Trying to help a friend (possible calcinosis cutis)

Janice saw a specialist (IMS) yesterday.

Not a whole lot of info except he thought everything looked good (she had all her test results). He didn't mean the skin because I guess her skin is a real mess & it has spread a little. He did advise her against using DMSO & wanted her to stay on Vetoryl. J had contacted the manufacturer to get some info & was told that the liquid is not as stable as the pills & therefore not as effective on cal cutis. She asked him & he said he would do some research on that & get back to her. He did a blood test to check liver enzymes (I believe that's what she said) & that's pretty much it.

She's using Vetericyn topically & he said that was fine. He didn't give her any recommendations for shampoo. (I read somewhere that Etiderm was good for cal cutis but she told me it has fragrance so she won't use it........not sure why.)

So that's the scoop as of today.........plus I didn't want you to think I had gone away.........nope, I'm "lurking".........:eek:

Happy Wednesday.......

Hi :) I've been following this thread because my little guy has calcinosis cutis and is also on vetoryl. I'm not an expert on any of this, Ugga was only diagnosed 2 weeks ago but I did want to tell you I bathed him twice and both times it was disastrous. The first time, I used a lavender based shampoo (supposed to be good for skin conditions) and the second, I used a fragrance-free oatmeal shampoo. I've decided not to wash him again until his skin has healed, it just caused him way too much discomfort. My vet said it could take a month or two before we really start to see improvement in Ugga's skin. Anyway, I just thought I'd pass that on. It's so nice of you to help your friend out by coming here :) Have a great night!
~Jackie

Thanks for the update on Vicki. And please, please lurk all you want! ;):)

Jackie: Glad you're following this thread........hope some of this helps you w/your little one. It must be heartbreaking to see your little fur baby all broken out & probably uncomfortable. I think Janice told me that when she tried to bathe Vicki, it made things worse so now I think she's afraid to use anything on her. None of the vets have any great recommendations either.

If she has success w/something, I will post it so maybe I can help another little fur baby.

Many yrs ago, Hannah (my Lab) had a yeast infection on her belly & I know what I went thru to get rid of that. Had never even heard of it in dogs until she broke out big time. Live and learn.......:rolleyes:

Harley PoMMom: I'll be the resident lurker.......tee hee :D

lol resident lurker......its sorta nice how were all checking in and reading over things on each other.........nice knowing your not alone.......someone is nearly always there. see us peeking around the little icons.......or over the top, lol. thank you for the smile.

Stormee: Glad I made you smile........I do hang around here from time to time to see what's going on. Breaks my heart that all these humommies & daddies have to go thru all this, not to mention what the little fur babies go through.

That's why I try to make people laugh..........a little humor is good for the soul........

Will post again when I hear back from Janice as to how Vicki is doing & whether or not there's any news (believe the IMS ran some tests). I would guess the news must be good because she hasn't called me!

I'll continue to be the resident lurker.........:eek:

Hugs to all from me & Hannah.........xoxoxoxoxoxo.

Not a whole lot to tell but I want to keep you posted as to what's going on w/Vicki.

Janice said the specialist called & said everything looked good (the tests he ran) but she told me that her skin looked really bad & she suspected an infection. So off she goes to a dermatologist that she had been to before & really liked. Yup, she had an infection so now she's back on a/b.

This vet does not agree w/the specialist & said she has had some good results w/DMSO so she gave her a small amount & told her to try it. She said it varies from dog to dog but some have had a lot of success w/it in treating cal cutis. Janice said Vicki's skin is beyond disgusting & it still appears to be spreading. I can tell she's really at her wit's end. I think I would be too.

I'll find out how the DMSO worked out when she calls again.

And you thought the resident lurker was gone..........:p

Hi Vicki

Thanks for the update. I believe that DSMO is a little controversial as a treatment of calcinosis cutis .... my guess is more what it is made of ... than the actual use on the calcinosis cutis. But, from what I read a few years ago, there were good results with it.

Angela and Flynn

Try an australian product called Lucas paw paw ointment. In a small red tube.

I accidentally put my hand down on a red hot stove top and my fingers stuck to it, left some fingerprints on the stove actually, needed pain relief before going to hospital for morphine, cold iced water, did nothing for pain, paw paw took pain away within five minutes, didnt need to go to hospital, amazing.

Use it on my dogs skin and it is very good and soothing.
If you cant find some I would be happy to buy a tube and post it over. Hope this helps, Charlottes mum.Kimx

Hi Angela: Seems like DMSO is controversial even among vets! One vet tells Janice not to use it & the next one tells her to use it. So she decided it's worth a try because what she's using isn't doing diddly squat. When she called, she had just seen the dermatologist for the infection & tried the DMSO once. So we'll see.........:confused:

Kim: Thank you so much for your kind offer. All I can say is "ouch"! Actually, there would be a few other words but I can't say them here.:D Putting your hand on a red hot stove? Damn..........

Because I am posting for a friend of mine, I would have to run it by her. She is really nervous about putting anything on Vicki's skin because the cal cutis is so bad. Now it's infected so I'm sure she won't be willing to try anything new, at least for a while.........