allergies and blood work

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by joy1

First of all......I did give you the wrong med. I don't even know why I stilll have this. Sorry! She was on the pain meds when she had her stage 4 laxating patella surgery and few years ago. Now she needs surgery on her other leg. This Surgeon is an Ortho....just in with this group of Vets. The pic you sent does look like what Chloe has. I don't know why he felt she had flea bites. I am concerned with the meds she is taking and will talk to the Vet about this. If the high count is not caused by the meds, do you have any idea what else it could be? This worries me more than anything at this point. You have been so helpful. Joy and Chloe

I am wondering if her shot was given right before the blood work....just now thought of that! Oh man!!!!

ok that sounds better please list all meds and shots so i can help but sounds like steroids and antibiotics covenia is an antibiotic shot - staph is nasty and is hard to kill but i would not do surgery while this is going on - is your dog having a lot of probs with patella popping out? i think many times they are too quick to do surgery as little dogs can live with LP unless severe just have to keep the weight down. I still STRONGLY advise dermatologist at this point as this vet is WAY off base in my opinion

[joy1]

Well, I thought I kept the empty bottle of antibiotics...will keep looking. Your right , her allergy meds are tamaril (hope spelling is right) so this is a prednisone. When I looked this up....it did say it could cause some problems....and I am guessing it could cause the high count. This is crazy!
She is limping pretty bad.....it is out of the joint. Let me know if you think the high count could be anything else!!!!! thanks, Joy and Chloe

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by joy1

Well, I thought I kept the empty bottle of antibiotics...will keep looking. Your right , her allergy meds are tamaril (hope spelling is right) so this is a prednisone. When I looked this up....it did say it could cause some problems....and I am guessing it could cause the high count. This is crazy!
She is limping pretty bad.....it is out of the joint. Let me know if you think the high count could be anything else!!!!! thanks, Joy and Chloe

my dog has been on temarilp 1/2 tab every other day for 2 years and she gets blood work every 6 mos so that would not cause this - it is safer than prednisone it has prednisolone and tavist (antihistamine) let me know what else the shot and the antibiotic is

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by dwerten

my dog has been on temarilp 1/2 tab every other day for 2 years and she gets blood work every 6 mos so that would not cause this - it is safer than prednisone it has prednisolone and tavist (antihistamine) let me know what else the shot and the antibiotic is

can you not massage back into the joint? well i guess if in pain alot then surgery may be the way to go so sorry she is going through all this but you have to get the infection under control before surgery if done correctly it will be gone in 3 weeks per our dermatologist but you have to have the correct antibiotic and the most common that works is simplicef

[joy1]

Thanks again for all of your help. I have a lot to think about. I'd rather this count be due to the meds than something else which I have no idea what else it could be!!!! Joy and Chloe

[linda5508]

the symptoms do seem to be like a staph infection but i'm not too sure. Personally I think you should take her to another vet.

[sferrini]

Originally Posted by dwerten

here are the dermatologists in kentucky and usually first consult is $160 but at least you will get to the answer the first visit none of this try this try this and the skin culture is appx $134 and it is no biggie they just go over skin with a piece of tape send out to lab and find the antibiotic that will kill it - simplicef is what they usually try but my girl has horrible allergies and got hives on it so we are using clindamyacin and it is killing it. Topically if you want to treat that way do the duoxo i stated every 3 days and that will kill it topically

https://www.acvd.org/

this is the place we go to and there is one in kentucky

Animal Dermatology Clinic :: Locations

I do not think it is a flea reaction although on flea bite can do some damage but flea allergy is the back half of the dog so on the butt area not the entire back

the other thing to rule out is hypothyroid due to age of your dog as my dog with all the skin issues is hypothyroid and it is also an auto immune disease so this could be why this is creeping up now at 5 so next blood draw do a 6 panel thyroid sent to michigan state, antech or dr jean dodds. What happens with this is they can get sebaceous gland excretion on back which is oily crusties on back and thyroid usually affects the back and tail of a dog although in mine she lost hair on her neck

I just took my Miracle is yesterday for a complete Thyroid test, along with a chemistry panel and CBC work up. I should get most of the results back today. The thyroid test will take about 1 week to come back.

My baby has been itching since August and I can't put my finger on it. I am not 100% convinced she has allergies, as all this started after we started weaning her from her puppies. She just turned 4 in October.

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by sferrini

I just took my Miracle is yesterday for a complete Thyroid test, along with a chemistry panel and CBC work up. I should get most of the results back today. The thyroid test will take about 1 week to come back.

My baby has been itching since August and I can't put my finger on it. I am not 100% convinced she has allergies, as all this started after we started weaning her from her puppies. She just turned 4 in October.

ok keep us posted - well after puppies i know a lady on another group of mine her dog had some sort of mite after having puppies so just thought i would post this as a possibility

[sferrini]

Originally Posted by dwerten

ok keep us posted - well after puppies i know a lady on another group of mine her dog had some sort of mite after having puppies so just thought i would post this as a possibility

I think she was tested for mites. However, if everything comes back normal I am going to have them check again. Also, if she had mites would they have spread to my other dogs? Because they are fine and one is her puppy.

[joy1]

Just a little update......Chloe had her bloodwork done again yesterday. I am happy to say everything came back normal. It's still crazy, but I am so happy. She is still a little itchy but no staph infection. I will have to keep her on the allergy pills every other day. Also had x-rays taken of her leg....she has a stage 5 laxating patalla (was a 4 last year) If we don't do the surgery, she could start having hip problems. Her surgery is Feb. 3rd. I will keep everyone updated on her progress. Thanks so much for listening!!!! Joy and Chloe

[YorkieMom6]

I am glad to hear that Chloe's bloodwork came back good -

I am sad to hear that her LP is now stage 5 and requires surgery but I will keep you both in my thoughts and prayers.

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by YorkieMom6

I am glad to hear that Chloe's bloodwork came back good -

I am sad to hear that her LP is now stage 5 and requires surgery but I will keep you both in my thoughts and prayers.

there are only 4 stages of luxating patella ???

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by joy1

Just a little update......Chloe had her bloodwork done again yesterday. I am happy to say everything came back normal. It's still crazy, but I am so happy. She is still a little itchy but no staph infection. I will have to keep her on the allergy pills every other day. Also had x-rays taken of her leg....she has a stage 5 laxating patalla (was a 4 last year) If we don't do the surgery, she could start having hip problems. Her surgery is Feb. 3rd. I will keep everyone updated on her progress. Thanks so much for listening!!!! Joy and Chloe

luxating patella is not diagnosed through xray as i had one done on my dee dee when she hurt her leg it is diagnosed by manipulation of the knee. The xray can show somewhat of what is going on but the grade is by manipulation and how it pops in and out in manipulation

[dwerten]

Originally Posted by sferrini

I think she was tested for mites. However, if everything comes back normal I am going to have them check again. Also, if she had mites would they have spread to my other dogs? Because they are fine and one is her puppy.

demodex no but sarcoptic mange yes - demodex is more of a concern since that transfers usually from mother to puppy but there is something else i just cannot think of the name - i will email on that group to see what that mom yorkie had

[YorkieMom6]

Originally Posted by dwerten

there are only 4 stages of luxating patella ???

No idea really, just commenting on the OP update. My minimal research reflects that most grade it to level 4 however, I did see some reference to "Grade 5 (or severe grade 4 depending on the grading scheme)".