I can’t believe it’s been almost a year since I lost my guy. I still miss him nearly everyday.
Funny how sometimes you forget things and I’ll think I see him looking out the window or hear his bark. Some days when I first wake up I still reach to pet him.
That kid left an indent in my heart. One that can’t ever be filled.
Every time I get a new email from someone I hope his story is still helping people. That’s my one wish.
Posting a pic of his sister today. This is my Pixie, grey as can be but puppy at heart. 🙂
canine pemphigus foliaceus 
My Rosa is still alive and happy. I remember when I found this blog, and it helped me to find what is wrong with my boxer. She was in so bad state years ago, and today she is fatter ;p and taking steroids twice a day.
We bath her once a week, and later I smear her ears with vaseline, because the ears have dried skin.
From time to time the single blister shows here and there on her ears, but if there are more, we give her more meds ( of course after asking doc).
I cant stress more how happy and grateful I am for your blog and your story of Otis.
THANK YOU !!! Everyday I see my dog happy, I remember it is thanks to Otis.
Annnnnd I’m crying. 🙂
This means the world to me.
Thank you.
My Colby is now 18 months after the start of the horrible disease and looks better now than ever . It can be overcome. Thank you for your blog and heartwarming posts .
You are definitely still making a difference – thank you SO much for this blog. My rescue dog, who was a foster failure of mine, has both Pemphigus and Vasculitis and reading your blog has given me hope. Deeply sorry for your loss ❤
Thanks again for your blog. Otis’s story gives us hope. When I question Larry’s condition I re-read your story and give thanks for the information on some of the things to expect. We really appreciate your pictures- it is almost exactly what our Larry is experiencing. He is finally getting his hair back and you are so right about avoiding the heat and sun. We are looking forward to better days to come. Thanks!!!!!!
I am so fortunate to have found this blog, as it may literally be just in time. First and foremost, I relate so much to you and your love for Otis. I cry all the time, basically sleep on the floor with my poor dog, and work from home whenever I can.
My dog, Ryder, was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis roughly 9 months ago. It has been a VERY long road with many ups and downs. As soon as we got it under control and managed on regular medication, he began having skin issues. It is now so bad that he is completely swollen head to toe, covered in blisters and bleeding open wounds, and barely hanging in there. He is itchy, uncomfortable, and falling apart. My husband and I woke up this morning prepared to say goodbye, and then the biopsy results came in stating he has pemphigus. It is SO bad at this point that I don’t know if it’s worth pushing forward to see if steroids will improve. I feel I have no choice but to try, as my heart tells me it’s not time to quit yet. He is just in a very bad place and I wish I knew how quickly his skin might heal.
Any help or input at all is so much appreciated. I’ve spent months on end researching how to help save my sweet boy.
If he’s still got fight in him and you can manage the discomfort he’s feeling, then fight. He will let you know if he’s done.
It can take time to find the right meds to get it under control but in the short term the steroids should start helping. What meds did they prescribe??
I agree. It’s not fair to give up without knowing we’ve done all that we could. We are starting him on prednisone twice a day and an antibiotic twice a day because he has a secondary infection from itching so much.
Don’t be afraid to get pain meds if you think it will help, I know it helped Otis tremendously. We also used neopredpref(sp?) for his open wounds. Hang in there, I know it’s hard but I’m here for any suggestions or just to talk. Keep us posted on Ryder, we are all pulling for him.
Allyssa, try steroids ! My dog Rosa started from 6-8 pills of Encortolon a day ( to treat pemphigus, and she also takes meds for thyroid), now she only takes 2 pills. She’s 13 y. old now, and last summer she had surgery to treat pyometra. She didnt take her steroids for few days and immediately started to feel worse. And when we gave her meds again , she felt better and also recovered fast from surgery.
I hold my thumbs for your Ryder ! try steroids and see if there will be results 🙂
It’s been almost a week of a high steroid dose and I don’t see any improvement. His head and ears are now filling up with blood and pus multiple times a day and he has a cone on so he can’t lick his body raw. He is rapidly losing weight and will not get out of bed at all. The vet is concerned that the pemphigus may be drug induced due to a medication he’s on for a different auto immune disease he was diagnosed with last year.
I would fight forever for my baby, but it is not fair to him to keep him alive just to keep myself happy. I am going to give it another week on the steroids as the vet suggested a little more time. If we do lose him, I am thankful for the years we had together and for gaining the knowledge that I have to take care of him throughout this process. I will be heart broken, but I will know that I did absolutely all that I could for as long as I could.
Thank you for your dedication to helping others through this experience. I hope I can do the same going forward.
I’m sorry to hear this, I know how much this hurts you but if you have to let him go then you know you did everything to help him. How is he today? How are you? 😦
So sorry that Ryder isn’t doing well. He’ll give you the sign when he’s ready. I use to clean Larry’s ears with cotton balls soaked with hydrocortisone lotion for dogs and traded the collar with a t shirt and socks. It looked funny, but he was more comfortable. The pain medication really helped- tramadol. Azathioprine helped get it into remission. I know everyone’s situation is different and difficult. We wish you guys the best. Susan and Larry
We had to say goodbye on Wednesday. The end result was that the Pemphigus was drug induced by the medicine he’s been on for the first autoimmune disease, Myasthenia Gravis. He never went into remission for it so taking him off the medicine was not an option.
In the end, we did all that we could. I hope that some day I can emotionally convince myself of that truth. My husband and I are lost, and our house is so empty. I find comfort in knowing that we were not alone in our fight against these awful diseases, and that blogs like this can and will save other dogs.
Someday soon my husband and I would like to start having children, and now we know we will have our angel in heaven to look out for all of us.
So sorry for your loss. He had such wonderful care. Susan and Larry
I’m so sorry to hear this but you should take comfort knowing he’s not in pain. And it’s true, you did everything you could. You would have done more if it would have made any difference. The next few days will be hard. Always around if you need an understanding ear. You can reach me at di_411@hotmail.com.