Update on Jackie

[Anna]

Hi Everyone!
So Jackie has been officially off all medication for a week and is holding strong at 44PCV! She is totally back to normal with her energy and has gained almost all of her weight and muscle back. Her pancreatitis is still there but much better and she is now eating a mix of chicken, rice, and prescription dry dog food. The hope is that we can just get her on the dog food over the next few weeks. I got her groomed for the first time last week since being sick so we were really able to see how much hair she has lost. She isn’t bald but it is very thin. I also noticed that some of her skin is turning black and flaky which is really freaking me out but when I called my vet she said that sometimes when dogs have had trauma and been on steroids, their skin can do that so she isn’t worried. Even some of her normal skin is starting to flake. I first noticed the black skin on the leg that she had gotten a sore. She had lost some fur on that leg and it has not grown back. Then I noticed it around her anus and now her tail skin is black. She still has fur on her tail but it is very thin. Has anyone experienced this? The vet said maybe she has allergies too?

[admin]

Hi Anna

This is wonderful to hear – way to go Jackie! 44 is great news.

Don’t worry about the skin – the dry, flakiness is very common after pred & so are the black patches. Worzel was exactly the same & it’s nothing to worry about at all. It will fade, but I find as soon as the sun is out, Worzel’s patches go black again. Worzel also had baldy bits where his coat was really thin & tatty. He still has a bald patch on his leg where they shaved him for the drip – you can see clearly it in the photo of him in the slideshow at the right hand side from when he broke his toe (plastic bag on rear foot!). This also is discoloured – it took an age to heal up & was sore & weeping until we got him off the pred for a few weeks. Apart from that he looks just like he did before the IMHA, but it did take time to settle. So don’t worry – it’s most likely to be the pred side effects. Whoopee for Jackie’s brilliant recovery!

Love & hugs
Sheena, Worzel & Ollie xxxx

[Vally]

Fabulous news Anna. Well done Jackie.

For the skin, you try adding a bit of coconut oil to Jackie’s diet, but as Sheena said, don’t worry about this.

Vally & Bingo

[admin]

Hi Anna

Great news that Jackie is doing so well! You must be thrilled. I’m not familiar with the skin problem but it sounds from what Sheena and Vally have said, that it is not uncommon.

Keep it up Jackie!

Mary and Mable x

[Anna]

Thanks everyone, that makes me feel better! I guess I am a little vain in not wanting my beauty to go bald!

[admin]

Anna – I read your post to Marla & Dewey – just wanted to say I am so very happy to hear Jackie has made a fantastic recovery – wonderful news
Love Sheena, Worzel & Ollie xxxxx

[lynn]

Anna, I am so happy for you….and wow holding at 44… that is so wonderful. the fur will get better… really like all said. You can even put the coconut oil on Jackie’s skin… kind of like us using hand lotion.. and wipe off the fur it will remain on the skin…. I use to put coconut oil on Hayley’s tummy that’s where she was so dry and wrinkled… bless her heart. In time all straightens out and fur and skin is back to normal. I am glad to hear that your baby is doing so wonderful. My little girl Hayley went through the fight when she was 7 years old now Hayley is 11 years old…. I am so happy to hear each time a fur child beats this disease. best wishes to Jackie and you. Lynn & Hayley