Billy and auto-immune problems

[zefi]

This morning I took Billy into the vet cause he's had a sore ear for a couple of days, but last night he was very restless and sore. On the way in to the vet I noticed Billy licking his lips a lot... I realised he'd been doing it for days and it just hadnt clicked for me. Its what he'd done in the past when he had a growth under his tongue.

Now, for those of you who dont know Billy's full story you can read it on my website: http://www.pantonepoodles.com/billystory.htm

The first time Billy had a growth under his tongue was at age 2, approx 6 months after a C5 vaccination. The second time was at age 4, approx 6 months after the next C5 vaccination. I hate the stupidity that allowed me to listen to the vet and give him another 5 in one shot!

This is Billy's third growth under his tongue. The vet removed it today (and his ear is fine, just yucky so we got some ointment for it). I spoke to the vet about Billy's lack of hair and his skin condition. We've already done blood tests for just about anything under the sun, skin punched the poor boy till he was a sieve, and all results are inconclusive. He doesnt have anything you can put your finger on. The vet seems to think that since last time the lump was biopsied the results came back as an auto-immune thing, that the skin and hair loss are all related. He said I could see a skin specialist next time he comes to Hobart, but thinks it would be a waste of time... ie its not the skin, but other things causing all Billy's problems.

So now I'm at this spot... keep Billy on his thyroid meds which ARE working for his thyroid condition. And live with the nakedness and the fact that now and then his skin gets splotchy and kind of flakey. It doesnt bother him... it DOES bother me. I think its unfair. He used to be such a gorgeous boy.

A friend is sending me a supplement she swears is good and helped one of her dogs who had bad nails. I'll start giving him kelp with his meals (I have it, I just keep forgetting!). And I'm looking for advice on any homeopathic or naturopathic or whatever remedies there might be out there to boost his immune system. He eats mainly raw food (mainly chicken) so its not a food thing from dry food. And I did go down the road of trying homeopathic remedies both for reducing the growth and growing back his coat in the past and got no real results last time.

Any suggestions are welcome. I really want Billy to be happy but I want him to look better too.

[Helen]

Zefi, I'm such a Billy Fan.  I hope you can find find a way to help him.

This is a link to some supplements we are getting now for Chula. 

http://www.biopreparation.us/e-products.htm

A few of weeks ago, we spent a day being absolutely sure that Chula was about to die.  She was completely lethargic, and couldn't get up.  Wouldn't eat or drink anything.  Not even cheese (her favorite thing in the whole world).  Her eyes were cloudy, and she really looked like she was about to give up any moment.  I spent the day petting her and crying.  I felt that if I took her to the vet, he would say to put her down, and I didn't know what to do. 

Well, Richard had bought a bottle of these BioPreparation supplements for her, but we hadn't given her any.   (We'd also bought the people version for us).  He gave her one, and soon she drank a little water.  Gave her another one, and she ate a piece of cheese.  We gave her 2 more that day, and the next morning she was herself again.  It was pretty amazing!  We ordered several more bottles.

Now we are giving her 3-4 of them everyday.  We really think it's what's keeping her going right now.  (She's still not doing great, altho she's eating and drinking well.  But she's sleeping all the time and I think some major things are going on and we need to find a new vet and take her in for tests.  She's had blood in her urine for the past few days, and I'm concerned all the prednisone is impacting her kidneys or something.  She's now on 30 mgs of prednisone everyday)

Anyway, check it out and read the animal stories.  Perhaps it might be something you want to try.

Best of luck, and hugs to little Billy.

[zpoodle]

Hope all is going well for Billy, don't really have any ideas other than what you are doing for the little guy...............keep us posted.

Mindy
Zorcon Poodles
Toys and Standards
Visit us at:
http://members.tripod.com/zpoodle/index.html

[auntie c]

oh zefi, what a set back, he seemed to be doing so well, especially in the pics on michaels visit...

we are all thinking of you and little billy.

hang in there.

carlene, harry who and pearl the girl
australia

ps. have sent your post to my naturopath to see if she has any ideas...

[zefi]

Hey, Billy is FINE. He's as happy as normal, his usual little self... nothing wrong with him. I mean, now the lump is gone from under his tongue and his ear infection has cleared up he's great. Its only that all these problems and his lack of hair are auto-immune related and there's just about nothing I can do to fix that. I've been giving him kelp with his dinner but that wont fix him.

[auntie c]

glad billy is his happy self again.... i guess with all that he has going on thats all one can ask for...
its such a strain living with a sick baby in the house...
i had to do it for all of alices' short life, but we gave her quality, and that was all we aimed for each and every day

carlene, harry who and pearl the girl
australia