[Theta77]

Hi! This site looks awesome. I think I'm going to be doing a lot of reading. I wish I was motivated to register and post for a happier reason but what I really need is some advice.

My 7.5 month old puppy Theta (who's dozing at my feet as I type with one foot in my shoe--cuz that's apparently 2nd best when you aren't allowed to chew it) has been sick in varying degrees since August.

I have questions...and I apologize if I'm supposed to only post this kind of thing in "Health and Wellness" (?).

Theta was hospitalized w/ pneumonia for 4 days in August but her x-rays cleared and she went home w/ Metronidazole and Chloramphenicol". She was doing well...until a yellow mucus discharge started from both nostrils that eventually went to only her left nostril. She spent several weeks on Chloramphenicol but since the yellow discharge continued she was switched to Amoxicillin which had slightly better effect. When she was spayed earlier this month they also did a nasal flush. Nothing came back in the culture...but the "cytology" report suggests MAYBE "mycoplasma" bacteria (spelling?)...so now we just started "Doxycycline Hyclate." Theta has seemed relatively "fine" through most of this--active, eating normally, pooing regularly--BUT for the past few weeks she has been ITCHING A LOT poor thing...and her normally healthy coat appears to have dandruff. I'm going to call the vet about this after Thanksgiving...I have no idea if it's related but the last time I spoke with the vet on the phone he suggested there is such thing as IgA defficiency which she could potentially have. I've just started reading about this online. Problem is, $4000+ into this I can't keep nodding my head glumly at every test they want to run.

Any advice anyone could give about the next steps I should take to help Theta would be greatly appreciated. At this point she seems in the most discomfort from the itching...but the nose infection has me very worried too

Thanks in advance!

 

[sagelfn]

:welcome:
Poor pup
I will notify a mod and ask them to move this to the health section

 

[MaggieRoseLee]

The skin thing may be separate from your other issues. I know I have to way up the Omega Fish oil tablets in the fall/winter when I turn the heat on in my house. Seems to help.

You may also want to go to another vet. Just because some vets just happen to be more familiar with some issues our dogs have. There's a specialty vet in NJ called Red Bank Veterinary Hospital you may want to visit if your pup isn't improving.

Did you talk to your breeder to get any ideas?

 

[arycrest]

Have they checked her thyroid?

 

[Ali B.]

You may also want to go to another vet. Just because some vets just happen to be more familiar with some issues our dogs have. There's a specialty vet in NJ called Red Bank Veterinary Hospital you may want to visit if your pup isn't improving.

Sorry to hear about your pup. We've been going through alot with our 7 1/2 month old girl also. Red Bank Veterinary Hospital is an excellent facility. Our pup also had severe itching. We brought her there to see Dr. Spiegel, who specializes in dermatology. Turns out she had an allergy to flea saliva, which our regular vet did not pick up on, even after numerous visits with him. We were very pleased with Red Bank and Dr. Spiegel. Not sure of your location in Jersey but you may want to give them a try.

 

[1sttimeforgsd]

Welcome, sorry Theta is not feeling well. I hope that everything comes out ok.

 

[trudy]

Ali I wonder if your girl and Theta's girl are related??? Might be a good person to meet and offer another person to chat with and brain storm in person. Theta, where did you get your pup from and what has the breeder said?? Any hereditary issues she forgot to mention?? Any other pups with similar issues?? Good luck. There will be answers and perhaps it may be as simple as a food allergy, read some of the food comments and try raw or at least grain free, I think it might help

 

[LisaT]

For the IgA deficiency, email the researcher at the link after the quoted material here:
http://www.germanshepherds.com/foru...recurring-skin-resp-gi-stuff.html#post1628262
If the study is still going on, you can get this test done for free most likely.

Has there been exposure to ticks?

 

[Ali B.]

Ali I wonder if your girl and Theta's girl are related??? Might be a good person to meet and offer another person to chat with and brain storm in person. Theta, where did you get your pup from and what has the breeder said?? Any hereditary issues she forgot to mention?? Any other pups with similar issues?? Good luck. There will be answers and perhaps it may be as simple as a food allergy, read some of the food comments and try raw or at least grain free, I think it might help

Trudy, I was wondering about that possibility myself!

Theta, where did you get your pup from if you don't mind me asking? We got Jenna from a private breeder in New Gretna this past June. The pups were born on 4/16/10 (8 pups in the litter - 3 females/5 males). The birth date would actually make them just shy of 7.5 months by a few days. I'm very curious because we've also had so many health issues with Jenna since we got her that given their same age I wonder if they are related.

 

[Ali B.]

Any updates on Theta? Hope she's doing well.

 

[LisaT]

1 post a month ago and she never returned.

 

[MaggieRoseLee]

1 post a month ago and she never returned.

Hope it's cause her dog healed up and is doing well....:wub: