Leo's Medical Mystery

Leo had been having skin issues since spring. I assumed it was typical Bulldog allergies. With our holistic vet's blessing, I put him on a hypoallergenic diet and started the medicated baths. His coat was not looking too bad except for his feet. They were yeasty. His skin was black on his underside. His chin and jaw area was always broken out with postules that would burst and drip bloody gunk. He started itching and broke out further and in a matter of a day or so started having puss ooze from new sores on his ankles and chin. I knew he had an infection. The bloody gunk turned to puss and the new sores had appeared very fast. He became very lethargic. I took him right in to the traditional vet (closest to our house) who agreed he had not one but 3 infections!!! He was put on antibiotics as well as an anti itch medicine with a bit of steroid in it to give him some relief. It helped him immediately.
During this time he had develpoed warts. They were small at first so I left them alone and separated him from the other dogs. He was on the medicine for the infections for about a week and a whole new set of bloody postules arose, he also started breaking out on the back of his neck. That was enough! I went straight to the Dermatologist.
With labels from everything he eats in hand I showed up ready to do a full allergy screen and have a serum made for him. As we waited for the doctor I looked down at my sweet boy. He was sitting on my feet and taking the whole new environment in. He was just happy to be somewhere with his Mom. I appreciate and am amazed by what a trooper Leo has been through all of this. He never seemed fazed, but I was. I was bound and determined to end the discomfort I knew this had to be causing him. The Dermatologist arrived. He did skin scapes and interviewed us. He left to process the information. When he returned I got a pretty big shock! Leo had MANGE!!!!!
The only experience I had with mange was that my dogs and I caught it from a foster puppy we had many years ago. It was a long, awful process. I was sick at the thought that we were about to go through that again! As I was probably turning white in front of him, the doctor said it was not contagious. Whew!
Leo had Demedex mange. He explained to me that every dog has these mites and that they usually take over and present a problem in dogs who have a weak immune system. I have always suspected there is a link in dogs born with birth defects having a weak or compromised immune system. This news reinforced that as had the warts.
We went home with Ivermectin to treat the Demedex and with some Interferon injections for the warts.
Treating mange is a long process. It entails further medicated baths to attack mites superficially as well as oral doses of the Ivermectin. The oral meds taste strong so it is advised you give the dog cola to wash it down and leave a better taste in their mouth.
These two new meds add to the array of meds and supplements Leo is already on. I will share his daily protocol in an upcoming entry, so I can demonstrate what it takes daily, to give Leo a quality existance. The reason it is important for people to know this is so they are prepared as to what the possibilites are when adopting a special needs animal. As I have said on this blog, and to anyone who has questioned my sanity for adopting Leo-Everything I do is a LABOR of LOVE. He is worth every poopy or pee soaked blanket I wash and every dollar I spend, and all the time it takes. He is a BUNDLE of LOVE in its purest form. That being said, owning a SB Bullie is not for the faint of heart. I admire and hold great respect for those who have taken on one or (bless them) more of these delightful dogs.