DesiRayMom

I just did a search on arsenicum album....sounds pretty scary to me. Also sounds like a human product, not canine. My previous grey (RIP Gringo) also had problems with diarrhea. He did much better on a grain free diet (we used Natural Balance Venison & Sweet Potato) and a product from the vet called Proviable, which is good bacteria for dog digestive systems.

I'm not Jane, so my advice wasn't requested, but here it is anyway. It may not be an easy decision, but don't wait. God only knows what it will be like in two weeks. Don't make Gracy wait.

Thank goodness all went well. I'm sure you'll have a few sleepless, worryful nights. Just hang on....it'll get better. Pain meds & TLC works miracles.

Tiffy: No advice, everyone else has said it all. Just know there is a world of moral support out here. My best wishes & hopes for a good outcome.

Thanks for the update on Joe. I was worrying about you all week. He's a handsome man & I'm sure he's one smart cookie. Smart enough to convince you that he needs steak FUREVER?

Ear mites? Vet would have caught that.

Since he's been in a sock or boot nearly 24/7, our lab tech & I decided to do an in-house culture just for the heck of it & see what turned up. Big-time staph. So now I've decided to send it on out to the "big" lab & see what they say. Thanks for the info on Immuran. I'll see what his doc says about that. Thanks also for the info on TOTW food. I was about ready to switch him to Healthy Balance (or is it Natural Balance) something or other. Think I'll go research some labels. Thanks for all the input.

I'm using Metacam daily, no adverse effects. Makes him feel pretty good, actually.

Desi & I are thinking of you. All our best wishes & hopes for the best possible outcome.

Desi spent every day with me at work at the clinic for a month, & 4 doctors all giving their impressions & suggestions. If it were a contact allergy (grass) then why is only one foot affected? Dr.Cormany called OSU for a consult, they told her they wouldn't worry about the Basesia titer. It was very low when first detected, & he's been on several long courses of antibiotics since then. They're still voting for allergy. He's been on kangaroo & oat exclusively, no other flavored treats (much to his dismay). Dr. Cormany's next trial was to be cyclosporine, but I've checked his dose & the cost, & even with a very generous discount at the clinic where I work, it's totally out of the question. His foster mom says he did get better on Simplicef, maybe I'll give that a try for a while. All the research we've done says a culture wouldn't tell you much....culture of goo around a dog's nails is ALWAYS going to turn up yuck. They walk on those feet for goodness sake. He wears a child's sock almost 24/7 (much better than a muzzle) ((amazingly, he leaves it alone, has never tried to chew it off)). Always wears a bootie on that foot when going outside. Since I don't seem to be able to cure it, I'm about to the point where I'm just keeping it clean & calmed, keeping him on anti-inflammatory & pain relief. He seems happy & content. If I have to clean toes & change socks daily, for the rest of his life, so be it. Jane, don't think I'm giving up on him.....he's a joy to live with, everyone at the clinic loves him (I caught one of the kennel guys sneaking a nap with him one day) We've been researching & trying things all this time with no noticable improvement, I was just hoping someone might have a new idea. He's mine for the rest of his life, no matter what. I'd never clean toes daily for a man, but I'll do it for my dogson.

I'm loving my 2nd rescued racer, have had him since March, something has me baffled. Right rear foot, oozes yuck from around toenails on outside toes only. His foster had taken him to Ohio State....,they said NOT SLO, those are allergy feet (one front foot has one nail that oozes occasionally). So he's been on a kangaroo & oat diet for the past 8 months. Another vet thought yes it was SLO, just a mild case. All nails are well seated, not loose, not deformed. He has been on megadoses of omega 3 fatty acids, tried a course of tetracycline & niacinamide (6 weeks), then a course of pentoxyphyline & doxycycline (another 6 weeks). The only thing that seemed to have any effect at all was a course of Prednisone (which was hell on earth for both of us. I've about given up on all medications. Am just cleaning the nails daily & adding some all-natural calming gel for comfort. He wears a child's sock to keep the tongue off. Anyone have any ideas or suggestions? Thanks