Snowie is every vet’s dream. As in: Kching! Kching!
His front paws weren’t getting better. Still limping. Really affecting his quality of life because he couldn’t do long walks anymore. And getting fatter due to lack of exercise.
We were dipping his feet in Bioscrub morning and afternoon after walks. Vet’s advice. Infection control. But just not solving the problem. Also, his ears were terrible.
So we took him to the holistic vet. Very well regarded. He has treated Snowie in the past for itchy skin. Didn’t cure it then. He was very helpful when he had a sore back. Anyway, decided to give him another try.
First off he said the eyelid wort must be removed asap. We’d only noticed it a couple of weeks earlier.
He also gave Snowie’s back laser treatment. Wow. Snowie was so happy after that for days, so effective for pain.
Prescribed a homeopathic liquid to take morning and afternoon for allergies to dust and pollens. I think it’s working. He’s not as itchy. He also gave a homeopathic injection at the consultation.
Prescribed colloidal silver gel to be rubbed into his ears 3x a day. One ear just got worse and worse.
Prescribed medicated powder for his paws (all 4) twice a day. Said not to dip in Bioscrub because it leaves his feet damp and yeast just keeps growing there. But then a week later Snowie was limping so badly, didn’t want to walk. So we went back to dipping and then powder, and the paws improved.
Booked back to see holistic vet 3 weeks later.
Meanwhile, we saw the ophthalmologist vet for the eyelid wort. Also mentioned all the other stuff—paws, ears, lump in mouth, skin worts. She also specialises in small and exotic animals, but I guess in quiet times she’ll see all animals!
She gave us medicated shampoo with a yeast killer to wash his paws twice a week. She said Bioscrub dip twice a day was way too much for the skin. But to continue with the powder twice a day. Paw shampoo was a game changer. Immediately Snowie stopped limping! The medicated powder was quite grainy and I think it hurt his paws. They were very, very raw between the pads. I had antiseptic talcum powder in the cupboard and put that between his pads. Wow! Snowie trotted off as if he’d never limped before. The powder is very slippery. So I powder his paws before every walk. And use the medicated powder from the vet at night, although he loves the taste it seems, licks it all off! Even tries to lick it off my fingers while I’m applying it and off the floor!
Oh boy. This post is getting long. And there is more.
Yesterday he went in for the wort removal. We agreed that since he’s under anaesthetic, might as well remove three skin worts (the ophthalmologist vet has the most incredible stiching skills). Also check his ears and do a thorough cleanse. Also check his paws thoroughly. And check the mouth lump and X-ray the jaw—specialist dentist vet would do this.
Opthalmologist vet said mouth lump could be cancer and best to investigate now while it’s still small. Terrified me.
Picked Snowie up at 2.30pm. All fine. Eyelid looked incredible. Can’t even see the stitches! Skin worts were removed but huge patches of hair are missing! From his head and side. Looks terrible!! But wounds stitched beautifully. But he’s already scratched both!! Vet didn’t want him to wear a cone, said to keep an eye on him. But it happens so quickly.
His ears… She said the one is very bad. She flushed out both and used a suction to remove all the gunk. But his ear canal in one ear is very narrow and thickened and blackened from years of infection and allergies. So narrow it will continue to cause problems. She said he might need an op to widen it. Not sure I’d want to put him through that.
She thoroughly bathed his paws while he was under. Said the back ones are fine, but front ones are bad. Thickened from years of licking and yeast overgrowth. She said she cleaned out yellow pussy gunk from between his pads. Said when we shampoo twice a week we must really get into every nook and cranny. I think her thorough cleaning yesterday has helped a lot cos he’s not pulling away when I try to powder them today.
His mouth: the dentist vet came to chat to us. Said he removed the lump, and a second one on the upper jaw above it. Said the lower jaw lump had a lot of bone, which he removed. Sent away for pathology, can take 2 weeks. Said it’s either benign gum lump, benign jawbone lump, or cancerous jawbone lump. Pathology will tell. If cancer, must have teeth on either side plus jaw bone removed. I thought I’d faint. I told my husband I’m not putting Snowie through any more ops. Especially such a big one at his age (11.5 years old).
Snowie came home with eye antibiotic drops 3x a day. Ear antiseptic to squirt in 1x a day. And Rimadyl for 2 days only, no more as affects the healing process. And continue with paw shampoo and powder.
But I think we’ll cancel the follow up holistic vet appointment for Monday until his eye is done—stitches to be removed at follow up in 10 days.
His mouth doesn’t seem to be bothering him at all. But no raw food for a week as it is an open wound in his mouth. So he’s getting roast chicken and veg. I think Snowie is verrrrry happy with this arrangement!
Yesterday he cried all afternoon. We weren’t sure if it was just the usual anaesthetic after effects or if he was in pain. Today totally back to normal. No limping! Happily did a walk around the neighbourhood.
This poor dog. I think his allergies have been the root of all his problems. And our lack of understanding how to treat them plus not enough vet attention when it came to his ears and paws. This is the first time someone has investigated them so thoroughly and is discussing a plan of treatment other than just doling out antibiotics, which has kept the cycle going endlessly.
His front paws weren’t getting better. Still limping. Really affecting his quality of life because he couldn’t do long walks anymore. And getting fatter due to lack of exercise.
We were dipping his feet in Bioscrub morning and afternoon after walks. Vet’s advice. Infection control. But just not solving the problem. Also, his ears were terrible.
So we took him to the holistic vet. Very well regarded. He has treated Snowie in the past for itchy skin. Didn’t cure it then. He was very helpful when he had a sore back. Anyway, decided to give him another try.
First off he said the eyelid wort must be removed asap. We’d only noticed it a couple of weeks earlier.
He also gave Snowie’s back laser treatment. Wow. Snowie was so happy after that for days, so effective for pain.
Prescribed a homeopathic liquid to take morning and afternoon for allergies to dust and pollens. I think it’s working. He’s not as itchy. He also gave a homeopathic injection at the consultation.
Prescribed colloidal silver gel to be rubbed into his ears 3x a day. One ear just got worse and worse.
Prescribed medicated powder for his paws (all 4) twice a day. Said not to dip in Bioscrub because it leaves his feet damp and yeast just keeps growing there. But then a week later Snowie was limping so badly, didn’t want to walk. So we went back to dipping and then powder, and the paws improved.
Booked back to see holistic vet 3 weeks later.
Meanwhile, we saw the ophthalmologist vet for the eyelid wort. Also mentioned all the other stuff—paws, ears, lump in mouth, skin worts. She also specialises in small and exotic animals, but I guess in quiet times she’ll see all animals!
She gave us medicated shampoo with a yeast killer to wash his paws twice a week. She said Bioscrub dip twice a day was way too much for the skin. But to continue with the powder twice a day. Paw shampoo was a game changer. Immediately Snowie stopped limping! The medicated powder was quite grainy and I think it hurt his paws. They were very, very raw between the pads. I had antiseptic talcum powder in the cupboard and put that between his pads. Wow! Snowie trotted off as if he’d never limped before. The powder is very slippery. So I powder his paws before every walk. And use the medicated powder from the vet at night, although he loves the taste it seems, licks it all off! Even tries to lick it off my fingers while I’m applying it and off the floor!
Oh boy. This post is getting long. And there is more.
Yesterday he went in for the wort removal. We agreed that since he’s under anaesthetic, might as well remove three skin worts (the ophthalmologist vet has the most incredible stiching skills). Also check his ears and do a thorough cleanse. Also check his paws thoroughly. And check the mouth lump and X-ray the jaw—specialist dentist vet would do this.
Opthalmologist vet said mouth lump could be cancer and best to investigate now while it’s still small. Terrified me.
Picked Snowie up at 2.30pm. All fine. Eyelid looked incredible. Can’t even see the stitches! Skin worts were removed but huge patches of hair are missing! From his head and side. Looks terrible!! But wounds stitched beautifully. But he’s already scratched both!! Vet didn’t want him to wear a cone, said to keep an eye on him. But it happens so quickly.
His ears… She said the one is very bad. She flushed out both and used a suction to remove all the gunk. But his ear canal in one ear is very narrow and thickened and blackened from years of infection and allergies. So narrow it will continue to cause problems. She said he might need an op to widen it. Not sure I’d want to put him through that.
She thoroughly bathed his paws while he was under. Said the back ones are fine, but front ones are bad. Thickened from years of licking and yeast overgrowth. She said she cleaned out yellow pussy gunk from between his pads. Said when we shampoo twice a week we must really get into every nook and cranny. I think her thorough cleaning yesterday has helped a lot cos he’s not pulling away when I try to powder them today.
His mouth: the dentist vet came to chat to us. Said he removed the lump, and a second one on the upper jaw above it. Said the lower jaw lump had a lot of bone, which he removed. Sent away for pathology, can take 2 weeks. Said it’s either benign gum lump, benign jawbone lump, or cancerous jawbone lump. Pathology will tell. If cancer, must have teeth on either side plus jaw bone removed. I thought I’d faint. I told my husband I’m not putting Snowie through any more ops. Especially such a big one at his age (11.5 years old).
Snowie came home with eye antibiotic drops 3x a day. Ear antiseptic to squirt in 1x a day. And Rimadyl for 2 days only, no more as affects the healing process. And continue with paw shampoo and powder.
But I think we’ll cancel the follow up holistic vet appointment for Monday until his eye is done—stitches to be removed at follow up in 10 days.
His mouth doesn’t seem to be bothering him at all. But no raw food for a week as it is an open wound in his mouth. So he’s getting roast chicken and veg. I think Snowie is verrrrry happy with this arrangement!
Yesterday he cried all afternoon. We weren’t sure if it was just the usual anaesthetic after effects or if he was in pain. Today totally back to normal. No limping! Happily did a walk around the neighbourhood.
This poor dog. I think his allergies have been the root of all his problems. And our lack of understanding how to treat them plus not enough vet attention when it came to his ears and paws. This is the first time someone has investigated them so thoroughly and is discussing a plan of treatment other than just doling out antibiotics, which has kept the cycle going endlessly.
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