Loki's nose issues

[Reyven]

I had posted several months ago about Loki's nose being 'infected' or so it seems. It comes and goes randomly. It'll get bad, then get better. After everyone's suggestions we switched our water bowl from a plastic one to a stainless steel one. All their bowls are now stainless steel.
And yet his nose is still doing this! I just can't figure it out. We were going to take him to the vet a couple months ago...but then Fox got bit and we had to pay for that
We finally have an appointment scheduled for this Friday. I really hope it's nothing serious and I hope they don't have to swab it or scrap it...Loki would try to tear their heads off! Luckily he'll be muzzled...but I'm guessing that won't make it much easier for them to see what it is.
I got a few pics of his nose, give me a sec to upload them

I tried to get rid of most of the sheen from the flash, but it didn't work that great...if you can see, it looks like it's eating away at the top of his nose. Even inside his nose gets all inflamed and nasty looking

[RoughCollies]

It looks like Collie Nose to me. Collies and some other breeds can get it, so perhaps Loki is one of those breeds?

Collie nosea depigmenting, crusting dermatitis of the planum nasale, adjacent skin on the dorsum of the nose, and sometimes lip and eyelid margins. Occurs most commonly in sunny climates and in individual dogs with the greatest exposure to sunlight. Once believed to be a breed-specific disorder related to the long nose of collies, it is now known that several diseases produce similar clinical features and in many breeds. These include discoid and systemic lupus erythematosus, pemphigus erythematosus and pemphigus foliaceus, as well as solar dermatitis.

Then again, I might have no idea what I am talking about.

[saluki-sue]

One of my client has a dog who' nose looks like that. The vet said it is Lupus now the dog has to have sun screen put on her nose everyday before even going out to pee. After 3 years of treatment by the vet and limited sun time the dogs nose is almost back to black and the scabing is all gone.

[weezyNollie]

I was going to say Lupus -- discoid form.

To diagnose, you need a biopsy of the nose. Treatment is relatively simple, but life long maintenance. Treat with tetracycline and niacinamide. Both are three times a day medications.

My mom's GSD was diagnosed several years ago, and is fine now. His nose is mostly healed, but will get cracks once and again. My mom also applies bag balm and vitamin e oil to the nose, in addition the medications.

[weezyNollie]

Oh, and BTW -- the nose biopsy is a punch biopsy done under sedation/anesthesia.

[Reyven]

Never would have thought Lupus. I just thought that maybe it was some sort of infection that just never got completely cleared up. Just what Loki needs, more lifelong health issues! Oh well, just so long as we find out what it is and get it under control I'll be happy!

Under sedation would be great! Maybe they could do his xrays of his hips then too...guess I'll have to find out about how much that would cost!

[EmmaGirl]

I have nothing to add but sending good thoughts and prayers your way.
Please do keep us posted.

[Reyven]

EmmaGirl- Thank you

We just got back from the vet. Loki was very well behaved for the vet, not one growl or anything! However, he was a terror with the other dogs...whining and trying to go play Luckily he calmed down some and before we left he wasn't pulling to get to the other dog!

The vet believes it is an auto immune disease. He gave Loki a steroid shot and also gave us some drops to put on his nose once a day. He wants a followup with Loki in 3 weeks to see how the drops are working...if they're not working then he said we'll do a biopsy.
I really like this vet (the office has like 3). He didn't want to jump right to painful or expensive tests, but wanted to see if this medication works first I think I will definitely request him next time; besides Loki loved him and that's rare for a vet LOL

[athena1]

It is always good to get a vet you and your dog are comfortable with. I have 2 that I will only let see my dogs. Please keep us up to date.

[rubyred]

Glad the vet visit was uneventful. LOL. Let us how how the drops work out. Sending healing vibes that this will take care of it and Loki won't have to have the biopsy and further treatment.