Labrador Rescue

Hi Everyone,

Thank you for your positive thoughts for our beloved brave solider.

As you know we went to Liverpool Hospital yesterday and saw a lovely dermatologist called Vanessa. physical examination showed Max had abnormal weight bearing on his front paws which means he doesn't walk on all his pads and had been walking on haired skin around the edges of the pads, she said it is genetic and common in labs. He had severe thickening and imflamation between his pads on both feet. Vanessa also found pinkness under his armpits and inflammation in his ears.

Max was admitted for X-Ray's and CT scan of his feet and wrist to make sure it was only skin disease they are dealing with. Good news they found no other abnormalities with his wrist or feet. They have taken samples of the overgrowth of bacteria which they say will be secondary due to underlying skin disease and also sent a stab to see Max is still carrying the resistant bacteria previously identified equivalent of MRSA.

She said he will have had the problem for a while and that he wasn't showing signs of having an allergy as the Atopica that he's on for his IBD will have been masking the skin allergy. She said it's going to be long journey but is positive that one way or another we will get it sorted. She's hitting him with a high dose of steroids before gradually weaning him off them , plus we have to bath him twice a week and clean his feet with wipes and steroid spray twice a day which he will always have to have done for the rest of his life due to how he walks. She spoken with his IBD specialist and they are putting him on a hypoallergenic diet for 6 weeks to first rule out if it's a food allergy. Then if not further test will need to be carried out to find the cause.

Hopefully we will get the results of the of swabs early next week. As usually Little Max stolen everyone hearts, she said he's a young boy and happy which is the main thing but it could just get time to sort out. She's made an appt for us to go back in 3 weeks and a further appt 3 weeks after that.

Sorry for the long post but I know Little Max has a special place in a lot of the forum members hearts. Please continue to keep him in your thoughts. We will never give up on him so long as he's happy.

Love

Thanks for the detailed post Amanda, it's great knowing they seem to have a handle on things, hopefully everything together will bring results.

Like you say as long as he's happy he's worth all the effort, he's so lucky to live with you.

Amanda that's a very positive outcome, Vanessa sounds as if she's going to make sure Little Max's problem will get sorted even though it may take some time. I'm pleased to hear he has charmed the staff once again what a little star. to little Max and these are for you Max is so lucky to have such a devoted family.

Hi Amanda thank you for the update and all the info on your Gorgeous boy Little Max.
I have looked a couple of times this morning knowing at some stage you would updates us, his fans.
We will keep with the positive thoughts and good wishes and love to the 4 of you.
Thinking of you
Love Liz xxxx

Thankyou Amanda for beautiful Max's update, so glad it sounds like they know what they are dealing with and with time your gorgeous boy will be fighting fit. Please give Max a from here. for you for doing such a great job too

Hi Everyone,

Just had one of the result updates from Vanessa apparently when the orthopaedic specialist has looked at the CT scan they have found that the minute middle bone in the joint on All is toes are fractured. She said this could have been caused with due to the abnormal weight bearing and might never have bothered him but due to the infection has caused them to inflame or he's done it being a typical chocolate lab when he's being silly running round.

So she re booking our appointment for 5 weeks time as she also wants him to see the orthopaedic specialist at the same time who will probably want to do a bone scan. She said they need to rule out there is no other underlying problem aswell as skin disease in order they can get his feet sorted.

She told me to try not worry as the prognosis with the bone fractures are good but need to make sure this is not adding to the problem. I do have every faith and confidence she will get to the root cause and get my precious boy sorted.

Love

Little Max never ceases to amaze us get well Max we all love you and wish you well xx

Talk about a roller coaster of a ride. Just when you can see the wood for the tree's, they find yet another problem. The positive side is, they seem to have a handle on it.

From experience, they are good at Liverpool so, we know Little Max is in good hands. Positive thoughts will continue from here.

Just catching up Amanda, as we've been away.

Goodness me - that little chap is incredible! All crossed that they get to the root of his problems successfully.

Positive thoughts winging their way, as always xx

Lots of healing thoughts and hugs from me too - he is such a brave little soldier, hopefully he will be back to normal soon.

Jackie x

It's sad that Little Max has some broken bones but Vanesa seems as though they may manage to sort everything out. I do hope so, your brave, brave boy deserves for his health to be sorted bless him, and so do you. Hoping for further progress when you have the next appt with him.

Hilary, Rowley & Douma

Glad that you have a few more answers and even though it looks like being a bit of a long haul, there is a positive light at the end of the tunnel for gorgeous Little Max.
Thinking of you all and sending more positive healing thoughts,
Des x