The Brittany Forum

Waldo · Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2009 2:46 am Post subject: viral skin condition?

Hi All,
Got home from work on Friday and Annie was real hobbly (on all four legs this time) she had developed very sore spots on her feet and had been licking them and made things worse, she was also rashy on chest and red around the mouth. She wasn't a very happy little camper.
Saturday morning and she wouldn't even come out of her kennel to walk to the shop and she had worn fur of the off the side of her front paws. A quick call to the vet and we had an appointment for that morning, initial diagnosis was either she had come in contact with something that had cause the irritation or possibly something viral was triggering it, she was also running a temp 39.6. If it wasn't a Sat. morning (with a long weekend) he would have done a biopsy and had it checked in the lab, instead he went for a course of antibiotics and some cortesone tablets with some cream. Over the course of the weekend she seemed to come good and had a follow up visit to the vet this morning (Tues), follow up treatment involves weaning her off the meds and seeing what happens next (hopefully nothing).
Has anybody experienced similar?
Cheers,
Waldo

gundoglover · Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2009 8:18 am Post subject:

Hi Waldo,

From where she is affected (paws, chest, mouth) it does seem like a contact reaction. Has she been running where farmers have been spraying for weeds? If there is serrated tussock in your area, then the only thing that kills it is a herbicide that was banned at first and then brought back specifically for serrated tussock use. I keep the dogs off the paddocks for 14 days after they have been sprayed. (For overseas readers, serrated tussock is an introduced garden plant from Argentina that escaped into farmland - nothing eats it, and if you don't spray it you get fined & the council sprays it anyway).

Waldo · Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2009 8:30 am Post subject:

Hi GDL,
No she hasn't really been anywhere (other than regular walks), it is 2 weeks since our last hunting trip to the field so she shouldn't have been in contact with anything suspect.
If it flares up again the vet will do a biopsy to get a firm diagnosis, for the short term she seems pretty well back to normal.
Should be in top nick by next weekend to go hunting again!
Cheers,
Waldo

Ghilliegumdrop · Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2009 11:51 am Post subject:

Sometimes we get that over here....usually caused by a thing called harvest mites picked up on farmland after harvest.
_________________
Jan
Merlin, hips 9/9=18 and Ghillie, hips 8/9=17
Pull [n or v] An equal and opposite force perpetrated on both ends of a lead that results in the inevitable tripping and falling of the human involved!!

Waldo · Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 3:57 am Post subject:

Bugger, have just started to reduce the meds and it appears to be returning!
I guess more tests are in the pipeline to see exactly what is causing this.
Cheers,
Waldo

Mugi · Bretonnier Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Posts: 1304

Hope you can get her sorted.
_________________
Sue, Chase and the non-Brittany boys - Brice & Piper. Pets first and foremost.

Never forgetting Mugi and Freddy

Waldo · Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 11:06 am Post subject:

Dropped into the vets this morning and spoke to the vet for a few minutes, Annie is booked in for Monday morning for a anaesthetic and some biopsies to see what is really going on!
At this stage the long term is not looking real good, dodgy hip, skin condition possibly requiring long term medication (with side effects).
It is really starting to pee me off, just got past puppyhood, she is working real good and it is all turning sour.
Just don't know what to think?
Thanks for listening,
Waldo

doganjo · Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 1:18 pm Post subject:

Hi Waldo, this is so sad for you. Have you spoken to her breeder about it all? If I was her breeder I would want to know in case either of her conditions are hereditary, the hip dysplasia may well be. Does she have to have an anaesthetic to investigate the skin condition? Would a local for the biopsy not be sufficient? Or at the very most light sedation. Maybe it's just me, I don't like the risks of anaesthesia.

You can't change her hips except by a major operation, which it may come to, but skin conditions are usually caused by some external influence and if that is traced they can be controlled. It seems to me she has been in contact with something due to where her sore bits are. Has she had an injection to relieve itching. Has she been put on antihistamines? Not criticising your vet - just trying to help find the answer.
_________________
Annie

Handle every situation like a dog, if you can't eat it or play with it, just pee on it and walk away

Waldo · Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 8:31 pm Post subject:

Hi, I have spoken briefly to the breeder and she was quite wierd about it all and not very talkative. I know she had had issues with depression, etc. and her bitch has since been desexed as the following litter after ours she couldn't sell.
I have had contact with the breed club over here via. one of the members of the committee and I have emailed him about the skin condition this week. I think the vet was intending to use a very light anaesthetic, I will raise the issue of the anti-histamine when I go in next Monday (thanks for that).
Currently have a fair bit going on, father has just turned 80 and has rapidly developing dementia, youngest son has a serious health/disability issue and behaviour is becoming more challenging and now my dog is falling apart!
Heading out deer stalking on Saturday, Annie will come if she is walking/running OK, feel we both need a good day out in the bush hunting just to clear the head.
Cheers,
Waldo

doganjo · Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 8:35 pm Post subject:

Good grief, Waldo - you don't have to look far for your troubles - I am so sorry. I do hope things improve for you very soon.
Annie

_________________
Annie

Handle every situation like a dog, if you can't eat it or play with it, just pee on it and walk away