I understand your concerns, I get it really I do. There is nothing that a specialist can tell me that my vet can not. She received her education form The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008. The very place that is my only option to see a specialist. So, until we have run out of all options for her care I'm going to keep calm and keep her as comfortable as I can. Yes, even if that means another round of antibiotics and more steroids.

Maybe what you don't understand is if she has this disease Systemic Lupus Erythmatosus SLE and more than likely she does. This is a life long disease, there is no cure, she will have to live with this for the rest of her life. There are no other options other than to keep it under control with medications and the steroids and hope that is does not cause damage to her internal organs and it probably will. I am doing my best not to freak out so the I can deal with my baby the best I can. I'm no good to her if I fall apart and until we run out of options there is no need to go anywhere else. I am very confident that we will have a diagnoses soon. We would have but I felt it would be to much for her at the time. That's on me, I opted out of the more intense blood work and the biopsy and that was not a smart move on my part. I regret it and believe me I'm beating myself up for that choice so please just don't tell me I told you so. The infection was bound to return it was just a matter of when.

Here is a veterinarian article that better explains the disease and treatment;

01 Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) - VeterinaryPartner.com - a VIN company!

Most of this I don't even understand:

PROVET HEALTHCARE INFORMATION - Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

Dawn, I am vary familiar with lupus in humans...not so much in dogs. I assume they are fairly similar. In humans the specialist to see is a rheumatologist, dermatologist and even a nephrologist if kidneys are involved. Your vet can order the ANA blood test and do a biopsy of the lesions for a definite diagnosis..but ultimately she should see a specialist. I believe your vet will agree. Sometimes things are outside the vets realm of experience, a good vet will refer an animal out if necessary. Listen to your vet, go with your heart and do what's best for your girl. Know that my thoughts, my prayers will remain with her always.

I disagree, your Vet is not a specialist? no? Her education was different than that of a specialist...a specialist will have more experience, more information and more oversight, better course of action and better options and control of meds. I really am surprised your Vet has not referred you as of yet.

I am not trying to upset you, I'm trying to advocate for your pup.

My Vet was trained, teaches, and regularly confers/consults with other Vets at Cornell and elsewhere and just yesterday referred me to a specialist for Miss Mini.

I wish your pup nothing but the best and I sincerely hope she gets well soon, this just breaks my heart.

We are only in the first course of action, which was finding the proper dose of meds so that she is not given more than what is necessary. I know that you all mean well and I really appreciate all of the helpful information. Ultimately Brandi is my responsibility and I have complete confidence in my vets ability to provide the proper care for her.

I am trying my best to stay strong and not let the fact that I will probably loose my baby to this disease get to me. But its so hard when all I read is people saying things about her care not being enough and making me feel like s**t. I know you all care and that means a lot to me but please give me your support and prayers and do not doubt the fact that I am doing everything I can to provide her with everything she needs at this point. If and when the time comes and my vet has followed prodigal, exhausted all avenues or I feel that not enough is being done for her their is no doubt that I will move on or my vet with refer me to someone who can take us to the next level of care.

I'm certain that that is our next step but I'm not sure how accurate it will be since she is on the steroids. If I remember right my vet may have mentions the steroids could interfering with a correct diagnosis. I'm pretty sure it will be the biopsy that will give us the best results.

Done. Prayers for your pup and I really hope everything turns out ok for her. I'm sorry she is going through this.

Dawn don't feel bad about this. You know we care, all of us, or we wouldn't be sharing information with you. My hope is that you get a diagnosis, get the correct treatment going and that she responds well to this treatment. This is a disease that can be controlled, be confident that it will be. The less stress you and she endures the better. Continue to be strong for her, but remember you are her voice, she can't say how she feels or what she wants done next. Keep it going in the right direction, ask your vet...what would they do if she were theirs? Prayers and happy, healing thoughts coming your way.

Dawn, this thread has been all about giving you support and prayers. What about Brandi? Are we supposed to just sit here and tell you this is normal? ...she has had this for over one month. I don't see any avenues other than a dead end street. What tests have been done? There has been nothing that you have told us that makes me believe much of anything has been done but a bunch of guessing games.

Your pup needs a good vet...and more than likely a specialist. It is the last time I am saying it...and I am NOT coming back to this thread to make myself sick. You can take what you can use and ignore the rest which is basically what I have seen you do anyway. The only other thing I can offer you is a home for Brandi if she is too much for you. I have family in OH and can make arrangements to get her here if I have to. Not a surrender to YHR...as a personal pup of mine. If good vets are that hard to find in OH, I have great ones here in TX. If you need my help, PM me. I am finished with this thread...it has made me sick for far too long. Pups should not have to suffer this way. I know you don't see it, but I do. It is all through this thread..horrible stories...she cannot breathe and you are going to bed...and on and on. It's not that we are making things up...you keep posting it and it is obvious to all that she needs more...all but you. :( I am not trying to be mean...I am trying to make you see it for what it is.

Dawn, I just want to add that I went through something like this years ago with Piccolo. Two months Piccolo spent going to the regular vet with appointments while they gave her all kinds of medicine. I have great faith in her vets, but they just could not figure it out. This was before I knew about YorkieTalk, which would have taught me that there are specialists. I had not a clue there were vet specialists. As soon as I took Piccolo to two specialists in one week (dermatologist and internist), the dermatologist vet did a biopsy and had it figured out which autoimmune disease she had that very day. I wasted so much time at the regular vet and Piccolo just got sicker and sicker. She is fine now, but I give all the credit to the specialist. They were able to give her exactly the right medicine. Wish I had known to go to a specialist way sooner. Also looking back at this terrifying time, financially, so much money could have been saved if I had known about specialists right away.

Just wanted to share Piccolo's story because it does sound similar to your situation.

Just to clarify this a little bit...I am not trying to suggest people should simply give up their pets. I only offered that option because Dawn breeds yorkies and I know that breeders often rehome pups that can no longer be bred. I don't know the commitment here and only offered in case I could be of any assistance.

* We are headed to the vets later this afternoon. I look to have the testing done to find the cause of her illness.

Lisa, thank you for sharing you experience with Piccalo. I pray that Brandi has a similar outcome with the management of her meds.

Linda; I appreciate your offer to help and just so you know, Brandi has never been breed. She was spayed at the age of 6 months old. Brandi is and always has been a part of our family and she will remain a part of our family. We love her dearly and she will stay here in her home that she was born and raised in.

This is all just too much for me. My emotions and stress levels are on overload. I will continue to update on her condition and progress. But I think my attention will be best served if I put it into finding what is causing this and finding the correct course of action for her. You may not agree with how we get to that point and that is fine but believe me when I say, we will.

Please to not pass judgment on me until you know all of the fact of this disease. If this is what she has and I will say it again. It is more than likely this she has this incurable disease. There is nothing that anyone can say or do to change that. It can only be managed with medication, there is no cure. It can arise and progress at any time even with the proper medications. I pray that it is not but I must be prepared that this disease with take her life eventually. There is a 40% death rate within the first year after being diagnosed with this disease. I'll be dammed if ill sit back and just let her die. Seeing my baby suffering from this is killing me, but I am confident that it can and will be managed properly. That is all I can do. I will concentrate on getting a diagnoses and than go from there.

I am praying for Brandi and for you. I hope you get answers today and that meds will help her! Hugs to you!

sending prayers for brandi.

Sending prayers for Brandi
Just in case http://www.veterinarydermatology.net/
In addition to his private practice, Dr. Breen is a consultant to primary care veterinarians nationwide through his Derm Path Consulting and Allergy Consulting Service.

Dr. Breen has presented lectures, seminars, and wet labs throughout the United States and abroad for national, state, and local organizations on the subject of veterinary dermatology and allergy.

Update: We discussed having the biopsy done but I found out that the only way to do the biopsy and get a proof positive is if we were to discontinue any and all use of the steroids/Corticosteroids. Because they would interfere and mask the disease and give false results. Which at this point is the only thing that is keeping this infection from going from bad to wore. My vets said and I and I think anyone would agree that that would be cruel and inhumane. The meds would have to be discontinue and time given to exit her system before the biopsy could be preformed. To take her off of the only medication that is pretty much saving her life at this point just to have a Name attached to the horrible disease and give me and possibly some of you piece of mind is not going to happen. Not now not ever, not in my life time or hers. It will no doubt do more harm than good.

I don't need a diagnose of SLE to tell me that my baby is sick. What I do need it for her to get better and for us to figure out the proper dose of steroids in order to keep this disease from consuming her entire body. That is our most important goal at this time and we will take each day as it comes. We will deal with this disease head on and without a diagnosis if that is what is takes. I refuse to take her off the only medication that is saving her life just to satisfy my need to know. We are convinced that it is what it is and we are dedicated to getting her meds to a suitable dose so that she doesn't have any more flair ups.

We also discussed the possibility of putting her on the Atopica in place of the Corticosteroids but the cost is just too much for us to afford. So sadly even thou it would have less side effect than the Corticosteroids it wont be possible. The cost would be $150 a month or slightly less if purchased on the internet.

* Doc uped her meds and has her on an antibiotic. Once the infection is cleared up we will go back down to a lower more manageable dose. Check up back in two weeks or sooner depending on the results of the antibiotics.