Dakota has had this nasty looking nose for about a year-and-a-half. We've treated it a several times, but it doesn't go away. It waxes and wanes, and sometimes looks great. I was told it is probably lupus but the only way to know for sure is to biopsy it. Well, just as we were planning for that, his cancer became the overriding medical issue and the nose went on the back burner. Now, though, it's gross again and I want to deal with it. In the photo, it looks pretty bad. He gets stuff stuck in it and I have to clean it, which makes it open and bleed and makes him hide from me. Overall, cleaning it seems to make it worse.

He's had 2 rounds of antibiotics. The second round was in January-February, and he took a very heavy dose of cephalaxin for about 5 weeks. The nose improved in looks, but it still had a trench and looked very tender and almost raw and would bleed occasionally. The trench never healed. That told me Dakota had a secondary infection that cleared up but that the underlying issue would not be resolved with antibiotics.

I was told that the treatment for lupus is a drug whose name I can't remember, and the biopsy would show if that's what the problem is. However, I want to know why I have to put him through a biopsy. Can't we just treat it as if it's lupus and see what happens? If it clears up the nose, then it works so who cares if it's lupus or not? You know–if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck…

I hate to traumatize Dakota and my wallet if this can be fixed without traumatizing either. And certainly if he didn't respond to the meds I would pursue it. So, any opinions?

Thanks for the quick reply, Pam. It was the niacinamide I had heard about but couldn't remember. I didn't know that tetracycline was also part of the treatment. Does doggie sunscreen come from a veterinarian or from a pet supply place?

I may do the biopsy, but the sucker looks so incredibly painful I just can't imagine anyone taking a punch from it. I'll ask about doing a trial, I think, and see what my doctor says. Thanks again.

Shari

Ouch and Double OUCH!!!!!

I think I would hide too – it looks like it hurts…..BAD

Hope the new meds work!!!!

KaCee & Riley

Egads, Dakota! Your poor, poor snout. I'd like to say that it doesn't diminish your outward handsomeness but – um – it does.

I really really really hope it's not as painful as it looks. Ouchie.

My Aussie, Haley, has(had) what appeared to be DLE on her nose last July.  The cobblestone was diappearing and had whitish/grayish spots and swollen appearance.  It waxed and waned.  Sun made it worse.  I went to a holistic vet that treated her with chinese herbs for it and all is well so far this year.  It cleared up pretty fast…within a month her nose was back to normal.  But her nose never got as bad your pup's!  I never did a biopsy on her nose but did do bloodwork for SLE(systemic lupus) as she was having some lameness issues as well.(shifting).  The SLE test was negative.

My holistic vet suggested sunscreen as well(Dermatone maybe?) - I forget the name of the one I have used now as I haven't had to use it yet this summer but he also suggested using tattoo ink on her nose to make it 'black' and block her nose from sun.  I never had to do that either.

Tracy, Maggie's Mom

Forget the "poor Dakota"!!!!!!

What about poor Evelyn??????????!!!!!!!!  She has to look at that crust covered thing and still try to keep her dinner down!!!!!!!  It's like looking at crusty covered snot on the snout!  I'm gagging just looking at it! 

Do they do nose amputations?  I vote for one!  Bwahahahhahahaaahhhaaaaaaa!

-monkeybutt