Wegener's in a dog... seriously

**annekat** · 02-13-2015, 06:13 PM

This almost sounds like a joke... but apparently not. Good news is the dog was treated with immunosuppressants, his symptoms improved, and he went into remission. If only we all had docs as good as his!

Diagnosis and management of Wegener's granulomatosis in a dog. - PubMed - NCBI

**renidrag** · 02-14-2015, 12:45 AM

Maybe we should get a visit with the diagnosing Vet?
Dale

**Barry Forshaw** · 02-14-2015, 03:20 AM

Haha! If the vet was anything like Supervet, we'd have Wegener's licked in no time!

**mrtmeo** · 02-14-2015, 04:11 AM

Vets are the best because they have to be every dr in one, a surgeon, pharmacist, specialist of every organ, immunologist, etc and they don't get to use the best test equipment like drs have available for human diagnosis.

**annekat** · 02-14-2015, 04:19 AM

Originally Posted by mrtmeo

Vets are the best because they have to every dr in one, a surgeon, pharmacist, specialist of every organ, immunologist, etc and they don't get to use the best test equipment like drs have available for human diagnosis.

Good point! And for what they charge these days, they had better be good! I know there is pet health insurance available, but I've looked into it, and it takes a bite out the budget of a low income person, who either must pay a high monthly premium, a hefty deductible, or the full cost of the visit.

**me2** · 02-14-2015, 11:27 AM

I have considered pet health insurance. I was unable to find a provider who could decide what breed I am.

**mishb** · 02-14-2015, 09:25 PM

I know that german shephards can get vasculitis.

A man that used to work with me had a cat with vasculitis and the cat and I were on the same drugs.
It cost him $350 a month for pred and MTX for his cat and it lived for just over two years.
Yes, he certainly does love his cats.

**annekat** · 02-14-2015, 10:57 PM

Even if animals can get vasculitis, which I would never have doubted, it seems strange for them to specifically diagnose it as Wegener's in this dog. But I guess the symptoms and biopsy results must have been more like WG than any other vasculitis. I wonder if they are keeping the dog on maintenance drugs and testing his blood regularly for flares or kidney involvement like they do us.