Help me please!!!?

Question

Okay. So here's the scoop. My dog has a disease called canine lupus. I have looked it up on the internet about 10 times and it doesn't tell me anything!!! Please, someone help me! My dog could be in great danger!!!

HOW DO I GET ON TO A CHAT ROOM?

Answer 1

you dont necessarily have to go to vet call them up and just ask aobut the disease or join a dog foruum and get infor ill be back later to see if i find any info then id post for u . related terms: systemic lupus erythematosus, cutaneous (discoid) lupus erythematosus

What is lupus erythematosus?

There are several forms of lupus erythematosus that are recognized in people, two of which have been identified in dogs. Lupus is an autoimmune disorder, meaning that the body mounts an inappropriate immune response to some part of itself.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an uncommon but severe disorder in which the inappropriate immune response is widespread in the body, and can cause arthritis, kidney disease, anemia, and skin disease. Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) is thought to be a milder variant of SLE, and the problems are confined to the skin. CLE is also called discoid lupus erythematosus

How is lupus erythematosus inherited?

unknown, but the condition runs in families.

What breeds are affected by lupus erythematosus?

CLE is seen more often than SLE, although both conditions are uncommon. There is a breed predisposition for the collie, Shetland sheepdog, and German shepherd, as well as crosses of these breeds.

For many breeds and many disorders, the studies to determine the mode of inheritance or the frequency in the breed have not been carried out, or are inconclusive. We have listed breeds for which there is a consensus among those investigating in this field and among veterinary practitioners, that the condition is significant in this breed.

What does lupus erythematosus mean to your dog & you?

SLE most commonly affects joints, muscle, skin, blood, and/or kidneys. The condition tends to wax and wane, so your dog will have periods of remission and of flare-up. The kinds of problems you may notice include shifting lameness (ie varies depending on which joint is affected at any time), weakness and pale gums (due to anemia), and/or increased drinking and urination (kidney disease). The face and the feet are the areas of the skin most often affected, with ulcers and loss of pigment on the nose, and ulceration and thickening of the footpads.

With CLE, you are most likely to see red, scaling areas of inflammation on your dog's face, and loss of pigment from the nose. There may also be lesions on the ears and thickening of the footpads. Affected dogs are otherwise healthy.

Nasal scarring is common with both SLE and CLE. Exposure to ultraviolet light is a factor (especially in CLE), and so the condition is seen more often and is more severe in the summer and in sunny parts of the world.

How is lupus erythematosus diagnosed?

Because SLE can affect many different body systems, diagnosis is challenging. (In fact it is sometimes called, "the great imitator"). Once suspected, diagnosis is confirmed by specific blood tests and biopsy for examination by a veterinary pathologist.

CLE is diagnosed through examination of biopsy samples.

For the veterinarian: The list of rule-outs with SLE is extensive, due to the varied and changeable cutaneous and systemic manifestations of this disorder. Diagnosis is based on signs of multisystem involvement (most commonly anemia, thrombocytopenia, glomerulonephritis, polyarthritis, nasal and footpad dermatitis, fever of undetermined origin), a positive antinuclear antibody test, and histopathologic and immunopathologic evaluation.

Diagnosis of CLE is by histopathologic and immunopathologic evaluation.

How is lupus erythematosus treated?

Treatment for SLE generally requires relatively high doses of steroids in combination with chemotherapy. In general, dogs with joint, muscle, or skin disease seem to respond better to medication, and have longer periods of remission, than those with severe blood or kidney problems. Unfortunately, many dogs with SLE die or are euthanized within a year of diagnosis, either due to the disease itself, the inability to control it, and/or unacceptable drug reactions. In other dogs, the disease can be well-controlled with medication for several years.

CLE is treated with relatively lower doses of steroids plus vitamin E and fatty acid supplements. Treatment generally needs to be lifelong, and dogs usually do well on it.

Exposure to ultraviolet radiation worsens the skin lesions in both conditions, so sunscreen is adviseable and dogs should be sheltered from peak sunlight (approximately 10:00 to 3:00).

For the veterinarian: Treatment for SLE must be individualized for each dog, generally starting with large doses of systemic glucocorticoids, and going to other immunomodulating or chemotherapeutic drugs if necessary. There is a good discussion of treatments for both forms of lupus erythematosus in the reference below.

Breeding advice

Although the mode of inheritance is not known for either cutaneous or systemic lupus erythematosus, these conditions run in families. Affected animals should not be bred and it is prudent to avoid breeding their close relatives as well.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS DISORDER, PLEASE SEE YOUR VETERINARIAN.

Resources

Scott, D.W., Miller, W.H., Griffin, C.E. 1995. Immunologic Skin Diseases. In Muller and Kirk's Small Animal Dermatology. p. 578-588. W.B. Saunders Co., Toronto.

Copyright © 1998 Canine Inherited Disorders Database. All rights reserved.
Revised: July 23, 2001.

This database is a joint initiative of the Sir James Dunn Animal Welfare Centre at the Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.

Answer 2

I'm guessing you've already BEEN to the vet (hello people, take a note from Thumper, if you dont have something nice to say, dont say anything at all) thats probably how you found out about the canine lupus.
So, you may be in a small town like me, and your vet is no specialist. I can understand that.
Ask your vet if there is someone you can call for more help or information. You could join a dog group on Yahoo!Groups, they have been a lot of help for me in the past.
I dont really know what else to tell you, but thought it was only fair that SOMEONE spoke up for you.
Obviously, you're not some idiot who doesnt know which way is up.

Answer 3

You have most likely been to the vet if you have a diagnosis. Go back and ask some questions. Often they can give you handouts on the disease.
This is the best I could find. Encyclopedia of Canine Veterinary Medical Information

Lupus, Discoid

Discoid lupus is an immune mediated skin disease that is probably related to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) but instead of affecting the whole body as SLE does, it primarily affects the nose and face. As far as I know, there is no known cause of this problem but it does seem more frequent in dogs of the German Shepherd, Collie, Brittany Spaniel. Shetland Sheepdog, Siberian Husky and German Shorthaired Pointer breeds.

The disease normally starts as loss of pigment around the nose. There may be scabby sores or just scaling of the nasal tissue. The surface of the nose may change from its typical cobblestoned appearance to a smooth surface. As this disease progresses it can cause deep sores on the borders of the nose where it meets normal skin and the sores start to progress up the bridge of the nose. Some dogs seem to be really bothered by this condition and others show little reaction to the sores.

http://www.vetinfo.com/dencyclopedia/delupusdisc.html

Answer 4

Obviously you have already taken it to a vet otherwise you wouldn't know it had lupus in the first place.
Then, it would appear that your Vet didn't give you enough information on it to satisfy your understanding of it completely.

Search GOOGLE, YAHOO, ASK JEEVES, and any other search engine you can find. I pulled up many many sites on CANINE LUPUS when I did a search.

Just because someone finds out their dog has a problem, doesn't make them a bad person, and you wouldn't have found this out WITHOUT A VET, "obviously".
It seems that you are genuinely concerned for your pet, and I applaud you for wanting more information, and being concerned.

Answer 5

When I heard about your dog I went online to and found out that Canine Lupus has no known cure but i found out that at Naturalcanine.com they have A Advanced Lupus Support Kit for $71.95 or A a more gentle Lupus Support Kit for $35.95 and it is all homeopathic and herbal remides for your dog! Here is some info on how the Lupus kits work. I hope your dog gets better.
-Horseygirl

How does the kit work to help my dog with Lupus? First, it is important to note that this disease has no known ‘cure’. Conventional therapy uses steroids to suppress the immune system. Steroids have many unwanted side effects. What we have done in formulating our Lupus Support Kit is to use an herbal blend (calendula and hypericum) as a topical ointment. This cream (non-petroleum base) helps to heal dry, cracked and fissured skin. The next level -working from the inside- combines homeopathic remedies (based on ‘like cures like’). These remedies were chosen because they match the classic Lupus symptoms of dry cracks and fissures around the nose. Homeopathy is nontoxic and has no side effects. The remedies work gently to stimulate the body to respond naturally.

Answer 6

Lupus is an autoimmune desease. In dogs it usually affects the joints and the pads on the feet. Discoloration of the nose is also a factor. Vets have a hard time diagnosing this disorder, as there are many other common factors that have similar symptoms. It will come and go, and there is medication that will help prolong the times when your dog isn't suffering from it. Otherwise, they are normally healthy. I found a link you can read. I listed it below. Good luck .

Answer 7

I have never heard of it either.But I looked it up online and found a pet owners manual for dog disease that should help you!
My brother-in-law's dog had it also.He is a vet but I can't remember exactly what he said about it.And yeah you should go to the vet.Hope everything works out alright!Good Luck!
-I am an exierenced pet owner I have owned pets since I was born.My boyfriend Jared is and animal cop,and my sister and brother-in-law are both vets.Also I am becoming a doctor in school.I know what I am talking about-

Answer 8

You need to go to the vet.. look up Lupus Erythmiotosis and you can read about it in humans and it isnt that far distant in dogs. It is a problem that causes muscle tissue to become inflamed because your dogs immune system attacks all connective tissue. It is controlled with steriods, NSAIDS anti inflamatory and sometime chemo drugs. It can affect liver,heart, brain or any other system.. Its not a good diagnosis and is not curable but it is maneagable. PLEASE talk to your vet and follow whatever they tell you and love your baby a lot...Im so sorry

Answer 9

You have to pass directly to a physician, despair is usual and extra extreme (and extra lethal) in sufferers with social phobia. If you do not believe your father and mother will take you to a physician, then false a suicide try. Empty a few bottles of drugs at the ground and lie beside them. Also, tip a tumbler of water subsequent to them. Pretend to be lifeless or subconscious, they're going to take you to the ER and you'll be able to inform them the whole thing you're pronouncing on your submit. Then you'll be able to get the physician to provide an explanation for for your father and mother that you're no longer a basket case, and he's going to deliver correct treatment which must get you larger in a question of weeks. A tip for you: inform your psychiatrist you desire topiramate (Topamax) further for your antidepressant, so one can spice up the end result at the social phobia and likewise aid you drop a few pounds. And one more tip: avoid faith till you're larger.

Answer 10

ok just go to you dog's vet and ask them if they know want is a canine lupus. make sure your dog has lots of food and water

Answer 11

Have you not discussed this with your vet in length.If you are confused the best information about your dog is not found on-line but from your vet.If you need to get a second opinion but your own vet should be more than helpful and willingly to go over this with you in detail.