NeylasMom Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 (edited) Thought I would post an update for those of you who gave me input or were following along while I was trying to figure out what was going on with Zuri's skin/coat. (Long winded history here). We finally got in to see the veterinary dermatologist today, who was AMAZING. Ironically I literally just in the last couple of days noticed that Zuri's coat was suddenly almost back to normal. Still some tufts of dead hair around his back end, but so much better than before. We were also coincidentally in for his acupuncture/cold laser yesterday so I had a chance to get my vet's input on whether I should still keep the appt. The first thing she said without any comment from me was that he looked much better, but she agreed we should just keep the appt to be safe. SO glad I did. Turns out he has a condition called telogen defluxion (or effluvium). It occurs rather abruptly/spontaneously and resolves on it's own, also abruptly, typically in about 2-3 months. It can be brought on by a few things, including stress, anesthesia, & surgery. So it's possible it was the dental that brought it on, or it could have been something else. Also good news - he said it's incredibly rare for a dog to have this happen more than once so we probably won't see it again. He went systematically through hypothyroidism and this condition as they were the only 2 on the table, explaining what each one was, how they present, how they resolve, treatment, etc. It was all up on a dry erase board. I'm actually really sad I didn't get a photo of it. Anyway, I was increasingly skeptical about the hypothyroidism because things seemed to be resolving and his presentation really sealed the deal. My vet did offer yesterday to get a consult with the folks at MSU so I'm going to let her do that as well, but unless symptoms return, looks like we're all good. What a relief. Although I should say, when he got to the treatment options for both and under the telogen side he wrote in all caps "Do NOTHING" I thought, uh oh, positive reinforcement for my slacking off. I had meant to be giving those anti-bacterial shampoos regularly while I waited for the appt but I've been so freaking busy that I never got around to it. But in the end it's a good thing because if I had, we might have suspected that's what resolved the issue. Edited September 24, 2014 by NeylasMom Quote Jen, CPDT-KA with Zuri, lab in a greyhound suit, Violet, formerly known as Faith, Skye, the permanent puppy, Cisco, resident cat, and my baby girl Neyla, forever in my heart "The great thing about science is that you're free to disagree with it, but you'll be wrong." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbotaina Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Glad you got some answers Quote Meredith with Heyokha (HUS Me Teddy) and Crow (Mike Milbury). Missing Turbo (Sendahl Boss), Pancho, JoJo, and "Fat Stacks" Juana, the psycho kitty. Canku wakan kin manipi."Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." - Voltaire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remolacha Posted September 24, 2014 Share Posted September 24, 2014 Always nice to get an answer, and if the answer is "resolves on its own, do nothing" even better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EllenEveBaz Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 (edited) yay for Zuri feeling better! << But in the end it's a good thing because if I had, we might have suspected that's what resolved the issue.>> Talk about enabling procrastination Edited September 26, 2014 by EllenEveBaz Quote Ellen, with brindle Milo and the blonde ballerina, Gelsey remembering Eve, Baz, Scout, Romie, Nutmeg, and Jeter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DesiRayMom Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 Wow......not only wonderful that you now have an answer, but that you met a specialist that took the time to sit down & talk/explain. Wish I could find a human doctor like that! Quote Blessed is the person who has earned the love of an old dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fruitycake Posted September 26, 2014 Share Posted September 26, 2014 What great news! I'm glad that the dermatologist had information and could give you answers, and that they were so good! And I think you totally lucked out with a specialist that was so good at communicating with you; sometimes they are so deep within their own knowledge they don't know how to deliver it to others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeylasMom Posted September 26, 2014 Author Share Posted September 26, 2014 (edited) yay for Zuri feeling better! << But in the end it's a good thing because if I had, we might have suspected that's what resolved the issue.>> Talk about enabling procrastination As if I needed it. Wow......not only wonderful that you now have an answer, but that you met a specialist that took the time to sit down & talk/explain. Wish I could find a human doctor like that! My thoughts exactly! What great news! I'm glad that the dermatologist had information and could give you answers, and that they were so good! And I think you totally lucked out with a specialist that was so good at communicating with you; sometimes they are so deep within their own knowledge they don't know how to deliver it to others. I think I'm lucky in that there is an abundance of good veterinary specialists in my area. I have the most amazing orthopedist who I've taken my dogs to for many years. Violet received excellent care at the specialty hospital I took her to for her rhabdo. The oncology team who treated Neyla for osteo are the best of the best, with the head guy pushing out a lot of research, we have several outstanding veterinary dentists in the area, etc. We really are lucky. Although none of it is cheap! The oncology place was probably the worst - $250 just for the consult! Side bar - Zuri's coat looks amazing today. Almost 100% back to normal. It's hard to express how drastic of a change it was - the amount of fur he was losing before was crazy. The vet told a funny story about how many of his clients bring bags of fur into their initial consult and how those are almost always the dogs who have this condition. He said it's just a level of hair loss you don't see with anything else, except that the fur keeps growing back so the dogs don't go bald. Anywho, his drastic improvement this week jsut cements the dx, which is great news for us. Edited September 26, 2014 by NeylasMom Quote Jen, CPDT-KA with Zuri, lab in a greyhound suit, Violet, formerly known as Faith, Skye, the permanent puppy, Cisco, resident cat, and my baby girl Neyla, forever in my heart "The great thing about science is that you're free to disagree with it, but you'll be wrong." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gracegirl Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Glad your boy is on the road to recovery. Great news on the level of care from the specialist, too. Quote Poppy the lurcher 11/24/23 Gabby the Airedale 7/1/18 Forever missing Grace (RT's Grace), Fenway (not registered, def a greyhound), Jackson (airedale terrier, honorary greyhound), and Tessie (PK's Cat Island) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greyhead Posted September 27, 2014 Share Posted September 27, 2014 Yay Zuri and Jen! What a relief. Quote Mary with Jumper Jack (2/17/11) and angels Shane (PA's Busta Rime, 12/10/02 - 10/14/16) and Spencer (Dutch Laser, 11/25/00 - 3/29/13). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeylasMom Posted September 27, 2014 Author Share Posted September 27, 2014 Today - coat is glossy, shiny black. Not a tuft of dead hair to be seen anywhere, he looks gorgeous. Totally crazy. I had actually forgotten what it looked like for him to have a nice healthy coat. Happy to have it back! Quote Jen, CPDT-KA with Zuri, lab in a greyhound suit, Violet, formerly known as Faith, Skye, the permanent puppy, Cisco, resident cat, and my baby girl Neyla, forever in my heart "The great thing about science is that you're free to disagree with it, but you'll be wrong." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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