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Re: My Nikki :(

Posted: 25 Aug 2019, 13:03
by Barb
Dear Michaela,

I so know how you feel. I wish I could do something to help. I am thinking of you and NIkki. Many of us have been through similar issues. It is never ever easy. What helped us with our Bridge GSD, Kip, (he had DM like Jean's Kara) was treasuring every day with him and expressing our love and gratitude to him as often as we could. He taught us a lot about how we could approach life in every area.

Sending you hugs and lots of love. Let us know how she does.

Barb

Re: My Nikki :(

Posted: 26 Aug 2019, 12:15
by Michaela
Barb: Thank you so much for your kind words.

We just got back from Nikki's regular vet and we caught it early, so that's the good news. They are also calling Texas A&M for us, so maybe we can avoid a trip for now (it's six hours round trip). They gave us instructions on how to keep the are clean and we are applying Protopic ointment once a day for now, unless Dermatology gives different instructions (they haven't called back yet). Should find out tomorrow.

Re: My Nikki :(

Posted: 26 Aug 2019, 12:51
by Jean
Hi

my friends dog had the same ointment and it helped enormously

I think a juicy steak might help

keep in touch as it might help someone else


Jeanc

Re: My Nikki :(

Posted: 26 Aug 2019, 14:08
by Barb
So glad you caught it early. It is always uplifting to get good news. It sounds like the ointment is really going to help. Please let us know how she does with it.

Barb

Re: My Nikki :(

Posted: 26 Aug 2019, 16:13
by Wabasmom
I’m so sorry your Nikki is going through this. My Jaeger is almost 11 years old. Was diagnosed with EPI 9 years ago. He suffered with Perianal Fistulas for a couple years but has been free of them for close to 7 years. He was also diagnosed with Lupus a few years ago.
We treated his PF’s with Cyclosporine for about a month and tapered off. He also has Tacrolimus .1% for his butt which we put on twice a day for maintenance after the PF’s went away...this is for life...but has done wonders to keep the PF’s at bay.
When they diagnosed him with Lupus he was put on other meds Doxycycline twice a day for life along with Niacin twice a day...he is on prednisone every other day and Azathioprine every other day opposite of the prednisone...these are for life too. We have added b12 recently too since he is getting older and was having other issues. So maybe ask about the cycsporine. It did wonders for my boys PF’s. He has been free of them for years

Re: My Nikki :(

Posted: 26 Aug 2019, 16:21
by Jean
Alyssa I had forgotten that with Jaeger, thanks for chiming in

Jeanx

Re: My Nikki :(

Posted: 26 Aug 2019, 17:02
by Michaela
Jean: Nikki would love a nice juicy steak...LOL!!! She could have all the steak she could eat if she didn't have food allergies too and beef is not allowed :(

We did get a response from Texas A&M and we don't have to make a trip right now.

They are adding a topical steroid cream once a day also. I will pick it up tomorrow and get the name.

Re: My Nikki :(

Posted: 26 Aug 2019, 17:38
by Michaela
Alyssa: Poor Jaeger and I thought we have it bad. My first GSD had Discoid Lupus.

I do know about the Cyclosporine and I'm glad Jaeger responded well. Nikki is a tough case when it comes to taking oral meds and they try not to give her anything that may make her nauseous or upset her stomach. She's on a ton of meds too and one of them is Apoquel which is a immunomodulator.

We've been having issues getting Nikki to eat for years, it was so bad that I had a home cooked diet formulated for her and she did eat that ok for six years. Then her IM wanted her to try a hypoallergenic diet for her stomach issues which she eventually refused and now she doesn't want to eat her pork tenderloin & sweet potatoes either, it's enough to pull your hair out. I feel that the smell of the enzymes puts her off and her stomach issues didn't help, she would get really sick and she may associates that with the food.

She goes back for a re-check in two weeks if things go well. I will keep everyone posted how the treatment is working for her.

Re: My Nikki :(

Posted: 26 Aug 2019, 18:19
by Wabasmom
Yes Jaeger was on Apoquel too for food and grass allergies. But once he was getting treated for his Lupus his skin and ear issued resolved. He got sores on his feet and belly. But has been good for about a year on his Lupus meds.
I sure hope Nikki has better days soon

Re: My Nikki :(

Posted: 27 Aug 2019, 12:32
by Michaela
Alyssa: Nikki has been on Immunotherapy for years for her allergies but she gets really itchy still, especially in Spring/Summer so we use the Apoquel as needed. I'm not crazy about it but the Cytopoint stopped working for her :(

This may sound nuts but I would rather have another dog with EPI than allergies. My Heidi had allergies too and they are so frustrating to deal with.

*************************************************************************

Ok, here is the plan for the next two weeks:

Clean area twice a day with Chlorhexidine before applying her ointments.
Morning: MotaZol (Steroid)
Evening: Tacrolimus ointment

I also asked her vet to check with A&M to see if they know of any clinical trials that inlvove stem cell therapy for PF. I'll keep you guys posted.