Laila Howard's Page

Laila, yes he's very happy and healthy now too! I've added more photos and another video, but its not showing. I'll load it again. He loves to play rough with his dad and the Notorius, "Mr. Sockie" (a sock that Winston thinks is living being, its quite cute!).

Laila:

I hope you saw the updated pics of Winston. There's even a video. I'll add more pics.

Laila: I added some recent pics of Winston. I'll take more pics of him tonight since he'll be dressed with his Xmas collar for opening gifts tonight. I'll add more tonight! Enjoy!

Sorry Laila, I've been out of the loop. There has been an unexpected death in my family and I had to fly out of the country for a month. I just got back. Our little boy is doing well. I'll make it a point to add some of his more recent pics tonight. I'm sorry, I'll be more on the ball.

Winston Update:
Seen the vet dermatologist, she was an absolute waste of my time and money. She couldn't tell me how Winston developed the EM, but that it is resolving. She had her own agenda and wanted to treat Winston for "incidental findings" a mild yeast infection on his paw and treat a possible parasite infection in his stool even though his test came up negative.

However, we went to the holistic vet who also gave me a phone consult. We added pharmaceutical grade supplements that did wonders for his digestion, skin issues, and allergy issues! We just saw her a 1 week ago and already he is 60-70% better. We added digestive enzymes to his diet and he stopped vomiting! He is happier, eating, gaining weight appropriately, and is very comfortable. We think ( the holistic vet and I) think his EM is resolving and almost non existant, likely a combination of Vaccinosis, vaccinating while he had an ear infection, repeated insults to his immune system: rehoming, multiple ear and giardia infections that his body wanted to quit fighting. He was treated again with giardia at April's after he left your house, and then again with me. So it was just the bad luck that he got sick repeatedly and had to be rehomed multiple times. He is a trooper! And doing great now! He can't be on grains ( so no kibble) and is on a Barf/raw food diet with supplements. I'll post updated pics on DK this weekend. Let me know if you have any questions!

Winston's is actually doing much better, his mood is his typical happy, playful, goofy self. He is just so sweet. Now that his stitches are out, he can play with his friends again and that makes him very happy. We went to the dog park today and he had a blast as usual. We actually have another doggie playdate this friday and sunday with his friends. However, I had to start him on digestive enzymes to help him absorb his food because he would vomit every now and then. He's been on the enzymes for 3 days and no vomiting and he's actually gained back the weight he lost with 2 extra pounds. He's 72lbs now. He also got a haircut, that seemed to help a lot with his skin issues. I'll add updated photos to DK so you can view them. I'll try to send them to your comcast account but they may be too big. He has an appt with the holistic vet tomorrow who prescribed the enzymes so I'm very hopeful and excited to see how she can help him. I'll let you know. As for the vet dermatologist, she wasn't any better than my vet. She just wanted to slap Winston on more drugs: antiparasitic and antifungals. Which I didn't agree with. She had an agenda and I don't think she listened. She wasn't too sure either of how he developed the EM erythema multiforme. Very narrowminded physician.

Please be at peace with your decision. After what you told me of your situation it really couldn't be helped. Winston is in good hands and is well loved by everyone, especially me. I'll take very very good care of our boy and love him with everything I could give. So please don't feel bad. I'll keep in touch!

Hi Laila:
Good news no auto immune disorder: Pemphigus nor Discoid Lupus. However dx with erythema multiforme (EM) an immune mediated syndrome triggered any of the following: drug-drug reactions ( may be him: he was placed on Keflex and gentamycin by his vet), infections (him: ear infections), internal disorders or tumors ( cancers, hope this is Not him). His labs were negative. He's seeing a vet dermatologist tomorrow to rule out the bad stuff and seeing a holistic vet this afternoon. The good thing is that he is much better since I've taken him off all those antibiotics. I think they exacerbated his rash and itching. Not sure if the rabies vaccine that he was given contributed (vaccinosis), pissed that the vet vaccinated my ill pet and I allowed him to. So he's fired. Even though he spent his birthday recovering from surgery, the good thing is he is much better off the meds and is only on fish oil and allergy pills. Maybe even the big transition played a role in all this. I'll let you know after his appts today and tomorrow. Thanks for caring about the baby. Everyone has been very caring and I've been so busy with his appts, work, trying to keep his life comfortable and happy, I've forgot about his birthday and have been absent from DK. Once this passes, I think Winston would be much happier and healthier!

Laila:

Thanks so much for getting back to me and giving me some background. This information will help the Dr. Hebbler (holistic vet) a lot! I was able to contact the Animal Center of Saline and they were able to fax Winston's chart to Dr. Hebbler's office.

John (my boyfriend) and I noticed that Winston's skin improved when I didn't take him to the park. Reduced itching, reduced redness, reduced paw licking. I hope he's not allergic to California! However, he loves the park, that's where he meets and romps with all his friends. So we'll see, after the labs and path reports.

Thanks also for the info on Winston's siblings, the skin issue seems to be a shared problem. As for the elizabeth collar that he's using, (its actually a flexible see through collar) I have winston use it when he sleeps and when he itches.

Don't worry, I don't want to give up Winston, despite these issues. I have bonded with him and consider myself one of his mommies. John (daddy), Dot (grandma) and I love him very much! I have the patience to see him through this. I just don't like seeing him uncomfortable. I may come across more like a clinician at times but I just wanted to make sure I gave you all the facts (what I would want to know about the baby). So I'll keep in touch and let you know more by then end of the week! Take care! Thanks for all your help. BTW, your sister was very helpful in emailing me some info as well!

doe