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Old September 17th, 2014, 12:55 PM
Mogsmum Mogsmum is offline
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Dog with possible yeast infections/allergy/low thyroid

Hi there,

I have a 4 yr old boxer/whippet mix whom I rescued a couple years ago. When she came to me, she had nasty ear infections in both ears, a pacth of fur missing on her tail, and her feet were chewed up (no fur, very red).

Took about 6 months to get the ear infections cleared up, then I started working on the paws.

Vet initially thought food allergy, so we spent close to a year trying foods of varying degrees with little results. The hair missing on her tail grew back though. Conclusion was it was not food allergies.

Then vet suggested contact allergies, mostly grass and said don't walk her on the grass, and gave a round of Prednisone. The Pred helped with her feet, the fur grew back, mostly. But when it came time to wean off the Prednisone, she went right back to chewing her feet up. Back to the vet who said she would have to be on Prednisone for the rest of her life (she was 3). She chews them up so badly sometimes that she limps from it.

And the chewing didn't stop come late fall/winter when the grass is dormant/dead. She also had red between each of her toes, red on her belly/genetal area. She scratches are her belly, and scoots on the floor (sometimes). Outside she just rolls around like she is in heaven scratching her back, or sliding her head along the ground to rub her ears.

That said...her ears had been great with no recurrence of infection. Until the other week. I knew she was getting one and was going to take her into the vet, when her ear blew up. Aural hematoma. She had surgery to drain it and it now finishing up a course of meds for the ear infection.

All this had really prompted me into trying to figure her out. Right now I'm leaning towards allergies or low thyroid, with yeast issues. She has several symptoms of each. Next step is to get her thyroid checked. In the midst of all this, I got myself a new vet, one who actually listens to me, which will, in turn, help my dog feel better.

So, any suggestions about how to make her feel better. I've read a lot about probiotics, ACV, peroxide sprays, medicated shampoos, ear cleaning solutions, etc. The last thing I want to do is have her on Prednisone for the rest of her life (new vet thought that was absurd, by the way). I'm not against medicating, but prefer to use less medication, if possible.
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Old September 18th, 2014, 09:38 PM
rhynes rhynes is offline
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Location: edmonton - canada
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Sounds similar to the battle we had with the minpin.

When I first met him, he wasn't in great shape, had a thread on him here on pets. He was on a poultry diet and not great quality, losing fur, always chewing on himself, stratching all the time, he would rake his back teeth over his hinds. His ears stunk.

Switched his food up to Acana and Orijen, more energy - just what we needed but no result in skin conditions. Started bathing in epsom salts with limited results. The vet tried a few things with very limited results. Tried different ear cleaners, again with limited results. Cleaning his ears was fun, had to wrap him in a towel and pin him down and even then it was everywhere.

Coconut oil turned out to be the answer. Baths in coconut oil and epsom salts, no soap of any kind and wow, what a difference. Apply it after the bath to the bad spots, yes he will lick it off but what odds. He looks like a brand new dog. We clean his ears with coconut oil now, immediate results and major difference and no fight. Melt it, soak a cotton ball, squeeze a couple of drops in his ears, massage it in, then wipe inside and the flaps. Just regular coconut oil in a jar that you buy at the local walmart, it's cheap and good. You can feed it on the spoon as well, dogs love the stuff, it's healthy for them.

Might be something, might be nothing.
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Old September 19th, 2014, 12:59 AM
rhynes rhynes is offline
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There's also Karen Becker, I like her attitude toward vet medicine, she's holistic. Lots of good videos on different subjects, lots of it makes sense.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl_X1I1GJ1Q
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Old September 19th, 2014, 01:42 AM
MaxaLisa MaxaLisa is offline
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You might want to consult with a dermatologist?

I think rarely is it only environmental or only food allergies, but a combination of the two (because of cross-reactivity), with one dominating.

Some don't believe in them, but I used the blood allergy test to help me get the diet straight and to determine the environmental allergies. If the environmental allergies are bad enough, you might have to do allergy shots (though they have an oral form now), or maybe it's something simple like bedding. If it's a mite allergy, they can be found in nearly all kibble.

Definitely get the thyroid checked, and rule out tick diseases.
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  #5  
Old September 23rd, 2014, 05:38 PM
Mogsmum Mogsmum is offline
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Well, thyroid checked out "fine". And she goes nowhere that there would be ticks (we're in Toronto).

She got her stitches out from her hematoma surgery, so I plan on bathing her. Back to the allergy blackboard.

I know it isn't food allergies. I did food trials for a year, with zero results. And this goes on year-round, with no change during winter months. And the vet agrees. So, back to environmental allergies. Vet mentioned a few different products. Prednisone, obviously, but I hate to give that long term. Atopica, but it is VERY expensive. Venectyl P, which is a low-dose steroid and anti-histamine together, or straight up OTC antihistamine/allergy meds like Reactine.

Allergy tests at a specialist are way out of my price range right now, unless I win the lottery (which won't happen because I don't play lol).

I have printed out a ton of "natural" remedies....but haven't tried any yet because I was waiting for the thyroid test to be done. All I have added to her diet in the meantime is an Omega 3 w/Vit D tablet, ACV tablet, and pro/pre-biotic tablet. She gets probiotic yogurt with her food in the morning and cold-pressed virgin coconut oil with her food in the evening.

Took her cone off last night after her stitches came out and the minute we were home, she was right back to chewing up her feet. Cone went back on. Her feet and belly had cleared up nicely when she couldn't chew at them. *sigh*
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Old September 23rd, 2014, 09:49 PM
Barkingdog Barkingdog is offline
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http://www.buzzle.com/articles/predn...s-in-dogs.html


Prednisone can cause a dog to get anxiety and that will made them chew on their paws . Dogs will do this when they're very bored or restless.
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Old September 25th, 2014, 02:21 PM
BrLane BrLane is offline
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I like the idea of the coconut oil/Epsom salt baths. Need to try this on my Schnauzer, Lady (a.k.a. "Itchy")
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Old September 27th, 2014, 08:18 AM
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SuperWanda SuperWanda is offline
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just thought I would mention that I think vaccines can cause this.One of our dogs always had what I thought was allergies. I changed up her diet but she would chew on her paws until they were raw and red. Our vet had us wash them with medicated soap to prevent infection. She then contracted a tick disease so our vet stopped vaccinating her and she has never had any issues since. I sometimes wonder if vaccines make the immune system a little wacky
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Old September 28th, 2014, 11:31 PM
MaxaLisa MaxaLisa is offline
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I agree SW....
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