Re: Ugga-7yr old french bulldog just diagnosed (calcinosis cutis), epileptic
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
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I hope he continues to improve. Yes, do tell what that cream is!
