Hair changes in westie

Re: Hair changes in westie

Michael Woodhouse — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 23:01:08 GMT

[quote user="sophia guymer"]I must admit, had bit of a snigger: Westie that has not needed steriods for skin condition all its life (highly irregular) now, old age, needs steroids because it has hypoadrenocort[/quote]

That is interesting! Maybe Westies are really really prone to Addison's but already on enough pred to cope

Re: Hair changes in westie

sophia guymer — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 22:04:18 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]

Any bloods back?

[/quote]

Yes, sorry, I apologise, should have posted it straight away, when I got back fri it turned out the bloods were back on tue, my boss took one look and decided to do an ACTH stim test, and guess what????

The dog is Addisonian!!!!!! The only abno on the first bloods was very high (have not got the results here) potassium. Normal sodium etc. Was retested in house first in case contamination from the tubes, but no, it was right. Thus the ACTH stim test.

I have never heard of a Addison case before where the only symptom is weightloss!!!, no diar, no vom, normal heart rate etc etc.

I must admit, had bit of a snigger: Westie that has not needed steriods for skin condition all its life (highly irregular) now, old age, needs steroids because it has hypoadrenocort.

Re: Hair changes in westie

sophia guymer — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 21:51:43 GMT

[quote user="Laurence Webb"]Monitoring water intake over 24 hours is free [/quote]

It would be if it was done: little old lady, the dog lives with her in the evenings and during the night, but at her sons house during the day, where three people try and be in charge. I know we could work around it with only giving water out of dedicated bottles etc but is was simpler to go for bloods first in this case.

Re: Hair changes in westie

Laurence Webb — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 01:17:24 GMT

[quote user="sophia guymer"](acc to o, not sure about PUPD but o thinks not).

[/quote]

Monitoring water intake over 24 hours is free and a few USGs is cheap

Re: Hair changes in westie

Michael Woodhouse — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 16:57:13 GMT

Any bloods back?

Re: Hair changes in westie

sophia guymer — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 10:29:42 GMT

[quote user="Niall Taylor"] Quite a few non POM supplements have been found to contain steroids.[/quote]

Didn't know that. Still, will check, but am reasonably sure he is not on anything. The sort of people that wouldn't do anything with the dog before checking with us. But as I say, will check. Thanks!

Re: Hair changes in westie

Niall Taylor — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 07:36:47 GMT

[quote user="sophia guymer"]Again looking for some ideas[/quote]

Have you checked he's not on any supplements for skin etc. Quite a few non POM supplements have been found to contain steroids.

Niall

Re: Hair changes in westie

sophia guymer — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:36:29 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]

Viscotears?

[/quote]

yes thats the one thanks. OFC (owner financially challenged) so we tried those first, but had to resort to optimmune after all(tried another tear drop as well but didn't cope either)

Re: Hair changes in westie

Michael Woodhouse — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 21:27:36 GMT

[quote user="sophia guymer"](started with , braindead moment, can't think of the name, tear drops anyway)[/quote]

Hypromelliose?

Viscotears?

Re: Hair changes in westie

sophia guymer — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 19:35:52 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]Some dogs coats change naturally as they age. Can get thicker and shaggier with no pathology[/quote]

That is what I told her initially but now the weightloss is not stabilising I just wondered if may be there was a connection.

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]If it's not itchy and not bald[/quote]

No it is not.

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]

Did you run a T4 with the bloods?

[/quote]

Not yet, money rather a problem and to be fair, didn't think it fitted the picture of the weightloss etc ?

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]Routine bloods may give you an indication of Cushings AND the raised cortisol levels [/quote]

Thats what I was wondering.(although to be fair he never has had any skin problems all his life) Will keep you posted. Didn't have any results back yet today so should be there when back on friday.

Thanks for your input!

Re: Hair changes in westie

sophia guymer — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 19:29:50 GMT

Yes, didn't go into it as didn't seem relevant to the current problem but the STT was low and it is now on optimmune which is keeping it under controle. (incidently, it had bilat ulcers and the eye with the low STT healed lovely really quickly and the eye in which the STT was corrected really quickly (started with , braindead moment, can't think of the name, tear drops anyway) took months to heal, several times debriding etc. But as I said, both now fine and on optimmune. Thanks for pointing it out though!!

Re: Hair changes in westie

Michael Woodhouse — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 23:57:26 GMT

[quote user="sophia guymer"]Any other ideas on the coat changes?[/quote]

Some dogs coats change naturally as they age. Can get thicker and shaggier with no pathology. If it's not itchy and not bald I'd worry about the weight loss ATM.

Did you run a T4 with the bloods?

Routine bloods may give you an indication of Cushings AND the raised cortisol levels may give you a non heeling ulcer and suppress his atopy to a manageable level.........

Re: Hair changes in westie

Vikki Halliday LLB — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 21:50:33 GMT

[quote user="sophia guymer"]I have been seeing him for an eye ulcer for quite some time, [/quote]

How long did he have the ulcer for? Just a point but Westies are incredibly prone to KCS.