Special thanks to Gourley Vets Ashton under Lyne very kind to us re charges
Hi Glenys,
Vet just charged for medication again. We had a chat about her progress - she is making some, the itching is so much less since she has been on the Apoquel. She has regrowth on her legs, neck etc where she had scratched and bitten hair out. The problem we still have is the boils and lumps which are on her muzzle and around her eyes (some hair regrowth there too though). They are really big and look so sore and have not responded to 4 weeks of antibiotics. No more antibiotics - is to carry on with the Apoquel and the vet will contact the manufacturer to see what's what with regard to these lumps - an apparent side effect (papilloma) that is not dose-dependent.
The plan is to start to reduce the Apoquel now as she is on the maximum dose - she is on 3 tablets a day and the plan is to get her down to 2 and try to establish a maintenance dose. So that would make things a little bit cheaper.
It seems like there may not be many avenues left to pursue should she have to come off the Apoquel (but fingers crossed she will stay on and will just be a bit spotty! - although I think they are getting worse Emoji). She is on the immunotherapy and not responded as yet (the vet will review this in the next couple of months when her current vaccine will run out), we have tried Atopica and she didn't respond, nor did giving a doggie dose of piriton have any noticeable effect.
When she came to me she was probably the best she was in terms of appearance (although her overall coat and condition has continued to improve) but that was she had been on treatment from Karen, the fosters vets, - steroids and antibiotics. Although the steroid (prednisilone) works wonders, it is not supposed to be given to dogs long term.......
The vet is going to see her again in 3 weeks and we'll see what's what...
Hope all is good with you and yours, Glenys and thanks a lot for the newsletter - I will spread the word.
Very best wishes,
Debbie, Millie and a spotty but still completely delightful PIP.xxx
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