CIMDA

Hi Amy, and thank you for taking the time to post an update on Skylar, and even though many years have passed, I know how difficult this must be to relive the sadness.  It never leaves us, we just have to learn how to manage it over time. They are our family for sure.  You have been through such a tough time with your family too. I do hope that that dark cloud has lifted for you, and for so many others who seem to have gone through unprecedented hard times. 

I appreciate the information you have given about Skylar's condition because even if it helps just one person who has a dog with similar symptoms, your posting has done a good job.  Anyone who has experienced looking after a dog with seizures knows how traumatic and unpredictable it is, let alone the other problems that you and Skylar had to manage.  She was a lucky girl to have had you for her family.

Wishing you and your family all the best for 2024 and beyond.

Take care

Jo

Updating this thread. It has been a long time. Sadly my girl Skylar passed in August of 2016. She battled Uveo Dermatologic Syndrome from 2011 to 2016, along with cancer. She had a number of seizures in one day, lost her eyesight from those seizures, then we discovered cancer had gone to her brain.   Interestingly we had the Uveo Dermatologic Syndrome under control. She had, had an iridectomy to help control pressure in one of her eyes and that surgery was a sucess, and at the time of her seizures which occurred almost two years after the iridectomy she was finally on the lowest dosages of all her medicines and the Dr. couldn't have been more happy, same for us. The seizures took us completely by surprise. When she lost her eyesight literally over night she was still her happy self and I created a "halo" out of a wire coat hanger and attached it to her harness... this allowed her to go all over the house and outside without walking to in trees, etc. Then after 4 months of being seizure free she had 8 really bad ones almost back to back and she was so confused. Our vet suggested we help her cross. It was the worst day of my life and up until now I really could not bring myself to do any updates. At that same time the family seemed to have a monster of a black cloud hanging over them. We lost my father-in-law to cancer in 2015, then his wife in 2018 to cancer, then multiple cousins of my husband to cancer. All totaled 11 people since 2015.  Sorry for being long winded. I do hope others on this site find relief and or cures for their pets.  They are our family.   

  Thanks for restoring the site, John.    It is good to see it back again as there is so much important information on it to help owners of ill dogs, .

Hi Erica

I am so sorry about your dad's passing, and your mum's struggle.  Life can be so tough at times.  I understand why you have put your life on hold but it can take its toll, both emotionally and physically. 

You are doing all that you can to avoid 'triggers' but sometimes the trigger just can't be identified, and so many dogs have an AI disease when they are young and do achieve long term remission.  I hope this is true for Elsie.

Fingers crossed Erica.

All the best

Jo

Can you not take Elsie with you on holiday or would she get worried away from home? Perhaps a weekend with family or a friend or someone with a dog Elsie gets on with who can share the responsibility and let you have some time to relax, even if just for a few hours?

Thanks Jo, and thanks for your help.
I am glad Elsie is currently okay. I do worm counts, check her for fleas etc. That is quite hard as we have cats which hunt..but I treat them.
You mentioned stress. I haven't had a holiday in 3 years because I have been afraid to leave her but I am worn out ( dad died, mum developed Alzheimer's) and I don't know how I can leave Elsie. We usually have a house sitter who looks after the animals. Elsie is good to leave whilst I am out but she expects me back. I am afraid to go away for fear of her getting stressed. 🙁

Hi Erica

It is such good news that Elsie has reached remission and has been well for 8 months.  What you have to limit now are the 'triggers' as she will remain in 'normal mode' unless she encounters something that will trigger the immune system into targeting its own body.  The triggers that you need to avoid are unnecessary drugs, regular flea treatment, wormers etc, vaccinations, stress, hormones (which is not easy when a dog is entire) etc.,etc.......

I asked the top Vet at the RVC if a dog that has had an AI disease should ever be vaccinated again, and his reply was No. He continued to say that the risk/benefits have to be considered, and the risks to a genetically predisposed dog is too great.  Do your own homework on the and a good website is WSAVA  vaccination guidelines.

Great news though.

Jo

My whippet, Elsie, had SRMA has as 7 month pup. She responded badly to the high dose steroids and I believe we reduced them too quickly and she relapsed whilst on a low dose. Elsie was put back on the immune suppressing dose and I held my nerve, took each day as it came, keeping her on this dose for 3 weeks. Elsie can't tolerate omeprazole as it gives her diarrhoea and makes her sick. This was difficult in the beginning as the vet thought it was the steroids making her sick.
Elsie has been off the steroids now for 8 months and has been fine. I still worry about her and watch her too intently. She eats well and is very active. I haven't vaccinated her again against the vet's advice. She isn't neutered which is a minor concern.
Good luck.

Fingers crossed for Oliver.  Great news.  Should he start to show signs again then please consider SRMA.  Thank you for the update.

Jo

Im happy to report that Oliver is recovering from whatever it was and he is able to raise his head and his temperature is now normal. He is slowly being allowed to go for walks and will be monitored closely.
He has taken ten days to recover from the gastrointestinal issue, which really made him poorly.
The neck/ head pain remains a bit of a mystery but we will just keep an eye on him to ensure that he remains ok.
Im happy to report that hes being naughty again, which is always reassuring!