Ugga-7yr old french bulldog (calcinosis cutis)(Ugga crossed the bridge)

Hi all. I have been meaning to post an Ugga update for 3 weeks. I swear, every time I sit down to write, something happens and I have to leave my computer. I close the window, erasing everything, and then forget to come back. So, Ugga has had 3 acupuncture treatments so far. Before we started he was unable to blink, he had a head tilt to the left, no balance, his skin (though slightly improved in the chest/chin areas) was a mess (itchy, open, and bleeding-mostly on his neck), he was drooling a ton (way more than my newfoundland), and he was unable to sleep on his side without coughing. We were at the end of our rope. He is maxed out on Vetoryl, he can't take Lysodren, and the medicated shampoo, gabapentin, and benadryl aren't doing squat for his calcinosis cutis. Acupuncture was our way of throwing that Hail Mary pass with 3 seconds left on the clock. Why not? What could it hurt? Let me tell you, I am so blown away and recommend it to everyone, for cush pups as well as non-cush pups (and their humans too). After one treatment he was drooling much less and he slept on his side for hours. After the second treatment his head tilt was gone, his balance was back, and he started sleeping through the night. His neck was almost completely healed. My vet put some kind of cream (the label was in chinese) that is supposed to be good for non-healing rashes on it and it worked like a charm. At this point, he's still not blinking but his eyelids are moving and his left eye is almost closing (it's so close). He's still sleeping on his side AND sleeping through the night!! His neck is healed and today I noticed the big plates are starting to break up. Unfortunately his head tilt is back BUT it switched sides so we are no longer thinking macrotumor, it's looking more like Vestibular Syndrome. It's a little scary to watch, we really have to support him, he's so wobbly. He's going for another treatment Monday. He usually goes about once a week. Because of Ugga's condition, my vet isn't charging us. She just wants to see if she can help him and she's willing to do so as long as he's happy. The needles don't bother him at all. The biggest issue we have is him thinking they're cookies. Ugga is a pretty high strung dog, even now, but he'll actually lay on the table with the needles in. Pretty amazing stuff, I must say. I was so skeptical at first, I didn't think anything could help poor Ugga. This has been such a roller coaster ride and I don't want to get too excited but I'm going to enjoy this upswing while I can. I'm sorry this got long. Thanks for listening to my ramble and I hope someone might consider trying acupuncture at some point. Big hugs to everyone and their furbabies.

~jackie and ugga

Oh My gosh! What wonderful news!!

Wow, what is that cream?!! Sounds like a miracle, I bet a bunch of our CC dogs could be helped too.
That is wonderful that they aren't charging you either.
I say, yay for the Hail Mary!

hugs,
Sharlene and Molly Muffin

Great news about Ugga. Keeping my fingers crossed!

So glad to hear Ugga has shown improvement. Keep up the good work.

Hi Jackie,

How wonderful the acupuncture has had such a beneficial affect on Ugga! :) I hope he continues to improve. Yes, do tell what that cream is!

It is great your vet is working with Ugga like she is. It would be really nice if more vets and human doctors were that supportive and understanding.

Hugs,
Leslie and the gang

Very interesting! I used acupuncture on my Annie and I believe it gave her great relief. Your story is very inspiring. Your vet is a real keeper. Kim

Hi Jackie,

What a fantastic update on Ugga. The acupuncture sure seems to be doing the job.

Angela and Flynn

Yay Ugga!! that is such great news. I hope he continues to get more relief & heal.

Hi there

Good to read that you have found something to help and that your little one is feeling better

I would be very interested to know what the cream is and where it can be sourced from as Tia's skin is getting worse and what I have been given is not helping

Thanks

Mel and Tia x

Thanks guys! Yes, we're very happy here :) I took Ugga for another treatment yesterday, he was really antsy on the table, not sure what that was all about. This morning he ran down the middle of the stairs! He's been going slowly and using the wall to lean on. Bad news on the cream though, I thought the label was in chinese, but it was the ingredients we were looking at. The label reads only Healing Salve and the main ingredient seems to be Zi Cao. I googled it and found a couple ointments but they were only available to practitioners. None of them looked like the one we're using on Ugga (label wise). There were a couple "make your own zi cao paste" sites but I really wouldn't recommend that. I also wouldn't use any Chinese herbs without being under strict supervision of your vet. Some of them can actually be toxic. I'm sorry I couldn't be more helpful about the cream. We don't know if it's the cream, the acupuncture, or the combination of the two (we're assuming it's the latter) that are helping and we really don't care, we're just happy something is working. His skin still looks awful but it's not bothering him and the open/bleeding areas are healed and that's the important thing. As for my vet, yes, we are extremely lucky. She is my age (33) and is absolutely amazing. Her dad was always our family vet and he was (and still is) the best. Dr. Nicole has an amazing teacher and she's closely followed suit. We rode horses together as kids and were friends in high school. I've known her forever and I trust her implicitly. Ugga loves going to the vet, he loves his doctors and the entire staff. It's his home away from home :)