Vaccines and Vasculitis - In Remission and We're Proud! (Pictures kind of gross)

[Lisa and Pic]

What a difference nine months can make! November 2007 - January 2008 were quite rocky months for my sweet furbaby, Piccolo. She was very sick and the vet could not find the cause. She was given all kinds of medicine, had blood tests, and even a liver scan. Her early symptoms included lethargy, runny nose, difficulty breathing, excessive licking of her paws and nose, hair loss, abnormal blood results, and scabby ears. We were so upset and worried about Piccolo, and afraid she was not going to make it.

Finally, Piccolo developed a lesion on her back and was referred to a Vet Dermatologist. After testing, we found out she had a delayed (by about 5 months) vaccine reaction, and this had caused something called Cutaneous Vasculitis. She was put on the medicines Pentoxifylline and Prednisone, and she began making progress. Anyway, this has a happy ending. Piccolo is now in remission and we are very proud of her progress!

For those of you that might be interested, I have attached some before and after pictures, but they are a little yucky.

March 2008
The Vasculitis Lesions at their worst

1. Piccolo lost the hair around her eyes, including her eyelashes
2. Piccolo's ears, with scabs and lesions
3. Lesions on Piccolo's back

[Lisa and Pic]

July 2008
In Remission

1. Isn't she cute? Her eyelashes have even grown back. Her ears are still a little black, but who cares?

2. This is a picture of Piccolo's back. The white color fur is from the Prednisone and her bald spot grew back in her puppy color. Not standard, but we love her!

Just wanted to add, that I thought a long time about posting this....But decided, maybe someday, somehow, this might help someone. Thanks for being such a supportive YorkieTalk Community.

[janedks3406]

I am so glad that Piccolo is doing so much better ,and yes what a progress she has made! thank goodness she is better! thank you for the great update!

[Patti]

You must be so relieved that Piccolo is in remission and feeling better. Her coloring is so pretty. She sure is a cutie

[Morkie1]

Now that she is really on the mend, the next time mom and dad go out of town, she can have a sleep over with Aunt Donna, Uncle Bob, Annie and Sam (her boyfriend----oh la la)!!!!

[Yorkiedaze]

How wonderful that the problem was found and taken care of. No telling what all could have happen to her. What vaccine did she get that caused this? She is such a beautiful little girl. How old is she? You didn't happen to get her in TN. did you?

[yorkiemalt]

wonderful news! she looks so beautiful!

[nikkinack]

I am glad there was a happy ending

[emilyann]

Wow, bless her heart but so glad she's in remission now!

Wonderfullll and thanks for posting this!

[MyTrixie143]

Aww, she is adorable!! What a beautiful girl she is!!

I am so glad she is doing much better now, she looks great!!

So does this mean that she won't be able to get her vaccines?

[Lisa and Pic]

Originally Posted by Yorkiedaze

How wonderful that the problem was found and taken care of. No telling what all could have happen to her. What vaccine did she get that caused this? She is such a beautiful little girl. How old is she? You didn't happen to get her in TN. did you?

Thanks everyone for your support. I'm so happy she is on the mend.

Yorkiedaze - You asked about the vaccines that caused this. From what I understand, it is usually the rabies shot that can cause this reaction. However, not for Piccolo. It was the combination of the DHHP, no lepto vaccine, and the Bordetella vaccine. Now, she has titer tests instead.

Also, Piccolo did not come from Tennessee. (Her breeder is in Dayton, Ohio) Have you seen any girls in Tennessee that look like her? Would love to know!

[mscat]

How was the dx. confirmed? I am very glad your baby will be ok .This is so very scary, and heartbreaking. We try and do the right things to protect our beloved pets, and something like this happens She is a beautiful Yorkie.

[LeosMama]

Glad to hear the puppy is doing well and she is beautiful.
Were the shots give all at one time? I inquire about that because my vet schedules me a few weeks a part for regular shots. I am a new yorkie mom so I am trying to figure the standards.

[Lisa and Pic]

Originally Posted by MyTrixie143

Aww, she is adorable!! What a beautiful girl she is!!

I am so glad she is doing much better now, she looks great!!

So does this mean that she won't be able to get her vaccines?

Thanks for your concern. I'm not sure if she will have vaccines again or not. She had blood drawn for a titer test last week, instead of vaccines, and right now she has enough antibodies to protect her against the diseases. (At least that is how I understand this.) Maybe someone with more medical knowledge can explain this a little better.

[Lisa and Pic]

Originally Posted by mscat

How was the dx. confirmed? I am very glad your baby will be ok .This is so very scary, and heartbreaking. We try and do the right things to protect our beloved pets, and something like this happens She is a beautiful Yorkie.

mscat - I am not sure what dx means. (Sorry, no medical background - Lol) But, I think it means diagnosis....Is that correct? Anyway, Piccolo was diagnosed through 3 skin biopsies that were sent to a west coast lab that specializes in things like that.