Managing lupus

[SadKen]

I posted a while back about my 8yo GSD's sore nose. I tried Snout Soother which is good, but it only eased it a bit despite me applying a few times a day. I've since been to the vet and raised the possibility that he might have discoid lupus. The vet's view is that he might, but he would need a biopsy under GE to confirm. She also doesn't want to give him steroids yet as his nose isn't too bad at the moment.

He has a few niggles. Dry cracked nose, ulceration in between two toes, he has a weeping sore next to his nuts in the fold of skin, and an ear infection.

I'm managing these in the usual ways separately. Just wondered if anyone has any tips for managing lupus, supplements, will consider alternative therapy etc!

 

[deb_l222]

My dad’s Airedale was diagnosed with lupus, many years ago now and was managed very successfully with steroid treatment. I don’t believe she was diagnosed via a biopsy though. I’m not even sure she had a blood test, I think it was that obvious the vet just ‘knew’.

My (human) cousin has lupus, as did her mum and steroids is also the treatment in humans so that seems to be the way to go.

Rosie (the Airedale) eventually succumbed and I remember her skin starting to slough off in chunks. Her body was attacking itself quite aggressively at that point and she was PTS but she wasn’t a bad age for an Airedale. Maybe 12 or 13.

Good luck with yours.

 

[WandaMare]

Those are similar symptoms to my dog. Vet thought it might be lupus but after tests it turned out to be pollen allergies. Does your dog get worse at a particular time of year? Mine was treated with malaseb shampoo and steroids only for brief periods if it got too bad.

 

[SadKen]

Thank you Deb, I'm hoping it doesn't go too far with my boy but if he makes it to 13 as a GSD I'd see that as a win!

WM that's interesting and something I hadn't considered. It has seemed to come and go in terms of severity, and he can't tolerate gluten, and has signs of ulcerative colitis so he does have form in the area of allergies. I might try him on a bit of cetirizine as a trial.

 

[scats]

My friends GSD was diagnosed with lupus. He was quite a poorly chap and spent most of his time on steroids but they managed his condition well. He ended up having to have a toe removed at one point and suffered dreadfully with his nose and ears.
He sadly died at the age of 7 from a burst tumour on his spleen.

 

[SadKen]

Oh scats that's very sad. My boy is extremely well in himself so hoping it won't come to that. I think there are two types from what I've read, discoid being the less serious although neither very nice.