newborn with skin issues - she's gone

[doxiemoxie]

I was thinking more about little Betty and wondered if you were able to feed her colostrum the first few days? Also is she getting goat's milk or replacer milk? I was just thinking that she might benefit from the immunoglobulins in raw milk/colostrum. While all of this screams autoimmune or endocrine to me, it also be a disease she picked up from mom, such as chlamydia.

Keep up your good work! and thank you for letting us be involved.

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

How is she doing?

 

[peachick]

the breeder gave her some artificial colostrum the first day... probably wasn't enough.

update on some test treatments.....
I dont see any change on the ears where I put the yeast cream--- no better, no worse.
However, the area on her legs where I put the hydro-cortisone has cleared up. Healthy looking skin there.
Hmmmm
I wonder if I can buy it by the gallon

looking online at autoimmune disorders. this looks as close as I can find to what this baby is experiencing...

Pemphigus foliaceus (most common canine and equine autoimmune skin disease, also reported in cats and goats)
Small swellings under the surface of the skin (bullae or pustules) ... NO
Crusting ...YES
Scale (scurf or dandruff) formation ...YES
Loss of hair (alopecia) ...YES
Black pigmentation of the skin (hyperpigmentation) ...NO AND ITS A BLACK GOAT
Sloughing of the foot pads ... NO
Itchiness (pruritus) ... NO
Usually affects the head and nose, but can be generalised ... YES

I am sitting impatiently (pacing actually) by the phone waiting on test results.

editied to add that behavior is really improving... she seems more animated every day.

 

[cmjust0]

Hydrocortisone is a steroid, and steroids suppress the immune system. If you're *positive* it's not some kind of an infection, talk to your vet about a round of dexamethasone with antibiotics (again, the a/b's are just a precaution).. If it's autoimmune, I would think Dex would improve it.

 

[peachick]

The site that I found that list of symptoms has this info at the bottom of the page for treatment...
Yep, It makes sence that the steroid would have helped her... prognosis is not ideal though.

Skin

Bullous autoimmune skin diseases
Drugs to suppress the immune response. Combinations of these are often given together :
Corticosteroids - eg prednisone or prednisolone 1-2mg/kg body weight by mouth twice daily
Cytotoxic drugs
azathioprine 2mg/kg body weight daily or on alternate days OR
cyclophosphamide 2 mg/kg body weight daily for 4 days per week
Gold salt therapy - 1mg.kg body weight of sodium aurothiomalate every week

http://www.provet.co.uk/petfacts/healthtips/autoimmunedisease.htm#g

 

[GLENMAR]

Poor little girl. Peachick, your animals are beautiful. One day I will get some birds from you. I hope you
are able to get the baby cleared up.

 

[elevan]

Have you gotten the lab results back?

 

[Ms. Research]

Hoping the lab results are in.

Thinking of Black Betty and hoping for the best.

K

 

[peachick]

no lab results yet.... no word back from the vet .... not even a returned phone call
feeling discouraged enough to find a new vet, to be honest.

The crustiness on her skin has gotten worse... especially on the areas that the biopsy was done. The area was shaved, and now it's completely crusted over.
bought 2 tubes of hydrocortisone yesterday and used one whole tube on her yesterday

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

Have you tried a sulfur based product (such as Nu-Stock ) by any chance? Do you think she could have an allergy to the milk you are giving her?