Page 7 - Autumn 19

Patience a Labrador with itchy skin by Edward de Beaukalaer, UK
This a case of a Labrador with typical itchy skin, diagnosed to be atopic by a dermatologist and treated with Apoquel and Immunotherapy (desensitisation injections). She itches her flanks and legs mostly with lots of hair loss. The itching is distressing to dog and owner.
Let’s call her Patience, because this had been needed to come to what looks like the solution for the case.
She had an initial diagnosis of mange, which then later changed into atopy. She had already been itchy when she came as a pup (8 weeks), the itching got suddenly worse at one year old. She is also sensitive to many different food ingredients. She was better when was put on raw. The owner stopped the immunotherapy injections after a while because she noticed that after each injection she was not well: lost her energy for a day or two.
She was spayed after a first normal season. She was a bit less crazy after the spaying.
27/5/16
‘As soon as she eats something she
should not, her lips swell up. She is very shy (verified in the surgery). Once she meets you then you become her best friend. She can get angry and nappy if a dog tries to mount her: ‘leave me alone!’. She is complex, she is not like other labs. She is very submissive and rolls on her back when another dog comes up. She is furtive in her movement, she is not quite at peace with herself and her environment.’
I ask: Furtive?
‘Shy, insecure, slightly unpredictable, she is very insecure in her own body. I do not think she knows what she is worried about. She is fast and athletic: not many dogs can catch her, she goes round and round sometimes sets small dogs flying (runs into or past them so they fall over). Even her big boxer friend she sets him flying by running with her shoulder into him.
She likes to go and lay in the dark, in the hay. She makes a beeline for the horses. Horses are to sit with, she used to graze with them, she loves horses, no fear, she greets all the new horses; she seems to speak their language. She says hello to all who pass the garden; dogs are to play with.
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