Itchmo Forums for Cats & Dogs

 have a 7 year old German shepherd named Champ. In may we noticed that he developed a rash on his nose and was acting kind of sluggish. We took him to his vet and he informed us that he had dermatitis. He gave us cream and said that it should clear up. Well since May he has be getting worse and has been seen at his vet's office numerous times. They have now told us that he has an auto immune deficiency. He is constantly on steroids and antibiotics. He can no longer go outside, because when he does, it causes him to become worse. His legs have become so swollen that he can barely walk. He has sores from head to toe that won't heal, and also has a very bad odor and green puss coming from his ears. He is so miserable. He also has to wear a cone on his neck because he is self mutilating himself to the point where he has blood dripping everywhere. Our vet does not offer payment plans and we can't afford all of the testing that needs to be done. We are badly in need of financial assistance or knowledge on how to get him back in good health . He has been apart of our lives for 7 years and I couldn't bare to see him put to sleep if he can be saved. I pray that you can help us or lead us to someone who can. We have also considered giving him up to a rescue, now that our vet says that we should just move or deal with it. I beleive that he has now contracted demodex. Please help us...I really don't want to give him up. He is one of my children.  I have attached some pictures of Champ. He is also beginning to lose his fur in large spots all over his body. Again I pray that you can help us.I have been in touch with a vet that has referred me to U.T. vet and they have now set up an account for Champ at U.T.

College of Veterinary Medicine
The University of Tennessee
2407 River Drive
Knoxville, TN 37996-4550
CHERYL KENNY-BILLING
865-974-5661
FOR CHAMP BROWN

You may have this already---?

http://www.rescuinganimalsinneed.org/financial_help.htm

http://shepherdcentral.com/viewtopic.php?t=6546&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=financial+aid&sid=658d8ae36150ddff3cb61fd00a4544f2

Hi,
Yes I've sent out emails to them.

Hi tab1220,

I looked up some holistic treatments for mange or demodex.  NEEM OIL you can oorder it on line.  I tend to look at holisitc treatment sometimes because vets prefer you do not find out about them  IMO

It says:
Localized cases can be treated with Neem Oil, Neem Shampoo and Supplements, which help boost the immune system. Animals with small, local lesions usually recover well without recurrence. Boosting the immune system and a change in diet to a more healthy food are also recommended.

Immune suppressed dogs need a high quality all natural, dry, cooked or raw diet. Add lots of raw pulverized vegetables. Such as dark green vegetables, cruciferous vegetables- broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, watercress, bok choy, and carrots (blanche carrots for 1 minute to release carotenes). Also consider adding Kelp to the diet. Avoid grains like wheat and rye- rice ,barley and oats are ok.


here is the whole link:
http://www.botanicaldog.com/neem_oil.php

What type of food do you use?

Welcome to Itchmo you came to the right place people here care and love to try and help

Lorie
http://www.b-naturals.com/Fal1998.php

Another great article.

We're hoping to have all of those test done on Tuesday at UT. He's been dealing with this since May when we moved intoour new home. He has been as bad as he is in the pictures since October. Our vet said to either move or deal with it's allergies and an immune deficiancy.But I can't except that...so that's whay I'm fighting for him trying to get all the help that i can get.

tab1220---Welcome to itchmo---I am so sorry---one thing I found that helped my golden retirever Barkley when he had horrible hot spots -which were seasonal and thought to be an allergy--was plain 'ole aloe vera gel right from the plant---I bought a plant and tried it as nothing else seemed to healp heal and the worst ones tended to be on his face---I also have been looking on the net for other financial assistances---I will post any I find---good luck on tuesday....
Carol

Welcome tab1220- I am so sorry for Champ! I would think the University or a holistic vet would be your best try at healing this. You should be able to find a good quality neem oil at a health food store,or try the aloe plant. If Champ has been on antibiotics & steroids for months,that may be causing the immune problem. If you can & he will eat it:you should definitely try raw or homemade.If you start with 1 meat source & 1 grain & 1 vegetable it will be easier to see if it is from a food allergy.Good luck on Tuesday.

Health Problems - Symptoms of Food Allergies
Proteins from chicken, milk, eggs, corn, wheat, soy and especially beef cause this type of problem. Allergies relating to food can include the following symptoms:

Non-seasonal and excessive scratching

Dogs respond poorly to cortisone type medications


http://www.dog-names.org.uk/dog-symptoms-sorter.htm

tab,

Did your vet do a scraping of your dog's skin to diagnosis mange?

Both my young German Shepherds had sarcoptic mange last spring.  They were treated with 2 ivermectin injections and then revolution for a few months (once a month).  The theory was they got it from foxes in our yard.  This spring, the 3-year-old seems to be back to skin problems.  The injections and the revolution were not that expensive.  Hoping it could be something this simple for your dog.

We thought it was allergies until our vet did a skin scraping on one dog's elbow and saw eggs.

Look at this link.  It has information on demodetic mange.  It is treatable.

http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=630

I don't know if this medication can be used for immunosuppressed animals.

I will check by later.  I'm just running out the door.

Wellcome to Itchmo. what kind of tests did the vet do? And yes, did He do a skin scraping?

this was on itchmo blog --may be repeating--

http://www.itchmo.com/help-for-low-income-pets-4905

Champ had a skin scrape which the vet said he didn't find anything,but went ahead and gave him lime and sulfur dips everyday for a week. He said is was just to help heal his infected skin. Which I found out later after doing some research that thos edips are used for mange.I have removed Champ from this vets care, because he wanted to medicate him rather that test.He's been on Prednisone and antibiotics along with benedryle(9 a day) since May.I took him to a new vet and immediately after seeing his condition suggested a specialist at UT...so this is where we are now trying to get up the cost to have him seen at UT. 

Quote from: Carol on April 03, 2008, 10:34:09 AM
tab1220---Welcome to itchmo---I am so sorry---one thing I found that helped my golden retirever Barkley when he had horrible hot spots -which were seasonal and thought to be an allergy--was plain 'ole aloe vera gel right from the plant---I bought a plant and tried it as nothing else seemed to healp heal and the worst ones tended to be on his face---I also have been looking on the net for other financial assistances---I will post any I find---good luck on tuesday....
Carol

I've used aloe vera for my dogs (rb) too, and found the hydrophonically grown aloe vera gel (in a big brown bottle) was the best route for helping with large, sensitive areas..( found at health food stores & has to be refrigerated after opening).

I was so sorry to see this Tab, and hope you find relief & help very, very soon.

tab1220;

I am so sorry that your dog Champ isn't feeling well.

Hope that your dog will be able to see a good veterinary dermatologist. Champ may need a good antibiotic especially with the open sores - so easy for dogs to get secondary infections.  Did they run a blood panel? it will be important to make sure there isn't an underlying metabolic problem that resulted in the skin condition.

If you live near a veterinary teaching hospital they may have a low cost program you could get into; especially if there is a specialty program.

Katie

Welcome, tab, I'm so sorry to hear about your dog's problems and I'm wishing you success in finding the right treatment.