? Auto immune disorder!

My poor old Sash (12 and 1/2 yr old Goldie) may have an auto immune disorder!
I took her to the vets on Wednesday with a sore bottom, poor girl has a dermatitis on her vulva. I have been advised to 'give her a severe haircut'. Whilst she was there I mentioned that she had a red eye for 2 days (no weeping and it wasnt bothering her at all). The vet was a bit worried and started her on eye drops and wanted to see her in 2 days.........no response to eyedrops therefore increased to 2 hourly eyedrops during the day........ today, no response at all. She has now been started on high dose steroids and still 2 hourly eye drops . They are wondering if the 2 conditions are linked and whether she might have an autoimmune disorder.
If anyone has any experience of autoimmune or eye conditions (keratitis that is now spreading to other parts of the eye), all thought welcome!

PS Despite the worry, she is as happy as larry and playing with the other dogs, tormenting them when they sleep!

I know amie girls cookie, has an auto immune problem.
There is quite a few forms of problems that are under the banner of auto immune.
I haven't had any experience in any of them, so can't really help.
Once you know what type it is, hopefully the treatment will help.
Hope she is better soon.

I have tried to read up on it! To me it seems like it could cover anything from minor to major!!! Panic mode!!

I just hope she responds to the steroids! If not she will be seeing a specialist in Exeter.

Fingers crossed!

I think steriods are part of the treatment for most types.
So it could be a basic med until they can find out more and treat her better.

I would be supprised if you dont see some type of improvement.

I have had two dogs with auto immune disease, they did have a very severe type though which caused ulceration of the the mouth, and throat. (Eosinophilic Granuloma). Steroids would be the first line of treatment, but there are some new although very expensive drugs out there that can help if the steroids don't.
I was told It is not curable but you can get them into remission, that was with the auto immune mine had though and you would be advised to speak to your vet, before worrying yours won't get over it, as I know one of mine did at an earlier stage have a problem with her eye that did eventually clear up.
Sadly because of the type mine had I lost them one aged 4yrs and one aged 7yrs. We are almost certain thiers was caused by vaccinations, which caused the bodys immune system to turn on its self and attack.
Please don't let that worry you though most get it under control and live a normal happy life and if it doesn't bother them with the treatment they will continue to do so.
I do stress mine were only so severe as it spread into the throat and was heading down towards the stomach and was eating all the soft tissue there, causing them to choke and in the end not be able to eat.
You are in a very fortunate position of having a vet pick up so quickly it could be autoimmune didsease, (remember it may not be) and taking appropriate action. From all the research I have done on the disease I have found it is something most vets do not think of because it is not thought of as common, but I think personally many cases go undiagnosed and it is much more common than realised.
If I can be of any help at all please feel free to pm me.
Bev

I don't have any experience of it but just wanted to say sorry she is poorly.

Healing vibes and best wishes sent your way xx

My dog has a form of atypical pannus that involves his third eyelid & conjunctiva but not his cornea. It is controlled by creams & drops & as it is affected by ultraviolet light he needs more medication in the summer. At first to get it under control he was on optimume twice a day & drops 7 times a day but now he is on drops once a day & hopefully in the winter we may get to every other day.. plus the twice daily optimume. It took a couple of months but his eyes now look fine & we only go for check ups every 3 months. Good luck with your dog.

Poor old Sash is not responding to the high dose steroids at all so they are weaning them off from today. Her eye seems to be getting slowly worse. It is getting redder and redder and there are 2 little black spots that seem to be getting bigger ( these are just on the white bit, at 3 and 12 o clock). During the 25mg Prednisolone per day she was getting 2 hourly eye drops (that were steroid & antibiotic) during daylight hours. Her eye is not weeping and does not seem to be worrying her at all but can lead to rupturing of the eyeball .
They are talking specialist or operation next! The vet does not seem to understand why she is not responding to treatment, he thinks there is something going on inside the eyeball as opposed to a cause outside, like trauma etc or the auuto immune!
She is also being troubled by her arthritis, she is a bit stiff today. (I thought that might improve on high dose steroids and Rimadyl!).
Poor girl! She is having a hard time at the moment and is (selfishly ) both worrying and scaring me! If you understand me. I dont want her to suffer at all. She is already at the point with her arthritis that she does not want to go out for walks, but is happy to poodle in the garden and around the local garden centre at weekends.
Basically I am scared for her! I dont want anything horrible to happen!

I hope they find out what it is thats troubling her.
I hate the times they worry you sick, you can't switch off to how they are.
No one wants any thing horrible to happen to her, and i hope you can breathe easy soon.

Thank you! It is the wondering and all the ideas they have put in my head! It is exactly as you have said, you cannot switch off! As long as she is comfortable and not suffering at almost 13, we are both happy!.