Loofa going to see a specialist...

[JaxTellersOldLady]

The ulcers are still there, gums are still very red, energy levels/recovery is off and his mouth is basically still a bloody mess. On the plus side he is on nature diet and loving it, his coat is much better and he has put some weight on again.

So after a few weeks of no medication, a fun filled holiday including exercise, lots of swimming, running around and general all round merriment Loofa has an appointment to go to a specialist next Thursday. He will stay there for a few days for tests etc and then I am not sure what happens. Either full diagnosis and treatment or end of the line.

I am apprehensive, my darling pup is only just turning 16 months and this is not good. But at least we are moving forward again.

I took him to my old Vet in Scotland when we were up - just on the off chance she might know what it was and we got an AHA!!! moment, sadly not - she said she would have treated him exactly the same as our vets have done and would be thinking of the auto immune route now too.

Please let this work out. My dog is just excellent and we have such great plans for him, but until he is better he cant do agility or proper training for any purpose and that makes me sad.

I know Kid and VAlhalla read the other threads, this was just (supposedly) a quick update.

He isn't ill for lack of love, that's for sure, poor little boy.

I'm wishing him all the positive thoughts in the world and pray to goodness your news will be positive. I just WISH I could DO something to help, feel so useless.

Thinking of you.

Val x

thanks Val - we all feel the same. His breeder (who is now a friend)lives locally has been round loads, to see him, have a cuppa and they feel so so bad. She has offered us help with getting meds cheaper and given us a tray of green tripe to help get weight back on him (puke emoticon) which he loved but stinks to high heaven and seriously makes me gag.

ALL the other puppies from that litter are just fine, one if not two are now in training for guide dogs a couple others live locally and they are just tickety boo.

It is sheer bad fucking luck!

On a plus note ; his parents have mated again and the litter is due first wk in September - if this is NOT an auto immune we may get another puppy, maybe...

Will keep you updated.

x

Thanks for the update, it's lovely to hear loofa had a good holiday but not so good to hear there is still no diagnosis. It's lovely that the breeder is in constant touch with you, you can support eachother.

Fingers crossed for some answers on Thursday X

Today they did, total MOT visually, physically etc etc, an exercise test (to check his recovery rate) of course he did NOT collapse or behave like an old dog , they also took bloods, results tomorrow and shaved all his side to do an ultrasound scan. Nothing out of the ordinary there either.

Tomorrow they are doing scopes and biopsy and not sure what else, if I am not bankrupt by next week I shall be selling children, kidneys and a lung if anyone is interested?!

The Vet also said what a gorgeous boy he was, how smart he is and they are desperate to diagnose and find a solution for him.

If at the end of all this there is no answer then I just dont know what else we can do for him. Keep the ulcers? Hopefully tomorrow I will have answers.

Sorry to hear that he is so poorly, I missed your threads about him.

Daphne sends her love, and a sloppy kiss.

Good luck for tomorrow.

Don't know what to say, the waiting must be awful Jax. Still keeping you in my heart and thoughts.

Love and sloppy, bouncy kisses from my boys and hugs from me.

You need answers, its awful not knowing what you are dealing with as it means you don't know how to treat it.

Sounds like he is in the most wonderful home though. Some people may have given up on him before now, but not you.

Sending good luck and positive vibes for tomorrow, from me and my teddy bear

Kid, I (we) cant give up on him, he is happy in himself and such a loving dog. He is only 16 months old. If you saw him out and about, apart from looking a bit under weight, he looks fine, until you look closer around and in his mouth.

I can understand (and have done) having animals put to sleep when they are in severe pain or when there is nothing else you can do - and one day will have to make the decision for Loofa, I just cannot get my head around it at the moment; him being so young.

On the plus side we are puppy sitting for a 13 week old <span class="line-through">nutter</span> black GSD, who is the perfect antidote to sadness, she will be a working dog and is so much hard work it takes your mind off everything else (including making dinner).  I had forgotten what time wasters puppies are! <img loading="lazy" class="inline-flex mumsnet-emoji" alt="Grin" src="https://www.mumsnet.com/build/assets/grin-D7Eg_B6y.png">

Thanks for the sloppy kisses and love, much appreciated.

I have to say as a by the by - the specialists are so inclusive.  I said to the children to wait in the waiting area, she said, no no, plenty of room in the consultation room, they can come along too if you want. 

And coffee, proper coffee...  mind you at those prices.

Hope you get some answers today X

got my boy back this evening! He came home, had some food and antibiotics, and is fast asleep on the sofa

We have a very detailed report about what was done in the past 2 days and are awaiting biopsy results on Wednesday.

The specialist said that she is surprised he is eating so well because of his mouth, but again, nothing on the top of his tongue or roof of his mouth which is probably why. He has antibiotics to stop any infection where his swabs/biopsys were taken, his special antacid for his tummy and gaviscon style liquid for coating oesophagus.

Phew, long list, all very expensive and nothing showed on ultrasound. While he was under they examined him top to bottom (literally) and found a new ulcer on the skin surrounding his willy, which isnt good and is pointing more and more towards auto immune problems.

Await Wednesday for update, diagnosis and what prognosis is for my boy.

You must be so glad to have your baby back home. Sofa cuddles are just the thing, they're good for both of you.

Lets hope that the new ulcer is just a coincidence and that Wednesday will bring a solution for Loofa and a sigh of relief to you.

Val x

Thanks for the update and enjoy the cuddles.
Fingers crossed for Wednesdays results giving you some long overdue answers xxx

GOOD NEWS!!!!

specialist Vet just rang to let me know results - bit late due to bank hol Monday.

Anyway, short version is in laymens terms, seems like he is allergic to some sort of protein in 'normal' dog food, so he is going to try a special dry diet - and only that and water for a few weeks. It containts blue whiting and tapioca instead of fish/rice/potato combination. And should in theory sort his mouth, gums, intestine etc out. If it does he will be on that for a good month or two, then slowly moved back on to some other form of food as this is quite expensive. Not that expense matters!

If the food doesnt do it alone he will have a course of steroids to shift the inflamation and fingers crossed that is him all fixed. His bloods showed he was a little low on folic acid, but that is fine, I have a doseage to give him and I can get that in liquid form from vets or local chemist.

I am so so so pleased to say the least. Obviously if this doesnt work I will be back to square one, but I hope it does.

Vet said type of inflamation was the 'same' as you get from a bee sting - neo something or other and poor boy must be very sore.

PHEW!

I have been following your thread and just wanted to say how pleased I am that this looks like a positive outcome.

Fingers so crossed that everything contines to be onwards and upwards for you and your pup.

thank you so much WTWTW.

His breeder (now friend) was round today and we celebrated with a Costa coffee and cake!

So relieved it isnt auto immune and although not out of the woods yet, we are so glad to have some sort of proper diagnosis and plan of action!

FANTASTIC!

Typing with tears of relief and happiness for you in my eyes. I was petrified of opening this thread for fear of what I might read.

I hope so, so, so much that this is the light at the end of the tunnel and the meds and food sort it.

But WTF didn't I consider it?! One of the dogs I know in rescue, a Shep cross, has something of this nature. I'll find out the exact details as they give pooch a supplement, on the advice of the vet, as well as meds and appropriate diet. If the two conditions are the same it may be worth running the supplement idea past your vet - dunno but worth a try?

Meantime. give each other a hug from me again please! Best news I've heard in ages. :)

Val x

Sounds like good news!
Let's hope his mouth clears up quickly and everything settles down fir him.

thanks Val & Kid,
let me tell you - tears all round here, the breeder, lets call her Dee, and I were dancing round the garden and hugging like loonies!

We have the Royal Canin Special Diet food £74.50, but I dont even care, if it helps him it can be double that price. Besides, I know that I can get it cheaper if I need more.

Will get his folic acid tomorrow morning. Weirdly I thought only pregnant women needed to supplement that.

I've been reading your threads and I'm so glad to hear this. :) Onwards and upwards for you both, now, I hope. x

quick update.

Loofas mouth looks a little bit better, not a lot, but dont see any new blisters round his lips, his gums are still very very red and under his tongue is still yuk, but it is all looking a teensy bit better.

He goes back to our Vet end September and we will see whether he needs steroids or not.

Still quite happy in himself, still scoffing his v expensive food and loving his walks so that is good.

I think he is the most cared for, loved dog in the world. Been teaching him to 'speak' as he isnt a woofy GSD and we never hear people at the door, or know when the postie has been.

Keep your fingers and paws crossed that he is on the mend.

Fingers crossed indeed. That it's all looking a little better and there are no new flare-ups is very good news. (And yes, I've no doubt that Loofa's worth every penny, as you say).

It's odd, Shep folk always say that the breed are very vocal but my first almost never barked and neither does Chester, who stands silently with his head going from side to side looking quizzical as my Lab x "gives it some volume"! Even Fish-dog is pretty quiet, barking only when he sees someone at the gate or MaxLabX encourages him.

Quiet is good afaiac!

Loads more hugs to him from us here in the madhouse. :)

he is very vocal in letting me know his needs/wishes in that way that only sheps can do, the 'talking' but not at barking - which is good I know.

We are off out for a walk soon - uphill for me.

Why am I not a skinny? Lots of snuggles will be passed on.

Glad to hear there are no more new blisters. Thats a step in the right direction.
Hope you enjoyed your uphill walk! I prefer walking on flat ground myself, thats hard enough lol

Keep getting better Loofa, you are a very special and much loved dog

thanks kid.

we did the same walk again today - my bum and thighs ache now. But I know it is good for me. Going to cut loofas exercise back again, he is losing weight again, I can feel it on him.

He does enjoy it though.

Today we went back to see our Vet, things are pretty rubbish, mouth ulcers still there, but not pin prick size, larger, pussy and stinky.

He is still on the sensitive control food, keeping that the same for now, no more folic acid, which is ok, he should be topped up again... But he is on 50mg on steroid every morning starting tomorrow and I think this is the end of what they can do for him.

Hoping the steroids work, then we can gradually lower the dose and eventually (few months time) get him off them totally.

He is still a happy dog, (hungry, but happy) his weight is down again, which is not so good, but his exercise is back to almost normal and he loves his food.

I am very very sad we all thought that we had got to the bottom of this and he was on the mend.

Had a little cry after our walk today as he is only 18 months old and for the past few months he has been ill.