Autoimmune disease

[Tanglewood]

My border collie is nearly 13. Last week holes appeared on her tummy - it looked like a moonscape, complete with craters. After a week of antibiotics they are starting to clear up. The vet thinks it is an autoimmune disease, although a biopsy would need to be done to be sure. I have now found a lump on her tummy, so wonder if it may be cancer. Has anyone else's dog had symptoms like these

[LadyDaniela]

I'm sorry I don't have any experience with this but I do hope that pup is feeling back to her normal self soon!

[bcmama]

What did the holes look like/how big were they? Was there any pus coming out of them?

[Tanglewood]

I think the holes were pustules that had popped. They didn't have pus as such, but a couple were grey, which the vet said were infected. The biggest hole was almost 1 cm, the others smaller. They don't bother her too much; she has the occasional lick. In herself she is fine.

[only-borders]

Autoimmune disease has many faces. I have had two dogs die from it in the past 5 years. They were both completely different symptoms.

First girl started with skin issues and lumps then we found cancer. Because of the autoimmune with all the antibiotics and cancer treatments she was unable to make it and at age 10 we had her put to sleep. Start to finish it was only about 5 months.

My second girl died of IMHA at age 3. Start to finish 36 hours, a horrible death.

I highly suggest you read all you can online and believe the worst of the worst. If your dog is almost 13 the treatments may be worse.

http://gvdt57.home.xs4all.nl/usa/immune2.html

http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/endo...thematosus

http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_imha.html


I wish you and your dog all the best. You can PM me if you have any questions.

[Tanglewood]

Heidi is a dog who's full of life and is happiest when she's running. She was a really fast agility dog, but had to retire at 6 due to arthritis. We have to help her up from a lying position, but once she's up, she's off. We didn't expect her to make 12. We've decided if it is cancer then we'll leave it be. If the antibiotics sort the skin problem, which it seems to be doing we'll probably just let it be, without putting her through a general anesthetic for the skin biopsy, even if she needs more antibiotics in a couple of months. As you say sometimes the treatment can be as bad as the disease.

[trickytrip]

Hope Heidi is feeling better soon.

[only-borders]

(11-16-2011 09:49 AM)Tanglewood Wrote:  Heidi is a dog who's full of life and is happiest when she's running. She was a really fast agility dog, but had to retire at 6 due to arthritis. We have to help her up from a lying position, but once she's up, she's off. We didn't expect her to make 12. We've decided if it is cancer then we'll leave it be. If the antibiotics sort the skin problem, which it seems to be doing we'll probably just let it be, without putting her through a general anesthetic for the skin biopsy, even if she needs more antibiotics in a couple of months. As you say sometimes the treatment can be as bad as the disease.

I truly wish the best for Heidi. Please keep us posted on how she is doing.

[tase]

so sorry to hear this I too have a growing concern for my young male bc 5yrs old I have found 2 lumps on his spine

[Tanglewood]

I'm really sorry to hear about your dog. I hope it isn't serious. Just when he's getting to his prime, but there's many reasons for lumps so we'll keep fingers crossed for you.

[only-borders]

(11-22-2011 09:56 AM)Tanglewood Wrote:  I'm really sorry to hear about your dog. I hope it isn't serious. Just when he's getting to his prime, but there's many reasons for lumps so we'll keep fingers crossed for you.

How is Heidi doing?

[Tanglewood]

She is due a check up tomorrow. The antibiotics seem to have more or less cleared up the skin problem. She still has the little lump in her groin and has one between the toes of one front foot, which irritates her. For the past few days she will only eat with encouragement, which is obviously giving us cause for concern. I don't know if perhaps she has an ulcer in her mouth. In herself though she is fine and full of beans. We'll see what the vet says tomorrow.

[only-borders]

Wishing you well tomorrow, please update us after.

[Tanglewood]

Just before I took her to the vets, I noticed there was another little eruption of blisters. The vet thinks it may be possible that it could be a nasty infection thats got out of hand, so we're going to wait and see if it reoccurs. she's got another week of antibiotics (will my fingers survive-you cannot hide the tablets in anything;they have to go straight down the throat! )

[Traevas]

Poor lil girl. Wishing the best for both of you.