Immune Complex Disorder???

[boxermommy03]

I took Harley to the vet about a year ago because his paws were raw. I thought that he just liked to chew on his paws because he was doing that comnstantly. The vet diagnosed him with Immune Complex Disorder but couldn't give me an explaination of exactly what causes this. They insist that we pretty much keep him on steriods and anitibiotics to keep it under control. I don't like keeping him drugged up because he is not the fun loving buddle of energy that we know and love! I think that it is possibly just allergies because it seems to come and go. It is worse in the spring and fall than summer and winter. I guess for now we will continue treating it as it seems neccassary. Has any one ever heard of this immune complex disorder??

Thanks!
Lisa
~mommy to Harley~

 

[gmacleod]

I wonder if that's immune complex hypersensitivity? Which is related to allergies (ie. is another form of abnormal reaction of the immune system), but causes antibodies to lodge in bodily organs and cause problems.

Here is a very brief article that explains the differing types of hypersensitivities: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1587&articleid=147

In the absence of any other symptoms than chewing paws (which looks more like type 1 hypersensitivity - allergies) it would seem a little strange to diagnose type 3 though... Perhaps that's not exactly what your vet is meaning though.

 

[rupertpeeter]

Hi,
I don't know about immune complex disorder but I know about raw, blisering, abcessing paws. And the doctors basically said the same - immune disorder. I refused steroids and one course of antibiotics showed me it's back as soon as we finish the antibiotics. So after changing foods and elimination diets I switched to raw - the Billinghurst way, with 20% vegetables. Paws got a little better but not much. So 3 months into barfing I dropped the veggies completeley. The paws healed in a week and have been good ever since. I'm happy but a little puzzled. Was he allergic to all grains and veggies? How did the "immune disroder" disappear completely and so quickly after a nine month fight?