Sterile Nodular Panniculitis
 

Enzo's Vet thinks he may have this...awhile back I posted here that he had a lump which was to be removed - the day he was scheduled for surgery, the darn thing was almost gone...he was tested for ringworm & the results were negative. Fast forward a month & a half later he is covered on both sides of his back with at least 6-8 lumps! :( We tried a few courses of steroids, allergy meds etc and nothing has worked. The closest dermatogist is 3 hrs away and has NO appts until February!! I'm at a loss - has anyone had any experience with this?! He's happy and healthy otherwise.

I am sorry I have no advice but wanted to bump hoping someone who can help will see this.

Ok seems like Enzo is a rare case :( Is there anyone who has dealt with suspicious lumps of any kind on their babies? If so, what was the treatment/diagnosis?

I know that you are up there in the Great White north. Perhaps an internal medicine specialist is closer and could help with this?

I had never heard of this condition in canines. Some scholarly articles I read mention topical treatment of steroids. But to wait until Feb to see a dermo, is crazy long time.

If this dermo works a Vet Emergency Hospital, I just might show up as an emergency client. Ps: I would call first and see when the dermo is in the hospital :)

There is just nothing close here...3 hrs minimum in any direction :(
The vet wants to start him on a short term high dose of steroids, and that scares the hell out of me :( Apparently this condition happens more frequently with dashhounds - I googled pictures and was VERY thankful Enzo isn't that bad yet - but he is bad enough :( Any pups on steroids? If so, any nasty side effects? (I'm grasping at straws here looking for help) :(

Let me pm a new member who was a long time breeder of daschunds, and see if she can help you.

A short term dose of steroids? Umm. Is it possible to get a second opinion where you are, even if it is from another general vet?

Why do you question that Gemy? He's been on a low dose steroid off and on for two months for his bumps & allergies :( I do trust my vet, she's like family, but yes, I could take him to another vet here. Not sure what else they'd do tho? Yes please message your friend & see if she's had any dealings with it, I beg you :)

I think mainly because you were scared of the high dose steroid use. As I said earlier some treatments use a topical steroid on the bumps, but that is only from a brief research of articles on the web.

For me personally I would want to know that my dog has very solid liver function/kidney etc tests already in place before I do a high dose steroid use particularly if it ends up to be longer term use.

And I have messaged the doxie breeder, but she is off line right now, and might not respond until tomorrow or later.

I will def question her about the liver/kidney tests before we start anything! I'm not sure if the treatment will be worse than the condition long term and I will not be taking any chances with Enzo, none!

Thank you SO much for your feedback, it's greatly appreciated & please let me know if you hear back from that breeder :)

Panniculitis in dachshunds. Gemy asked about this
 

Effect on Your Dachshund





Panniculitis is as visible as a tumor that is an inflammation of the subcutaneous fat tissue just below the dog's skin. A dachshund can be susceptible to this condition. Generally, it is not cancerous. The affected area is usually the trunk and neck area of your dog and can show up as a single nodule or multiple nodules that can be ulcerated, developing draining tracts. A secondary infection or other complications can result in the death of fat cells. This condition can affect dogs of any age, breed or sex, though some breeds such as the dachshund are more at risk. Treatment options include surgery and/or medication therapy, depending on the degree and severity of the Panniculitis in your dachshund. According to the website of Go Pets America, the causes for panniculitis may be trauma, bacterial or fungal infections, other underlying diseases such as lupus panniculitis, recent corticosteroids, vaccine injections and other underlying conditions such as multi-centric mast cell tumors. You may notice symptoms in your dachshund such as a loss of appetite, lethargy and depression.
After a definitive diagnosis through a biopsy, Pet MD states that the preferred treatment for panniculitis is surgery through an incision to remove the affected nodule/nodules. In some cases, surgery will be followed with medication therapy to treat the particular infections. If ulcerated, the nodules may be drained of any fluids.
Prednisone, as documented by Embrace Pet Insurance, is used for the treatment of panniculitis for your dachshund. This is a synthetic inactive corticosteroid that is chemically converted by the liver into an active steroid. It suppresses the immune system and is often used to treat auto-immune, inflammatory and other diseases such as panniculitis.
Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressive agent produced by the soil fungus Beauveria Nivea, which has a unique mechanism of immune suppression. This medication may be administered in place of the prednisone, because this medication, in oral form, may spare your dachshund some unpleasant hormonal side effects while recovering from panniculitis.
Tacrolimus is a relatively new drug called a calcineurin inhibitor for the treatment of dermatitis and inflammation conditions such as panniculitis.
In minor cases of panniculitis, vitamin E in oral form at 300 IU has helped in conjunction with steroids, reducing their use. An antibiotic may be prescribed as well to treat any viral or bacterial infections. A treatment of both niacin amide (a B-complex vitamin) and tetracycline (an antibiotic) can work together to suppress the inflammation. Treatment can help your dachshund find relief from panniculitis.
Fatty Layer or Nodule Under the Skin in Dogs | petMD
Canine Panniculitis
Panniculitis in Dogs | EMBRACE

https://blu168.mail.live.com/Handler...g%3fsfvrsn%3d2

Panniculitis in Dogs | EMBRACEIs your dog’s breed susceptible to Panniculitis? Find out how to treat it, what it costs, and whether pet insurance covers it.

Hope that helps.

Thanks Dawn, I have read all this many times - there is no way they could do surgery, Enzo would look like Swiss cheese!
Have you had any experience with this sort of condition in your babies?

No I did not have many problems in my dachshunds.
I did make sure they had all their health tests before breeding and fed a raw diet no dog food from bags. I am going with my daughter to the vets tomorrow and will ask if they have any experience with this. Will let you know if I find out anything helpful. Hope all goes well with your little dog.

I rescued Enzo when he was 7 months old, so I have no idea where my little angel came from :( He's happy & healthy otherwise, just these nasty bumps that I would compare to a teenagers BAD acne. They showed up a few months back right when his allergies showed up - so initially the vet and I thought the two were related, they are not. The vet ruled out fungus/ringworm.

Thank you so much for your input, and yes please, if you by chance have a second to mention it to your vet, it would be greatly appreciated :)

Were any of the spots biopsied and sent to a dermatopathologist?
Have you tried Atopica for the allergies?
I've seen some nodule type spots like this in my friend's dog and I think it is a backed up sebaceous gland.
I would travel to the dermatologist personally even though you may have to wait a bit.

He had one lump, a big one back in April, surgery was scheduled for May 12th - May 9th the lump was GONE!! No trace of it other than a dry skin patch, mind boggling! Fast forward to June, 6-8 lumps covering both sides of his back! The vet was here yesterday, we are booking surgery again ~sigh~

Here is some information from Dawn Arnold a retired Doxie breeder.

Effect on Your Dachshund





Panniculitis is as visible as a tumor that is an inflammation of the subcutaneous fat tissue just below the dog's skin. A dachshund can be susceptible to this condition. Generally, it is not cancerous. The affected area is usually the trunk and neck area of your dog and can show up as a single nodule or multiple nodules that can be ulcerated, developing draining tracts. A secondary infection or other complications can result in the death of fat cells. This condition can affect dogs of any age, breed or sex, though some breeds such as the dachshund are more at risk. Treatment options include surgery and/or medication therapy, depending on the degree and severity of the Panniculitis in your dachshund. According to the website of Go Pets America, the causes for panniculitis may be trauma, bacterial or fungal infections, other underlying diseases such as lupus panniculitis, recent corticosteroids, vaccine injections and other underlying conditions such as multi-centric mast cell tumors. You may notice symptoms in your dachshund such as a loss of appetite, lethargy and depression.
After a definitive diagnosis through a biopsy, Pet MD states that the preferred treatment for panniculitis is surgery through an incision to remove the affected nodule/nodules. In some cases, surgery will be followed with medication therapy to treat the particular infections. If ulcerated, the nodules may be drained of any fluids.
Prednisone, as documented by Embrace Pet Insurance, is used for the treatment of panniculitis for your dachshund. This is a synthetic inactive corticosteroid that is chemically converted by the liver into an active steroid. It suppresses the immune system and is often used to treat auto-immune, inflammatory and other diseases such as panniculitis.
Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressive agent produced by the soil fungus Beauveria Nivea, which has a unique mechanism of immune suppression. This medication may be administered in place of the prednisone, because this medication, in oral form, may spare your dachshund some unpleasant hormonal side effects while recovering from panniculitis.
Tacrolimus is a relatively new drug called a calcineurin inhibitor for the treatment of dermatitis and inflammation conditions such as panniculitis.
In minor cases of panniculitis, vitamin E in oral form at 300 IU has helped in conjunction with steroids, reducing their use. An antibiotic may be prescribed as well to treat any viral or bacterial infections. A treatment of both niacin amide (a B-complex vitamin) and tetracycline (an antibiotic) can work together to suppress the inflammation. Treatment can help your dachshund find relief from panniculitis.
http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/...g_panniculitis
http://www.gopetsamerica.com/dog-hea...niculitis.aspx
Panniculitis in Dogs | EMBRACE

OOPs should read the thread first before I post. THanks so much Dawn for posting your information on Doxies.

This is duplicated information:)

Did they try a course of antibiotics (i.e, simplicef for 30 days?)

Oh boy. Has he suggested to send out one or two of those lumps for pathology?

On short term steroid use. Often an increase in both appetite and thirst. I had one dog on it for 6wks for an injury, no ill effects, and another dog on it during end stage cancer after chemo didn't work.

Yes, the Vet is booking "another" date for surgery, round & round we go
He has been on an antibotic along with the low dose steriod on and off since March. Increased appetite is an understatment with regards to Enzo, he was hungry ALL the time! You know those cartoons where they look at a human and see a drum stick? I'm sure thats what Enzo saw ;)

Checked with my vet today and he said Biopsy is the way to go even if its not that could be lupis or immune disorders but still said biopsy would tell. Also I did not know your dogs age but he said not likely if he was a younger dog that it was SNP ( I said 3-or 4 yrs guess) But when I said maybe 7yrs ( guess ) was when he said it could be or any of the auto immune problems. I have not read your whole thread just what Gemy sent me. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

Enzo will be 2 in September, so he's just a baby. Thank you SO much for asking today!! I very much appreciate it! I will update once I know more, but just bouncing things off everyone has made me feel alittle better :)
Anything else anyone can add, I welcome the advice

Surgery Wednesday
 

So my baby goes for surgery on Wednesday to remove one of the lumps and have it sent for testing :(

Please keep him in your prayers thru surgery & for the results pending :love:

Thanks, Loretta & Enzo

Hope all goes well. Keep us posted!

Canine Histiocytoma
 

Enzo's test results finally came back from the vet! 13 LONG days of waiting & wondering - Here is what they found...

Canine histiocytoma is a benign skin tumor, mostly observed in young dogs & usually goes away on its own within 3 to 4 months. It is a non cancerous.
The incidence of this skin tumor is more frequent in canines less than 4 yrs old.

This explains why the first lump "disappeared" This round of lumps is slowly disappearing too - there were just so many! His blood tests all came back wonderful. There is no real cause OR treatment - but because its linked to the immune system, I'm looking for natural ways to build up his immune.
No steroids unless the flare ups bother him, which suits me find.

Looks like for now, but hopefully not forever, Enzo is going to be "lumpy"

I'm relieved :):animal-pa