I've started treating a friend's dog and am not having much luck. She is a 10 yr old SF lab.
Hx:Chronic damp heat skin dz (endocrine alopecia according to biopsies, but she has erythema, odor, etc). Also chronic progressive lameness both shoulders which acts like biciptial bursitis. She is definitley worse w/ rest and better w/ some motion, but no response to 2 difft NSAIDS.
The dog has some heat, more damp and is an earth type temperament.
I tried her frist on SMS, then Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tong, then Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang. THEN Xian Fang Huo Ming Yin + SMS. She tolerated all herbs fine, but no help on her shoulder pain.
I don't see her in person very often,as she lives several hrs away, but did examine her 5/6. She had a patchy alopecia w/ some erythema, but no itch according to mom. Some yeasty skin odor, warm feet and ears, resists palp either shoulder w/ a triceps spasm LF. T: Dusky red, no coat. P:Deep, maybe a bit wiry. She snores and is much more lame after even a short rest, quite sore in front.I think she's a bit gimpy in her rear end also, fussed a bit for hip palp.Not being trained in acupuncture, I didn't have needles w/ me, but I did try to sedate BL 40 w/ pressure; couldn't appreciate any obvious difference in her pulse.
She's never had shoulder films or a steroid inj in these shoulders.
Any help is appreciated- very sore, very sweet dog!
:)Cathy L