auto-immune-disease PEMPHIGUS FOLIACEUS

Re: auto-immune-disease PEMPHIGUS FOLIACEUS

Nicola Smith — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:46:23 GMT

mr friends dog was diagnosed with this a month ago, she is on high dose steriod initialy to get it under control. I think she is on viacutan as well as she had been on this for while before diagnosis. She did initially have secondary infecton so abs a must at first if tis is the case. I think the only real tx is immunosuppressive drugs unfortunately

Re: auto-immune-disease PEMPHIGUS FOLIACEUS

Saskia Quinn — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:56:38 GMT

Unfortunately, I have no knowledge of the condition, however, anything skin related is it possible to buy Piriton in Greece? Sort of an anti-histamine human drug but has been used successfully in dogs with skin problems alongside steroid treatment.

Worth a try I think!

Re: auto-immune-disease PEMPHIGUS FOLIACEUS

Caro Laithwaite VN — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:10:04 GMT

ahh thas different thought you meant they were in uk

can guess it is like tenerife will speak to LD see what he says and send info usually in places like greece and tenerife you can buy anything over the counter.. a mixed blessing!

Re: auto-immune-disease PEMPHIGUS FOLIACEUS

bojangle — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:18:43 GMT

Thanks for that, they run a rescue shelter in Greece........ not convinced how good the veterinary support is out there, hence them asking me!

Poor chap is in a state as u can imagine...... I have been out of practice for a couple of yrs now after having children and was an Equine Nurse before this - so have not been in SA for some time now.............. things change so quickly

Is there anything they can get over the counter to help?

Re: auto-immune-disease PEMPHIGUS FOLIACEUS

Caro Laithwaite VN — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:25:16 GMT

I would suggest the persons vet is asked for support.

Re: auto-immune-disease PEMPHIGUS FOLIACEUS

chris beasley — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:21:12 GMT

We have a doberman with this problem. He started treatment about 2yrs ago and after a very long time he started to improve. His owner and out vets had considered putting him to sleep in the early stages as he was in so much pain. They often have intense joint pain along with the skin crusts. The dog now lives on as low a dose steriod as they can manage and azathioprine 50mg tabs.

He has a reasonable life although he is quite fat due to the long term steriods.

Re: auto-immune-disease PEMPHIGUS FOLIACEUS

Debbie Summers — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:12:38 GMT

Hi Bojangle,

It is an immune related disease whereby the body sees a component of the skin as 'foreign', and produces antibodies against it. The skin produces blisters, crusting & cracks - it is awful. High steroid doses are routine treatment, but it cannot harm to seek homeopathic treatments from a homeopathic vet to compliment this. The steroids are a must though, as you need to stop the body basically destroying the skin. It can be more prevalent in certain breeds at middle age, and there is some useful info on the net. Is the animal under a dermatologist? If so, I would suggest asking about nutritional support, and perhaps somethignto enhance the skins elasticity? (EPO?) May already be on this though.

Good luck with that - it is a nasty one.

Debbie