Solomon is a 1.75 yr old neutered blue merle Great Dane, adopted 3 mos. ago. He presents for conventionally unrelated issues...he has periodic, non-seasonal, raised, intact papules - they seem cystic by description of the lesions in full swing, but pus has also been aspirated in past records. The lesions dissipated with Clavamox in the past, but never opened or drained. Cytology was sterile pyogranulomatous inflammation. Last week, a dime sized 'bump' became golf-ball sized, at least, and sore, per o. but subsided within a week on its own. He was still painful upon palpation of the area (dorsal midline, T-L), with a dermal slip, but no fluid.
He also has numerous pea-sized firm subdermal bumps, on his legs, behind ear, on thorax. He has 1 recent incident report of raised hives over chest/thorax/dorsum, with no known exposure to anything (but this is South FL). He also has a current open skin lesion between lateral toes on hindpaw, which is pink/red and inflamed, but he is not interested in chewing or licking, per o., and protected it from me.
Solomon also has pronounced chin acne that sometimes opens and bleeds when he rubs it on the floor. Other than that however, he is not pruritic.
Personality is shy, submissive, but grounded; fearful at times of the unknown, but not aggressive. Very gentle, sensitive, reliably good with the new family and kids, but still seems depressed and unengaged unless he is invited into a room for attention. He enjoys exercise and going out for a run or outing now, more than before, but otherwise sleeps almost constantly; o. describes him as lethargic, 'draggy' at home, with a poor to mediocre appetite.
Tongue is slightly (?) small, pale pink with a central (spleen area) sparse white film. He has dental plaque/tartar - a lot for a very young dog on dry food!
O's describe a very foul smelling belch, but his breath is not overtly bad.
Pulses are deep and thin, synchronous, slow.
He is currently eating a chicken-based kibble "Life's Abundance', w/ 26% pro, 16% fat - beet pulp as major carb source, has omega 3's etc. Appeared quite rich, on a glance. They need to add cooked rice to keep his stool firm on this kibble. It is what he had eaten in 1st home, too.
He is thin, at @ 120 lbs, with little/no muscle mass. They are having a hard time building him up; he has more the composite of a greyhound with the skeletal structure of a Dane.
He has been super-vaccinated during his young life so far.
SO; my TCVM diagnosis is...tentatively... spleen deficiency, damp phlegm accumulation, stomach (something) weakness? deficiency?
and Qi deficiency (Gu? Source? Ying? unsure).
But, his signs seem to contradict each other. He doesn't vomit, have gas or diarrhea, his skin signs aren't really allergic signs, poor appetite, no weight gain.
Please help me interpret this dog; his owners really want to help him feel better and I feel like I am off on a conundrum.
I started him on Omega 3 FA's with 500mg EPA daily, suggested a probiotic, some behavioral confidence and bonding tactics, planning to supplement diet and change food (but...?). They are willing to try herbs.
THANKS!
Robin V.