Cinder's Health Diary
Had I known years ago when her problems started to surface that at six years of age we would be having to document them, I would have started this diary then.
 

UPDATED 7-10-2008

5-8-2006 UPDATE

 My Medical Misfit

Cinder spent a good portion of her life on the dog food roller-coaster. Convinced by the well intended advice given to us over the internet and even our own Vet. Despite all her symptoms that would normally lead one to suspect food allergies, I believe that they were only a secondary reaction to the underlying health problems. Cinder has undergone extensive allergy tests and food trials over the years. None of them ever gave us any conclusive results. Yet still being told this was a food issue we did what we were told. Not until we switch Vet clinics and decided to THINK FOR OURSELVES and not believe all the internet hype about food, have we come to our senses. Blaming the food is just an easy short lived fix. In the end I think all the dietary changes only did more harm that good. It is believe that Cinder's immune system has play a factor in her health for several years. So it could very well be her compromised immune system and later her hypothyroidism played a very large part in this mystery.

Food Allergies

Cinder has endured a long list of health problems starting at the age of about 9-10 months with her first ear infection followed by a bacterial infection in her skin on her feet. It has been a battle every since. Bacterial (can be caused by hypothyroidism), fungal and yeast infections of the ears, skin and stomach.
Another problem she has endured is trembling in her back legs. This started prior to the crutiate rupture but not as severe. While we continue to struggle and get to the bottom of this right now the only answer we have (from our Vet) is that it is a combination of  structural flaws (including being very bowlegged), arthritis, and damage to the nerves and muscles and muscle atrophy.
Cinder has had her hips x-rayed twice and HD has been ruled out. In fact her hips looked great.
Over the last couple years I noticed a decline in her overall body and health. It was like my dog was wasting away. I knew there would be some atrophy due to the prednisone but it seemed to be so excessive.
In Feb/March 06 her coat seemed duller than normal and had huge flakes of skin. She also was NOT looking so hot.

You can see in the photos below just in head shots how she quickly wasted away. Click on each photo for larger view.

August 04 - While she was still suffering from coat and skin problems she still had coat and decent fat and muscle to her body.	December 05 - You can see in the face and aging to her. Eyes have noticeably been getting more cloudy.	March 06 - You can see she has no coat on her tummy, she is really grey and her eyes are terrible. You can see the flakey skin.

She no longer can navigate up our staircase in the basement without a light on. She has trouble with even one step or two in poorly lighted areas. She obviously cannot gauge or judge the distance.

We have an x-pen we use to gate off the kitchen and the living room. When we have it pulled aside, Cinder still cannot seem to gauge the distance between the wall and the gate and will cry to enter the living room. Even if I push it totally to the side she has a hard time and is not comfortable walking on the linoleum. We now have purchased a large area rug for the kitchen and a runner from it to the living room to accommodate Cinder.

03/06/06 - I take her in for an exam. I am worried about her condition and her site. Back in 2005 we noticed those eyes getting pretty foggy but it seemed to progress really fast. At least to me it did.

Dr. Thorpe said she had Lipid Deposits - and these ones were whoppers. We will likely have a ACVO take a look at them.

03/14/06 - Test results came back that Cinder was not producing enough thyroid. She was started on a .5 dose of Soloxine that night. We will retest in 30 days.

30 Days later her thyroid levels are NORMAL

5-8-2006 UPDATE - A little story to share.

Got home from a long day at work. I was beat and I have a nasty cold. I just want off my feet. Being the good dog-mom that I am I played with them all when I got home.

Let it be known that the Chuckit Ball Launcher is the best toy EVER for both dog and human!! When your sick or sore and don't feel like bending much it is a blessing. It has become our daily ritual for 30 minutes after work with Gryphon and Lily since the snow thawed.

Well I forgot I also had a Chuckit Flying Squirrel. I located it and brought it out. Gryph and Lily loved it but had more fun playing tug with it.
While playing I noticed it peaked Cinder's interest but she could not get to it and check it out with the other two out playing. So I tossed the heathens inside and gave it a CHUCK for her. She RAN off after it with much glee. Brought it back. We did this a couple more times. Oh she was having a blast. Then I gave another toss and this time instead of brining it back she decided to challenge me to a "face off". She gave me that I dare you to come and take it look.

I took one step and OFF SHE RAN! Circling and grunting. This went on several times. It brought tears to my eyes. She has not played like this in so long. It did my heart good!!

My smiling Cinder!!

7-10-2008

Well here we are in the summer of 2008 and I am happy to report that Cinder is doing better than I could have ever expected.
Some time in 2006 Cinder hit another rough patch and the doctors had no answers. The only diet switch we made was from Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach to Pro Plan Senior. Then I spent some time talking to a friend who works for Nature's Farmacy. She talked me into trying some probiotics and we left that day with Dogzymes Digestive Enhancer.

Now here we sit. Two years later.
Can you belive this is the same dog from 2006!??

April 2006

One year later in 2007

April 2008

This show the beginning stages of when Cinder was losing all her coat. Before long all she had left on her tail was the coat under it and a big bald streak down the top and a bald tip. I called it the "white worm". I hated touching it and looking at it. I have no photos of it from then unfortunately, but really...I did not want to take photos of that ugly thing.

This is her coat today.

I don't know what else to attribute this success to other than a good diet and the Dogzymes and the the Nature's Farmacy company.

Thank you NF and thank you Stephanie ;o)

NF Products we use:

DOGZYMES Digestive Enhancer
DOGZYMES Immuno Guard
DOGZYMES Electrolyte Powder
 

What is an Autoimmune Disease

Hypothyroidism
Canine Autoimmune Thyroid Disease can cause seizures in dogs
Canine Hypothyroidism: An Overview
Canine Thyroid Disease Can be Tough to Diagnose
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism: A Case of Hypothyroid Disease in the Dog at ThePetCenter.com
Hypothyroidism: A New Direction
Hypothyroidism: A Diagnostic Dilemma

INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON CANINE HYPOTHYROIDISM (PDF)
HYPOTHYROIDISM IN THE DOG (PDF)
OFA Canine Thyroid Database
Testing for Thyroid Problems
Thyroid Testing In Dogs
What's So Big About the Little Thyroid?

Yeast Infections
Corn Myth
More On Food Allergies
Allergy, inhalant, atopy

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