I am wondering about the Maluka Honey and/or aloe baths.
From: Donna Erdman [mailto:erdmando1@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 9:24 AM
Subject: Flippy
I am writing to you because I've exhausted every other avenue for help I can think of. I don't know if you can help me either, but I don't know what else to do.
It's about Flippy. He's a four-year-old, neutered Dachshund who is up to date on all his shots (including kennel cough). He has a smooth coat and is black with tan feet. We've had him since the age of seven weeks. About 20 months ago, he started developing a rash on his chest. It wasn't too bad at first. We took him to our veterinarian, who took some skin scrapings, and diagnosed him with an allergy to grass. Being so low to the ground, we worried about this, and made sure our grass was cut as low as possible, and we started giving him meds that the vet had prescribed (some sort of steroid). The rash cleared up.
Ten days later it came back worse than before. We took Flippy back to the vet, who prescribed an antibiotic and more steroids, Chlorhexidine microbial shampoo with instructions to bathe him weekly, more antibiotics, more steroids...
After that it was Atopica weekly, then twice weekly, then daily. Then it was a series of shots. Then back on steroids, antibiotics and more Atopica. In the meantime, poor Flippy just gets worse and worse. Things seem to get better for a couple of days, then it's back worse than before, often leading to secondary infections. I don't know how much more he can take.
He is losing his appetite and is markedly more lethargic. He has scratched himself raw, he hasn't had any hair on his chest/belly for over a year, and it continues to spread up the sides of his body, and onto his neck and ears. After countless visits to the vet, we have been advised that Flippy is allergic to "everything" in the environment, and there is nothing more they can do for him. They think it will help him considerably to get him out of the southeast.
I can't bear to see him suffer so much anymore, and tears are streaming down my face as I type this. I bathe him DAILY with the special shampoo, walk him in the street rather than let him out in the backyard, and spray canine hydrocortisone spray on him. We have given him Benadryl, and even put some Bactine on him. Nothing is helping and he is just getting worse. The vet told us there's really nothing else they can do to help him and that maybe we should consider putting him out of his misery.
He's FOUR years old!! He is healthy and vibrant in every other way, and absolutely the most loving, affectionate, adoring dog you'll ever see. All he wants is to please and be loved. I have done absolutely everything I can think of and everything the vet has advised, with the exception of putting him down. I won't put him down as long as there's any glimmer of hope left. You are my glimmer. We don't have no-kill shelters in this area and if I surrender him because I can't manage his medical condition anymore, he is sure to be put down.
I can't bear to see Flippy suffering so. He is clearly miserable and I cry every time I look at him. I have even prayed over him. I have sent some photos so you can see for yourself. I tried to attach more photos, but the e-mail bounced back as too large. I am prepared to give him up if I must, if it will give him a comfortable, pain/itch-free life. He's such a happy, loving dog when he doesn't feel so terrible. I don't want to give him up because we all love him so very much, but keeping him in this kind of misery is unfair to him and he shouldn't have to be put down over something like this when he has so much more living to do.
To make matters even worse, I lost my job two months ago, so trying to keep up with his expensive medications and shampoo has become a critical situation. I will soon have to stop all of his medications due to the cost factor, and I can't imagine what will happen to him then. Maybe you can help him get well, and another family will love him the way we do. Maybe it's because we live in Florida. Maybe if he were in a drier climate. I just don't know what to do for him anymore, and his ongoing suffering is breaking my heart. I have nowhere else to turn.
If you can't help him, maybe you will know of another place that can.
Please, please, please help Flippy!
Sincerely,
Donna Erdman
259 Avens Rd. NE
Palm Bay, FL 32907
321-726-0349
