Hello,
Is he acting otherwise normally? Happy? Active? Seemingly feeling ok? If so I would prefer to withhold food and water until you can get to the vet tomorrow.. if you are a jvc client you can also private message me on our jvc Facebook page anytime.
Sincerely
Krista

Hello my dear Pawbly friend!
There are numerous conditions that can cause the tip of the pinna to crust. Parasites like scabies, poor circulation that might indicate a heart problem, immune mediated disease (I always worry about this in this breed), allergies, infection and even organ impairment like liver disease. (There are others too)..
Because you are a client I would start with making sure he is on monthly Nexgard or every 3 month Bravecto for the scabies. Look closely for evidence of allergies elsewhere on him and have an exam with blood work as the next step.
Hope this helps!
Please keep me posted
Krista

Yes. Jana. There are many questions I have about this case? That’s why I listed everything I could think of to look at.

Hello Linda,
I think a few things should be discussed;
First, I agree with Jana that it is really helpful to have a preliminary diagnosis to start the treatment options from. I hope that the vet did some basic diagnostics like full blood work (CBC, full Chem panel, thyroid (T4), urinalysis AND radiographs of the chest (3 view) and spine if they suspect IVDD. I also think a rectal exam is in order. I worry about the following.. many of which can be quickly and easily ruled out with the exam and diagnostics.. I am also very worried about DM, degenerative myelopathy as it is common in older labs and presents as ascending paralysis of the back legs. I also worry if it is one of the neuromuscular or muscular diseases that the prednisone might exacerbate or worsen or accelerate the peripheral (back leg) muscle loss. Also if a practitioner tells you that they are concerned a treatment option wont help my inclination is to believe them and ask for guidance to something that might.
Try to get the vet to give you something for pain, especially if it appears there is any signs of joint disease on the radiographs. Labs are also very commonly struggling with old bad hips.
Lastly, IVDD is unlikely in older dogs simply because the spine tends to bridge with spondylosis which makes disc disease less likely. A radiograph of the spine may help with identifying these.
Please let me know.
My advice is to speak to your vet about all of this and then get a second opinion.
Good luck
Krista

Hello,
Unfortunately I see this too often. Hard as I try to beg and plead with people to NEVER USE SCISSORS! They do and it happens. The skin will often heal on its own BUT too often it closes over an infection which causes an abscess or the skin edges don’t heal due to the cat licking it which then causes infection. Cats don’t heal as well as dogs do with cuts therefore I always recommend seeing the vet now to get the wound assessed and antibiotics started BEFORE it gets to be something serious and expensive.
I hope this helps
Best of luck

You’re Welcome Jen, Good luck!

Hello My Dear Friend!
Well, I have to say that I don’t usually see a problem on the underside of the mid tail region. Typically tail issues occur at the base where fleas like to hang out. In these cases I ask clients to use a flea comb to look for evidence of fleas. The little black specks that resemble pepper, or a live flea in the comb is proof that fleas are present. Which is an easy fix these days with all of the safe efficacious products available.
But, this is not your case.
I would question a few things:
1. Most likely a wound? Is she chewing/licking due to trauma here. This is most easily ruled out by an exam of the lesion. Is there any signs of a puncture? Scratch? Abrasion? Even if I cannot convince myself that I think it is a wound I will treat for the most likely scenario anyway by placing an e-collar and providing either a topical (probably the best choice here because the tail has poor blood supply and a systemic antibiotic may take a longer time to get there) and it looks like it is trying to heal already. I would use a topical antibiotic cream. As long as it is not ingested most of the human equivalents are fine. I would leave the collar on for at least a week. If the hair is growing back and the site is improving this treatment plan is proof of our suspicion.
2. If the lesion persists I would consider ringworm a possibility. A blacklight might provide flourescense to confirm this. To diagnose it we do a DTM culture test. But, to be completely honest I start treating for it anyway with OTC miconazole cream. (Used for yeast infections in women).
3. Neurological concerns are on the rule out list, BUT, I would expect to see other signs like ataxia, instability, hind limb weakness, involuntary urination or defecation, etc.
A physical exam by your vet to include rectal palpation (check anal sacs just to make sure this is not the problem) and a fecal for parasites are all good places to start.
Hope this helps,
All my love to all of you guys,
Krista

Hello,
I’m so sorry to hear that your dog is struggling and the vet hasn’t been able to provide relief. Here is the dilemma. Until you understand why they are so bad it is very diffilcult to resolve them. In some dogs it is anatomy, breed, allergies, disease, and/or infection, etc. at my clinic if I can’t resolve the issue within 2-3 trips I refer to a dermatologist. They are your best bet at identifying and treating the underlying cause so that the bad ears don’t return. I wish I could offer a silver bullet and magic answer. I wish you the best.