New member, my Tanker isn't well...HELP

[TANKERSMOM]

Tank is my 6 year old Bully, was all Bully until a few months back when he developed a rash underneath his leather collar, vet, treated, fixed, and then and now, he's just gotten sicker with a terrible ear infections, again, vet, treat, treat, treat, with that, he's now got this horrible skin issue, first started on his ears, outside portion, losing hair, what first looked like "hot spots", kept it clean, dry, they both stay scaley and now there's spots here and there, losing his hair in spots, the cushion on his paws have just fallen off, his paws look like they are "foundering", he lays around all the time, does still get excited with what we are feeding him "wet" food to fatten him back up, he's lost over 20 pounds. Biopsy of a place on ear came back with a few mast cells, I'm an oncology nurse so this immediately caught my attention, labs show his liver enzymes are up, the vet is clueless, we've taken him back and back and back again, dozens of trips to her for pain meds, steroids, antibiotics, nothing is working, she is completely without answers...I have pics of the paws and now it's spreading to his legs, scaley and hair loss, could it be thyroid???? could it be cancer??? Vet is leaning toward a cancer, but a lymphoma maybe? She says that there's not any lab that would answer this, is there not a cancer antigen that can be tested for?? I'm at a loss and I feel like my baby is suffering..help, please somebody tell me, does this sound familiar in any way to any body???? If so I'd be glad to send pics, or if allowed post them on here...I'm almost at that point to end what I feel like may be a suffering scenario..I don't want to go there...Thanks to anyone who can give me direction!!

(edit, desertskybulldogs is adding photos so members can see)

 

[cali~jenn]

Oh my gosh you poor thing. Please post pics, maybe you can get more input this way. [MENTION=2]desertskybulldogs[/MENTION] I wish I could help some but hopefully someone here has heard of something like this. It can't be a staph infection I take it? Welcome to Ebn, I wish it was under better circumstances tho.

 

[Poppy]

Tank is my 6 year old Bully, was all Bully until a few months back when he developed a rash underneath his leather collar, vet, treated, fixed, and then and now, he's just gotten sicker with a terrible ear infections, again, vet, treat, treat, treat, with that, he's now got this horrible skin issue, first started on his ears, outside portion, losing hair, what first looked like "hot spots", kept it clean, dry, they both stay scaley and now there's spots here and there, losing his hair in spots, the cushion on his paws have just fallen off, his paws look like they are "foundering", he lays around all the time, does still get excited with what we are feeding him "wet" food to fatten him back up, he's lost over 20 pounds. Biopsy of a place on ear came back with a few mast cells, I'm an oncology nurse so this immediately caught my attention, labs show his liver enzymes are up, the vet is clueless, we've taken him back and back and back again, dozens of trips to her for pain meds, steroids, antibiotics, nothing is working, she is completely without answers...I have pics of the paws and now it's spreading to his legs, scaley and hair loss, could it be thyroid???? could it be cancer??? Vet is leaning toward a cancer, but a lymphoma maybe? She says that there's not any lab that would answer this, is there not a cancer antigen that can be tested for?? I'm at a loss and I feel like my baby is suffering..help, please somebody tell me, does this sound familiar in any way to any body???? If so I'd be glad to send pics, or if allowed post them on here...I'm almost at that point to end what I feel like may be a suffering scenario..I don't want to go there...Thanks to anyone who can give me direction!!

Hi TankersMom,

So sorry this is happening and just wanted you to know I'm thinking of you. I will be of little help but the experts will come along soon.

First things first, go on the bully vet thread and get a new vet ASAP.

To pack some weight on you could use canned tripe. He will happily gobble it up. Just use the serving suggestions on the can.

You're in my thoughts and prayers tonight. My hope is that you can rule out anything medical and it'll be about finding the perfect diet for Tank.

 

[bullmama]

I am wondering if all these different meds put a serious downward spiral on his immune system. Have you seeked out a second opinion? I hope you can post pictures so we can see better what you are describing, as it does not sound like anything I have ever heard before.... So very sorry this is happening

 

[TANKERSMOM]

pics are up, they look awful, mind you, this baby was a pic of beauty, now we have no clue what to do, never had skin issues until just recently, this year I guess, and I am at a loss, vet, lost, he looks orphaned...such a good dog, behaves, plays well, now he's just here, doesn't really want to be bothered, and his buddy sisters, a lab and havanese, which he used to play around with, they now "bother" him when touched, he acts like it hurts..I want to bathe him, this stuff has him smelly, but i'm so afraid i'm gonna hurt him...look at the album, it's pitiful...he needs help, we need help...please, anybody, give me some clue!!! and thank you all in advance!! I'm almost leaning toward a new vet, by the way, but feel like we'll be starting the whole process over again, no answers is so what I'm afraid of...he truly acts like it hurts to walk on anything other than carpet, even the grass he kinda looks at like ,...omg, i have to go thru that stuff that tickles and hurts my feet?????

 

[TANKERSMOM]

actually, he seems better after a couple days of antibiotics, doesn't seem like the steroids are doing any good, he's on his oh, third round of dexa, the doxycycline did make him feel a little better, but as soon as they are gone and couple days go by he's back to doing nothing, no eating, drinking, nothing, and you'd think the steroids would, and are supposed to, make him thirsty, pee more, etc., nothing. absolutely nothing...

 

[GRACIE11]

Aww poor baby I feel bad for Tanker.....hope he gets better soon

 

[Fontanafox]

Oh dear, I've never seen this before. I'm so sorry you're going through such a stressful situation. Wish I had the answers. Second opinion might be the only way to go if you say the vet is clueless. Is she a bulldog specialist? Hugs to you and Tank. I will pray for Tank and pray you get some answers and relief for your fur baby.

 

[MamaAndi]

I wish I had some helpful info but I've never seen anything like that before. You guys will be in our thoughts. I would definitly get a second opinion from another vet as a jumping off point though. Good luck with everything!

 

[Vicaroo1000]

It pained me physically to look at those pictures.....with each click I winched....the knot growing bigger yet in my stomach. I've never seen anything like this but I'm hardly a dog expert. You have your primary vets tests; get those records -- with all the test results, etc. --- and see a specialist. If you were here in the Greater Seattle Area, I'd be able to suggest one. Please keep us posted. I'll be thinking about Tank nonstop....poor angel baby. He doesn't look very happy does he?

 

[BruceP]

I feel so sorry for Tanker, poor baby. I hope someone will have some info for you. Anyway, to EBN. Im glad you joined.

 

[LariP]

I also feel a 2nd opinion is in order. That does seem to be something systemic.

And I would try soaking his paws in some Epsom salt to debride (sp) and use a soothing lotion or cortisone cream between soaks just to gently clean and soothe. And also gently clean and cover the other areas with the cream too. Treat as you would for wound care.

 

[Twice]

My heart broke when I saw those pictures. That poor baby

Do you have a school of veterinary medicine near you? I would try to take him there.

 

[cowsmom]

@TANKERSMOM hon that looks like a serious issue with yeast. it looks like your dog is eat up with it. sarahs pads look like that but not that bad. is the stuff yellow on the pads. is it red in between the pads. also does your dog stink. is he scratching i would get a different vet first then see about getting a yeast shampoo to wash them in it. malaket has one and lisa got one from the vet called pharmaseb. as lisa said your going to have to boost the immune system somehow. also says that a thyroid problem can cause it also. if they are on canned food make sure its a good one. sugar and wetness feed yeast. so get a canned food that is a good brand and has no carbs in it. also with canned food i wonder if they are getting enough vitamins as my dog is on canned also. i give her a vitamin pills daily to now just to be sure. yogurt or acidophilous pills can help. im not sure but from the pics of the paws it sure looks like a good possibility. also yeast would make them much less active and lay and sleep alot. so would LOW THYROID. there is a website called nzymes.com and click on the letters for y and then yeast. i never used the meds but will give you a picture of what your dealing with. also steroids will make it worse in the long run if thats what it is. dunno bout cancer could be with the weight loss but i would check the thyroid and for sure get a new vet. gosh i hope he gets better

 

[RaRett]

If you suspect a yeast problem - our remedy is a solution of 2 parts warm water, 1 part Peroxide 1 part Apple Cider Vinegar - Gizmo had a horrible yeast issue on her feet - we 'pickled her' twice a day for a week, we thought we had killed the yeast colony, but had not got it quite gone - washed all of her bedding, another few rounds of pickling - and we think we have it under control - Yeast has a distinctive odor - FRITOES CORN CHIPS - if you have that odor, then its definately yeast issue.