Christian Selken asked 2 weeks ago
Dr. Kraemer, Can You Help My Bulldog Pemphigus Autoimmune Skin Disease?🙏
Nala's was born on 9/11/2020 and has been the most loving and happy pet i’ve ever had. ❤️
In January, Nala started to develop some skin issues which the doctors believed were allergies. I’m from a military family as my dad is retired after a 20 year career in the military. 🗽
My dad, has built an unbreakable bond with Nala and they sleep and snore together every night.
Nala only continued to get worse while the doctors changed her diets and put her on all kinds of different allergy medicines. When I came back home from college she want to see a dermatologist, Nala was diagnosed with Pemphigus Foliaceus. Having a diagnosis left us with hope that Nala would have a chance to get better following the right care and treatment.
Unfortunately, Nala has rejected her treatment and has continued to get worse. I’m not a vet, but I believe her case to be severe and in worse shape than the dogs on the website. She sometimes refuses to eat and her whole body is covered in scabs despite constant treatment.
She has lost 10 pounds is showing no signs of improvement. I can’t imagine how much pain and itchiness she’s been feeling these past 6/7 months. I had a talk with my dad and we’re feeling a bit lost. We just want to know if there’s any hope for her and will continue to fight but at a certain point it’s not a good life to live.
I want to do what’s best for Nala and am wondering if there’s any hope or if there’s any way to determine when euthanasia is the best route. It breaks my heart that she’s dealt with so much before turning 5.
Thank you, any feedback means the world.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read through this.
Dr. Roy Kraemer Staff answered 11 hours ago
Alternative Treatments For Bulldog Pemphigus Skin Autoimmune Disease
Dear Christian and Family,
I’m so sorry to hear about Nala’s condition. Please know that our thoughts are with you during this incredibly difficult time. 💔
We also want to express our gratitude for your father’s service—it truly means a great deal to us. Dr. Kraemer is a Navy veteran, and so was his father and uncle, who both served in WW2, so this is something very close to his heart. 🗽
Pemphigus Treatment and Side Effects
As Nala’s dermatologist mentioned, autoimmune diseases can be particularly hard to manage. The treatment often involves strong immune-suppressing medications (steroids and others), which come with serious side effects and a high risk of infections. Therefore, the treatments usually also require long-term use of antibiotics and antifungal medications.
Treatment requires long-term use of immune suppressant drugs and medication for infections
What Is My Bulldog Pemphigus Prognosis?
This condition is long-term and typically can’t be cured, so treatment is usually focused on keeping your pet as comfortable as possible.
PEMPHIGUS MONITORING
The medications often require careful monitoring and frequent lab tests, which we know can be emotionally, physically, and financially overwhelming for families.
Pemphigus Supportive Treatment
If you’re looking for supportive treatments to help Nala feel more comfortable, we recommend adding gentle, non-prescription therapeutic bully topicals such as
BULLY TOPICAL THERAPEUTICS
- Bully Medicated Antiseptic Shampoos
- Cream Rinse Conditioners
- Yeasty Bully Antiseptic Gels
- Medicated Sprays
- Medicated Bully Wipes
To help
- soothe her skin
- remove dander
- relieve itch
- reduce bacteria and yeast infections.
BULLY THERAPEUTICS SUPPLEMENTS
You can also add bully therapeutic supplements that help reduce the prescription mediation side effect and support the
- immune system
- reduce inflammation
- protect the gut health
Those therapeutic's usually include
- Â bully probiotics & digestive enzymes
- bully immune boosters
- bully multivitamins
- bully skin and coat derma care chews
- bully fish oil EFA
Pemphigus Autoimmune Disease Stem Cell Alternative Treatment
An alternative option you should consider is stem cell therapy. However, if Nala didn’t have her stem cells banked (cryobanked) during an earlier procedure (like her spay), it may be very difficult now.
STEM CELL CRYOBANKING
Collecting stem cells usually requires anesthesia and a small fat reserve, which can be a challenge in dogs who’ve lost strength, weight, and most of its fat reserves.
STEM CEALL TREATMENT OPTIMAL OUTCOME WARNING
Lastly, for stem cell therapy to have the best chance of success in treating autoimmune disease, it's important to gradually taper off immune-suppressing medications whenever possible.
If you’d like to explore this possibility further, we’re here to help you understand the pros, cons, and feasibility.
Should I Euthanized my Bulldog?
When a pet’s quality of life starts to significantly decline—as may be happening with Nala—it’s important to begin thinking about all options, including humane euthanasia.
That’s never an easy conversation, but it comes from love and compassion.
Please keep us updated and thank you for sharing with us Naya's before and after photos, it's heartbreaking to see how much she has gone through.
We’re thinking of you and sending strength.
Warmly, ❤️ Dr. Kraemer & The Vet4Bulldog Team
