Leishmaniasis in dogs

vikingqueen



Joined: 07/02/2009
Posts: 241

Message Posted:
31/10/2009 08:38

Please share your knowledge with me.....

I have been told my dogs has Leishmaniasis and he is on tablets daily

smithy


Joined: 17/07/2008
Posts: 5301

Message Posted:
31/10/2009 08:43

HI vikingqueen

Leishmaniasis is a disease which is caused from a bite usually from a Sand fly needs to be treated by a vet with injections

Hope this help,

nurseawful



Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 5934

Message Posted:
31/10/2009 08:45

Sand fly fever is the other name for this, I am not a veterinary nurse but would imagine that dogs could get this the same way humans can. Usually medication is similar for dogs and humans so what kind of tablets has the vet prescribed?

JohnW


Joined: 23/04/2009
Posts: 601

Message Posted:
31/10/2009 08:48

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp&q=Leishmaniasis&btnG=Google+Search&aq=f&aqi=&oq=&fp=4413f35ae224868d



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leishmaniasis

vikingqueen



Joined: 07/02/2009
Posts: 241

Message Posted:
31/10/2009 08:53

he is on Allopurnal 300mg x 4 tabs daily

vikingqueen



Joined: 07/02/2009
Posts: 241

Message Posted:
31/10/2009 08:55

sorry ALLOPURINOL!!

were told to buy as much as possible

nurseawful



Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 5934

Message Posted:
31/10/2009 09:00

Hi Viking Queen,

Allopurinol is used in humans for the treatment of Gout!!!!!!

vikingqueen



Joined: 07/02/2009
Posts: 241

Message Posted:
31/10/2009 09:04

Hi nurseawful



Thx 4 this but I would like to know how other dog owners deal with LEISHMANIASIS

vikingqueen



Joined: 07/02/2009
Posts: 241

Message Posted:
31/10/2009 09:05

JohnW.. thx 4 the link, already been there

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
31/10/2009 10:27

It beats me why 'Cypermethrin' insecticide is still unavailable in Cyprus - The 'Sicilian Sandfly', prevalent in Cyprus, has become immune to the products currently in the shops - i.e., that only contain 'Permithrin'.



Because of this, last trip to New Zealand (home!), I brought back a can of Cyanamid 'Ripcord' - this contains the essential 'Cyprmethrin' and it's effective on sandflies, cockroaches, etc; also widely used agriculturally and domestically throughout USA. Being 'Pyrethroid' based, it is perfectly safe for use around humans and pets - in fact, it is used on cattle and horses.



Here, every three or four months, I spray the bedroom walls, curtains and flyscreens with it - result: nil sandfly problem!



I have checked various websites in UK for any similar product, but could find nothing.

Tinkie


Joined: 16/03/2009
Posts: 1256

Message Posted:
31/10/2009 12:45

Hi Viking Queen, I have 2 dogs with this disease...The first is my elderly boxer, who came from Uk with us, she developed it probably about 4 years ago but it was only diagnosed at the beginning of this year. She is on 3 allopurinol tablets a day and I must say that she has come on leaps and bounds since she started them. Lots of things that we put down to her age, like stiff joints, no bladder control etc are now non exsistent. She has regular blood tests to check the effect of the drug on her kidneys and liver, but so far so good. The second dog is a Golden Retriever who I am trying to rehome, when we got her in August she was a stray, who was heavily pregnant, the KAR would normally have neutered and returned her to the street but because she has Leishmaniasis she couldnt be returned to the street so she would have been put to sleep...she has also done really well on the allopurinol, and looks like a different dog to the one we took in.

Tinkie


Joined: 16/03/2009
Posts: 1256

Message Posted:
31/10/2009 12:49

cont... it is scarey when you first find out about it, I googled it and devastated. It is a nasty disease and can manifest itself in many different forms, but it is well controlled with the drug. I know that there are also injections which can be given for a set period which should suppress the disease but they are toxic and I didnt want to take the risk of damaging the liver and kidneys further in my old dog.



Its not a hopeless case, good luck with your dog.



x

vikingqueen



Joined: 07/02/2009
Posts: 241

Message Posted:
01/11/2009 17:36

Tinkie you made me feel so MUCH better thank you.

vikingqueen



Joined: 07/02/2009
Posts: 241

Message Posted:
01/11/2009 17:40

Tinkie do you know how long a dog (10 years old) can live diagnosed and on Allopurinol??

Tinkie


Joined: 16/03/2009
Posts: 1256

Message Posted:
01/11/2009 18:27

Im not sure, it depends how far advanced it was when it was diagnosed, but my boxer was 5 years old (6 years ago) when she came to Cyprus, Im guessing she must have had Leish for at least 4 years, only been treated for the last year and she is almost 11 now. She just had a new set of blood tests done and her liver, kidneys and heart are all normal. The problem is that the Allopurinol can cause organ failure (its actually a drug that they give human patients with Leukhemia to I think it must be pretty strong stuff). I was speaking to the vet just yesterday and she quite rightly said that its all about quality of life and not quantity when they get to a certain age, so if your dog shows improvement on the drugs and seems happy and not in pain then thats really all you can ask for. Its quite a shock when they are first diagnosed but my dogs are really doing well on the drug. If you would like to chat about it at any time my number is 0533 845 0962.



Karen

x

blakey1627



Joined: 30/01/2008
Posts: 137

Message Posted:
01/11/2009 21:36

Hi Liz my dog was diagnosed with Leish six months ago at the time he was very lethargic, yellow eyes and scaly skin on his leg joints. Since he has been on Allopurinol the difference is amazing, he now has loads of energy his eyes are bright and no skin problems whatsoever.

Also as a precaution he wears a paraband collar all year round.

Blakey

boglefan



Joined: 07/06/2009
Posts: 511

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 01:26

Wow, like NA I was only aware of Allopurinol being given to humans with gout. So glad that it is also a drug that gives our four legged friends relief from this horrible disease.

vikingqueen



Joined: 07/02/2009
Posts: 241

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 01:40

Karen thx for sharing your number, I will call you. Yes prolonging my dogs life is what I want and I am trying my best for him.

vikingqueen



Joined: 07/02/2009
Posts: 241

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 01:47

Hi Blaky well my dog has not yet shown any improvement and the skin around the edge of his ears is peeling , I just wonder how long it takes to show an improvement , been a week on medication



Liz

Tinkie


Joined: 16/03/2009
Posts: 1256

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 07:51

VQueen, it took about 3 weeks in my Golden Retriever and about a month in my Boxer, before you could see a difference. My boxer had a really nasty patch on her ear, which was dismissed for a couple of years, by another vet, and I was told to just put savlon or vaseline on it. It gradually ate away at her ear, although its cleared up now she has chunk missing from her ear! That probably took the longest to clear up, but the loss of bladder control and the joints eased after about 3 to 4 weeks on the tablets.

vikingqueen



Joined: 07/02/2009
Posts: 241

Message Posted:
02/11/2009 14:14

thx Tinkie God bless

blakey1627



Joined: 30/01/2008
Posts: 137

Message Posted:
05/11/2009 20:15

Hi Liz re msg 19. I would say a few months before the scaly skin patches dissappeared, just be patient the Alloprinol will kick in like any drug it just takes time. My boy has a new lease of life and is a very happy chappy now.

Blakey