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Old 01-14-2012, 06:59 AM   #1
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Default help, my 9 year old is losing hair getting skin tags, brown spots and is very nervous

Hi All,

It has been a while for me but I desperately need help in understanding what is happening to my Reese. A few weeks ago she seemed to be urinating far more than ever before, drinking a little more, ALWAYS EATS AND EATS AND EATS, so still begging for food all day, and then I noticed hair thinning and hair loss on her back exposing red skin. She had a growth on her chest since she was a baby and I was told to leave it alone, that it was nothing, then she got a white skin tag (looks like or wart) on her back and I was told to leave it because if my vet removed that one, as she put it, all of his/her (the warts) friends would come to the funeral.. and now a dark flat spot with several other flat black small spots near the area of hair loss..again I showed my vet who said they are nothing.. age spots. I started reading and found cushings, which seemed just like what she could have. Prior to this visit, I have had Reese checked for thyroid issues over the past nine years a million times because this baby could eat all day long, if allowed to. She used to flucuate between 8 and 12 pounds and for many years was up in the 11 to 12 pound range. I have been working very delinguently to get her down to about 9 pounds. She is on Ziwi Peak freeze dried raw pellets and I was giving her a lot of different vegetables as snacks to TRY to fill her up, instead of any type of "cookie/bones". Carrots, string beans, apples, even green pepper slices and recently sweet potatoes. She seemed to be doing fine. We got the blood panel back and was told that all is fine, that she does not have cushings or even a thyroid problem but now she has crystals in her urine which might indicate bladder stones. They told me to cut out green pepper and sweet potatoe which might have caused the crystals and come back in three weeks. After they get that under control they will speak with me about a hair supplement.. but no explanation as to what it could be. She has always licked her front paws consistently at night, when going to bed and we wake up to the same music of licking paws. I have told the vet and they basically ignore it. She also has had about 6 reoccuring yeast ear infections that she was placed on antibiotics or given an antibiotic pac about three times. They finally cleared up. She just seems down in the dumps and extremely jumpy. Every little sound or if someone slightly raises their voice, even, she is startled. There has been a lot of stress in my home the past couple of years, and I am sure she feels it and hears it. Although she was never hyper in any way and always a couch potatoe.. loving to eat and sleep since she was a puppy, I have noticed a definite change in her personality and even looks. I know this sounds nuts but even her latest pictures looks like she is extremely depressed and as I said her coat is dry and thinning. My groomer feels that there has to be an immune problem.. can someone please offer some advice. I have been to the vets office almost weekly for the past few months. Between her ear infections and all of these tests for thyroid, urine and cushings. Any opinions would help. She has been on the ziwipeak for almost two years and seemed to be doing fine in fact more energized and her coat seemed shinier, as well. She also has dry eye and I give her drops twice daily. Other than that she is not on any meds and seemed to be doing great. Please help.. my husband keeps telling me I am imagining all of this.. last night I had her in a store and with those florescent lights I saw that she was definitely losing a lot more hair than I even thought. .even a little on her face, head , but primarily on her back. Thanks for your help and a happy and healthy new year to all! Any ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated, as always.
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Old 01-14-2012, 07:50 AM   #2
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I would go to a different vet, probably an internal medicine specialist and/or a dermatologist. You will very likely save a lot of heartache, and time, and money doing this.

I would also switch foods. Ziwi Peak has one of the highest fat contents of any dog food on the market. The food is concerning not only relative to weight, but relative to all of the other problems your girl is experiencing.

I hope you can get this figured out for your girl. Keep us updated.
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Old 01-14-2012, 07:58 AM   #3
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My wheaten terrier has always had lots of issues, very similar to what you describe, but over the past few years I have found that a lot of probiotics(sprinkled on her food) and enzymes(for better digestion) have really made a difference.Not a cure-all but a big help. (she is 11 yrs and better physically than she was at 8!)
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Old 01-14-2012, 08:01 AM   #4
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So sorry you are going through this with your baby girl. Like someone said earlier, I think I would see another vet. Good luck and hope she starts doing better.
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Old 01-14-2012, 08:09 AM   #5
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Have you had her kidney function tested? Sounds weird, but people with kidney disease can develop skintag-looking growths, as well as some discolored spots. And with her increase in urination and the crystals, I would definitely look into a possible kidney issue.

Poor baby sounds like she is in pain. I'm so sorry she is going through this, and I hope you can find a reason soon. I agree with the others, time to try a specialist and/or another vet.
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Old 01-14-2012, 08:29 AM   #6
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Have you had her kidney function tested? Sounds weird, but people with kidney disease can develop skintag-looking growths, as well as some discolored spots. And with her increase in urination and the crystals, I would definitely look into a possible kidney issue.

Poor baby sounds like she is in pain. I'm so sorry she is going through this, and I hope you can find a reason soon. I agree with the others, time to try a specialist and/or another vet.
I didn't know that the skin issues can be kidney related, but it makes sense. The frequent urination and increased water intake, I agree are indicative of kidney function problems.
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Old 01-14-2012, 08:57 AM   #7
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I know they did a complete work up and told me that she is not diabetic and that her kidney function was fine. I too had questioned the ziwipeak since I had read the protein and fat content and both seemed extremely high. My vet on my possibly 5th phone call after the bloodwork and urine analysis was done, said it was fine. I have cut out everything but her food and she is as usual starving. Can someone recommend a different food. She used to be on the prescription food WD or RD from I believe Hills, from my vet and then used Natural Balance reduced calorie, over the counter. A person at a different store talked me into ziwipeak saying it is one of the BEST foods.. should be for $34.00 for a 2 pound bag. I must admit at the beginning she seemed great, energetic as I said, but something has caused enormous changes in her, especially hair loss. She is doing well on her diet, but I now feel as long as I cut her food back on any brand she will be just fine.

Any recommendations on a food, any high quality food, raw or not, would again be appreciated. She is not in any pain, at least that we see. She doesn't cry, she urinates fine, and plays as much as she ever did. Loves going in the car.. so on all other accounts she seems fine. Thank you, thank you thank you. My husband feels that we should get another opinion but unsure of whether to take her to a specialist now (derm or immune) or another vet. Again, advice would be great!
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Old 01-14-2012, 09:36 AM   #8
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I'm sorry that your baby is having troubles I would talk to your vet about Cushings, as it can have symptoms as you describe. I hope you can get some answers soon.
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Old 01-14-2012, 12:15 PM   #9
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Hi thank you, cushings was ruled out through a blood panel. I have read that it can be very difficult to diagnose though. I might ask them to go forward with another form of testing if they feel the numbers are close, but so far they ruled it out. Any other food recommendations would be welcomed. Thank you.
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Old 01-14-2012, 12:22 PM   #10
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I didn't know that the skin issues can be kidney related, but it makes sense. The frequent urination and increased water intake, I agree are indicative of kidney function problems.
My DH has kidney problems, and when his protein and creatine levels are getting high, he gets a bunch of small, raised dots on his face and neck (like small skin tags, but not). And he also has some discoloration around his neck and trunk area, almost like coffee stains, that get darker as his count gets too high.
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Old 01-14-2012, 12:27 PM   #11
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Hi thank you, cushings was ruled out through a blood panel. I have read that it can be very difficult to diagnose though. I might ask them to go forward with another form of testing if they feel the numbers are close, but so far they ruled it out. Any other food recommendations would be welcomed. Thank you.
To test for cushings is around $280.00 alone & is not part of a regular blood panel. It is sent out to University of Tennessee, did you pay that ? & did your vet send out to UT for any blood work ? if not then she wasn't tested for cushings.
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Old 01-14-2012, 12:28 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by momofreese View Post
I know they did a complete work up and told me that she is not diabetic and that her kidney function was fine. I too had questioned the ziwipeak since I had read the protein and fat content and both seemed extremely high. My vet on my possibly 5th phone call after the bloodwork and urine analysis was done, said it was fine. I have cut out everything but her food and she is as usual starving. Can someone recommend a different food. She used to be on the prescription food WD or RD from I believe Hills, from my vet and then used Natural Balance reduced calorie, over the counter. A person at a different store talked me into ziwipeak saying it is one of the BEST foods.. should be for $34.00 for a 2 pound bag. I must admit at the beginning she seemed great, energetic as I said, but something has caused enormous changes in her, especially hair loss. She is doing well on her diet, but I now feel as long as I cut her food back on any brand she will be just fine.

Any recommendations on a food, any high quality food, raw or not, would again be appreciated. She is not in any pain, at least that we see. She doesn't cry, she urinates fine, and plays as much as she ever did. Loves going in the car.. so on all other accounts she seems fine. Thank you, thank you thank you. My husband feels that we should get another opinion but unsure of whether to take her to a specialist now (derm or immune) or another vet. Again, advice would be great!
I have Rocco on Taste of the Wild dry kibble and he LOVES it...very good food, with no grains at all (he has the lamb forumla). Is it at all possible that the food she was eating was lacking some nutrient/oils and that she just needs a supplement to ease her skin condition? I've heard wondrous things about coconut oil and coconut flakes...not sure, but just thinking out loud. I really do hope your little sweetheart feels better soon.
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Last edited by Roccosmommy; 01-14-2012 at 12:29 PM.
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Old 01-14-2012, 12:34 PM   #13
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I forgot to say that my lillymae has cushings & all her other blood work & urine were in good shape but her symptoms led my vet to test for cushings.
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Old 01-14-2012, 12:34 PM   #14
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Definitely ditch the Ziwi Peak. I think her hunger would be satisfied with a lower calorie/lower fat food, which she can eat more of. That is way my Max is. I tried some of the higher protein foods with him, and his hair dried out and he was hungry all the time. We feed Fromm Chicken a la Veg. Fromm has several flavors, but stay away from the grain-free, higher protein, higher fat ones for your girl.

I would also pursue the specialist and making sure the bloodwork is sent out of the office.

Keep us updated.
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Old 01-14-2012, 01:01 PM   #15
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Thank you all so much. Now I am even more concerned as to how my vet, who I have been using for over 9 years would tell me that Reese does not have cushings. She was tested two weeks ago (I was told to rule out cushings/thyroid issues etc) with a full panel blood test $125 dollars and a urineanalysis for $99 and the office visit which was another $60 or $70. I was not informed that it was sent out to tenneesee and do not really understand how my vet could rule it out if the necessary test needed to go there and cost $280 alone. I just want an accurate diagnosis. I have called at least four to five times since asking what I should be doing now and was told just to watch her and try to stay away from all of the treats/vegetables. One of the partners told me to try certain foods like if you can believe brussel sprouts, broccoli, bananas, rye bread and a few others, brown rice to try to help with the possible bladder stones. I was not told anything about the possible cushings or thyroid issues and to just rule it out. My husband is getting fed up with me doubting everyone but I hate to say I have proven it time and time again, that you have to be your own advocate and especially that of our furbaby and children due to the many mistakes that are made in almost every area in life. Sorry to sound so negative but I am finding if I ask ten people I get ten different answers, from every dr or corporation etc. I appreciate all of the help and I am going to call right now and find out how they can rule out cushings when they didn't order the more elaborate tests. Will keep all posted and if any other suggestions come up please do post and let me know.. thanks.
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