My Lovely Angel Luna

Sooo...Luna was in for her annual exam in January. All her labwork was normal except for her ALT being just a couple points above range. Her ALKP was clear down in the bottom range of normal. A week after she'd been in, a small clump of fur pulled out on her back leaving a nasty, red, goopy lesion. Called the vet back, I put some ointment on it for a couple of days, and the skin quickly healed. So that was that, or so I thought.

Since that time...the skin remained healed, but the fur never really grew back fully. Every time I see that little divot, I think "that is odd." She developed one more spot about a month ago, and I have recently noticed what seems like a symmetrical thinning of fur on both of her haunches. It reminds me of the beginning of a hair loss pattern that I've seen once before :o. She has been shedding abnormally crazy -- whole clumps of fur. Her whole life up until the last few months, she hardly drank or peed much at all. Now, whenever I turn her out, she pees and pees and pees. Today I found three new angry lesions erupting on her back.
So obviously there is some sort of chronic infection going on.

People, you know where I am going here. :eek: :eek: :eek:

Not leaping to any conclusions, mind you. Could be multiple reasons for multiple issues.

But you know what I am thinking. :o :o :o

Just had to go ahead and voice it for a moment, but now I will try not to stress and just follow along the diagnostic path. Taking her back in tomorrow and I suspect we will start with a dermatology referral. Luna herself is happy and energetic and carefree except for hating me examining her skin so much! She hightails it into her crate whenever she sees me coming toward her today. :rolleyes:

Surely hoping for some easy answers and a problem that will be solved with medicated shampoo. No need to borrow trouble yet, right?

I'm not liking the sound of any of this.:o Hopefully it's just a little infection that will quickly clear up. Get any Cushing's thoughts out of your pretty little head right now! I refuse to go there and you should too for now!;):eek: Keep us posted!

Kathy

It's hard once we know or have experienced something, not to be worried about seeing elsewhere too. So I'm hoping this is nerves and she's got a bit of skin infection going on, and that it will clear up. Maybe take a pee sample in and have it cultured to see if there is any infection there that she might need some antibiotics for too.

We can totally be proactive on other fronts before opening the gate to any other paths.

Hang in there Marianne! Dang ole devil on your shoulder scenerio.

hugs

Of course you are right, girls. But no matter what kind of skin infection I google (fungus, yeast, bacteria), they all say that adult dogs do not have chronic multiple lesions in the absence of a suppressed immune system. And of course the C word is typically at the top of the list of underlying issues.

[And yes, I also know I should STOP GOOGLING!!!!! Somebody needs to put a lock on my search button...]

I know what you mean. Google is both a blessing and curse sometimes.

But you don't know anything YET, so eliminate the other possibilities first.

If it is the "c" word, then that is a bridge to cross when we get there.

huggers lock and key that search button!

Okay, it's time for a break, or maybe an intervention.;)

Put your iPad down and step away

It's not going anywhere. It will still be there happily waiting for you when you return. Luna feels fine, but doesn't like being messed with. So, go play with those beautiful girls for now. That's an order!:D

Yes, ma'am! :o :o :o :o

Actually, it's their suppertime and The Girls really love their Mama at suppertime. :) :) :)

So off I go. See you later. ;)

Marianne - From what I can recall as to your menu selections, I would probably LOVE you at suppertime too! :D:D:D I rushed my dad to the ER a few days ago with chest pain. I've been going back-and-forth to the hospital, so the menu selection around my house has been sparse. Your girls are probably eating better than I am these days.;)

Please try to remember your vow to enjoy every precious moment and try not to fret quite so much. it's hard! Believe me I know!:o

I hope you have followed orders and stayed away from your computer!

Praying this is nothing major and just allergies, right? Right! Allergies.