Villain - update and new problem!

[kezdean24]

Hi, it's almost 7 months since I posted as we've basically just been on a regime of weaning off the pred. Background was that we never got a clear diagnosis before we put him on steroids (he was so poorly, he couldn't take anymore tests) however, it looked like it was either Addisons or steroid responsive meningitis. We've had a few hiccups with his withdrawal but within the last fortnight he's been down to just .25mg per day and absolutely full of beans. Lovely to see after him being so spaced out for so long.
Unfortunately, the withdrawal seems to have exposed an underlying skin condition and poor Villain is very quickly losing his hair. His paws are virtually bald, around is eyes is now very thinned out and the hair on his ears is literally coming out in little clumps. It definitely appears to have accelerated in the last week which is why it doesn't seem to correspond with the prolonged use of steroids.
A trip back to the vets but it has them puzzled. We're currently waiting for the result of an ACTH and the vet recommended we increase Villains pred to 5mg a day in the meantime. I was interested to hear if anyone had similar experience or insight into what was most likely. You've steered me very well in the past and as always, I'm grateful for any advice.
Kerry and villain

[moss]

When my youngest collie finished his steroids he lost a massive amount of hair.  He normally has a VERY thick long coat but ended up looking like a smooth coated collie. 
A couple of weeks before his hair started falling out he also had big flakes of skin falling off
We're about 4 months off steroids now and his coat is nearly back to normal
Also, nearly forgot, when he finished the steroids he also came out with blisters in and around his mouth and paws and lumps on his head.  Vet didn't know if it was related to coming off the steroids or not but it cleared fairly quickly
Jackie

[kezdean24]

Thanks Jackie. Did it start when he was on low doses of steroid? I'm thinking that if its Cushings brought on by the long steroid use, I need to just keep going with weaning him off but if its not, and its primary, I don't know how the vet knows the difference! Was your vet tempted to prescribe anything or did you just get him steroid free and wait? Thanks kerry

[moss]

Dates r all a bit hazy in my head but I just found a thread I started on June 13 about his blisters etc so turns out he's been off steroids for 6 months now not 4 as I thought.
If you use the search tab at the top of the page and search sunny you will find what I wrote about him at the time.  From memory the hair loss started when he finished the steroids completely.  He was taken off quite quickly compared to my other dog who started on the same sort of dose 5 weeks after sunny and onlyhadhis last dose a couple of weeks ago.
Sunny was diagnosed with SRM in March and was off steroids by the middle of June

[Penel CIMDA moderator]

It's not a type of mange is it? could definitely be an after effect of the high dose pred - I found it happened about 3 months later - takes ages for the hair to be affected but it does grow back eventually.

[kezdean24]

Hi, he's not itching at all and vet seemed to think he would be if it were mange or allergies etc. he's been on pred for 8 months so I would have almost expected some further side effects. Vet is concerned this has always been a problem that's been kept at bay by steroids given that its accelerated since his dose reduced to lowest levels.
His energy, appetite and general behaviour hasn't been this good in months though so I almost want to say lets just wean him off the steroids now that we're so close and then let's just see what happens with his coat.  Hard to know what to do for he best.

Thanks

[Penel CIMDA moderator]

Are you giving him Evening primrose oil and vitamin E (mixed tocopherols)? I would be giving both those - they will help his skin and fur regrowth.
If you have access to a holistic or homeopathic vet I'd recommend you see one.

[kezdean24]

Thanks for tip. That's a real coincidence because a neighbour has just recommended a homeopath. I'll look into it. Thanks for advice.

[kezdean24]

Well things just got more complicated! Test results show Villain has seriously low output from his adrenal glands so its either Addisons or has been induced by the pred usage. The vet agrees I can continue to wean him off and he's currently on 2.5mg x 1 a day. He has however prescribed Florinef to stop any potential crash.
The original skin/coat problem he now thinks could be a mite and wants him to have a skin scrape. I'm going to take him back tomorrow hopefully.
Two things really. Does anyone have any similar experience on the adrenal aspect and likewise if its a mite, what should we expect? Thanks