Question For Those Familiar With Prednisone -UPDATE

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

So many of you know that we are fighting an autoimmune disease called Masticatory Myositis with Prednisone. Gracie Doodle has pretty much been on it since April 22 with a one month remission...or so we though!  Things just keep getting worse and worse from the side effects of the medication.  Gracie is losing her hair and now in the last few weeks has sores that become bloody cropping up on her heels and between her toes.  She was treated with an antibiotic for 3 weeks which sort of kept it a bay but when we stopped the medication it came raging back on all feet.  The doctor took a scraping last week and sent it to the lab to be cultured.  He looked in his microscope and saw "rods" instead of the round cells you usually see.  He said rods are not good because it is a different type of bacteria that is harder to fight and requires a specific type of antibiotic.  That is why the culture is being done.  They need to find an antibiotic to give her that will kill the bacteria.  He is confused because dogs are put ON Prednisone a lot when they have hot spots or skin allergies.  My Doodle is responding the wrong way...she should NOT be getting skin sores on her body!  Gracie's skin has always been perfect with not one hot spot or sore...100% healthy and perfect...until now!  Last night she was playing in the back yard with her "monsters".  DH throws them over the roof from the kitchen porch and she runs out and intercepts them on the lawn.  They do this all the time.  But this time she came in with a dripping bloody foot.  She had lost her toe nail on the outside back toe and all that is showing is a white pulpy looking stump!  WTD now?  There was blood all over the walk way from the lawn and then on my sea grass rug under the kitchen table.  I tried to clean it up but she was none too cooperative and I just needed to get the bleeding to stop. Finally I put a huge gauze pad on it and wrapped it with the stretch wrap.  Then I put one of her Muttluks on.  Today we washed her feet with an antibiotic shampoo and I then put one of my socks on and wrapped it to keep it on.  She wants to lick it but is also walking with her toes up in the air putting her weight on the back heel of her foot.  For the last couple of weeks her toe nails have been bleeding on the end because she is wearing them down to the quick from running for her tennis ball.  But this is an activity she has done every day of her life!  This leads me to think there is something wrong with the integrity of her nails and they are softening up because of the Prednisone. 

So my question is...if Prednisone can cause you to lose your hair then can it cause your "nails" (claws) to fall off?  I am only asking because both hair and nails are made of the same thing, therefore if it is attacking the hair might it also attack the integrity of the nail or nail bed?  Needless to say...Calling the Vet in the morning!  I am suppose to hear from him this week about her culture and go pick up her antibiotic.  I also am making a call to another vet to get a second opinion!  I don't know how much more this happy, sad, happy, sad girl can take (Gracie...me too!)  If she could only talk and tell me where she hurts and how she feels.  So sad :(

UPDATE

Today we got Gracie's culture back for the skin problems.  She has three types of bacterial infections going on in her body!  I am going to list them because I know of at least two of you who are going to give it some thought and research.

1.  Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis

2.  Pseudomonas aeruginosa

3.  Methicillin resistant coagulase negative staph species

Organism #1 has an abundant growth , #2 has a Moderate growth and #3 has a Moderate growth.

The vet then had to look at the list of antibiotics that are resistant and ones that work and come up with one that will take care of all three.  Lucky for me...It is only $200 for a one month supply giving one tablet a day.  Zeniquin 100 mg.  I then asked what the side effects would be with THIS drug.  He said oh...maybe some diarrhea and upset stomach.  I just got her back to normal from a huge case of diarrhea.  All I know is that every time we add a new drug we get huge set backs and something else crops up!!

 

I did mention this Dr. Shelton who is at UCSD right here in San Diego who studies neuromuscular diseases one of which is Gracie's Masticatory Myositis.  She is the one who discovered the 2M Antibody Blood Test which we had ($400).   You can't e-mail her unless you are a Vet.  I asked my Vet if maybe he should try to contact her and he asked me why??  I just sort of went blank.  He said we know Gracie has it and we are treating it exactly as the protocol calls for.  It is the Prednisone we are having issues with.  So I guess that is out and he won't be contacting her.  Now that I have the culture results back I am ready to call another vet for a second opinion.  I wanted to have the most updated facts available to give him before making the appointment.  So I am off to make a phone call!  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Chemo drugs are extremely expensive, unlike prednisone. I think they'd catch that kind of mistake pretty quick, since it would be costing them hundreds of dollars.

[Anne & Mr. Haley]

I have no answers.  Just prayers and positive thoughts that you get to the bottom of this soon and that Gracie Doodle and you get the relief you need.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I'm so sorry you are going through this. I'm not too experienced but the symptoms you describe sound strange to me. I hope you get to the bottom of this real soon and that Gracie Doodle is cured for good. I'm thinking of you and her today and hoping for a better day.

[GBK]

I hope you find some answers quickly Nancie!  I would also do second opinions and maybe the UCDavis option.  I'm so sorry it's getting worse for Gracie, and of course you too.  Always thinking and praying for you all.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I am with the others that have no advice but I want to tell you how sorry I am that you are all going through  this. I hope you get some answers and help for Gracie soon.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Hope you get answers today! Love and hugs

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

That's strange because I too thought of chemo drugs which definitely cause feet problems and hair loss amongst other side effects and reading your post these instantly came to mind.  I particularly remember my BF's feet as she completed a full marathon in the middle of chemo and it was not a pretty sight. I know dogs and people are not the same but some of the side effects of similar drugs are somewhat consistent in some areas.  There is obviously something not right with this drug regime and I would be running for a second opinion.  I checked out the doctor on that link and she looks like her expertise is in this area. I do hope you have some answers very soon.  I love Gracie Doodle and just want her to get well. Unwell Doodles make me very : (

[Gail and Bailey]

Nancy, I am so sorry you and Gracie Doodle are having to go through all this!  We are keeping you in our thoughts and sending hugs.  Hoping you get some answers and Gracie gets relief real soon.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Just wanted to say how sorry I am that Gracie has to go through all this (and you as well). I'll be curious to hear about the second opinion. Sending lots of hugs!

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Thanks Jarka.  We have an appointment this Thursday at 3:30 and I am faxing all the info and history I have so the vet can read it before we get there and be ready to move on with the diagnosis!  Fingers crossed we find something better although the treatment she is on is the exact protocol for this problem.  But then she is an unusual case because she is responding with all the wrong side effects!  WTD??

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Paws and fingers crossed here, Nancie. Hoping you can get some answers and some relief for sweet Gracie Doodle.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Nancie, these are tough bacteria you are dealing with. You need to make sure you avoid spreading them to yourselves. The methicillin resistant staph would be the most worrisome in that regard, I think. Did the vet say anything about the nails? The amount of growth of each organism doesn't seem significant I think. Good luck with the consult. I just was looking again at Dr. Shelton. She has an e-mail you can access. ( see bottom of her page)  I just did to see if it came up but I did not write. But I thought you might write and ask her about a name for a second opinion. Just briefly let her know about Gracie's problems and secondary infections. Who knows, maybe she will become interested.

http://pathology.ucsd.edu/faculty/shelton.htm