Hi, my german sheperd was diagnosed with anal furunculosis on 23/9/09, he has been on prednicare 15mg a day since then, at first it appeared to be getting slightly better but it is as bad as ever again if not worse, after reading about atopica i asked my vet and he gave me a prescription, but i am worried about the side effects it can have and just wondered if anyone has used this treatment and what the results were, i don,t know what else to try as the prednicare is not working, thankyou, Gwen

Gwen I used Atopica for my Westie till she died age 15. Rosie had no side effects from it and the Atopica was very successful for her skin problem. Ive now got a Westie puppy nearly 6 months. Fingers crossed she doesnt get Westie Skin but id never have a problem using the Atopica again.
Jean

Thankyou for replying, i just feel a bit desperate at the moment and am willing to try anything but it was just reading of the side effects, i feel guilty putting him through it but i need to do whats best and it just helps to hear that not all dogs get nasty side effects, thanks Gwen

If you put Atopica in to the Google site search bar (bottom of page) posts about this should come up...
My Leo was on atopica for about 6 years, it was the only thing that worked for her AF.
Her quality of life was bettered 100%(we were thinking of having to put her to sleep if atopica did not work) all the holes in her bum closed and only tried to flare up when she had a season(hormones made it flare up), dose slightly increased while she had a season and she was fine.
I would not say she had any nasty side effects...and she was on pretty high dose at the beginning.

My Akita has suffered with an immune condition and after 4 or 5 months on one immune drug with her preds it had to be stopped immediately due to her blood platelets dropping drastically.

She is now on Atopica and doing great, talking with the specialist they said if the Atopica worked it was the best she could go on as it has the least side effects and does not effect the blood.

I don't have any choice but to give my dog Atopica but after questionning it I am happy with what I have been told.

I would be more worried about the long term damage that the prednicare (steroids) do.

Thankyou for your reply, i just feel better knowing others are having good results with this drug, my dog starts his on Monday as this was the soonest i could get them and wean him off his prednicare over a few days, that was one of my concerns the longterm steriod use, but hopefully this will clear him up, its a horrible illness, thanks again,

My GSD male has A.F and has been on Atopica (now daily) for a few years now, its the only thing that can help him as we have tried everything else.  My GSD bitch has a HDM allergy and she too is on Atopica.  It has worked for both of them as all other treatments for their respective illnesses have been tried.  I am now in the mindset that although drugs come with risks, their comfort and quality of life is so important this outways the small risk. AF is a serious illness, I have tried everthing, even homeopathy and its only Atopica that helps him.  Good luck and love to your GSD. x

My dog has started Atopica on Monday and up till now he dosn't appear to be suffering any side effects' no upset stomach or anything and his appetite is fine, i agree that if this works for him he will stay on it, he is 9yrs old and i just want him to be as comfortable as possible and keep his AF under control, thankyou for all the replys i,ve had, Gwen

My GSD, Spencer has recently passed away with Lymphoma, at the age of 61/2. At 3 Yrs he developed a PF and was successfully treated with Atopica. However although Atopica cured his PF I believe that there is a strong possibilty that the previous medication - Atopica could of caused the Lymphoma. Beware of long term side effects with the drug Atopica.

I agree but when there is no further treatment available for a condition you have to go with it as you have no other choice. When a dog is in his older years, my main aim is to keep him happy and comfortable but the risks are always in the back of my mind. 

My GSD had AF and despite surgery and other treatments nothing worked. She was on atopica to clear it up, which it did, in quite a short space of time. She had no side effects whatever, and we were able to gradually reduce the dose and finally stop it over about an 18 month period, and it never recurred.

I know that without the Atopica,Spencer and I wouldn`t of had the last 3 wonderful years together. Nobody really knows what causes these awful diseases,but like alot of people I wanted to find some reason why Spencer was unlucky enough to get Lymphoma. Life is just so cruel at times.

It is a cruel life when we watch these things happen to the dogs we love - I suppose it could have happened with or without the Atopica, that you will never know.  The risks do worry me sometimes especially as we have tried to wean him off it but as soon as we reduce the dose it comes back. He will be on it for life now.  He is 7 1/2 now and has had 3 lumps removed this year one was a skin type cancer the others were fatty lumps.  Found another yesterday on his chest - heart skips a beat.  In the meantime he gets loved more and we keep our fingers tightly crossed for him.

for info on the latest finding on A.F visit www.cermar.co.uk and follow the link for the GSD research.  I recently attended a seminar of which AF was discussed.  They are thinking that this horrible disease is hereditory and stress related.  So many more dogs are getting it now, its very sad.

As well as Spencer taking the Atopica at the time, his vet also suggested a change of diet for him.
The vet suggested that the PF may have been related to his diet ie: he may have been allergic to chicken which was giving him loose stools, chicken being the main ingredient found in most dog foods. So for the rest of his life he ate only (nothing else ever) because I didn`t want the PF returning - Royal Canine Dry Sensitivity which contained a selected source of protein (fish) and a selected source of Carbohydrate (Tapioca).

My dog started his Atopica last monday and although the largest hole he has on his bottom dosn't seem to be any smaller it dosn't look as deep as it did and he is able to open his bowels easier as he has been very constipated so i think there is some improvement but does anyone know how long it takes for the holes to close up really noticably, i keep looking and thinking it does look a bit better than it did but then i,m not so sure also he has this green liquid that seeps out of the hole, theres no odour and i bathe it with tcp and warm water to keep him clean but not sure i should be putting tcp on it, he goes back to the vet for a checkup and more atopica on Thursday so i'll see if the vet thinks he,s looking better then, thanks everyone for your replys, i really appreciate the help and advice, Gwen

I am glad to hear that your dog seems to be improving that's good news. I started to notice a considerable shrinkage in the depth of Spencers fistula hole at about 1 month after starting the Atopica. He too had green pus around the area, so the vet suggested cleaning the area day and night with cotton wool and warm salty water this soon cleared that up. Hope this helps.

When my male who has AF first went on Atopica it took around 3/4 weeks before we saw any major improvements.  I would use Maleseb or Hibiscrub for a bum wash rather than tcp.  Both are available from your vet.
:-)

When we went back to the vet he also suggested bathing him with salt water so i have been doing this and am sure his bottom is looking better but he is going off his food and i wondered if this was the atopica, over the eleven days he has been on it his appetite has got less and less till he hasn't eaten anything today, just refuses and dosn,t seem interested in food, he has had no vomiting or diarrhoea and still wanting to go for walks and barking at noises but he just seems much quieter, the atopica seems to be be working on his AF but its just i worry about him not eating just wondered if anyone else had this problem and if he will just start eating again when he gets used to the tablets, thanks ,Gwen

For A.F the dose is doubled (usually) compared to the dose for skin problems/Atopy - this made my dog sick and quiet.  He didn't go off his food tho. It was not nice to see him when he was like that but as soon as the Atopica was reduced he improved.  Bless him, maybe you could temp him with some nice green smelly tripe to get him to eat?

Spencer didn't go off his food whilst taking the Atopica. However I know that the Atopica should be administered on an empty stomach ie at least 4 hours before or after food, to avoid any upset stomach. This also allows the drug to work into their system most effectively. At first learning about a disease and it's medication is a daunting task, but you and your best pal will soon get into a routine. Best wishes.

Rosie had no sickness. I fed her at 5 and gave the Atopica about 10pm
Jean

Is it best to give Atopica on a night-time? my vet said once a day so i give it first thing on a morning but the people whose dogs are on this mostly seem to give it on a night, is it a better time to give?

Gwen because i fed rosie 2 feeds a day it was easier to give it at bedtime. If id given it in the morning shed have had a long wait for breakfast
Jean

At first Spencer was taking 4 x 100mg capsules a day, 2 in the morning and 2 at night, eventually being weaned off them after about 6 months. So it would seem that the time of day won't be the reason for possible upset stomach.

I give Atopica in the afternoon.  My older dogs are fed at 7am and 7pm (ish) therefore its goes in on an empty tummy.

Hi Gwen
The holes heal from the inside out, so you will need to wait a little while to see the external improvement. This is why it doesn't look as deep, it isn't. It will maybe take a month or so, but it does depend how deep it goes on your dog.

My girl didn't go off her food, it didn't seem to affect her in any way at all, other than to heal the AF,so I don't really know about that aspect of it. It may just be that you need to get the timing right, and gradually it will all come right. If his eating doesn't improve perhaps the vet could give an appetite stimulant just to kick start it again. Good luck, let us know how it goes.

His bottom is looking quite a lot better now, i give his tablets first thing on a morning then wait to feed him he still won,t look at dog food but he is eating chicken or mince so i guess as long as he,s eating something thats good and he keeps it down, i have to say he was not amused at barking mad suggestion of tripe, but the look of that almost put me off my food, yuk, thankyou everyone for the advice it really helps, Gwen

That's good news that your dog has his appetite back, however it is very important that when your dog goes to the toilet, that his stools are very firm/as solid as possible. A low fat diet is ideal for firm stools, but Spencer did get constipated from time to time. I found that a teaspoon of Mornflake Oatbran (on his dinner) from Sainsburys helped.

Gwen
Thought the tripe would be a success. Sorry, all that smell for nothing. :-)

I took him back to the vets and he has an infection so hes on antibiotics and is eating fine now the vet didn,t think he was constipated just that it was painful for him to pass with the infection but he seems back to normal now, the holes in his bottom are really looking better now, there is no depth to them, he has been on the atopica for 3 weeks on monday and they really seem to be working i am so pleased to have him back to normal, thanks to everyone

Even though they are just dogs, to me I always had a happier Christmas time when I knew Spencer was well and feeling better.  I wish you and your best pal a Happy Christmas time and a Healthy New Year.

Great news, so happy for you and your dog.

Hi, i posted awhile ago about my dog starting on Atopica for anal furunculosis, he was doing really well and after 4 weeks on the tablets there was a great improvement but he now has an infection this is his second infection in 5 weeks and its looking far worse again, we went to the vets and he was thinking of stopping the Atopica as it hasn't cleared up but i said it was looking good till he got the infection but the vet said there is always infection there due to the nature of the problem but surely the infection must be worse at times because he is so much better after taking antibiotics, anyway the vet has given him 2 week supply of antibiotics then i have to take him back to see how he,s doing, hes still on atopica,  he said if he stops the atopica he will put him back on prednicare but he was on those for 7 weeks and they did nothing except make him hungry, its just if the infection is always present why did it clear so well in those 4 weeks then go bad again after 2 infections or could the atopica just stop working, any advice would be helpful, thankyou

Did you read my post last week regarding my GSD with AF?? 'GREAT RESULTS FOR ANAL FURUNCULOSIS GSD' Sounds so like my situation as regards to it getting better then worse.  I am not a vet BUT after going to a GSD research seminar last October especially covering AF, it is advised to use Atopica with Doxycycline. 
My dogs last trip to the vets was for an infected AF bottom, really bad, I asked my vet if we could try this Doxycycline, he had not heard of it used for this condition but agreed to order some in for me to try.  Well, what can I say, for the first time in 4 years my boy has a healed bum and is as happy as larry.  He had a 10 day course alongside the atopica (he was reduced to 200mg once a day) he weighs 43Kg so a low dose.  The results are amazing, he lets me put his cream on his bum with no growling as he isnt in pain anymore. (Fuciderm)
Can only hope it continues - been off it about 2 weeks now and still looking great.

If you vet wouldnt take a chance with this treatment - change vets to one that does.

Hope this helps, fingers crossed for you.
Lisa

I will suggest this to the vet we go back the week after next he has given him norodine for a fortnight and he is going back as soon as he finishes it, this is what he took at the beginning of december but the infection just seems to have come straight back, its so dissapointing because by the middle of december it was looking so good then just flared up again, i don,t want to stop the atopica because i hope if the infection can be cleared then it will work again

Hi, i am hoping someone can tell me a bit about this problem i am having with my dog, he has anal furunculosis which is being treated with atopica and antibiotics and is now healing up nicely, vet is really pleased with progress but last night he started to stagger about and seemed unaware of his surroundings he didn,t collapse or lose consiousness and this lasted only for about a minute, but it has happened twice again today, seems to be when he is excited like when he is going for awalk, we just got back from the vet who has given him a steroid injection and baytril antibiotic he is already taking norodine antibiotic for inected furunculosis, vet is hoping it is inner ear infection he has also taken blood to test his thyroid, but wants to see him tomorrow and if he dosn,t see results wants to take fluid from his brain, he said this can be taken from the back of neck, does anyone have experience of this or any advice, Thankyou

My dog reacted in a similar way when he was on a large dose of atopica. It was a reaction to the drug, he also strained to go to the toilet and walked in the walls etc.  He was not on any other drug at the time and according to some research results I did this was due to the drug.
Did you mention using Doxycycline anti biotic to your vet?  My dog has had AF since he was 3.5 and is now 8, he is atlast drug free since he was given this drug alongside Atopica (GSD Research advised me of this combo of drugs) my vet had not heard it to be used and was totally amazed after a 10 day course it has totally cleared up and has been since before xmas - never thought this would happen.

Thanks for your reply, yes i told the vet about Doxycycline but he didn't want to change antibiotics as these (norodine) really are clearing it up well at the moment, but he said when he has finished these if he needs further antibiotics he will try them, how long was your dog on atopica for? my dog has been on them only 3 months and i see side effects recently, he is moulting something terrible also he had a small growth on his gum which has really grew in the last few weeks, he had it removed on friday the vet thinks it is an epilus which is benign but is having it tested to be on the safe side but he said the rapid growth is a side effect of atopica, i am just worried about these dizzy spells he seems to be having and the head tilt  and about fluid being taken from his brain, i dont know how this is done or if it will hurt him, he has been doing really well lately but it just seems to be one thing after another these last few weeks

Oscar has been on and off Atopica for 3 years now, he was on it everyday for 2 years because as soon as we dropped it or took him off it he got worse.  It never actually got rid of it just kept it at a certain level.  He is off it at the moment as his bum is 100% better. 
When he was on it everyday, he had the most incredible moult that lasted for ages (definately not normal) - he has had 4 lumps removed in 12 months, one was confirmed as cancer and the other was a cyst.  He had 2 removed a few weeks back and we are waiting for the results but I am sure one is cancer as it looked the same as the last one.  I am sure its the side affects of Atopica but when your dog is so uncomfortable and nothing else works what do you do?? At least now I am in a situation where I can use the doxycycline again if it returns.  My other GSD is also on Atopica, she has a HD mites allergy and is on a low daily dose, she has not had any side affects (that we can see!). I understand what you say with the one thing after another, I am in the vets at least once a fortnight with my 3. Chin up. :-)

I got the results back from the vet today, his thyroid test was normal and the lump from his mouth was benign but he is still having dizzy spells and not to steady on his feet, the vet has given him marbocyl tablets till monday then he has to go back, i just hope it is his ears, he dosn,t seem poorly except for the dizzy spells, he sort of curls to the left and goes rigid and pants, his eyes dart back and forth it only lasts a minute then he seems back to normal, its strange cos his head tilt is to the right but he always curls to the left, he is eating and drinking fine and playing with his toys, he dosn,t realise he,s 10 he acts like a pup, the vet told us not to take him out but he was so insistant on going out today, crying looking at his lead that i gave in but took him in the car so if he was poorly i could get him home, he really enjoyed it and was fine apart from one dizzy spell in car but he gets so excited, just waiting for monday now.

could it a form of epilepsy? So sorry to hear this, it must be hard for you. x

well good news i hope, his dizzy spells have almost stopped, he,s still a bit unsteady on his feet but does seem much better, the vet said said yesterday he thinks it could be vestibular disease and that it usually passes in amonth or so if this is what it is and it can be worse after an anesthetic, it can have underlying causes but since he seems to be improving he is not going to do any more tests at the moment just keep him on the antibiotics for another week and see how he goes in case it is caused by an ear infection, i just feel so happy at the moment that he is improving, i,m sure i have worried more over this dog than i did my kids when they were small, thanks barking mad mad for your replys and i hope your dogs are all ok

Fingers very tightly crossed for you! :)

Your welcome, I know what its like to own a dog with this condition, I have lost sleep over it but thank goodness for some good news.   Hope your dog goes on ok.

Hello I would like some advice I've had my GSD for 3 weeks and been told shes got AF she's only one but I'm at my wits end with her I love her to pieces but she refuses to go outside to go to the toilet and keeps going in the house she even yelps if you try and put her in the garden, is this a common thing because she's in a new home or because of the AF? I just want to make her better she's on atopica but doesn't seem to be doing much any suggestions or foods I just want her better and as comfortable as she can whilst she's ill also if there and advice on what to clean the wound with and how long I should keep her cone on for any help would be really appreciated I feel so guilty

A friend managed her GSD boy with AF who had been operated on (cryosurgery) but it returned using aloe vera Gel on the lesions and Echinacea to strengthen the immune system. 

The lesions got no worse and the dog was comfortable for 8 years (operated on at 3) until his death.

She was advised this course of action by a mutual friend who had AF in several Leonbergers where surgery had been less than fully successful.