Any suggestions?

[Emily_Babbelhund]

My Boogie had an under-active thyroid and was on the tablets for six years. He lived to a happy and healthy 19 years.

I do kind of hope that's what it is, as it's super easy and quick to solve. Brogan was better almost immediately after starting the tablets. I thought he was on his way out, but he just had low thyroid. Hair grew back and lots of energy.

Or with Finn of course something even more benign than thyroid would be good too!

 

[MrChew]

I think my in laws dog had some hair loss when he became hypothyroid. He also gained weight. He's doing very well at the ripe old age of 12 now. Apart from being a grumpy little fluffball!

 

[Anne123]

I just came back from my visit to the vet. I took a urine sample with me in case she would have a look. She checked Finn and she saw the spots. She thinks it’s a flea allergy….? I think she just doesn’t know. Ruled out hypothyroid problems, diabetes and fungus infection. Urinesample was good. She gave him a corticosteroid injection and she said that is was probably a flee allergy. When it doesn’t improve come back next Monday. Just wait and see what happens….I think it strange to have spots on both sides, nowhere else…That Finn has no energy and eat sticks during the walks is that he probably is hungry. She thinks his weight is perfect, a bit too lean. He weighs 31 kg, he is that weight for years…..I guess I have thrown money away by going……

 

[Atemas]

I think she just doesn’t know.

Oh no, this is just not helpful. I am so sorry, it’s just so frustrating to come away dissatisfied

 

[Selina27]

Oh dear Anne, sounds like that is not very satisfactory

 

[Parodius]

That Finn has no energy

I know other people mentioned it previously but did the vets consider cushings disease? My previous lab had it diagnosed when she was about 11 or so, she started going bald around her nose for no reason and had a real lack of strength and energy. She was also drinking a lot more than usual. They originally thought it might be an allergy but turned out to be cushings. Once on the right medication her hair grew back, she regained her strength and was like a new dog! Just a thought if they haven’t considered it already, hope you get to the bottom of it soon.

 

[Anne123]

I know other people mentioned it previously but did the vets consider cushings disease? My previous lab had it diagnosed when she was about 11 or so, she started going bald around her nose for no reason and had a real lack of strength and energy. She was also drinking a lot more than usual. They originally thought it might be an allergy but turned out to be cushings. Once on the right medication her hair grew back, she regained her strength and was like a new dog! Just a thought if they haven’t considered it already, hope you get to the bottom of it soon.

I told my vet that I was thinking of Cushing disease….Thats the reason I wanted to let her check him, as his bold spots are symmetric on both flanks, lack of energie, hungry the whole day etc. The only thing he doesn’t do is drinking a lot, or more then usual. My OH was angry she gave him cortison, if it’s Cushing disease giving cortison is a contradiction and he will react and make it worse….So I hope not…!

In the meantime I am going to look for a new vet, it’s a problem here. My old vet was such a sweet and caring vet for our dogs. She couldn’t find anyone to take over her practice….

 

[kateincornwall]

@Anne123 I am so sorry that you are going through this worry and hope you can find a Vet that you will feel happier with, hugs xxx

 

[Stacia]

@Anne123, your vet seems to be grabbing at straws! I do understand it is difficult to diagnose atypical symptoms, but I have never known a flea allergy to look like that, but I could be wrong! Does Finn nibble at these areas?

 

[Anne123]

@Anne123, your vet seems to be grabbing at straws! I do understand it is difficult to diagnose atypical symptoms, but I have never known a flea allergy to look like that, but I could be wrong! Does Finn nibble at these areas?

No, he doesn’t!! He isn’t itchy at all!

 

[edzbird]

Sorry You've such an unsatisfactory consultation. It sounds pretty much like our vets too, What ever the presentation, guess, then antibiotics and/or steroids'. I understand it's difficult when our dogs can't say what they are feeling.

 

[Emily]

if it’s Cushing disease giving cortison is a contradiction and he will react and make it worse….So I hope not…!

This would be the same if it is a fungal issue I think.

Not sure how they ruled out fungal infection when we had to wait a couple of weeks for the test results after taking a sample

I'm so sorry you're none the wiser after visiting the vet

Is there another vet you can see?

 

[Anne123]

This would be the same if it is a fungal issue I think.

Not sure how they ruled out fungal infection when we had to wait a couple of weeks for the test results after taking a sample

I'm so sorry you're none the wiser after visiting the vet

Is there another vet you can see?

The vet took some hairs out and looked at it under microscope. She found some tiny irritation and said that she thought it was flee allergy.

as Finn isn’t feeling ill, we just wait for going to another vet. The fact that Finn has lesser energy is not new. He started this some year ago, but is more pronounced. Also the stick eating isn’t. It could also very well means he is getting older…We keep a close eye on him and act when necessary. The combination of hairloss at both sides of his flanks made us think that he probably has Cushing…Or maybe a reaction to anesthesia he had for his teeth cleaning…or the caprofen he had….To find a vet here in the region is a problem. I contacted several people, none knows where to go to.
Even our dogwalker has no solution, she has 2 dogs herself and isn’t satisfied with another vet.

 

[MrChew]

Did your vet do bloods? If not I don't see how they could exclude endocrine issues without bloods. Hmm.

 

[Joy]

Your vet visit sounds so frustrating, not like a proper investigation into the cause. I hope you can find a new vet to help.

 

[Anne123]

Did your vet do bloods? If not I don't see how they could exclude endocrine issues without bloods. Hmm.

my vet didn’t take blood. We discussed to check for hypothyroidism, the issue is that the blood tests are often false negative or false positive. It’s a combination of blood and symptoms. If it’s hypothyroidism than he would have slow heartrate, and gained weight. His weight is stable and his heart rate is fine. Then it makes no sense taking blood to check. As for Cushing his urine has to be checked. That’s why I had a sample with me. She only checked it for normal things and came out clear…also no glucose in it!

 

[Stacia]

my vet didn’t take blood. We discussed to check for hypothyroidism, the issue is that the blood tests are often false negative or false positive. It’s a combination of blood and symptoms. If it’s hypothyroidism than he would have slow heartrate, and gained weight. His weight is stable and his heart rate is fine. Then it makes no sense taking blood to check. As for Cushing his urine has to be checked. That’s why I had a sample with me. She only checked it for normal things and came out clear…also no glucose in it!

I am hypothyroid and had no symptoms, a blood test for something else revealed this, now take take tablets. Maybe it is different in the veterinary world, but could be worth a test.