Yeast infection - Page 1

Does anyone have any advice on treating cronic yeast infections. I have had my 8 year old to the vet many times for itchy and inflamed skin along with constantly recurring ear infections.The vet always puts him on antibiotics and a steroid. This clears everything up in a few weeks but about two to three weeks after the medication is finished the dog starts off with another ear infection and then the itchiness and hair loss and sore skin starts all over again. I am very frustrated and have spent lots of money at the vet and it just seems to be a vicious cycle. The dog is now miserable with another ear infection and I am not sure what to do anymore. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

Sounds like my life story in stereo.I also had 1 dog with this problem.Your dog is more than likely suffering from either food allergy OR intolorance or possibly inhalent allergies.I would say try another food first with a DIFFERENT protein source.For example,if you're feeding chicken then switch to lamb or fish or something the dog has NOT had before.By the sounds of it this hopefully will help but remember for 8 to 12 weeks he is to have the new food ONLY and NO treats or anything until you get this resolved.If you need anymore help let me know and  i will  try to help you.There is one food out there which is Hills Ultra ZD which is the true test for food problems cause the protein molecules are chopped to less than 5000kilodaltons which will not make the immune system react.It is however very expensive and the dog will need alot more than the bag  says,at least mine did.Also it is preserved with the no no's but sometimes you have no choice but to take the lesser of the evils.

Yeast infections in the ear are usually an indication of food allergy!  I would take this dog off of any food that contains corn or soy!!  Those ingredients are usually the worst offenders.  If that doesn't work you will have to start eliminating ingredeints!  Vets are very good at treating the ear infections but tend to ignore what the "REAL" cause is!  Vets are usually not well versed in dietary issues, the k9 diet is not taught in vet school!!  They only learn what the sales reps tell them!!  And......why on earth would the vet want to educate you on food allergies.....he might loose some income if he resolves the actuall issue!

Good Luck!

Vickie

www.PowerHausKennels.com

Go to:

www.greatdanelady.com

She is the queen of the yeast infection cure.

She basically is addressing systemic yeast problems and i dont beleive this is the case here as per the  original poster.Yes I am aware that he mentions skin problems as well but i  think this is  classic food allergies at its finest.I am not just throwing things out here,i unfortunetly had to deal with this same issue with a couple different GSD's over the years and it's  not fun,but can be brought under control once you identify the offending foods which are causing the dog problems.

Excuse me for disagreeing, but from my nursing expecience, I can tell you  most yeast infections ARE systemic! And the most common cause in healthy people? ANTIBIOTICS!!  Ditch the antibiotics and steriods already, they obviously are just perpetuating the cycle!  Yeast occurs naturally in any warm, moist area of the body. It gets out of control when the NORMAL bacteria of the body are killed off by antibiotics. Both antibiotics and steroids depress the body's natural immune system, which would further put the balance out of whack.

Yes, check out allergies. Sometimes a REALLY thorough ear flush works, too.

Yeast hate an acid environment. Have you tried Burrow's solution? Very simple, cheap, and can be very effective.

You might want to use the search function on this site to pull up other threads. I rember one that gave a link to a Power Blue ear treatment that was supposed to be very effective. I copied it to my computer somewhere... [goes digging....]

Okay, found the link!  http://www.itsfortheanimals.com/Adobe/Blue%20Power%20Ear%20Treatment.pdf

Good luck!

Aye! T' dreaded Yeast infection. Aye me has faced this stinky enemey many times Aye. Me be very serious, when me tell ye t' pick up a tube o' mycelex-7. If ye be certain it be a yeast infection in t' ear then mycelex-7 be t' cure. It be also t' best for any skin fungi on cats or dogs, such as ringworm.AYE!

Sunsilver,

I am sorry you disagree.  Human medicine is very different than veterinary medicine, if that is what you refer too above!   Nine years experience in Veterinary Medicine tells me that this is a classic food allergy!  My first imported bitch had a problem with corn and soy and I recently aquired a female that has the very same issues!  I switched her to lamb and rice....novel proteins and cleaned and medicated the ear.....Nine years experience in Veterinary medicine says that this ear infection won't return unless I did not figure out the ingredient that is causing the allergy or she develops an allergy to what I switched her too!  Also, obsessive feet licking is a sign of food allergies!

P.S. To those who are singeling out the corn and soy....watch the labels on canned food as well as treats!  They are offenders also!!

Vickie

Sunsilver is correct. The inside of a dog's ear contains bacterium and yeast spores all of the time. They co-exist and keep each other at bay, and additional support is lent by the dog's immune system.

If an imbalance is created, then an infection can occur and be caused by either the bacterium or the yeast. That is why before one makes treatment that one discovers which organism is the cause. It seems to be that more often the yeast is the problem, but I am just speaking from limited personal experience.

One (1) product I have successfully used is Vitamax and it is through your veterinarian only by prescription. It works for both bacterial and yeast infections and is dribbled into the ear canal. From a squeeze tube I apply a copius amount, allow it to soak for a day or so and then use cotton makeup pads to wipe the ear clean. The waxy filth that is at the bottom of the ear gradually migrates towards the outer ear and can be swabbed away. I repeat this daily until the ear is pink, clean, and smells correct.

In the past I used a veterinary T-8 solution that is supposed to flush the ears and loosen the wax prior to application of the Vitamax. In my opinion the T-8 solution did little good, as the dog quickly slung it from their ear and it evapourated. I tried using only the Vitamax, and it worked. I have only one (1) dog who ever had a problem with his ears, and after three (3) or four (4) infestations I tried this new treatment. The last occurrence was during the spring of 2006 and the dog's ears have been fine ever since.

Regards,

Bob-O

Aye, never heard of t' Vitamax.  Some Vets be giving t' Animax which be t' generic for Panalog.  T' Panalog be t' weaker form of t' Mycelex 7 Aye