Galgo News

What Killed Karmel?

So many of you have followed the regular updates on the progress of Karmel's health, since we first visited the vet with her in April 2008. What killed her?

Pemphigus Foliaceous - Update on Galga Karmel

30/01/09 Update on Karmel, my galga Espagnol, who has been suffering from a terrible genetic disease for nearly a year now.

We have been backwards and forwards to the vet. Karmel had been doing very well on Megasolene, 3/4 pill morning and evening. We then introduced Imurel, which is the human treatment for this disease, which does not have any side effects. Unfortunately, after a week, the disease started to break out on Karmel's face again. We therefore had to increase the dose of megasolene to control this.

On Wednesday Karmel's breathing rose to 19 per minute, not exhorbitantly high, but also noisy. Straight off to the vet again. Blood test and X-ray.

Update on Karmel and Pemphigus Foliaceous

Update on Karmel 22/12/08

Karmel visited the vet again last week, for a 2nd blood sample for analysis. The results of this blood analysis will be compared with the one a month ago, to see what effect, if any, the megasolene medication is having on her liver.

Update on Karmel - Pemphigus Foliaceous under control at last

Update on Karmel 17/11

Karmel has been on 1 Megasolene tablet per day for the past couple of months, and this has kept the Pemphigus Foliaceous symptoms from reappearing. Her hair is slowly growing back where she previously suffered hair loss from the pistules, and with a daily spray of Humiderm, her skin is less dry. In herself she is a normal happy galga.

Yesterday she had another trip to the vet, for more tablets and to give a blood sample.

Pemphigus Foliaceous - update on Karmel

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.

Hair Restorer - natural remedies?

Karmel is losing hair all over her body, as the pistules from her illness dry up. I have used comfrey for hair restoration on my horses, when they have had an injury involving hair loss, but, it's sticky, so no good for a dog which lies down sleeping much of the day! Can anyone recommend a natural remedy which I can buy in France, which will help restore the hair and return my galga to her beauty?

Pemphigus Foliaceus - genetic skin disease in dogs

Update on Karmel - 02/08

We visited our vet this morning to discuss the results of the biopsy. The diagnosis is Pemphigus Foliaceus, a genetic skin disease. This is a good site to read about it.http://www.dermvet.com/pemphigusfoliaceus.htm

Interestingly, research has shown that 6.3 years is the age of a dog when the disease manifests itself. Karmel is 6.

Treatment is lifelong. to help her auto immune system keep the disease in check.

Fostering a Greyhound - something to make you smile

Thanks to Pat Getz of Greyhound Protection League for sending this one.

FOSTERING A GREYHOUND – ONE WOMAN’S EXPERIENCE

When you’re a seasoned veteran and fostered as many greyhounds as I have, it’s easy to make mistakes. So, after conducting much research, I decided to compile a list of common pitfalls foster Mom’s and Dad’s make, so you’ll know what to avoid should you decide to make the leap into the world of fostering.

1) Do not get laid off from your job 2 days after you pick up your foster. This only leads to bonding, which we know is bad; and eventual ownership. Try to impress upon your company that letting you go will lead to your submitting an unemployment claim for the animal, in turn costing them money.

Hersey's Cocoa Mulch - health warning for dogs

I received the following warning from Pat Getz of Greyhound Protection League.

We all know that chocolate is bad for dogs, so the product Cocoa Mulch, for use in gardens 'to keep cats away' is especially dangerous. Personally, I don't see how a chocolate product manufacturer can know about using chocolate in gardens!

Here's more information.

Finding and catching a lost dog

It's something we all dread - our dog escaping and running off, and we can't catch it. However well-trained we think they are, their hunting instinct is stronger, as is their fear, if they have experienced terrible suffering at the hands of the galguerros or gypsies.

Here is some extensive advice 'Finding Your Lost Greyhound by Michael McCann and Finding Them is Only the First Step by Michael McCann', which has been sent to me by Le Bulletin des Levriers.

I hope none of us ever need to have to refer to it!