Replied By Scott (Wenatchee, WA) on 04/10/2009
I saw your comment on the Nutro Food. All of my dogs problems started when I switched her to this brand of food. I have her on a holistic one now. I would ditch the Nutro. Could be just the dog that is allergic to that brand. I am very put off by them though. My dog is obviously in a lot of pain and I know for a fact it was this food that caused it to all start in the first place.Replied By Chris (El Paso, TX) on 05/16/2009
PLEASE READ!!!! Yeast is an extremely hard organism to kill. It is very painful to live with and is always present in the intestines of healthy animals - including humans. Basically, the way it works is that you and your dogs intestines have millions of "good" bacteria that flourish inside them and aid in digestion. These bacteria are responsible for an estimated 90% of your body's immunity. They constantly wage war against foreign organisms that are consumed. It is said that the intestines are actually like a second brain to the body because of the number of nerve endings and important functions carried out throughout the body that rely on the intestines. Anyhow, everything gets sick at somepoint in their life and as a result, the bacteria in the intestines are in decline or "out of whack". When the bacteria die off, yeast can take over. Yeast fills the empty space in the intestines where the good bacteria used to live. This process is accelerated by antibiotics because antibiotics do not differentiate between the good bacteria and kill them off. This is very important - ANTIBIOTICS CAN CAUSE YEAST INFECTIONS AND MAKE CURRENT YEAST INFECTIONS WORSE. This is why plain unsweetened yogurt is recommended for yeast infections - it contains L Acidiophilus which is one of the main good bacteria needed for intestinal health. If the good bacteria are never replenished and the yeast is allowed to thrive for an extended period of time, a systemic yeast infection can occur and/or resulting in an immunocompromised/auto immune condition. To kill yeast, it needs to be starved long enough for it to become weak and possibly die off on it's own. In extreme cases, Antifungals can be used AFTER the yeast has been starved long enough to become weakened to aid in it's demise - I honestly don't know who would get prescription antifungals for their dog or if they are safe for your dog. The rule of thumb in humans is to stay on the diet for 1 month to every year of candida overgrowth - do the math for your dog. Yeast feeds on sugar of all forms. This includes sugar in corn, milk, carbohydrates, potatoes.....and many other things found in common dog food. Feed your dog olny what you are 100% sure has no sugar in it, but make sure they still have the essential vitamins and minerals they need even if it requires supplements. On a personal note, I have been suffering from chronic yeast infections for the past 15 years and this is what I have done to get things under controll. Dogs are not that different from humans. Read about "candida overgrowth" "candida diet" "systemic yeast infection" - educate yourself about the topic to better help your loved ones. I have 3 dogs.Replied By Josephine (Pittsburg, Pa Allegheny Co.) on 04/29/2012
My post is in response to the site about yeast infection in DOGS. Please direct this post to the correct site. Throughout my poor ShihTzu problems I never considerd panda could be a yeast invection victim. And the reason was because the majority of all the posts pet owners would discribe what their pup was expierencing. Most stated extreme loss of hair along with the rash. Pandas hair is as beautiful as ever. But do cut hair off his belly. I am thrilled to say his pink spots that were UNDER his skin on his belly only are all gone. I truly believe because I combined all sugestions from this fantasic site Earth Clinic.
First I start out sharing what changes I made in the last 2 months. My vet did say he had an immune problem. Yes he also wanted me to agree on drugs. Never considred that route. So till I got some answers I put him in Armour Yep It prevented him from chewing off his dewclaw and opening his flesh on his inner thighs. I had to resort to this protection until I did the research. Now dont get upset when I said Armour. I went to goodwill bought snap geans toddlers long sleeve shirts. I cut a big hole for his fluffy tail. THAN I put baby socks on his paws held with velcro. Hey it works for me or should I say Panda. I planed for this to be a temporey solution till I was able to do my researching. OK this is what I truly helped thanks to different posts. First let me start with Panda is 6 yrs. Old this started one and half yrs. ago. Panda has always been on a 5 star wellness from day one. I did try the grainfree with no change in his rash or itching. Than I did try ACV I couldnt stand his reaction from that.
From all the posts combined I put turmeric, cocnut oil, flaxseed and omega 3 in his kibble. Its been amonth of this combination. All organic Never treats. He loves cooked carrots thats it. OK his stomach rash has completly gone. After his homemade oatmeal bath He is without his coverup for an hour or more. Panda will start to lick his paws and start licking his inner thigh. We are still working on that. Last night I got on the site explaining Yeast infection. One important symptom he has are black patches in differant areas but no scaly skin at all or dryness like most of the posts mention. Thats why I didnt connect the two dots. Than I accidently got on the yeast infection site and realized thats what the black spots are and how all the posts are talking about immune system and how to repair it Iam very confident all I have done so far is good. But not there yet. So many posts mentioned two things I need to get and I did today, ACIDOPHILUS soooo many posts mentioned this probiotic. Also greek yogort I opened a capsule.
Replied By Judy Millette (Westchester, Illinois) on 06/16/2016
My dog also had terrible skin problems with Nutro brand. Once I stopped feeding her the Nutro, her skin cleared up and she stopped smelling yeasty.Replied By Michelle (Arizona) on 01/30/2017
Try not to use the oatmeal baths, as these shampoos and treatments contain the common allergen causing yeast infection, wheat. As mentioned before, sugar also feeds yeast so avoid any sugary substance in the food including the widely used sweet potato. I've seen Merrick's limited ingredient that is grain free and potato free so I might try that with my pit.