Hi all, I haven't been doing much on here other than lurking as of late. My 8mo black gsd Oakley has been sick on and off for what seems to be since he was 5 months old. He's been having skin issues since we got him at 10 weeks old.
He came home with a staph and ringworm infection from the breeder- she promptly repaid me the treatments and the vet bill. Shortly after we noticed he was always itchy and we switched him to a fish based limited ingredient diet- which seemed to help a little.
One day (aprox 5 mo) after a romp with our cat I noticed he had a large gash on his forehead. I treated the cut with some ACV and triple antibiotic cream. The following day he began refusing food and had diarrhea- so off to the vet to the tune of $300-ish and I was given expensive Apoquel, 30 day round of antibiotics, and a special shampoo. He seemed to improve a bit, then declined. Vomiting, diarrhea, itching, refusing food, lethargic. We returned to the vet who prescribed a new 21 course of antibiotics, and a sulfur bath. I was told he would need repeated baths, but at this point could not really afford or stand the smell after the first one. Symptoms seemed to quell for a while but he just generally since has been a lethargic dog. A month ago before his scheduled neuter surgery we had another "flare up" this time he was not eating or drinking or pooping. I was convinced he had a blockage so after my $500 vet bill and all was concluded was he had inflammation and needed pepcid and to go back on apoquel for the allergic reactions and another 30 day antibiotic course... I felt fumed. He would have a good day with some energy and the next he wouldn't leave the couch and seemed slightly feverish.
My vet refused to work with me on doing allergy testing with a lab, and vet dermatologist is not in my budget.
I've taken him off of the Apoquel, to be honest I think it was making him sick, he is only a pup and it is not tested for dogs under one, yet the vet kept pushing it on me. He is doing ok on beef products, as of now we have a buffalo limited ingredient food, and when he's "sick" (he will refuse food and vomit/diarrhea) we do rice and pumpkin with boiled beef. He's been on a probiotic, pepcid ac as needed, and benadryl 2x a day (no energy still due to this but seems to manage some discomfort). His ears and scalp are raw with scratching so I've been cleaning them with ACV and I have a lidocaine spray I rub in to help his discomfort. His poor fur is thinning in spots on his head.
I am beside myself. Every time I take him when he's feeling better for a walk he gets an upset belly or feels feverish the next day. I don't run to the vet anymore- I feel like their infinite wisdom has helped put him in this miserable state (I understand his allergies are not in their control- but his lowered immune issues). Does anyone have any ideas? I feel like I'm at a loss- I've sunk so much money into multiple visits over the same issues with no improvement. I love this dog, and his illness is driving me into depression.
He came home with a staph and ringworm infection from the breeder- she promptly repaid me the treatments and the vet bill. Shortly after we noticed he was always itchy and we switched him to a fish based limited ingredient diet- which seemed to help a little.
One day (aprox 5 mo) after a romp with our cat I noticed he had a large gash on his forehead. I treated the cut with some ACV and triple antibiotic cream. The following day he began refusing food and had diarrhea- so off to the vet to the tune of $300-ish and I was given expensive Apoquel, 30 day round of antibiotics, and a special shampoo. He seemed to improve a bit, then declined. Vomiting, diarrhea, itching, refusing food, lethargic. We returned to the vet who prescribed a new 21 course of antibiotics, and a sulfur bath. I was told he would need repeated baths, but at this point could not really afford or stand the smell after the first one. Symptoms seemed to quell for a while but he just generally since has been a lethargic dog. A month ago before his scheduled neuter surgery we had another "flare up" this time he was not eating or drinking or pooping. I was convinced he had a blockage so after my $500 vet bill and all was concluded was he had inflammation and needed pepcid and to go back on apoquel for the allergic reactions and another 30 day antibiotic course... I felt fumed. He would have a good day with some energy and the next he wouldn't leave the couch and seemed slightly feverish.
My vet refused to work with me on doing allergy testing with a lab, and vet dermatologist is not in my budget.
I've taken him off of the Apoquel, to be honest I think it was making him sick, he is only a pup and it is not tested for dogs under one, yet the vet kept pushing it on me. He is doing ok on beef products, as of now we have a buffalo limited ingredient food, and when he's "sick" (he will refuse food and vomit/diarrhea) we do rice and pumpkin with boiled beef. He's been on a probiotic, pepcid ac as needed, and benadryl 2x a day (no energy still due to this but seems to manage some discomfort). His ears and scalp are raw with scratching so I've been cleaning them with ACV and I have a lidocaine spray I rub in to help his discomfort. His poor fur is thinning in spots on his head.
I am beside myself. Every time I take him when he's feeling better for a walk he gets an upset belly or feels feverish the next day. I don't run to the vet anymore- I feel like their infinite wisdom has helped put him in this miserable state (I understand his allergies are not in their control- but his lowered immune issues). Does anyone have any ideas? I feel like I'm at a loss- I've sunk so much money into multiple visits over the same issues with no improvement. I love this dog, and his illness is driving me into depression.