He looks so much better! What did you find out from the vet?

Vet said it's looking good. No need for antibiotics! We still have two weeks left of the Terbinafine (antifungal) and it's healing nicely.

No heartworms and he still weighs around 55lbs (he wouldn't sit on the scale and kept leaning on the wall) so that's good.

Great news! He looks so much better. Hope the rest of his recovery is quick.

No heartworms and he still weighs around 55lbs (he wouldn't sit on the scale and kept leaning on the wall) so that's good. [/quote]

This is Maya also, I don't even try any more, pick her up weigh both of us, weigh me, subtract the difference. I realize that might be a little difficult ( or impossible ) for you, but it works for me! and wanted to share  

I can pick him up but...it's not always easy. Hahaha.

Especially because he's almost as big as I am. (I'm only 5'1"..)

So it's been about a month since my last update. Mishka was prescribed 3 weeks of Terbinafine and it still wasn't looking better so we are almost finished with another 2 week round. His nose is looking SO much better and his fur is starting to grow back.

Great news!

Yay, Mishka!

So we're at month 5 now and things are looking way better. His nose is finally starting to go back to normal. We still are a little ways away but I'm happy to see this much progress finally.

Every time you update he looks exponentially better and better. Way to go!

He does look way better! Did they give you a diagnosis?

We never could get an exact diagnosis. It probably is some sort of contact allergy. And there is no way to figure out what it could be from.

So I was looking through old pictures and have come to the conclusion that somewhere between February 27 and March 6 is when this nose stuff started. I need to do some research to see if I can figure out what the cause could possibly be - food, supplement, contact with an animal, etc.

Ashleigh, your vet did check for zinc deficiency? It's a pretty common problem in huskies, I just find it odd that it's been going on so long, and from what I understand zinc deficiency will not completely go away without supplements. of course you don't want to give without diagnosis, but.....just curious to ask about that.

Renee

They checked. The biopsy results came back as a contact allergy.

The thing I've seen with zinc deficiency is that it surrounds the eyes and muzzle. Mishka's issue is just on and around his nose so it's got to be something that he has direct contact with regularly. I'm taking the ACV out of his routine to see if that is the culprit.

So we switched back to Blue Buffalo after not having much luck with his nose getting any better. My assumption was a contact allergy to something in TOTW since that is the only thing I can think of that changed during the time between Feb. 27 and March 6. I have backed off of ACV as well. So we shall see!

Wow, it's been almost a year since I last updated this thread! Despite never finding out what the true cause was, I started to supplement zinc and kelp in Mishka's diet as well as switched to partial prey model raw. He also gets local raw honey a few times a week and we have cut out most chicken and chicken flavored treats and food.

Here is an updated photo from yesterday. He still has *slight* redness and hair thinning around his nose (and a small spot on his right eye) but it is significantly better.

He looks so good! Such a strange condition, but you seem to be doing the right things to fix it.

Yeah I just have no idea! It's maybe a combination of zinc deficiency with a contact allergy to chicken? I just don't want to spend $$$ on allergy tests for them to be inconclusive or tell me what I already suspect.

she looks so much better.