Signalment
- Age: 7 years
- Sex: female spayed
- Breed: American Staffordshire Terrier
- Species: dog
Disease Notes
- Certainty: tentative
- Comments: This condition three years previously, following boarding (and potential vaccination) at a kennel facility. Initial signs and symptoms included fever, lameness, and dermatitis.
The condition was initially managed with prednisone (dose not provided), which aided all symptoms at first, but then only the dermatitis with sustained use. Side effects appeared that were unacceptable to the owner, including reverse sneezing and a chronic cough. The drug was subsequently discontinued.
A commercial raw meat diet was instituted, and various homeopathic remedies applied upon the advice of another local veterinarian. Neither these remedies nor the diet particularly aided the condition, but they produced no adverse effects. The owner was then referred to the author’s clinic.
- Final Status: resolved as of day 572 of treatment
Treatment and Outcome
Problem Notes
- Alopecia: Affected regions included the head, ventrum, and medial thighs
- Coughing: Chronic, following use of corticosteroids for immune suppression
- Hind Limb Pain: Apparent, resulting in difficulty sitting down. No lameness noted, however
- Joint Swelling: Interphalangeal joints, aggravated when stationary
- Papular Rash: With associated scabs
Affected regions include the head, ventrum and medial thighs - Pruritis: Itch is severe, especially in the mornings on waking and again at night
Treatments
- Psorinum
- Four Marvels Combination
- Eliminate Damp With Poria Harmonize The Stomach Combination
- Clear the Nutritive Level Combination
- Minor Bupleurum Combination
- Bupleurum and Dragon Bone And Oyster Shell Combination
- Modified Xiao Chai Hu Tang
Notes:
New hair regrowth noted, but is easily scratched out again due to itch
Owner has only heard scratching one or two nights
Energy was much improved following acupuncture and chiropractic, and has now slightly subsided. Soffee is sitting down much more comfortably and has coughed only 3 times in the past month
Diet is largely raw
Acupuncture points were stimulated
Manipulation or massage was performed
Notes:
Owner is once again seeing stiffness on rising that improves with motion. Lately Soffee is also slow to sit down again
Itch is worse since the owner ran out of herbs 3 days ago
Scabs on ears noted and there is a persistent maculopapular rash of the left inguinal region
Sacro-iliac fixations were noted and addressed with chiropractic
Acupuncture points were stimulated
Manipulation or massage was performed
Notes:
Left hind lameness on rising
Scratching left side, where there are redness and scabs
Sleeping a lot, in her kennel
After last acupuncture and chiropractic, Soffee did well for seven days
No alopecia on neck and top of head, despite presence of scabs. Groin is still lichenified
Pulse improved with sedation of BL 19 and GB 34, implying a Shao Yang disharmony
Diet is largely raw
Acupuncture points were stimulated
Manipulation or massage was performed
Notes:
Acupuncture and chiropractic immediately improves hind end issues. Now there is only a little difficulty sitting. Soffee has been off Qing Ying Tang for 1 month
Itching only if owner not home, but will draw blood. Scabs noted on head and ears. Papules appear unchanged
Lower lumbar fixations but SI issues appear resolved
Minor Bupleurum may not have been used consistently
Diet is largely raw
Acupuncture points were stimulated
Manipulation or massage was performed
Photos:
Note Alopecia Of Elbows
Notes: None submitted
Diet is largely raw
Acupuncture points were stimulated
Manipulation or massage was performed
Notes: None submitted
Diet is largely raw
Acupuncture points were stimulated
Manipulation or massage was performed
Photos:
No Alopecia Or Scabs Visible On Head
Notes: None submitted
Diet is largely raw
Acupuncture points were stimulated
Manipulation or massage was performed