History
She was born 04/28/08 and was probably from a puppy mill or a mass breeder and I got her from a pet store.
The first three years of her live were mostly uneventful except that she progressively became obese and weighing 28.5 pounds on her 3rd birthday.
She was spayed on 12-19-08 and the Vet told me she stopped breathing several times even well into recovery. The Vet warned me to alert any Vet sedating her in the future of what happened with her breathing. Dew Claws were removed at the time of spay.
She has ate Hills food her entire life except the past couple weeks while on the food trial and eating RC.
Ever since 1 year of age, She hates to have her nails trimmed or her feet messed with. Prior to 1 y/o, she was always good with nail trims and loved to have her feet rubbed.
Around 1 year of age she started on Hills Adult Small Bites after finishing her Hills Puppy Food her first year.
On 07-22-09 She came into contact with a sick or injured small brown bat. The bat was sent in for rabies testing which was negative.
On 07-29-09 She was hit by a vehicle and thrown several feet. I supported her head and spine and took her to the ER Vet within 5 minutes of being hit. By the time we got to ER Vet, she was up walking and showed no signs of injury and the Vet said no x ray was needed. An x ray 3 years later for pancreatitis showed her back had been broken in either the lower lumbar or sacrum with heavy calcification bridging vertebrae.
In April 2011 Switched her to Hills Adult Light Small Bites and reduced from 1 cup a day to ¾ cup a day and exercised. She lost no more than 2 pounds a month per Vet instructions.
07/20/11 She came down with a Staph infection on her abdomen and inner thighs and was treated with Triamcinolone / Pen Inj., Prednisolone 5 mg, and Clavamox 125 mg.
09/16/11 Took her to ER Vet as we thought she must have injured front leg because she would not put weight on it. Vet found nothing wrong with her leg by exam and x ray. She stopped breathing under sedation.
06/25/12 Another Staph infection on abdomen and inner thighs. Treated with Triamcinolone / Pen Inj., Clavamox 62.5 mg.
She started her weight loss diet in April of 2011 @ 28.5 pounds and by November of 2011 she weighed around 16 or 17 pounds.
07/03/12 She was retreated for Staph infection with Clavamox 62.5 mg. and Prednisolone 5 mg.
07/13/12 She was retreated for Staph infection with Triamcinolone / Pen Inj., Clavamox 62.5 mg.
07/24/12 She was retreated for Staph infection with Triamcinolone / Pen injection.
Around the middle of November 2012 she began vomiting daily. Sometimes white foam and sometimes yellow green junk (bile). She was treated on 11/16/12 with Triamcinolone / Pen inj., Cerenia 16 mg. Vet suspected possible pancreatitis.
12/05/12 She was retreated for possible pancreatitis with Triamcinolone / Pen Inj., Cerenia 24 mg.
12/11/12 She retreated for possible pancreatitis with Pen inj. Cerenia 16 mg., Amoxicillin 100 mg. X ray showed previous fractured vertebrae.
12/17/12 blood work showed Amylase at 312 and Lipase at 525
01/04/13 She was retreated for possible pancreatitis with Amoxicillin 100 mg.
Around January of 2013 she started on Hills ID Low Fat GI Restore.
03/17/13 She was taken to ER Vet for face and neck swelling. She had hit Right side of her head on metal bed frame. Treated with Hydroxyzine 25 mg. Diagnosis of possible hypersensitivity. She had a loose sack hanging in front on Right side of neck and appeared to be only loose skin but very abnormal and only affected the Right side of her neck. That evening she started scratching herself everywhere and was trying to vomit.
03/27/13 She was seen again for loose sack on Right front side of neck and digging at R ear. Treated with Prednisone 5 mg., Clavamox 62.5 mg., Hydroxyzine 5 mg. once or twice daily. Vet said that mandibular lymph nodes enlarged.
04/12/13 recheck for sack on R side of neck. Improved, continue on Zyrtec.
07/18/13 Exam with vaccines. Chest clear. MM=Pink
08/05/13 She started on Allerg-3 Capsules
11/18/13 She could not put weight on Right rear leg. Took her to Vet for exam. Could find nothing wrong with leg but did not check toes and pads. 4 to 5 days later she began putting weight on Right rear leg again.
04/18/14 She was vomiting a lot. Taken to ER Vet and treated with Famotidine Inj. 10 mg., Cerenia Inj. 10 mg.
04/19/14 To regular Vet for recheck. Still gagging and dry heaving. CBC normal and Diag II Blood Profile mostly normal. T= 102.5 She is trying to eat carpet and grass and staggering. Treated with Cerenia, Baytril 68. Vet suspects possible seizure activity. Blood work shows CH and CHC low.
March of 2015 She had white staining on Right heel. A few days later, 3 white bumps showed up on right heel. She was taken to Vet and put on Hydrocortisone ointment. Sores went away and came back and they had white staining again. At the same time as the white bumps on her heels, she also had bumps on the tips of her ears along with hair loss on the tips of the ears. Vet said they were flea bites, however, after everything else going on, I believe they are related to AutoImmnue. The bumps on ears went away with Hydrocortisone but came back a couple of times. Since then, I have not noticed them again and hair did grow back.
March of 2015 Her breath became very bad. I checked around for dental cleaning but found no one comfortable. Started using Virbac Enzymatic toothpaste and Virbac Enzymatic rawhide chews. Brushed teeth daily and used Virbac chews once a week. 2 months later teeth were much cleaner and breath was fine. Prior to that there was large amounts of plaque and tarter on rear molars.
05/05/15 Frontline Plus treatment
05/16/15 To Vet for shaking her head and digging at ear. Intermittent bumps on Left ear tip. Vet found hair in Right ear canal. Treatment with Cortisone to ear tip and Flush Right ear with Otomax.
07/20/15 DA2PP Vaccine. Vet said she backed into the needle but thought it would be no problem. Mobile Vet and vaccine may have been in hot van.
08/18/15 She began vomiting daily early in the AM after waking. Treatment with Cerenia 16 mg.
08/19/15 White bumps on Right heel again. Vet prescribed Derma Vet ointment. Bumps seemed to go away because of either Derma Vet or her licking them. Bumps would come back.
08/20/15 She is eating grass and vomiting. To Vet again. Vet said bumps on Right heel are chigger bites but I knew better. Vet noted bowels increased and T = 102.9. She had been eating cicadas. Continue Cerenia. Treatment with Metronidozole 250 mg Fagyl.
08/26/15 I noticed a lump on her Left groin. 3/8 inch in diameter, very mobile and between muscle and subcu. Scared me and took her to Vet right away. Vet said Left Inguinal hernia and small Right Inguinal hernia and scheduled surgery for 08/28/15. I felt unsure about the diagnosis and felt that the lumps were lymph nodes. On 08/27/15 the lump grew longer to about ¾ inch and remained 3/8 inch in diameter. Still very mobile and found no tissue behind lump. Treatment Baytril 68.
08/28/15 I cancelled surgery and took her to KSU for second opinion. KSU said it was not a hernia but a lipoma instead. Relieved but still unsure of diagnoses due to the speed the lump appeared and grew and I still felt it was lymph nodes. Upon leaving KSU, a student walked me out and told me she thought they were lymph nodes but that she was not allowed to make diagnosis. T = 102.5, HR = 92, R = sniff. Diagnosis = Lipoma on Left side of Caudal abdomen. Treatment with Fenbendazole X 5 days, Pyrantel45.4 mg. X rays negative. Blood work WNL.
09/02/15 Lump disappeared and no more eating grass and no more vomiting.
09/10/15 Noticed white spot on vulva near fold. Closer look revealed redness at distal end of vulva and dark spot (looked necrotic) near fold. Took her to new Vet and treated in case of UTI with Simplicef 100 mg. X 28 days.
There was no improvement on vulva during antibiotic treatment. Vulva redness looked different every time I looked at it. No masses seen but red and dark red areas noted around fold.
09/12/15 She quit drinking water. She would at best maybe drink 1 or 2 ounces a day. Changed water to Dillons jugged drinking water as she was belching bad on the little tap water she did drink. She did drink the Dillons water better for a few days and then quit drinking again. I have to put water in food to force her to drink. I give her 8 to 12 ounces daily mixed with food. Her normal intake of water before she got sick was 6 to 8 ounces a day for past 3 years. Recently stopped giving her Dillons water because I found out it is ozonated for purity. She is back on tap water as of 10/31/15. Will talk to Dr. about water options.
09/19/15 UA normal
09/30/15 Took her to vet for recheck of redness and swelling and dark spot on vulva. Still there and a little worse. Treatment with Tagamet 50 mg. 3 or 4 times a day for possible mast cell tumors.
10/11/15 Took her to BluePearl ER because her rectum and perianal area suddenly turned black. No treatment.
10/14/15 To another vet for opinion of why vulva, rectal area, and face / feet are turning dark red / black. She is licking the inside of her mouth and inner lips often but is not the same lip licking she does with upset stomach. No treatment.
10/17/15 To regular Vet for recheck. She is getting worse. Red / Black areas getting worse. Increased mouth and inner lip licking and feet appear to be bothering her. She cannot sit and it appears to be painful. Rear end appears very sensitive. She will only lay in praying position and can tell she is very uncomfortable. She is moaning at night and increasing and sometimes moaning during the day. No treatment.
10/22/15 To VADC. Put on RC veg diet. She cannot crush this kibble so I chop it down and put water in it. Otherwise doing well with food trial.
10/23/15 Found 1 flea on her abdomen. No other fleas noticed but gave her a bath with GNC Chlorhexedine shampoo and conditioner. While washing abdomen shampoo got on her rear feet but this happens every time she gets a bath and never had a problem before.
10/23/15 Found a white sac on Left rear foot side of pad between either the 1st and 2nd digit or the 3rd and 4th digit (could not remember which) and very large about 1/8 to 3/16 inch in diameter and about ½ inch long. It was attached to the side of pad and protruded down between pads to bottom of foot. Tried to get a photo but the sac had already broken open and left white staining on pads. This is the same white gunk that was staining her right rear heel.
10/24/15 Frontline Plus treatment. Treated yard and took her to neighbors yard for 5 days.
10/25/15 Took her to ER Vet as feet became infected/ bleeding and she could not walk. Treatment with Clavamox 62,5 mg. amd Rimadyl 25 mg. ½ tab.
10/27/15 To VADC for extensive treatment and biopsies. She is propped up on 7.5 mg. Pred. and doing somewhat better. After started the Pred. she was able to sit again and lay down normally within 48 hours of starting the Pred. 7.5 mg. Seems to be having less pain in abdominal area.
10/27/15 She is flaking skin a lot
11/05/15 Dr. upped Pred. to 15 mg. Increased her water from 8 to 12 ounces to 10 to 14 ounces per day mixed with food. 4 to 5 ounces water with AM food, 1 to 2 ounces with lunch snack, 4 to 5 ounces with PM food, 1 to 2 ounces with bedtime snack.
11/06/15 Sutures removed
11/07/15 She seems bothered by increased pred. laying around a lot but still gets up at times. Had an accident (urinated inside). Offer her to go outside every 30 minutes but not accepting. She seems bothered and confused on increased dosage. At times will do better and go outside to pee and poop. Vision appears compromised but very alert and appears miserable.
11/07/15 PM Noticed more white staining on her rear feet / pads and also some new white staining on her front feet (heel pad). Photos taken of rear feet.
Also noticed her skin is turning pure white around the base of vulva and on her back. Seems to flake and does not look normal at all. Appeared to be some sort of small granules in hair around vulva
11/08/15 She is refusing to potty and seems very depressed. Eating normally and taking forced water mixed in food. Late evening she finally started urinating again.
NOTES
She was never really ever sick prior to her weight loss. She lost 48% of her body weight over an 8 to 9 month period. 28.5 pounds down to 15 pounds. She never lost more than 2 pounds a month and we checked with her Vet prior to diet and she told us 1 to 2 pounds a month was fine. But she seemed to really start having problems after her weight loss and actually half way into it.
We had another Min Pin who passed in April 2014 at 16 y/o. He had arthritis, CHF, and URI’s. Right before he died, his penis got real red and swollen all of a sudden and it reminded me of how her vulva looks. Could there be a link? His feet would get dark spots on them when we was sick. The last couple of years (2013 and 2014) GIZMO had accidents in the house and Bshe probably walked in it even though we shampooed the carpet often.
We had new carpet installed December 2014 right before she started getting the white bumps. I would not think that the carpet could cause this but thought it should be mentioned.
Her teeth and breath got real bad about a year ago with a lot of plaque and tarter build up on rear molars. Started brushing teeth daily and breath and teeth got better. Stopped brushing late August 2015 when she got sick.
When her and I play she will mouth my hands and for the past couple of years her saliva seemed to be real strong. It would get on my hands and it would burn and itch terrible.
Her abdomen has also turned from an off white color to a more red color and is distended. Her muzzle seems to be more red also.
She has always had a dry dull coat, even as a puppy. Her hair seemed coarser then most Min Pins. Lately when she is sick, her coat gets real oily and shiny. I know that sounds backwards but that’s how its been with her.
She tends to get sick at the times she is more dormant.When I keep her active she has had less problems.
Her mucus membranes seemed to turn very dark about a month ago.The past couple weeks they turn to pink and then back to dark again several times a day. Now when she is on 15 mg Pred, they seem to stay more pink than dark.
She has these episodes where she is afraid of everything including her own shadow. A blade of grass or a leaf may move and she will jump 2 feet in the air and act all freaked out. She peaks around every crack and corner as if something is there and going to get her when actually there is nothing there. She has these episodes 2 or 3 times a year and usually precede her vomiting or declining in general. During these episodes she also staggers a bit and sometimes runs into walls. Her last episode was 11/05/15.
Her vision appears to be declining as well in the past month or two. And I have noticed her eyes look different. Can’t quite put my finger on it but something is weird. Maybe I see more whites of her eyes or something. Just doesn’t look normal.
Ever since she was about 2 y/o she seemed to have trouble with her rear feet / legs especially the left rear leg. The snow and cold ground seemed to bother her as she would hold it up out of the snow or off the cold ground. Sometimes she did this with her Right leg too. She would also do this in the bath tub when her feet came into contact with just slightly warm water.
For the past two months she has only been able to lay in the praying position and shows discomfort but there is no reaction upon palpating the abdomen. A couple of days after starting the 7.5 mg Pred., she has started lying more normally with her rear legs to the side.
Her abdomen also gets real warm, actually hot at times during past 2 months. Her poop will also come out very hot at times in past couple of months.
Her abdomen also appears notably distended in last couple of months.
She has caught and ate everything from cicadas to large blackbirds and swallowed them whole. The last bird she ate was probably 2 to 2 ½ years ago. Could something be stuck in her GI tract?
Whatever this is I strongly feel it is affecting either her GI tract or a major abdominal organ.
2013 and 2014, She got a bath every week of the year except December and January where she got 1 bath a month. Every week in May, June, July, and August I used Virbac Hexidene shampoo 3 % Chlorhexidine with extended release. 1 time in December and 1 time in January I used Vet Solutions Anti bacterial Anti fungal shampoo with Chlorahexanol. Every week in Feb., March, April, Sept., Oct., and Nov., I used GNC pets Anti Bacterial Anti fungal shampoo, conditioner, and spray that has 1% chlorhexidine and Ketoconozole .25 %.
2015 She is only getting a bath every 30 to 60 days.
She has been licking the inside of her mouth the past 2 ½ months and is progressively getting worse.
Along with her abdomen and inner thighs becoming slightly red, her skin on her abdomen and inner thighs feels slightly moist and sticky during past 2 months. It used to be more of an off white color and dry.
She has had dramatic hair growth on her abdomen during the past 3 months. This started long before the prednisone treatment.
3 months ago she had NO grey hear on rear end and rear legs. Grey showing up very fast as if she is aging a year every week.
Over the years during her walks, she has had acorn shells get stuck on her pads for which I easily remove right away.
She also gets these little round stickers on her feet and pads at times when walking. They are little ¼ inch round (sometimes oblong) balls with sharp stickers on them. They get stuck on, between and behind her pads. Most of the time she lets me take them off right away, however, a few times she would not let me take them off and she chewed them off herself before continuing the walk. Can’t always tell if she spits them out or swallows them. Have always been concerned about this.
She was born 04/28/08 and was probably from a puppy mill or a mass breeder and I got her from a pet store.
The first three years of her live were mostly uneventful except that she progressively became obese and weighing 28.5 pounds on her 3rd birthday.
She was spayed on 12-19-08 and the Vet told me she stopped breathing several times even well into recovery. The Vet warned me to alert any Vet sedating her in the future of what happened with her breathing. Dew Claws were removed at the time of spay.
She has ate Hills food her entire life except the past couple weeks while on the food trial and eating RC.
Ever since 1 year of age, She hates to have her nails trimmed or her feet messed with. Prior to 1 y/o, she was always good with nail trims and loved to have her feet rubbed.
Around 1 year of age she started on Hills Adult Small Bites after finishing her Hills Puppy Food her first year.
On 07-22-09 She came into contact with a sick or injured small brown bat. The bat was sent in for rabies testing which was negative.
On 07-29-09 She was hit by a vehicle and thrown several feet. I supported her head and spine and took her to the ER Vet within 5 minutes of being hit. By the time we got to ER Vet, she was up walking and showed no signs of injury and the Vet said no x ray was needed. An x ray 3 years later for pancreatitis showed her back had been broken in either the lower lumbar or sacrum with heavy calcification bridging vertebrae.
In April 2011 Switched her to Hills Adult Light Small Bites and reduced from 1 cup a day to ¾ cup a day and exercised. She lost no more than 2 pounds a month per Vet instructions.
07/20/11 She came down with a Staph infection on her abdomen and inner thighs and was treated with Triamcinolone / Pen Inj., Prednisolone 5 mg, and Clavamox 125 mg.
09/16/11 Took her to ER Vet as we thought she must have injured front leg because she would not put weight on it. Vet found nothing wrong with her leg by exam and x ray. She stopped breathing under sedation.
06/25/12 Another Staph infection on abdomen and inner thighs. Treated with Triamcinolone / Pen Inj., Clavamox 62.5 mg.
She started her weight loss diet in April of 2011 @ 28.5 pounds and by November of 2011 she weighed around 16 or 17 pounds.
07/03/12 She was retreated for Staph infection with Clavamox 62.5 mg. and Prednisolone 5 mg.
07/13/12 She was retreated for Staph infection with Triamcinolone / Pen Inj., Clavamox 62.5 mg.
07/24/12 She was retreated for Staph infection with Triamcinolone / Pen injection.
Around the middle of November 2012 she began vomiting daily. Sometimes white foam and sometimes yellow green junk (bile). She was treated on 11/16/12 with Triamcinolone / Pen inj., Cerenia 16 mg. Vet suspected possible pancreatitis.
12/05/12 She was retreated for possible pancreatitis with Triamcinolone / Pen Inj., Cerenia 24 mg.
12/11/12 She retreated for possible pancreatitis with Pen inj. Cerenia 16 mg., Amoxicillin 100 mg. X ray showed previous fractured vertebrae.
12/17/12 blood work showed Amylase at 312 and Lipase at 525
01/04/13 She was retreated for possible pancreatitis with Amoxicillin 100 mg.
Around January of 2013 she started on Hills ID Low Fat GI Restore.
03/17/13 She was taken to ER Vet for face and neck swelling. She had hit Right side of her head on metal bed frame. Treated with Hydroxyzine 25 mg. Diagnosis of possible hypersensitivity. She had a loose sack hanging in front on Right side of neck and appeared to be only loose skin but very abnormal and only affected the Right side of her neck. That evening she started scratching herself everywhere and was trying to vomit.
03/27/13 She was seen again for loose sack on Right front side of neck and digging at R ear. Treated with Prednisone 5 mg., Clavamox 62.5 mg., Hydroxyzine 5 mg. once or twice daily. Vet said that mandibular lymph nodes enlarged.
04/12/13 recheck for sack on R side of neck. Improved, continue on Zyrtec.
07/18/13 Exam with vaccines. Chest clear. MM=Pink
08/05/13 She started on Allerg-3 Capsules
11/18/13 She could not put weight on Right rear leg. Took her to Vet for exam. Could find nothing wrong with leg but did not check toes and pads. 4 to 5 days later she began putting weight on Right rear leg again.
04/18/14 She was vomiting a lot. Taken to ER Vet and treated with Famotidine Inj. 10 mg., Cerenia Inj. 10 mg.
04/19/14 To regular Vet for recheck. Still gagging and dry heaving. CBC normal and Diag II Blood Profile mostly normal. T= 102.5 She is trying to eat carpet and grass and staggering. Treated with Cerenia, Baytril 68. Vet suspects possible seizure activity. Blood work shows CH and CHC low.
March of 2015 She had white staining on Right heel. A few days later, 3 white bumps showed up on right heel. She was taken to Vet and put on Hydrocortisone ointment. Sores went away and came back and they had white staining again. At the same time as the white bumps on her heels, she also had bumps on the tips of her ears along with hair loss on the tips of the ears. Vet said they were flea bites, however, after everything else going on, I believe they are related to AutoImmnue. The bumps on ears went away with Hydrocortisone but came back a couple of times. Since then, I have not noticed them again and hair did grow back.
March of 2015 Her breath became very bad. I checked around for dental cleaning but found no one comfortable. Started using Virbac Enzymatic toothpaste and Virbac Enzymatic rawhide chews. Brushed teeth daily and used Virbac chews once a week. 2 months later teeth were much cleaner and breath was fine. Prior to that there was large amounts of plaque and tarter on rear molars.
05/05/15 Frontline Plus treatment
05/16/15 To Vet for shaking her head and digging at ear. Intermittent bumps on Left ear tip. Vet found hair in Right ear canal. Treatment with Cortisone to ear tip and Flush Right ear with Otomax.
07/20/15 DA2PP Vaccine. Vet said she backed into the needle but thought it would be no problem. Mobile Vet and vaccine may have been in hot van.
08/18/15 She began vomiting daily early in the AM after waking. Treatment with Cerenia 16 mg.
08/19/15 White bumps on Right heel again. Vet prescribed Derma Vet ointment. Bumps seemed to go away because of either Derma Vet or her licking them. Bumps would come back.
08/20/15 She is eating grass and vomiting. To Vet again. Vet said bumps on Right heel are chigger bites but I knew better. Vet noted bowels increased and T = 102.9. She had been eating cicadas. Continue Cerenia. Treatment with Metronidozole 250 mg Fagyl.
08/26/15 I noticed a lump on her Left groin. 3/8 inch in diameter, very mobile and between muscle and subcu. Scared me and took her to Vet right away. Vet said Left Inguinal hernia and small Right Inguinal hernia and scheduled surgery for 08/28/15. I felt unsure about the diagnosis and felt that the lumps were lymph nodes. On 08/27/15 the lump grew longer to about ¾ inch and remained 3/8 inch in diameter. Still very mobile and found no tissue behind lump. Treatment Baytril 68.
08/28/15 I cancelled surgery and took her to KSU for second opinion. KSU said it was not a hernia but a lipoma instead. Relieved but still unsure of diagnoses due to the speed the lump appeared and grew and I still felt it was lymph nodes. Upon leaving KSU, a student walked me out and told me she thought they were lymph nodes but that she was not allowed to make diagnosis. T = 102.5, HR = 92, R = sniff. Diagnosis = Lipoma on Left side of Caudal abdomen. Treatment with Fenbendazole X 5 days, Pyrantel45.4 mg. X rays negative. Blood work WNL.
09/02/15 Lump disappeared and no more eating grass and no more vomiting.
09/10/15 Noticed white spot on vulva near fold. Closer look revealed redness at distal end of vulva and dark spot (looked necrotic) near fold. Took her to new Vet and treated in case of UTI with Simplicef 100 mg. X 28 days.
There was no improvement on vulva during antibiotic treatment. Vulva redness looked different every time I looked at it. No masses seen but red and dark red areas noted around fold.
09/12/15 She quit drinking water. She would at best maybe drink 1 or 2 ounces a day. Changed water to Dillons jugged drinking water as she was belching bad on the little tap water she did drink. She did drink the Dillons water better for a few days and then quit drinking again. I have to put water in food to force her to drink. I give her 8 to 12 ounces daily mixed with food. Her normal intake of water before she got sick was 6 to 8 ounces a day for past 3 years. Recently stopped giving her Dillons water because I found out it is ozonated for purity. She is back on tap water as of 10/31/15. Will talk to Dr. about water options.
09/19/15 UA normal
09/30/15 Took her to vet for recheck of redness and swelling and dark spot on vulva. Still there and a little worse. Treatment with Tagamet 50 mg. 3 or 4 times a day for possible mast cell tumors.
10/11/15 Took her to BluePearl ER because her rectum and perianal area suddenly turned black. No treatment.
10/14/15 To another vet for opinion of why vulva, rectal area, and face / feet are turning dark red / black. She is licking the inside of her mouth and inner lips often but is not the same lip licking she does with upset stomach. No treatment.
10/17/15 To regular Vet for recheck. She is getting worse. Red / Black areas getting worse. Increased mouth and inner lip licking and feet appear to be bothering her. She cannot sit and it appears to be painful. Rear end appears very sensitive. She will only lay in praying position and can tell she is very uncomfortable. She is moaning at night and increasing and sometimes moaning during the day. No treatment.
10/22/15 To VADC. Put on RC veg diet. She cannot crush this kibble so I chop it down and put water in it. Otherwise doing well with food trial.
10/23/15 Found 1 flea on her abdomen. No other fleas noticed but gave her a bath with GNC Chlorhexedine shampoo and conditioner. While washing abdomen shampoo got on her rear feet but this happens every time she gets a bath and never had a problem before.
10/23/15 Found a white sac on Left rear foot side of pad between either the 1st and 2nd digit or the 3rd and 4th digit (could not remember which) and very large about 1/8 to 3/16 inch in diameter and about ½ inch long. It was attached to the side of pad and protruded down between pads to bottom of foot. Tried to get a photo but the sac had already broken open and left white staining on pads. This is the same white gunk that was staining her right rear heel.
10/24/15 Frontline Plus treatment. Treated yard and took her to neighbors yard for 5 days.
10/25/15 Took her to ER Vet as feet became infected/ bleeding and she could not walk. Treatment with Clavamox 62,5 mg. amd Rimadyl 25 mg. ½ tab.
10/27/15 To VADC for extensive treatment and biopsies. She is propped up on 7.5 mg. Pred. and doing somewhat better. After started the Pred. she was able to sit again and lay down normally within 48 hours of starting the Pred. 7.5 mg. Seems to be having less pain in abdominal area.
10/27/15 She is flaking skin a lot
11/05/15 Dr. upped Pred. to 15 mg. Increased her water from 8 to 12 ounces to 10 to 14 ounces per day mixed with food. 4 to 5 ounces water with AM food, 1 to 2 ounces with lunch snack, 4 to 5 ounces with PM food, 1 to 2 ounces with bedtime snack.
11/06/15 Sutures removed
11/07/15 She seems bothered by increased pred. laying around a lot but still gets up at times. Had an accident (urinated inside). Offer her to go outside every 30 minutes but not accepting. She seems bothered and confused on increased dosage. At times will do better and go outside to pee and poop. Vision appears compromised but very alert and appears miserable.
11/07/15 PM Noticed more white staining on her rear feet / pads and also some new white staining on her front feet (heel pad). Photos taken of rear feet.
Also noticed her skin is turning pure white around the base of vulva and on her back. Seems to flake and does not look normal at all. Appeared to be some sort of small granules in hair around vulva
11/08/15 She is refusing to potty and seems very depressed. Eating normally and taking forced water mixed in food. Late evening she finally started urinating again.
NOTES
She was never really ever sick prior to her weight loss. She lost 48% of her body weight over an 8 to 9 month period. 28.5 pounds down to 15 pounds. She never lost more than 2 pounds a month and we checked with her Vet prior to diet and she told us 1 to 2 pounds a month was fine. But she seemed to really start having problems after her weight loss and actually half way into it.
We had another Min Pin who passed in April 2014 at 16 y/o. He had arthritis, CHF, and URI’s. Right before he died, his penis got real red and swollen all of a sudden and it reminded me of how her vulva looks. Could there be a link? His feet would get dark spots on them when we was sick. The last couple of years (2013 and 2014) GIZMO had accidents in the house and Bshe probably walked in it even though we shampooed the carpet often.
We had new carpet installed December 2014 right before she started getting the white bumps. I would not think that the carpet could cause this but thought it should be mentioned.
Her teeth and breath got real bad about a year ago with a lot of plaque and tarter build up on rear molars. Started brushing teeth daily and breath and teeth got better. Stopped brushing late August 2015 when she got sick.
When her and I play she will mouth my hands and for the past couple of years her saliva seemed to be real strong. It would get on my hands and it would burn and itch terrible.
Her abdomen has also turned from an off white color to a more red color and is distended. Her muzzle seems to be more red also.
She has always had a dry dull coat, even as a puppy. Her hair seemed coarser then most Min Pins. Lately when she is sick, her coat gets real oily and shiny. I know that sounds backwards but that’s how its been with her.
She tends to get sick at the times she is more dormant.When I keep her active she has had less problems.
Her mucus membranes seemed to turn very dark about a month ago.The past couple weeks they turn to pink and then back to dark again several times a day. Now when she is on 15 mg Pred, they seem to stay more pink than dark.
She has these episodes where she is afraid of everything including her own shadow. A blade of grass or a leaf may move and she will jump 2 feet in the air and act all freaked out. She peaks around every crack and corner as if something is there and going to get her when actually there is nothing there. She has these episodes 2 or 3 times a year and usually precede her vomiting or declining in general. During these episodes she also staggers a bit and sometimes runs into walls. Her last episode was 11/05/15.
Her vision appears to be declining as well in the past month or two. And I have noticed her eyes look different. Can’t quite put my finger on it but something is weird. Maybe I see more whites of her eyes or something. Just doesn’t look normal.
Ever since she was about 2 y/o she seemed to have trouble with her rear feet / legs especially the left rear leg. The snow and cold ground seemed to bother her as she would hold it up out of the snow or off the cold ground. Sometimes she did this with her Right leg too. She would also do this in the bath tub when her feet came into contact with just slightly warm water.
For the past two months she has only been able to lay in the praying position and shows discomfort but there is no reaction upon palpating the abdomen. A couple of days after starting the 7.5 mg Pred., she has started lying more normally with her rear legs to the side.
Her abdomen also gets real warm, actually hot at times during past 2 months. Her poop will also come out very hot at times in past couple of months.
Her abdomen also appears notably distended in last couple of months.
She has caught and ate everything from cicadas to large blackbirds and swallowed them whole. The last bird she ate was probably 2 to 2 ½ years ago. Could something be stuck in her GI tract?
Whatever this is I strongly feel it is affecting either her GI tract or a major abdominal organ.
2013 and 2014, She got a bath every week of the year except December and January where she got 1 bath a month. Every week in May, June, July, and August I used Virbac Hexidene shampoo 3 % Chlorhexidine with extended release. 1 time in December and 1 time in January I used Vet Solutions Anti bacterial Anti fungal shampoo with Chlorahexanol. Every week in Feb., March, April, Sept., Oct., and Nov., I used GNC pets Anti Bacterial Anti fungal shampoo, conditioner, and spray that has 1% chlorhexidine and Ketoconozole .25 %.
2015 She is only getting a bath every 30 to 60 days.
She has been licking the inside of her mouth the past 2 ½ months and is progressively getting worse.
Along with her abdomen and inner thighs becoming slightly red, her skin on her abdomen and inner thighs feels slightly moist and sticky during past 2 months. It used to be more of an off white color and dry.
She has had dramatic hair growth on her abdomen during the past 3 months. This started long before the prednisone treatment.
3 months ago she had NO grey hear on rear end and rear legs. Grey showing up very fast as if she is aging a year every week.
Over the years during her walks, she has had acorn shells get stuck on her pads for which I easily remove right away.
She also gets these little round stickers on her feet and pads at times when walking. They are little ¼ inch round (sometimes oblong) balls with sharp stickers on them. They get stuck on, between and behind her pads. Most of the time she lets me take them off right away, however, a few times she would not let me take them off and she chewed them off herself before continuing the walk. Can’t always tell if she spits them out or swallows them. Have always been concerned about this.