Something is wrong with Bailey and the vet can't figure it out...

[WillParkinson]

Last year our beagle boy had some kind of attack. He ended up in the emergency vet (which charged us over $1,000 for basically giving him fluids intravenously and some dog food) overnight. The next day they said he made a "miraculous recovery" and sent him home with his tummy and part of his leg shaved bare.

The hair never grew back in the areas they shaved.

Not long after he developed a 'pouch' on the side of his mouth where food kept getting stuck. It got to the point where his lower lip actually hung down. He started losing a lot of weight and his eyes had this weird look to them (they actually looked like pictures I've seen of birds nictitating membranes). The vet said to give him protein to bring the weight back up. His weight did indeed come back up and the pouch on his mouth seemed to tighten again.

Well now he's got another issue. While rubbing his hind quarters one day I found some kind of bumps on his back. I assumed he had rolled in something outside and proceeded to give him a bath. The bumps didn't go away. Set up a vet appointment and they did some tests but could not determine what was wrong with him. Now the hair on his back is coming out and he's got several bald spots on his back.

The spots do not appear to cause him distress. He does not scratch or chew at them but it looks awful and I'm fearful when the weather again gets cold he'll have problems with exposed skin.

Any thoughts on what might be causing it? We were thinking maybe a food allergy. A friend of ours from the shelter was wondering about mange. The vet can't figure out what's wrong with him this time and it's very disconcerting.

Any thoughts on what's happening would be appreciated.

(This was posted originally in The Lounge but someone suggested posting it here as well. One of the replies suggested checking for Canine Cushing's Disease which has a lot of symptoms that sound like they may be part of the problem.)

[Zoigal]

1. Have you considered getting a second opinion, Will?.....z

[WillParkinson]

2. Our vet is usually very good and extremely reliable, but...

If he can't figure it out then we'll have to try that.

[undeterred]

3. Come on over to the UW vet school in Madison.

If you are in Milwaukee, this is a trip worth making. Your vet can call and make the referral. Its no more expensive than getting an opinion from another vet, but here you will be getting the expert opinions of teaching faculty with years of experience.

Good luck with it.

[glinda]

4. Definitely seek another opinion. Even though you trust your Vet sometimes it is a

lifesaver getting another opinion by going to someone or someplace better.

[Curmudgeoness]

5. I realize that you trust your vet, as you should,

but you say that your vet cannot determine what is wrong. Any vet worth a dime would be willing to refer you someplace else if they are out of ideas. You have bumps, and hair loss, so you know that something is not right. Make sure that you take info on the tests that your vet has already done when you go for a second opinion. And I would try to find a specialist or teaching vet hospital if that was at all possible.

I do not have any idea as to what is causing this though. I doubt that it would be mange, since your vet should be able to determine that quickly. The only time I had bumps appear on an animal was a cat who developed cancer in her lymph nodes, but there was no loss of fur and the bumps were not on the back. I do hope that things go well for you.

[WillParkinson]

6. Update on Bailey...

A lady I work with used to be a vet tech and she suggested we go see a lady who has been a vet for 30 years. She could not speak highly enough about this woman so I'll give it a shot. Our appointment is next Thursday at 5 pm. Keep your fingers crossed.

[Curmudgeoness]

7. Best of luck to Bailey. Hope it is nothing major.

Chin rubs to Bailey! :hi: