Regular visits to the vet with Karmel are still necessary as we try to find the minimum dosage of megasolene for the maximum control of this disease. She was down to 1 tablet every other day, but lesions started appearing on her beautiful face, so we had to up the dose to 2 tablets per day for a week.
That week finishes today, and from tomorrow the dosage is reduced to 1 1/2 tablets per day for 3 weeks. If this keeps the disease under control, we will try 1 tablet per day.
I have been contacted by someone else whose dog has been diagnosed with pemphigus foliaceous and it is interesting to compare notes.
The dog is a mixed breed bitch, rather than a galgo/greyhound, also from a rescue centre. The dog developed red lesions on her feet and scratched her paws a lot. She then developed lesions on her face.
The first diagnosis by the vet was atopic dermatitis. A dermatologist vet made the same diagnosis and put the problem down to an allergy and medical treatment was prescribed.
The treatment had no effect and by now, this was one very sick dog.
A biopsy has confirmed pemphigus foliaceous and the vet has prescribed immuran (azothiaprine), medrol and cyclophosphamide. The owner continues with regular visits to the vet to monitor progress.
The dog is already looking better. It is a slow process whilst the medication takes effect. New lesions are still coming out but do not seem to be causing the dog a problem, and the old lesions appear to be starting to clear up.
It's very difficult, seeing a dog suffer with the effects of this disease until it is confirmed - understandably a vet wants to rule out allergies and infections first.
And there are no tests which can be carried out on a dog before pemphigus foliacous rears its ugly head.
To read more about this disease, click here.
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