Calcinosis cutis?
Submitted by BuddaMom on May 1, 2011 - 6:49pmHi all, I am new to this forum and I'm sure this has been covered before, but here goes....My age 3, male, old english bulldog got a "hot spot" in March and was treated unsuccessfully with simpilef and cephalexin x2. This spot became thickened, hard, with some bleeding, and also started spreading. I brought him to a dermatologist at the university and they biopsied the site (we are awaiting results). The vet thought this looked like calcinosis cutis, which is also an indicator for Cushings. However, it could be iatotropic because of his prednisone use for the past year plus (although low dose at10 mg/day for a 70 lb dog), the vet hoped that stopping this medication would eventually lead to resolution of these lesions. Of course, there is also a secondary infection going on, which was cultured in order to treat with the most appropriate antibiotics. The back story is that my primary vet has been treating my pup for allergies with antihistamines and prednisone. Serum allergy testing revealed environmental and food allergies. There are so many tidbits that add to his problems. This particular lesion(s) began about a week or 2 after his regular yearly vaccines, in the spot of injections, at the back of the neck. Maybe this was triggered by the injury from injection? Or started with a vaccine reaction?
Here's my questions...Does anyone have any tips on how to deal with this issue? Any ideas for special diets for a pup with calcinosis cutis? Has anyone else had a bulldog with this condition that developed from prednisone use?
Thanks a lot,
BuddaMom
We have experience with this with our first bulldog, Rocky
Rocky had been on prednisone (small doses) for a long time. Started to develop spots with hair loss. Spots became very hard to the touch. They would open up and it was very bad. Our vet did skin biopsy that confirmed calcinosis cutis / Cushings Syndome caused by long term use of preds. Although Rocky had other symptoms of Cushings we did not realize that until the calcinosis occured. Rocky was quite a bulldog and a man of many issues but he never "complained". Although our Rocky never showed any pain or discomfort we were told that the itch from this is like poison ivy time 10. As this spread he had "sores" over most of his upper back.
During this period, a representative from Pfizer veterinary dermatology in California was stopping at out vets office in Michigan. They could bring in 5 dogs for a consult. This specialist told us to remove all beef products from Rockys diet. Along with that he was put on a diet of ground pork and boiled potato. We were told to apply DMSO gel to his lesions. We had to apply this with gloves on as it is VERY quickly absorbed.
We were amazed and very pleased with the results. We never thought he would completely heal and regrow hair. It took at least a year but all except for a few small spots his hair grew back and the hard spots went away.
We continued the diet of pork and potato until we lost him at age 9.
If you have any specific questions please feel free to send me a e-mail.
Lonna & Harley