Ears problems in Rhodesian Ridgeback

Re: Ears problems in Rhodesian Ridgeback

Mike Dale — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 22:07:28 GMT

Hi Ruta

My ridgeback's "uncle" and half sister both suffered from this at round age 2-3yrs. All the usual work ups were done short of biopsy that the owners declined (to my relief as I was concerned about managing even a small surgical wound. I'm convinced ridgebacks use vigorous head shaking/ear flapping as a means of communicating their feeings!)

I wondered if it was a cold agglutinin type of vasculitis or simply poor circulation. As a palliative to control the constant shaking and bleeding I suggested using Sudocream as the owners had no vaseline (my first suggestion). The ears on both dogs cleared up promptly. I wondered whether the zinc content of sudocream had anything to do with it - or were they going to clear up anyway? I suggested trying a modest zinc supplement on the advice of a nutritionist acquaintance. Neither dog experienced a recurrence.

Mike

Re: Ears problems in Rhodesian Ridgeback

Mark Hedberg — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 11:00:23 GMT

[quote user="Takura Zihumo"]

Hie Mark, how are you? Im intending to sit for the rcvs statutory exam in 2014. Lets keep in touch!

Takura

[/quote]Takura! Long time, how's things? Drop me an email, been far too long! :)

Re: Ears problems in Rhodesian Ridgeback

Takura Zihumo — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 09:29:34 GMT

Hie Mark, how are you? Im intending to sit for the rcvs statutory exam in 2014. Lets keep in touch!

Takura

Re: Ears problems in Rhodesian Ridgeback

Ruta — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 08:54:29 GMT

Hello,

The owner mentioned that after injury the dog is bleeding a lot. So, it is could be immune-mediated disorder as well. However, I will suggest biopsy to the owners.

Thank you very much for all your help. It is wonderful to learn more and more every day. :)

Cheers!

Ruta

Re: Ears problems in Rhodesian Ridgeback

Rajat — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 01:10:06 GMT

I've had a similar case in a Greyhound

Diagnosis was made on histology

Disease caused by vasculitis leading to necrosis due to thrombosis of vessels

Dachshunds are predisposed

Responded well to Cortavance and now on Protopic cream

Fuciderm didnt touch it, and I'd hit this hard with stronger steroids than betamethasone...

Re: Ears problems in Rhodesian Ridgeback

Richard Fox — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 18:40:53 GMT

Probably Idiopathic ear margin vasculitis (proliferative thrombovascular necrosis of the pinna) ? Tx - Prob symptomatic?

Link to Thelmas book

Re: Ears problems in Rhodesian Ridgeback

Mark Holmes — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:51:27 GMT

I had a german short haired pointer with similar leisons, responded to daily fuciderm.

Re: Ears problems in Rhodesian Ridgeback

Mike Dale — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 15:12:19 GMT

I own a Rhodesian Ridgeback and her "uncle" had identical lesions to your picture. Not my patient but all the usual work up was done short of biopsy. The lesions were not cold weather related in his case.

Half-hearted food trials, topical steroids and washes failed to impact.

I had seen something similar in a bunch of greyhounds that responded to zinc supplementation and suggested trying a trial with zincaderm. The lesions resolved, the zinc supplementation was reduced to cowardly levels and to date (3 years) the lesions have not returned.

Was the zinc significant or were the lesions going to clear up anyway? I don't know.

Re: Ears problems in Rhodesian Ridgeback

Mark Hedberg — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:29:22 GMT

Call me silly, but how cold is the cold weather? It looks a bit like frostbite...

Re: Ears problems in Rhodesian Ridgeback

kirsty — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 19:26:57 GMT

Have seen several similar cases Suspect there is an autoimmune component and heavy Pred seems to resolve/put into remission Perhaps the cold weather has an influence similar to the cold agglutinins active in autoimmune haemolytic anaemia

Re: Ears problems in Rhodesian Ridgeback

Michael Woodhouse — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 18:50:18 GMT

Send a bit off for histology? We had a similar case that was put on a vasodillator but the drug made no difference, the ear tips seemed to slough to what the blood supply could support and then they healed over! No treatment might be an option!

Re: Ears problems in Rhodesian Ridgeback

Ruta — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 18:04:07 GMT

Yes, I already have done both ears examination which was nad. No others skin problems I didn't found either. The dog is not scratching his ears, just sometimes is shaking his head and then bleeding starts.

So, still no answers.

Ruta

Re: Ears problems in Rhodesian Ridgeback

Claire McConnell — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:51:30 GMT

Well I would start off with my basic skin work up of skin scrapes, tape strips around area etc and ofcourse otoscopic exam for causes of scratching at ears eg mites, otitis etc however you have probably already done this.