My boys vet just called.....

[DogLover9501]

Okay well I wasn't expecting any results today, but we got them...

Jasper has a "Severe Alergy Skin Disease" or something like that

We tested all kinds of foods, and all kinds of environmental things...

She thinks he is probably alergic to something in the air, which we can do nothing about...

Right now she wants to put him on "Predizone" which I think are steroids? She said it shortens their life if they have to stay on it long term, she is hoping to put him on it short term...but then what??

I asked about shampoos and foods, and she said all we can do is try different shampoos and things, she also has somethings(oils I guess) to put on his food.

Okay, so I waited for results, to hopefully feel "satisfied" hoped to find out exactly what he has, and exactly what makes it go away....

But I almost feel like we're back at square 1, we still really have no idea.....will we ever?

[GoldenRetrLuver]

Have you ever thought of getting one of those Air Purifiers? That might help if he's allergic to something that's in the air.

Poor boy.

[jazzcat]

Poor Jasper. Well that info wasn't a lot of help, I'm sorry.

I think the air purifier idea sounds good! I think I'd give it a try at least.

[heinz57_79]

"Severe Allergy Skin Disease"???? come on! I would have expected more a diagnoses than that! Maybe you should get a 2nd opinion Robyn. Considering I think anyone on PT could have told you that much about him.. I'm sorry, hon... I know this has got to feel like 3 steps back, and so frustrating! *huggles* I feel so bad for you and for Jasper. But you're doing a great job at staying positive and being a great mom to jasper. Right now, that may be all you can do. But keep a stiff upper lip, and try whatever you can to help relieve the irritation for Jasper. With any luck, a little help may come your way. Give Jasper BIG HUGGS and lots of nosie kisses from me and Arthur! Hang in there, kiddo! Things will be ok...

[DogLover9501]

Hmmm an Air Purifier could help, are they expensive?

[heinz57_79]

The better ones tend to cost around USD$200-300... keep in mind, you'd need a couple cuz 1 won't do much good for the whole house.

[heinz57_79]

ANother thought, if you think you might go with the air purifyer, I'd go with one of the filter-less ones, like the Sharper IMage ionic breeze.

http://sharperimage.com/us/en/catalo...78YYY/hppos=12

that way you wouldn't have to worry about buying filters etc, and the ionic breezes work great!

[DogLover9501]

JC, We most have posted the same time!

It doesnt actually feel like that much back-ward, because before I was so unsure of everything because we did alergy tests and all of that, and I had no idea if it was even alergies, or his skin or what!

Im going to pick up some Benadryl, do you think he'd be able to have stronger ones?? I bought some kids Benadryl, and he needed a bunch for his weight, but it didn't help...

Im also going to check into those Air Pureifiers

[heinz57_79]

I think we keep posting at the same time, Robyn!

We have adult benadryl for our pups. Usually 1 capsul does it for them, but you may want to ask your vet to be sure on dosage/weight etc.

[DogLover9501]

Okay, thanks!

Also I just asked my mom about Air Pureifiers, and she said they are already installed in our house, in almost every room, in the ceilings

[heinz57_79]

How odd... who changes the filters? Have they ever been changed? In order to work properly, they have to be cleaned etc. I've never heard of internal purifiers... but that could just be me.

[Tonya]

Try to avoid the prednisone, that isn't good for dogs. That was what Speedy was on. I'd try an air purifier, that sounds like a good idea...

[K9soul]

That diagnosis sounds pretty vague to me and not like a real diagnosis.. to me it sounds like "Jasper has some severe allergy that makes him have skin problems" which you already knew.

Prednisone is often prescribed for people with severe rheumatoid arthritis or other severe pain syndromes. It is also commonly used for severe allergy treatment. Most preferably it is a course that starts off at a certain dose (perhaps 20 mg), and then tapered down over a few weeks until the person is off of it. As you guessed it is a steroid. In people, long-term prednisone use can cause degrading of bones and bone mineral density, even eventual kidney or liver damage. That is long-term use however. It may at least give him some relief while you look into other options, and short-term use is generally thought to not be harmful.

I am no total expert by any means. What I know, I know from doing medical transcription. Usually doctors won't put someone on long-term prednisone therapy unless they are already quite elderly or else too miserable to enjoy quality of life otherwise.

I know all of this is continually hard on you, but the hardest of all has to be seeing him suffer with it, so I personally would probably agree to a course of prednisone to start off with to at least relieve him for now and give you some time to seek other opinions and options.

[Tonya]

Originally posted by DogLover9501
Okay, thanks!

Also I just asked my mom about Air Pureifiers, and she said they are already installed in our house, in almost every room, in the ceilings

She means the ones in the AC probably...We got those too...but a hepafilter is different. I have one in Jaden's room. It constantly sucks in air, cleans it, and blows it back out. They are expensive, though. Here's a picture of one:

[DogLover9501]

Originally posted by Tonya
Try to avoid the prednisone, that isn't good for dogs. That was what Speedy was on. I'd try an air purifier, that sounds like a good idea...

I wish I could avoid it, but I dont know what else Im suposed to do