- e-Vet ALERT: Ticks and Disease
- e-Vet ALERT: Possible Spring Pet Injuries
- We have lost two special animals this past month
- e-Vet ALERT: Valentine dangers to your pet – roses, lilies, raisins, chocolate and more.
- $5 provides a box of Valentine’s cookies for a dog, or a box of heart-shaped treats for a cat
Sebaceous cysts/Allergies on Shih Tzu
Hello!
Please help! We rescued a 5 year old Shih Tzu about a year ago. We were told that she was neglected and was so matted that they had to shave her. When they did, they found several cysts on her that would leak “cheesy white stuff” when pushed on. I know, lovely. Allergies were suspected, so we have been working with our vet to end her nonstop itching/chewing, plus the cysts that continue to grow (and sometimes become infected.) We’ve also noticed that not all of them have “white stuff” in them. We’ve tried several high-end salmon dog foods, benadryl, antibiotics, steroid shots, changing laundry detergents, and the only thing that seems to bring her relief is when she’s on daily oral steroids. If we try to go to every other day, the itching/gnawing comes back. We know this isn’t a long-term solution, but we hate to see her suffer. Our vet is out of ideas, and we’re to the point that we’d rather her have a shorter life on steroids that is free of itching than a long one… In the meantime, we keep her clipped short and wash her with prescription allergy shampoo. Any ideas? She never throws up or has bowel issues, so I don’t think it’s a food allergy.
Thank you so much for your help!
Kristin
Houston, TX
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At the Sanctuary, we would test this dog for allergies with Heska Laboratory. There is a regional panel and a food allergy panel. Then a hypo-sensitization serum is made to treat the allergy and we can avoid food allergens. You may try Atopica for allergy relief as well. In some dogs who require a high dose of steroids this drug may be safer long term. You are right to consider quality of life in addition to length of life, all decisions must be made with informed consent. The small growths, though benign, may need to be removed if chronic oozing and infection occur.