Discoid Lupus, And Sourcing Affordable Doxycycline

[PrairieProf]

My poor Cocoa was just diagnosed with (probable) Discoid Lupus. I am so upset, although I know her general health is fine (and energy, OMG!). I've studied all the old posts on this condition here. My generally excellent vet seems annoyingly vague about a plan of treatment -- he thinks steroids work well but doesn't seem to have much of an opinion about the treatment with supplements and the (formerly) Tetracycline/Niacinimide combo, though he isn't opposed to them. But he informed me that Tetracycline is no longer available, and Doxy is super expensive. In fact, it seems he doesn't even carry it in the clinic, and could only buy it in a huge amount, but they are happy to fill a script if I order it myself.

 

So for those of you who are using it, where are you getting it, and how are you affording it?? The cheapest we can see online is like 89 cents per 100 mg tablet and I am told you have to give two of those a day. That gets scary for a long term.

 

Also, my vet said something about Doxy having severe side effects -- is this true?

 

Cocoa is on fish oil and Vitamin E (just started) and we will start Niacinimide as soon as it comes in the mail in a day or so. I am alternating over the counter hydrocortisone cream and Vitamin E oil on her nose, with some Bag Balm too. She is already eating TOTW Pacific Stream. Just got this routine going a few days ago although she was on fish oil (and real sardines/mackerel) already. She came with terrible dry skin all over, and sparse fur, but is looking vastly better overall -- but her dry cracked nose has not improved much and might be worse now than a few weeks ago. I will add sunscreen soon although with the short days and our longer walks being early morning and late afternoon I'm not too worried about that at the moment.

 

Top of her nose. Big pieces flaked off the edges when I brought her home, then it seemed to be getting better, now it either looks a bit worse or I'm studying it more.

 

 

The front doesn't look too bad, though I just notice it's losing some pigment around the lower nostril area.

Edited October 23, 2015 by PrairieProf

[NevadasMom]

Canadian mail order possibly?

[greysmom]

I know you trust your vet, but this particular disease might benefit from a specialist, who might also have better access to the drugs needed.

 

I know there are several dogs on GT with lupus, and they are doing very well long term. It's freaking you out right now because it sounds scary and hard to deal with, but this is totally manageable with very good results once it's under control.

[JJNg]

Discoid lupus is usually just limited to the nose, and personally, I'd just start with the fish oil and vitamin E before doing anything else. Make sure you're using an appropriate dose of omega-3. In most cases, that alone is enough to keep it managed. IMO, no need to risk the side effects of long term steroids or antibiotics for a relatively mild condition.

 

For the most part, doxy is pretty safe. The most common side effect is GI upset. But with long term use, I do worry about antibiotic resistance.

 

Since you say you searched old threads, I imagine you probably already read this one:

http://forum.greytalk.com/index.php/topic/314671-rough-nose/

 

I posted photos of my boy Carter there. The only thing he gets different from my other dogs is extra fish oil and vitamin E. I've noticed he does get a little worse in the winter, although never to the point of discomfort since starting the supplements. It can take several weeks to see much of an effect.

[Guest SoulsMom]

Hi Ann! Soul has had it for years (at least since I got him when he was three) and it has never seemed to bother him, aside from occasional bleeding but nothing too severe. With his IBD, our options for treating DL have been limited. Years ago my vet recommended a steroid nose cream and Vit B. Lupus dogs can also benefit from a grain free diet and fish oil. It's really a matter of seeing what works for the particular dog.

 

Over the years Soul's Lupus has changed to where it now affects his paw pads more that his nose. They crack and "grow". This we treat with bag balm. Winters are the worst, as sunlight can trigger a flare and the sun is more direct in the winter. Like I said, digestible options are limited for him, but even before his IBD my vet was hesitant to give him meds when DL can be managed without. For Soul at least, his Discoid Lupus is more of a cosmetic issue than anything else. His flares have never affected his quality of life in anyway, other than being a minor nuisance.

 

Feel free to contact me on FB with any questions! I'll see if I can dig up his old vet records tonight to find the exact Vit B regiment that was suggested.

[kudzu]

Haven't known of using tetracycline or doxy for discoid lupus. Almost all the dogs I've known responded well to vitamin E & usually high EPA fish oil as well.

 

Have known a couple dogs who suffered liver damage from doxy used to treat Lyme. It was caught early & they recovered. My dog merely had mild GI upset & reduced appetite. It sure wouldn't be my go to drug for discoid lupus or SLO either.

 

Have been ordering drugs from All Day Chemist for several years, both for myself & sometimes the dogs. This pharmacy is based in India. They have both tetracycline & doxy, at extremely affordable prices. http://www.alldaychemist.com

[PrairieProf]

Thanks all. I'm going to try the supplement options at first, but Doxy/Niacinimide is a very standard treatment and I want to be ready to go there if needed.

 

I noticed this morning that Cocoa doesn't have eyelashes and there is no fur at the rim of her eyes, which is probably the DL too. I never thought about it before as she's got such a thin coat compared to my very hairy white Beth. You can sort of see it in the picture above.

 

Can anyone recommend a brand and strength of fish oil? It gets confusing with the amount of fish oil varying and the DHA/EPA levels varying within that. I am giving her extra-strength pills with both meals (and Vitamin E too now), plus I give her real oily fish for a midday snack -- the cutting edge of human health now says that Omega 3 too are much better absorbed from fish than fish oil, along with all the supplementary nutrients. (Fish oil does make me nervous, since I am convinced rancid fish oil is what triggered Beth's pancreatitis scare, but so far Cocoa seems to tolerate the pills well.)

 

I am definitely contemplating a second opinion, but I'd like a more holistic vet. Not sure about a specialist -- my guess is the folks at Iowa State, which is where one goes here, would be obsessed with prednisone.

Edited October 23, 2015 by PrairieProf

[Guest xengab]

Hi, my dog also has this. We got told to just do fish oil tablets, vit E and sunblock/balm when he goes outside. (I use "the dogs nose" balm). We got told his nose will 'grow' and crack/bleed. But if it changes/spreads to go back in. Giving extra meds always puts the dog in the position of having side effects which if avoid is best.

We already feed grain free, soy free food. But he wont eat salmon or fish based kibble, so we add the fish oil to his food with abit of sardine for taste.

We got told 4x 1500 iui of fish oil and 2 x 500iui of vit e per day. (so 2 fish , 1 vit e per meal). We get gel caps and squirt the oil into his food.

[Remolacha]

I've never dealt with lupus, but my dr recommended a high dose of fish oil (3000 mg/day) for me to help with my arthritis and I have been using the Costco/Kirkland brand which has 1200mg/capsule, 684mg Omega 3. Don't know what dosage you would give Cocoa, but they are reasonably priced and I trust the brand.

[NeylasMom]

Icelandic Pure sardine/anchovy oil. Dosing is on the bottle, I doubled it when Neyla got bone cancer. Just start with one pump and work up to avoid stomach issues.

 

You could also look into giving either Biobalm or Snout Soother a try. I posted links for both products here:http://forum.greytalk.com/index.php/topic/314809-dermoscent-bio-balm/?fromsearch=1

 

Both were very well reviewed for nose issues. I ended up with the latter for Zuri's paw pads and so far like it, but haven't been diligent enough to report on longer term effects.

Edited October 23, 2015 by NeylasMom