LIVING WITH A DOG WHO HAS SEBACEOUS ADENITIS
In March 2003, after coming home from a 3 month over seas assignment, my ex-husband came home only to see Chad had lost most of his hair. It seems the house sitter had bathed Chad and all his hair started falling out. In July of 2003, my ex had emailed me asking to take Chad back because he could no longer care for him. I agreed but we had to wait until the temperatures in Atlanta cooled down before we could ship him. We agreed the middle of September would be the best time.
September 19th, 2003:
While at the Montana circuit, I received a voice mail from my ex stating Chad had a skin infection and was on antibiotics and special shampoo. I returned his call to firm up flight information.
September 23rd, 2003:
The day Chad came home...I was anxious and wanted to see 'my boy'. When I saw him, I started crying. The dog I picked up wasn't the same dog I said good bye to in February of 2002. The wonderful people at Northwest Cargo asked if I was ok, and they could see as well that Chad was sick. My thoughts were "how could a veterinarian issue a Health Certificate to this dog." I immediately made an appointment with my local vet for a check up and blood work for Hypothyroid.
I later found out Chad was NEVER seen for his 'skin infection' and that he was never on any medications.
BELOW ARE PHOTOS OF CHAD TAKEN SEPTEMBER 24th, 2003
September 25th, 2003:
Chad had a staph and yeast infection on his skin. This explained the rotting flesh smell. He was given Cephlahexin BID for 2 weeks. A week later we found out he was indeed Hypothyroid. He is now on Soloxine .6 mg BID. We were given permission to bathe him because the stench permeating from his skin was so bad. I gave him an oatmeal based shampoo and noticed the water had rinsed brownish-red. Almost like he was infested with fleas, but he wasn't.
October 22nd, 2003:
I went to the Samoyed Club of America's national specialty and had to board Chad for almost 2 weeks. When I picked him up, he had 3 sores on his front legs that looked like he had been sucking and chewing on them for quite some time. Back on the Cephlahexin for 6 weeks, only this time he was getting them TID. The sores did heal but he had the rancid smell to him and the skin on his body was red. There was also this 'dirt' that was present on each hair shaft on his body.
November 12th, 2003:
I see new hair growth but there is this brown 'dirt' around each hair follicle, I later found out this 'dirt' is called "castings". I try to scrape casings out and his hair fell out! It's obvious to me his low thyroid is just part of his problem or symptom. I made an appointment with Diane Preziosi, DVM at Veterinary Specialists of Alaska. Diane specializes in dermatological problems going for her diplomate in this field. In the meantime, I had to endure 3 more weeks of his rancid smell because I did not want to wash anything that might help her diagnosis.
December 8th, 2003:
The date of Chad's appointment.... After an hour and 45 minutes of scraping, pulling, poking and prodding, we found no bacteria, fungus, or mites on his body. Diane had said the words that I was afraid to hear... 'He looks like a typical Sebaceous Adenitis (SA) dog.' Diane had later told me she had suspected SA the moment she walked into the exam room. I have known about this disease in Akitas and Poodles, but didn't know it was common in Samoyeds. We scheduled a biopsy 3 days later but in the meantime, I spent my time after work reading and researching about SA. It turns out SA is most prevalent in Poodles, Akitas, AND Samoyeds. So why have I not heard of any cases in Samoyeds? I went to the website for the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals and found a database available to breeders for SA. I did a search and only two names came up! I decided to have Chad's results put into the OFA database for Sebaceous Adenitis...whatever the outcome. I do not have anything to hide and as a breeder, would hope more of you will come forth with dogs who have this disease. IT IS ONE WAY WE CAN CONTROL THE SPREAD OF ANY INHERITED DISORDER.
December 12th, 2003:
Filled out all the paperwork for OFA's SA database. Diane took three samples of his skin and sent it to Kelly M Credille,DVM at Texas A&M for a diagnosis.
December 13th 2003: Not waiting for the results, I decided to go ahead and treat him with the Oil Baths that have been described on many websites for SA. I used Mineral Oil for the first time but will try the mixture of #1 All Systems Lanolin, Protein Conditioner, and Creme Rinse as I personally feel the Mineral Oil was too greasy for a Samoyed's coat. It took me 3 hours to do this oil bath. WOW, he has pink supple skin again and he does not stink! I am just amazed. Even though Chad has hardly any coat to begin with, he did lose about 3/4 of his coat with this bath, which I am told is normal for the first bath. I believe the hair was dead to begin with so I am glad to get it out so new hair can begin to grow and be treated with the oil baths.
THANK YOU VICKIE YOUNG of ARCTIC TAILS GROOMING for allowing me to do the oil baths that Chad needs for this disorder
December 17th 2003: Texas A & M confirmed that Chad has an advance stage of Sebaceous Adenitis. I told Dr. Priziosi about his oil bath and she agreed that would be the best protocol for Chad at this time. We are following the Rampak Oil treatment along with vitamins A(24,000 IU) a day, E (200 IU) a day, and Ester-C (2000mg). EFA's, Flax Seed Oil, Salmon Oil, Fresh Factor Coat Supplement, and ProZyme.
January 2004: I decided to spay Chad's 3/4 littermate Sherry Berry. I just couldn't risk her passing the SA gene and cause more damage to the breed. She was also biopsied for SA and came back negative. But still....
March 2004: I took some photos of Chaddy...he is growing hair! Chad continues his oil baths and vitamin regime with wonderful success.
May 2004: WOW! He almost has all his length back. He has started to shed his undercoat. It seems this shed is a seasonal shed since his skin is clear of the Keratin and is very pink and supple. He had an ear infection a couple of weeks ago. The only thing I can think of that would have caused this... I was out of Ester C for a week. Once I cleaned them out and got off my lazy butt and got some more, his ears have been clear.
August 24th 2004: Chad had his first coat drop! His skin continues to stay healthy with his oil soaks as long as I do not go any longer than 4 weeks in between the soaks. I am using a mixture of #1 All System's Lanolin, Bio Groom's Vita Oil, and #1 All System's Protein Conditioner for his soaks. I am also using a Hydorsurge as part of his treatment. He still gets the vitamins as stated in my earlier writings plus his one large GREENIE before he goes to bed.
This is Chaddy August 2004
November 28th 2004:
Don't know what is happening, but Chad lost about 3/4
of his coat. He also has had a huge sebaceous cyst
explode on him. This left a big whole on his back.
Other than the coat drop he's doing fine. He had a
fungal infection on his mouth but it too has cleared
up.