Discoid Lupus

[Guest TriciasZoo]

I'm just terrified of the potential progression. And he's in so much pain I can't even gently put chapstick or his vit. e ointment on it anymore. I will try to keep him out of the sun as much as possible.

 

Has anyone used the niamiacide and tetraycline??

 

Don't get me wrong. I don't WANT Sam to have to go through a biopsy, but it seems my only option where I'm at. I agree that neither of those meds would hurt him if given under the assumption it was DL, but the vet doesn't.

[Guest SoulsMom]

Poor Sam! Once you start a regiment his nose should be feeling much better. . . .

 

I have not tried the niamiacide and tetraycline. It's an option, but like I said, the vet and I decided to try and control it without meds first. And so far it's working

[tbhounds]

Yes, I have used the tetra, niacidimide combo on my SLO dog--very safe to use and it can be used long-term (and very inexpensive). I know your getting pulled in so many directions--follow what your Dr recommends. They will most likely just take punch biopsy's--very tiny ones, two sutures each--not a big deal IMHO. How are his teeth? Maybe you can have his teeth cleaned while his under.

[krissn333]

I'm just terrified of the potential progression. And he's in so much pain I can't even gently put chapstick or his vit. e ointment on it anymore. I will try to keep him out of the sun as much as possible.

 

Has anyone used the niamiacide and tetraycline??

 

Don't get me wrong. I don't WANT Sam to have to go through a biopsy, but it seems my only option where I'm at. I agree that neither of those meds would hurt him if given under the assumption it was DL, but the vet doesn't.

Yes, that is Pinky's regimen along with lots of vitamins, and we are going to try the Bcomplex and the CoQ10 after reading about them here.

 

Pinky's nose looks EXACTLY like Sam's when she is flaring. I have "trimmed" hers with some fingernail clippers before, simply because they were starting to fall off and she was catching the skin flaps on blankets and crying but I wouldn't remove them otherwise.

 

Soul's Mom: Hmmm. See, I have not heard the Discoid Lupus can become systemically painful. SLE, yes. But not Discoid.

If the Discoid Lupus is not properly held at bay (ie, treated somehow), it can progress to systemic lupus. Trust me, I know. I have what can most easily be described as a combination of the two, and if I don't keep my discoid symptoms at bay and under control, I am risking systemic damage to my kidneys and liver. That is why I took Pinky, I figured if a lupus sufferer can't help a dog with lupus, no one can

 

ETA I do not allow Pinky to sunbathe like the other dogs like to. If she will not stay in the shade (thankfully we have two large trees), she has to go inside. For our group's reunion, Pinky came, but was kept in the pavilion in the shade 99% of the time so she wouldn't be in the sun. We've tried lots of topical stuff on her nose, usually she just licks it off. We even tried MOSP's method for applying ointment but it didn't help

Edited April 16, 2008 by krissn333

[krissn333]

Here's a pretty recent pic of Pinky, her nose looks a little better now:

 

Here she is when I first got her...

 

Also it is hereditary so if you know any of his littermates I would tell them to keep their eyes peeled for signs before it gets bad like Pinky's...Pinky's littermate sister Rose has it too.

[Guest TriciasZoo]

Yes, I have used the tetra, niacidimide combo on my SLO dog--very safe to use and it can be used long-term (and very inexpensive). I know your getting pulled in so many directions--follow what your Dr recommends. They will most likely just take punch biopsy's--very tiny ones, two sutures each--not a big deal IMHO. How are his teeth? Maybe you can have his teeth cleaned while his under.

 

Yes, he did say a bunch biopsy. His teeth are good. Speaking of teeth though, little Beebs needs hers done and that scares me. She's only 51 lbs. My vet is well versed with greys though, so I know she'll be in the best hands, but I'm still nervous enough I've been postponing it long enough. I'll get Sam taken care of and all set first, then bite the bullet for Beebs.

 

I've had a punch skin biopsy myself, so I have a "little" idea about it. Will they use local or will they have to use general to put Sam under for it?

 

Thank you for reassuring me the combo would be safe long term.

[Guest vahoundlover]

Trish, my mix terrier has been on niamiacide and tetraycline plus panalog cream and fish oils, sunblock for 7 years. He will be 13 this year. We didn't do the biopsy. Busters' was under control until this last year. Unfortunately with his other issues, cushings and seizures to start the list, we are struggling with his health and keeping everything under control.

 

[Guest TriciasZoo]

Thanks so much everyone, I really appreciate it. I'm giving him the rest of this week to recover from his hookworm incident, and will hopefully get the punch biopsy next week, and get the definitive diagnosis and start him on the regime. His nose is so tender I can't really get anything on it. I've tried sunscreen, chapstick, and Vit. E ointment, and you can tell it's torture for him to be touched on his nose. I'll update everyone as we go along. I'm surprised at how fast the scaling is coming back after the vet cleaned them off. I can only imagine his reaction to the vet doing that. He has the saddest scream of death ever and he's not afraid to use it. It's a good thing I wasn't there to witness that one.

[greytdecals]

Sorry you are going thru this with Sam

 

No real advice from me, just my thoughts and prayers for you!

 

All I know is that in humans, Discoid Lupus is not life threatening but Systemic Lupus is! I have Systemic Lupus

[Guest SoulsMom]

If the Discoid Lupus is not properly held at bay (ie, treated somehow), it can progress to systemic lupus.

Yup, my vet said the same thing. But, thankfully, there is only a 5% chance of it progressing to SLE.

I've had a punch skin biopsy myself, so I have a "little" idea about it. Will they use local or will they have to use general to put Sam under for it?

My vet said they would have to use general for the biopsy, one on the reason we decided against it. Kerri, did Yardman have to be put out for the procedure?

Sorry you are going thru this with Sam

 

No real advice from me, just my thoughts and prayers for you!

 

All I know is that in humans, Discoid Lupus is not life threatening but Systemic Lupus is! I have Systemic Lupus

Hi Suzie Got my decal, thanks! Hange in there

 

 

[Guest TriciasZoo]

Sorry you are going thru this with Sam

 

No real advice from me, just my thoughts and prayers for you!

 

All I know is that in humans, Discoid Lupus is not life threatening but Systemic Lupus is! I have Systemic Lupus

 

I know ya do, Suzie. And you sure know how to make the best of it. You've always impressed me with how you handle it.

[dbullwinkel]

I FINALLY got a diagnosis for my Iggy of discoid lupus. He has been having nose issues since the winter. Today he was bleeding all over the place when I accidently banged into him. I took him to the vet I bring the big greys to (along with the bloodwork that was done by the other vet--who said to take him to an internal specialist). This is a big practice and while they are not cheap, they know what they are doing. but way less than the big emergency place other vet wanted me to go to.

anyway, she put him on doxycline 50 mg once a day. Tacromilis drops, vitamin E in is food and a little on his nose as well. she said she might add in niacin (?) from the health food store. Other vet had him on prednisone. She wants me to taper him off and see how he does. She said to put suncreen on his nose when he is outside...what is best for dogs? and what dietary changes should I make for him? Right now he is eating Nature's variety beef and barley kibble--which is a raw base or something!

 

I feel bad, he worships the sun!!! Any advice regarding food, sunscreen, and meds would be greatly appreciated.

[krissn333]

If the Discoid Lupus is not properly held at bay (ie, treated somehow), it can progress to systemic lupus.

Yup, my vet said the same thing. But, thankfully, there is only a 5% chance of it progressing to SLE.

My poor Pinkers must be one of the lucky 5%

 

 

she said she might add in niacin (?) from the health food store. Other vet had him on prednisone. She wants me to taper him off and see how he does. She said to put suncreen on his nose when he is outside...what is best for dogs? and what dietary changes should I make for him? Right now he is eating Nature's variety beef and barley kibble--which is a raw base or something!

 

I feel bad, he worships the sun!!! Any advice regarding food, sunscreen, and meds would be greatly appreciated.

Don't give your dog niacin (I heard that's bad)...what you need for lupus is NIACINAMIDE. My pharmacist orders it for me and it's about $5 a bottle. My Pinky takes tetracycline (doxycycline will do the trick too), niacinamide, vitamin E, and omega 3 caplets. She eats Avoderm Chicken and Rice formula and seems to do well on it. She also did pretty well on a Salmon based food.

 

If she has a flare up she takes a course of prednisone. She's had a tough time lately so she's on a maintenance dose of 5mg prednisone daily. After a month we are going to try to get her to every other day and see how she does.

 

I know they love the sun but honestly the best thing is to keep them OUT of the sun whenever possible. I don't worry about putting anything on Pinky if she is just going outside to potty, but if we are going to be out I put Chapstick with SPF 15 on her nose (it's a blue package), but I still try to keep her in the shade as much as possible. I want to look into having a hat made for her when I have some more time.

[Guest SoulsMom]

If the Discoid Lupus is not properly held at bay (ie, treated somehow), it can progress to systemic lupus.

Yup, my vet said the same thing. But, thankfully, there is only a 5% chance of it progressing to SLE.

My poor Pinkers must be one of the lucky 5%

 

 

she said she might add in niacin (?) from the health food store. Other vet had him on prednisone. She wants me to taper him off and see how he does. She said to put suncreen on his nose when he is outside...what is best for dogs? and what dietary changes should I make for him? Right now he is eating Nature's variety beef and barley kibble--which is a raw base or something!

 

I feel bad, he worships the sun!!! Any advice regarding food, sunscreen, and meds would be greatly appreciated.

Don't give your dog niacin (I heard that's bad)...what you need for lupus is NIACINAMIDE. My pharmacist orders it for me and it's about $5 a bottle. My Pinky takes tetracycline (doxycycline will do the trick too), niacinamide, vitamin E, and omega 3 caplets. She eats Avoderm Chicken and Rice formula and seems to do well on it. She also did pretty well on a Salmon based food.

 

If she has a flare up she takes a course of prednisone. She's had a tough time lately so she's on a maintenance dose of 5mg prednisone daily. After a month we are going to try to get her to every other day and see how she does.

 

I know they love the sun but honestly the best thing is to keep them OUT of the sun whenever possible. I don't worry about putting anything on Pinky if she is just going outside to potty, but if we are going to be out I put Chapstick with SPF 15 on her nose (it's a blue package), but I still try to keep her in the shade as much as possible. I want to look into having a hat made for her when I have some more time.

 

Me too! I'm also trying to find doggles since it affects his eyes sometimes.

 

Soul is on a grain free, holistic diet. Meaning as little chemical preservatives as possible. He get two vit E caps a day, one Vit B (NIACINAMIDE), and Grizzly Salmon Oil. I also just started him on the COQ10 (100mg/day). He wears baby sunscreen anytime he is out in the sun. He doesn't like the chapstick, yelps when I try to put it on. But he's doing pretty well and hasn't had a bad flare up in a long time . . . .