*at 6mo tentatively diagnosed with panosteitis, put on Deramaxx and proceeded to vomit blood. O says this is when allergies began.
**at 1yo he was diagnosed with Pseudomonas infection along his dorsal spine (extremely painful, 1.5-inch think crusts, lateral sides looked like raw hamburger according to owner).
His present allergies are composed of acute flare-ups of red and itchy ears that progress to hairloss at ear tips from his incessant scratching. He also rubs his face, scratches at sides of chest and abdomen, has lower energy, wakes up whining and then proceeds to scratching (appears uncomfortable). Prednisone makes the skin way better in a couple days (so need to decrease Heat and tonify Yin), sublingual serum was tried to no effect, and he appears to be sensitive to chicken, beef, and pollen. Allergies are worse in Spring and Fall. He is not temperature sensitive, nor does he have vivid dreams.
On exam he "looks" healthy. Overtly full coat with a very slight greasy texture. He has thin fur around both pinnae tips, mild erythema, minor tiny flakey scabs. His dorsum crawls a bit when scratched, found a few dry scabs. His pulses are deficient for such a big guy, tongue dark pink, wet. Interestingly, his penis hangs out ALL THE TIME. O says this has always "been a thing" (I initially thought SP qi sinking but now I'm wondering about a Shaoyang disharmony - hopefully makes sense to you too as case unfolds).
I started him on Si Wu Xiao Feng Yin for skin relief, to tonify Liver Blood and resolve Wind Invasion. He ended up getting more itchy on SWXFY and the vomiting increased. Reconsidered my strategy (I was just starting the CIVT grad course in skin, GIT, etc) and put him on Yi Guan Jian to tonify Kidney and Liver Yin and Liver Qi, stopped SWXFY. In the midst of all of this o started on Pepcid AC BID. Ears started to improve but vomiting bile persisted off and on. Owner stopped herbs in December as became increasingly itchy again and started feeding him turkey necks when belly gurgling increased, seemed to help.
Recheck with me April 8/19: just had skin flare-up 3-4 weeks (ears look flea-bitten, dry scabs on dorsum, coat otherwise healthy-looking if not a little dry. On Pred and within 2 days, signs much reduced. Pulses are still deficient and now narrow to me, tongue is dark pink/red, central lavender area, flabby, wet.
I'm not sure where I'm going wrong here? The SWXFY seemed to fit the skin perfectly but he reacted. The Yi Guan Jian seemed to fit the GIT signs but no real improvement. Please share your wisdom!!!
Thanks you,
Corinne