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Please HELP We are DESPERATE, Wound will NOT Heal on Puppy *PICTURES*

153K views 1.1K replies 93 participants last post by  woogyboogy  
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hi everyone, thank you for taking time to read this.

We have a 5 1/2 month old GSD named Loki, and about 3-4 weeks ago he came up with a small bump on his back, almost like a pimple, about the size of a pea that was slightly raised. We assumed it was an ant bite or something minor. About 2-3 days later we brought him into the vet to get some of his immunizations and we showed the vet this bump. He told us to use Virbac Pyoben Shampoo when we bath him and just keep a close eye on it.

We did and after 5-6 days, it got progressively worse. So we took him in the next week and he put Loki on an oral antibiotic (Ciprofloxacin) for 2 weeks. He was and still is on it for about 6 days and it still had gotten progressively worse, so we took him back the following week, where the vet seemed alot more concerned. He gave Loki an antibiotic shot, and reassured us that this SHOULD fix it.

Well, its been about 4 days since that antibiotic shot, and its STILL getting worse. The entire wound itself is about as round as a baseball, and within that circle there are several sores that are just open and about 1/16th-1/8th deep. One of the small sores will close up and another will open. If you feel the wound, you can actually grab it, the bottom of the wound is hard, it's hard to describe :confused: .

I have been doing a lot of research and I just discovered "Manuka Honey" yesterday, people say it works miracles for wounds, and we started applying that last night and this morning, it is basically our final hope. We haven't told the vet about the Manuka Honey yet, and the last time we were in there was 4 days ago for the antibiotic shot. I've applied the Manuka Honey to the wound, then put a non adhesive dressing over it and then wrap it with an ace bandage.

The vet said if this antibiotic shot doesn't fix it, he will have to put him under and surgically remove the wound. :confused::mad::(

He is eating, and drinking fine. We feed him Blue Large Breed Puppy food, and he eats 3 cups per day, morning, afternoon, and night. He sleeps from roughly 10pm-6:30am. But he definitely has seemed more "down" with all of this going on, and not as energetic.

Also, once the wound went from a small bump, to an actual open sore, we started applying Iodine swabs, and then Bactroban (Mupirocin) to it (about 2 weeks ago), but that hasn't helped with anything.

Loki will try to lick it, but we pretty much watch him constantly and tell him to "leave it" as soon as we see him try to go for it. Also, we haven't used a cone to prevent him from licking it, the Vet never recommenced it to us.

This is our first dog and my girlfriend and I are extremely stressed, worried, and upset with what he has been going through. If ANYONE can give us some type of input we would greatly appreciate it!

Also, The pictures of his wound are with the Manuka Honey applied to it so that's why it may seem to look wet.

Thanks you all so much!
 

Attachments

#499 ·
hev1128...#1 i think might be a big NO for anyone with an animal (or person) on the property who has serious medical issues.
 
#501 ·
Ok everyone here is the update for today.

We just got back from the Vet, turns out, one of the Vets at this new office has actually seen several cases of Pythiosis, and already has an established professional relationship with Bob Glass, through her previous cases.

We got the blood sample done today (ELISA test), and it is being sent out today.

The Vet was very willing to work with us, she knows that it is very serious, and that timing is the most important factor with this infection. She is definitely on top of the ball.

The Vet contacted Bob Glass this morning to let him know that she was now involved with Loki, and that a blood sample would be on the way to his lab very soon.

Also, I literally just got off the phone with Bob Glass, he is the most amazing, helpful person I've ever talked to in my life. He said that we will know the results on Friday or Saturday.

Thanks everyone!!!
 
#503 ·
Yeah, definitely a little more relieved, I feel like we are in the right hands now for sure. Still no results back from the Histology...should be any day now though.

Also, she was very suspicious of it being Pythiosis, but she wasn't making any assumptions until we get the results back for the blood test.
 
#509 ·
wonderful news!!!
 
#511 ·
This may be a very depressing post to some, be warned.

Just so everyone knows...there is a very big catch with this entire scenario, and I know I briefly mentioned it earlier in this thread.

When the blood results come back, it will either be Pythiosis, or Lagenidium we are 99.9% sure.

Pythiosis actually has a vaccine and has been studied a lot more than Lagenidium. Lagenidium has NO vaccine. If it comes back positive for Lagenidium, then that is basically the end of the road.:(

I talked to Robert Glass, the owner of Pav Labs, which is the company who makes the Vaccine for Pythiosis, and he told me that if it comes back positive for Lagenidium, the only thing we can do is pray. He said there is nothing we can do for Lagenidium to try and cure it.

The Vaccine for Pythiosis is essentially useless for Lagenidium. So we are just praying, and hoping that if anything, it comes back positive for Pythiosis, which is something horrible to pray for, but better than the alternative.

Thank you so much for the support everyone! All three of us appreciate it way more than you know! We are all trying to stay as positive as possible.
 
#513 ·
It does sound like you were meant to find the vet....

I understand your depressing post, there are no real good alternatives, and diagnosis may be just the start of the battle. But we can hope that the surgical resection was complete, and support with alternative methods, and, then hope, I guess.

I guess this Lagenidium is used in pesticides to kill mosquitos? Might they be spreading this thing? If so, this would be terrible news :(
 
#520 ·
Here is a quick description of Lagenidium spp;

a microscopic spore-producing oomycotic (yeast-like) fungus which inhabits aquatic regions and is normally parasitic on insects.
Dogs are thought to become infected from ingesting or inhaling spores while foraging, through skin wounds or when eating small amphibians and reptiles.


Here is the link; Lagenidium spp - Dog
 
#522 ·
I emailed Robert Glass about Lagenidium, this was my question;
Is Lagenidium spp, and Lagenidium giganteum the same thing? I've found several articles about Lagenidium, but some say "spp" and some say "giganteum"

And this was his response;
"They're strains of the same organism. We have identified 4 strains that are pathogenic. Some are slow growing, and at least one is a fast growing very pathogenic strain."
 
#523 ·
I have just finished reading this entire post; I have no information to offer but would like to let you know that I am praying that you will get a good outcome on the blood results. You all have been through so much dealing with this, I can't even imagine the amount of stress it has to be causing you and your family.

Sending lots of healing vibes and prayers your boys way. Hang in there, you have done such an amazing job!
 
#525 ·
I think the abbreviation spp. is to denote a generic member of the species, not identified which one. Can't remember if that is plural or singular.

I guess we are hoping for a positive on the blood test then, so that there is a therapy to try. I'm really so very sorry that you guys are going through all of this, and I sure am hoping that he's going to be one of those dogs that beats all odds. With the amount of support and good thoughts zooming to him on the forum, that is bound to help....
 
#526 ·
Yeah....best case scenario, is the blood test comes back negative, meaning the surgery had removed all traces of Pythiosis (Although from research, that is highly unlikely). Second "best" scenario would be to test positive for Pythiosis so that we can treat it with the Vaccine, and the worst case scenario would be to test positive for Lagenidium.:(

Thanks for the support Lisa, you have been such an amazing help throughout all of this!
 
#532 ·
Out of curiosity- if this is indeed related to the pond he swam in how long after that swim did you see the sore on his back? Did it start small and get big?

Crap that can be in water:( My healthy little brother spent several weeks in the hospital two summers ago with dr's in and out trying to figure out what was wrong with him. Infectious disease dr's were called in and they believe he had legionnaires disease from the water mist coolers at the zoo. They picked apart what he did the week before. The CDC was also called. That water went up his nose and into his lungs and wreaked havoc from there. He's fine now but had a long recovery. Not related to dogs but darn water can carry some nasty stuff:(
 
#534 ·
We noticed it approximately 3-5 days after he had been in the pond. It started out as what seemed to be a mosquito bite.

Also, we are 99.9% positive it came from my friends pond, after researching Pythiosis, the organism is formed from Lily Pads. My friends pond is LOADED with lily pads. It's just an assumption, but a very good one.

Also, sorry about your brother, but I'm glad he has made a full recovery!
 
#541 ·
Is today the day you're supposed to get the results? I have been watching and hoping that a good outcome will come out of this. My girl Tess will be 2 next month and goes out on adventures to conservation lands and swims all the time. After reading about this disease and seeing the pain you are going through, I am thinking about pulling the plug on her swimming days.

Does your boy have any other symptoms at all? Is he eating good, playing and sleeping well?

Thinking of you and your boy today and sending truck loads of positive vibes his way.
 
#542 ·
Thank you so much for the support. We will know the results by either tonight, or tomorrow, and I agree, we are going to be so paranoid about anything we do with Loki now.:(

Also, as far as symptoms go, there really aren't any. He sleeps 8 hours, eats like a horse, goes to the bathroom normal, has energy, and looks healthy.

Thanks again, and I will keep everyone updated. Still no word on our previous vet on the Histopathology report.