. Tests should possibly be looking for Addisons disease, hypothyroidism (current dose of tablets or tablet type may not suit animal - hormonal imbalances can also cause those symptoms. No harm in getting a second opinion from another vet near to you as they may have seen the condition before and know what it is. Yeast infections are common across the species and terriers are no more susceptible than any other dog. We have Border Terriers and they have never suffered from yeast infections. If it were a yeast infection then it would be more than likely be secondary to something else that's going on. Just some thoughts from my other half. As I say, without seeing the animal, it's almost impossible to make a diagnosis. Hope that helps?
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9th Jul 2014 9:27pm |
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| DAZ110 Member Since: 06 Dec 2007 Location: East Sussex Posts: 2046
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I seem to remember reading somewhere that someone used Melatonin to treat this.
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9th Jul 2014 9:34pm |
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| noworries4x4 Member Since: 24 Dec 2010 Location: Newton Abbot Devon Posts: 1195
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I was just about to copy this to my wife ex vets assistant very very knowledgeable but the above outranks her by miles so leave it to the army vet squad they are the tops If everything is under control you are not going fast enough.
Every Day 16 MY Discovery 4 Commercial Workshop and Escort Vehicle Weekends 07MY L322 TDV8 Vogue SE Series 1 80" 3ltr 6cyl with overdrive No Worries 4X4 |
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9th Jul 2014 9:39pm |
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| ZeDefender Member Since: 15 Sep 2011 Location: Munich Posts: 4731
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Thanks - that helps. I wouldn't normally get a second opinion as our vet has been very good for years but I think I might quietly visit another one
 Tell someone you love them today because life is short.
But shout it at them in German because life is also terrifying and confusing... |
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9th Jul 2014 11:02pm |
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| borderterrier Member Since: 09 Dec 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 1677
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Nothing wrong in getting a second opinion. As a professional your vet should not mind you asking someone else. My wife was the senior veterinary officer for a practice and the other vets routinely asked her advice. It's impossible to know everything and especially difficult when your patient can't talk!
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10th Jul 2014 5:08am |
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| uncas Member Since: 22 Nov 2012 Location: Wentworth near Rotherham Posts: 340
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If your dog had a yeast infection I am pretty sure that you would be able to smell it. I've had dogs that have had something similar to what you describe but that turned out to be that the food was too rich is the skin flaky?
My grandfather used to swear by the use of a product called Benbows which was a black evil smelling concoction but it's not been available for many a year now we always kept a bottle handy for dosing the dogs it always used to sort them out. I hope you get it sorted quickly. Uncas |
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10th Jul 2014 11:22pm |
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| Muddybigdog Member Since: 11 Apr 2014 Location: Suffolk Posts: 1025
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How is the pooch, hopefully on the mend? Jumped ship to reliability - Mitsubishi L200
Puma 90 XS - Sold D3 - 2.7 S x2 (both Sold) Freelander 2 HSE - Sold Freelander 1 - Sold Disco 2 - Sold |
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21st Jul 2014 12:39pm |
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