Question Details
Atopy In A Dog
by Dreudog - December 6, 2019    View Case Report
Hi Steve and group,


This dog is a 4 yr. old MN Bichon x . He developed chronic skin issues at age 1; otitis, pruritic, hot spots and is worst spring and late summer. Winter itch is 1-2/10. He also has been prone to periods of anorexia, colitis, ^ stomach noises. He is also shy and noise reactive. His exams typically have shown a dry, pink tongue, middle toned pulse, erythema w/o much for damp signs, sometimes yeasty otitis w/ skin thickening in ears.

Since I started working w/him Jan. 2019, we have used:

- SMS/DG .... nausea, runny stools.
- DGSYS.... tolerated, but itch ^ in May (owner reports still better than previous yr)
- CSWLT.... again tolerated, but needed Cytopint, Apoquel in July when pruritic ramped up
- LJZT/SMs.... tried after the nausea and diarrhea on SMS/DG. I started LJZT first.... nausea.


SO, I always remember your "multiple areas of epithelial inflammation" form a lecture, and assume most of these dogs w/ GI + skin or lung + skin, etc. are damp heat cases. His response to home cooked diet is unclear, as he presented on such, but GI symptoms are improved (still occ. picky appetite, soft stool). So perhaps the herbs have helped some in this area. And then blood deficient at his root.

He responds well to Cytopoint, which is a blood mover per one of the VBMA herbalists?

I'm stuck on this one. Did I tonify an excess by giving LJZT? Possibly a triple burner case?


Thanks as always,



Cathy L
Replies
by naturevet
December 8, 2019
Hi Cathy,

I think you're right and that this is a Shao Yang case. Commonly they will have a concomitant Blood deficiency which can improve on Blood tonics, but also skin lesions that smack of Damp Heat, particularly involving the ears and ventrum. That is, they often looked mixed and confusing.

Colitis that does not respond to Dampness formulas is consistent with Shao Yang disharmony. Minor Bupleurum clears excess Yang Ming Heat, which can manifest as colitis. The lack of response of the skin to real food diets (assuming they are low in starch) is also a clue that this is not a Damp Heat case. If the skin lesions can occur on that diet, in other words, then it is viewed as not helping, automatically qualifying this case as an 'immune dysregulation' case rather than an 'inflammation dysregulation' case, which is what Damp Heat essentially is.

To find out, I would use Xiao Chai Hu Tang mixed with Si Wu Tang, in about a 2:1 ratio. I also commonly administer probiotics, and ensure there is a good source of soluble fiber in the diet at the same time. I know it's a quiet period for him now, but if his pulse is still off and if there are still some residual skin symptoms, then I think it is worth treating now, to see if you can get ahead of the breakouts next spring. Spring and late summer to fall aggravations are also consistent with a Shao Yang disharmony.

Hopefully all this helps. Let us know how it goes!

Steve
by Dreudog
December 9, 2019
Fabulous; thnx Steve.

PS; your favorite source for soluble fiber? As a prebiotic?
by naturevet
December 9, 2019
Since they are making their own food:

  • Any and all beans

  • Carrots

  • Broccoli

  • Apples

  • Pears

  • Sweet potato

  • A small amount of cooked rolled oats

  • Pumpkin and other squashes


Fermented vegetables like carrots might be especially helpful

Steve
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