Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 9:09 pm Post subject: Hello from Derbyshire
Hi
My name is Dominique, I live in Derbyshire with my 4 dogs and my housemates 5 dogs. Between us we have 4 collies, 2 terriers, 2 cocker spaniels and a brittany cross (we think!) I have joined to just do a bit more research on the breed and to see if anyone has information on auto immune conditions within the breed, in particular lupus which we believe Vixen has.
She arrived to me pregnant at about 6/8 months old, and here she is with 2 of her pups who are now 2 years old
Hi Dominique - Vixen looks lovely and yes she does appear to have a lot of Brittany in her from my somewhat inexpert view.
I am sorry to hear she has health issues and I am not going to be a great deal of help as I don't know that Auto-Immune Issues are a problem in the breed and certainly I haven't heard of issues with Lupus. _________________ Sue, Chase and the non-Brittany boys - Brice & Piper. Pets first and foremost.
She may not be pure Brittany and the lupus could come from the other side. Never heard of it in the UK or France. If Goldie is browsing she may have some answers from America.
So sorry to hear of her problems. Poor wee soul, she's lucky to have found you!
I suspect she had been thrown out when her previous owner found out she was pregnant so young. They must have been VERY careless for her to have been caught at that age. It's a disgrace!. Have you had lupus diagnosed by your vet, or have you looked at the symptoms on the internet and come to that conclusion yourself? What are her symptoms?
Your dogs obviously have great fun together. Welcome to the forum, we'll help where we can. _________________ Annie
Handle every situation like a dog, if you can't eat it or play with it, just pee on it and walk away
Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 10:08 pm Post subject: Hello from Derbyshire
Hi Dom
I was so sorry to read that your dog has Lupus l had no idea that dogs had auto immune diseases, l have had Lupus for 10 yrs and as you probably know its the hidden damage that it can do thats the worst, my heart and liver are mainly affected. I was also very interested in the fact that she had managed to carry pups without aborting, as in humans this is something that usually happens, does she have the fatigue problems that humans have? sorry to joke but this could be a blessing in a Brit! and is she on any drugs? I will be watching your post with interest, and will ask my vet what she knows on her next visit.
Certainly has the looks of a brittany mud magnet in the 2nd and 3rd pics _________________ My goal in life is to be as good a person as my dog already thinks I am.
thank you everyone for your comments. Unfortunately, she probably wasn't pregnant when her previous owners chucked her out, it was more likely she was 'caught' once straying
Her previous owners more likely chucked her out due to the condition she was in. When she arrived to me her tail was rotten (no fur, covered in sores) open sores on her neck, legs and belly. Her ears (which we managed to save thankfully) the skin was black under layers of scabs, and she was unable to eat or drink. We didn't know she was pregnant on arrival so went ahead with a general anaesthetic to amputate the tail and she still managed to not miscarry. She had further biopsy and skin tests after the pups were born to try and get a diagnosis. She did have a negative result to Lupus which apparantly happens in the majority of cases.
She now is under the care of a specialist vet and I chose to go ahead with the treatment for lupus about a year and a half ago. The soft and hard tissue in her mouth is badly affected and she dribbles when eating and can't drink properly and pants alot. Her digestive system is affected and her kidneys and bladder. We have seen about a 50% improvement in thr last 6 months which is great! Her life expectancy is going to be short, mainly because of the pain that she is in and that it will increase in time.
Yes tricky micky she does suffer badly from fatigue, she can't be walked everyday 2 or 3 times a week at only an hour at a time (otherwise she becomes shift and has spinal pain). Meds wise she is on medrone (not an easy decision) but a very low dose of 1 every other day, proplain for her urine leakage (very, very low dose as it affects her bowels), and she is on natural herbs from csj for her immune system, digestive system and bladder.
A couple of pictures, she is very happy, and very loving
and one of her pups which has the majority of her looks and character
What a super little girl! As I said before she is lucky to have found you. I hope you manage to keep her medical problems under control for a long time so that you can enjoy each other, and that you will keep us updated on her progress. _________________ Annie
Handle every situation like a dog, if you can't eat it or play with it, just pee on it and walk away
What a sweetie your girl is. As Annie said, she is so lucky to have found you. She has certainly been through such a lot but thanks to you she is in a far stronger state to meet the challenges of her condition. She has such a happy smiley face. _________________ Lin, owned by Rudi and Copper the Brittanys & Zac the Springer.
Hi my name is Gill and I have a for my sins a Brit called Mabeleen.
Vixen looks lots of fun but of course Lupus is not fun. If you think that she is a cross Brit it is proberbly the Lupus has come from the Brittany side.
I have Welsh Springers and they get auto immune alot. In fact I have had 3 dogs with different types of auto immune conditions, its not funny and a great worry.
I have a good website in my favourites which I am sure you and maybe others could read as I beleive we can all learn about what makes the breed tick.
Maybe you can come to one of the days of the Brittany weekend which is coming up on the 10/11 of October. It is held at Catthorpe, where the A14 crosses the M1.
All the Brittany experts will be there.
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2 or 3 times a week at only an hour at a time (otherwise she becomes shift and has spinal pain). Meds wise she is on medrone (not an easy decision) but a very low dose of 1 every other day, proplain for her urine leakage (very, very low dose as it affects her bowels), and she is on natural herbs from csj for her immune system, digestive system and bladder.
