Bad case of calcinosis cutis

[Louise Barton Lagimodiere]

Ellie has been on so many meds while the vet tries to figure out what kind of bacteria it is….Thousands of dollars later with no satisfactory answer, they said we should euthanize her! I was shocked, dismayed and saddened they would say such a thing about my goofball, loving doggie. She has been on Vetoryl because of the Cushing’s. My other rescue, now 15 has Cushing’s as well. I had to stop the Vetoryl because for the both of them, it costs $10.00 A DAY! I have them on Cushex drops instead that I must order from the States. That is plus all the tests for both, antibiotics, shampoos, etc. she has been an Clavamox, Ketaclonazole, Apoquel, etc. I have changed her food for the last two months to a very reputable raw dog food. I also am giving her Cushex drops and N’Zymes. Ellie Mae is a sweetheart . I just want to make her better!

[Vally]

Louise, I’ve spoken with Patrice, the site owner and she’s particularly mentioned:

We have some resources available on the site – see two articles on hyperadrenocorticism:
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/dermatology-resources

In particular, have a look at Mary Straus Dogaware site.
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/nutrition-resources
Fourth on that page. She has some amazing information, along with at home treatments that might put a dent in some of the symptoms. This is a direct link to articles on her site relating to cushings:
http://dogaware.com/articles/wdjcushings.html

Here is another site with excellent information:
https://web.archive.org/web/20170122044703/http://www.kateconnick.com/library/cushingsdisease.html

See how you go. Don’t hesitate to ask anything.

Vally

[Tiffany A McAlister]

Hello there. I stumbled across this forum and read some of the threads here but I am not sure if im in the right spot. I see the thread of posts are generally speaking about antibiotics and steroidal shots for your fur babies regarding this skin disorder, but my sweet 15 yr old long haired Chihuahua was diagnosed about 4 months ago with Cushings disease. Which often goes hand in hand with skin disorders and infections. One is Calcinosis cutis with Cushings. Currently we decided to not treat her through medications (in case you might wonder if there has been any treatment). The medications were not only no guarantee, but the side effects with some of them were horrible. Its also extremely expensive for an overall outcome being the same on or off the medication. We were told that if she was placed on medication, it does not cure cushings, nor would it prolong her life. It just would help minimize the symptoms she is now experiencing with the cushings disease. She also has congenital heart failure. She was diagnosed about 6 years ago. She has done very well on the routine treatment with medications and she is stable.

After the diagnosis with Cushings, we started to see these huge lesions just under her belly. Larger than the size of a quarter. Then it was like she had the measles with these lesions. That was 3 months ago. Now her belly is like one big scab. She has scabs all over her back. She has lost quite a bit of her hair on her back to now seeing her skin is visible. Its awful seeing your pet get old and worse to suffer for it and my feeling helpless because I cant help her.

But After doing my research I learned that one of the symptoms from Cushings disease is Calcinosis Cutis. I do believe my dog “minnie” might be a little bit worse than what was described that I read, but the description of what they look like fits her to the T. Hers scabs/lesions are generalized through out her body. But primarily they are concentrated severely in her rectum area and her vaginal area (vulva) :(.

I did purchase an online supplement through a website yesterday that had a lot of great reviews. Its Adrenal support liquid drops. But it didn’t appear to have much in it to help with her lesions/scabs aka promoting healthier skin and hair. So after some digging a bit deeper online, I read that Minnie could benefit from Vitamins A, C and selenium. Also curcumin & Nettle were other supplements mentioned and recommended.

So my questions to you or anyone reading this, is do you know of any herbal and homeopathic supplements that aid with dogs who suffer from cushings with a bad case of calcinosis cutis? Or is there any liquid forms of the vitamins ive mentioned that anyone here has tried and has helped your pet? I do realize that these supplements wont be a miracle, and in fact may do nothing, but its worth the try. I am grateful for any help or input and would love some feedback. Thank you kindly. :)

[Patrice]

Tiffany,
I am sorry to read about your girl. These lesions are tough to look at and I know you want to help her very badly.

The important thing to remember is that Cushings Disease is a very serious condition. There are two different organic causes for this, either a malignant adrenal tumor or pituitary dependent, where there is a tumor on the pituitary gland. But the results in both cases are the same. The body is flooded with excess cortisol which can affect every organ and system in the body. If there isn’t something done to remove this excess cortisol the body begins to suffer from the constant exposure to cortisol. Pituitary dependent Cushings disease is more common in dogs and life expectancy is a bit longer. While adrenal tumors are more severe and the life expectancy is less.

The best solution for both is treatment to decrease the amount of cortisol in the body. And there are successful treatments to do that. Have you discussed this with your vet?

The skin symptoms are an expected part of Cushings Disease, no matter what the root cause is. Generally when the prednisone is reduced in the dogs we help, the skin symptoms subside, perhaps leaving one or two plaques on the skin. But, it’s very true, we are most concerned here with keeping these dogs alive and having them survive AIHA IMHA. The skin things and the muscle loss are side effects that are just awful to look at but keeping them alive long enough to eventually get off the prednisone is our main goal.

I understand how awful they are to look at. I would urge you to treat the Cushings Disease because this is causing serious internal damage as well as skin symptoms. I can provide you more information if you can tell me what steps your vet has taken to diagnose this.
My best, Patrice

On this forum we know that every dog we help with that has IMHA AIHA is on high dose prednisone treatment. This is the same thing, flooding the body with cortisol. But we know this as iatrogenic Cushings, or caused by the administration of excess cortisol via prednisone. Once the drug is reduced and removed the Cushings condition goes away.

[Suzanne M Williams]

I’ve tried to read through some posts but for those of you who used manual honey (medihoney) on calcinosus cutis with open sores, how fast did you see an improvement? I have a dog currently diagnosed with non-regenerative immune mediated anemia along with a side of calcinosus cutis. The cause of the CC is still a mystery as the first time it reared it’s ugly head, she was not on pred. Currently on 20mg prednisolone, 100mg cyclosporine, Sam-E, ursodiol, omperazole, gabapentin, batril and simplicef. Her last PCV was 22%. Thankfully her reticulocytes seem to have a small uptick at the last draw which is good. Her lesions come and go on a 6 month cycle. This tome that are SO BAD. Trying to find ways to salvage her skin. So back to the question, who has used Manila honey (medihoney) with success, of note, most of the areas where the lesions are, cannot be dressed or wrapped because of their location. Any input is welcomed.

[Patrice]

Suzanne,
I would only recommend medical treatments prescribed by veterinary dermatology specialists. There are several medical causes for calcinosis cutis and treatment depends on which of these it is.

If you look above this Forum header you will see Second Chance Facts and Resources. Under that you will see 3 colored boxes with links to various Resources. When you see Dermatology Resources scroll on, click on that.

It will take you to a page where there are two articles discussing Hyperadrenocorticism, within the first article with the picture of a dog is a link to Treatment of Calcinosis cutis. I put these up so owners could read about calcinosis cutis.

The second article is a bit more complex to read but they do cover this in detail also.

If you can’t find the Dermatology Resources page this way you can look at the very top menu and click on Dermatology Resources under Second Chance Resources.

As you read these articles you will understand that there are several ways for a dog to have too much cortisol in the body, one is iatrogenic, or caused by a medication, in this case, prednisone. Removing the prednisone will resolve most cases of calcinosis cutis. Sometimes the larger plaques will remain despite discontinuing the prednisone.

The second reason is if a dog has a tumor that causes the adrenal glands to overproduce cortisol. (Spontaneous hyperadrenocorticism (pituitary or adrenal dependent.) This is known as Addison Disease. If you were seeing calcinosis cutis before this then it’s possible this is Addison Disease. It’s difficult to test for but would be a good idea to have a vet find out if there is a tumor leading to this.
my best, patrice

[Gail Dassonville]

Hi Devin and everyone else at Second Chance. I first contacted Second Chance last October when my 3 year old Boston terrier was first diagnosed with IMHA. Everyone here was my lifeline when first learning about this terrible disease but I am extremely happy to say yesterday was a Groots last dose of prednisone. He had Atopica added on in February when everything started going backwards and was referred to an internal medicine specialist. He now sees a dermatologist and dental surgeon as he developed calcinosis cutis first on his tongue then later on his face, back of neck and shoulder areas. He also had a staph infection on some of his lesions which was treated with Clindamycin for a month and has healed nicely. I’m told to bathe him 2 times a week with DouxoS3 pyo shampoo. It’s the orange bottle with chlorhexadine in it. Leave the shampoo on 10 minutes before rinsing then apply Ventoquinol care no rinse conditioner for his dry skin all over him. I’m told to clean his calcinosis lesions once a day with DuoxoS3 chlorhexadine antiseptic and cleansing pads at least one hour before putting DMSO on the lesions. So far this has helped him. I use a Kong cone around his neck so he can’t scratch his lesions as he tore them off a few times at first. I’m told it will take several months for the lesions to go away after stopping prednisone so we still have a way to go. His tongue is a whole other story. If anyone here knows anything about calcinosis cutis on the tongue I’d greatly appreciate the help. He has big lesions covering most of the underside of his tongue and on the sides as well. They had calcium all over the lesions and the white all came off in his water bowl over the course of a few days. Then came back and now his tongue is more sore and I have to soften his food. The dental surgeon says he will need to do surgery to tease the bigger calcium deposits out most likely over several surgeries but his teeth need to be cleaned first. Groot is on Trupanion thankfully as this has been a very expensive disease to recover from and even with the insurance it still cost quite a bit out of pocket and just when we’re so close to the end of it I don’t have the 1200.00 or more it will cost me for the surgery. I’m hoping the lesions resolve on their own or at least a good portion of them. Nobody seems to know much about calcinosis cutis on the tongue. Apparently it’s rare.
Devin I hope some of my information will be helpful to you and I hope your baby recovers fully. It’s such a long road. Thankfully there are people like these wonderfull ladies here at Second Chance that are so supportive and helpful with information about this disease as it seems veterinarians do not seem to know enough about this. I got information here that my vet didn’t even know about. I’ve also been reading articles from a vet in Los Angeles whose dog had AMHI three times. His name is Dr. Mahoney. The third time he used Chinese medicine to help his dog Cardiff . He has a 2 part article on dogtime.com called IMHA (Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia) and integrative veterinary medicine. His therapy includes blood transfusion, prednisone and azothioprine, Chinese herbs, acupuncture and a diet for his condition. He says a whole food/non-processed diet is vitally important. I have to figure that one out. He uses omega 3 fatty acids(nutramax welactin salmon oil) , a chondroprotectant (Nutramax Dasuquin joint supplement) and a combination antioxidant and immune system supporter ( I Love Dogs Reishi with Green Tea). I’m taking these supplements and the article to my vet to see what they say and I’ve messaged this vet for any extra info he’s willing to give. He said the supplements helped to support his dogs immune system and lower inflammation and pain and help prevent infections. This can happen again. I’ll take all the info I can find to have a plan in place incase it does happen again. Groot turned 4 in the middle of his illness and now plays again like he used to which is something I didn’t think I’d see again. I wish all the best for you and your fur baby as well.