Derm Diary - the story of Asia and Simba

Meet Asia and Simba, the two adopted dogs of Lianne McLeod DVM. In these opening chapters, Lianne describes how they joined her family and what the early itchy allergy signs were for each dog. In this segment, they visit a veterinary dermatologist and try out a new food to help with the itchy skin problems.

Itchiness and more itchiness suffered by Simba and Asia. They make a recheck visit to the dermatologist and modify the treatment plan. Some good news; Asia's histiocytoma (small benign skin tumor) is regressing nicely on its own. New food, new treatment protocol and new tests in this segment.

In this segment, both dogs are having flare-ups and Simba is dealing with a urinary tract infection. Lianne is starting to feel as though they are back at square one. After a recheck with the veterinary specialist, a new drug, cyclosporine, and a new food are once again tried out on itchy Asia and Simba.

Lianne works closely with the specialist, trying to ascertain what drug(s) and what food(s) work for each dog. Or at least lessen the miserable itching. She feels miserable and hopeless, and the dogs are itchier than ever.

Lianne writes "the dogs went back on prednisone and the relief was dramatic. Within a couple of days, the itching had diminished remarkably, and the dogs were much less sleepy. Overall, it was a wonderfully peaceful week with the improvement seen." Simba goes back to work on agility training and new food is being ordered in. The prednisone doses are being lowered, and Simba's hair is regrowing.

Once again the prednisone dosing needed to be increased, and some of the undesirable physical effects of long-term use are being noticed; both dogs were getting quite heavy and showing signs of a pot-bellied appearance (droopy abdomen due to prednisone weakening the abdominal muscles). The decision is made to do blood testing for allergies. The main reason they haven't done this earlier is that the dogs must be completely off prednisone first for accurate test results.

More choices, consultations and decisions. Lianne makes the hard choice to end the search for a perfect "cure" and manage Asia and Simba as well as she is able. Read about her choices and decisions here.

Over the years I have received emails and forum posts asking about Asia and Simba, nearly everyone assuming that they are my dogs. Even though Lianne has left her post as the Exotic Pets Guide at About.com to pursue an advanced degree, we still keep in touch. I emailed her asking for an update on Asia and Simba, which she has graciously added here.

Meet Asia and Simba and see some of the itchy problems they have had to deal with up close, as outlined in the Dermatology Diary.