5 star (28) | 90% | |
4 star (1) | 3% | |
1 star (2) | 6% |
Jackie Tidd (Northampton Uk) on 02/08/2016:
I read the first step was to eliminate all starches & sugar & put her on a raw diet without kibbles, this seemed to calm things down, but by day 5 she had awful diarrhoea & I had read that it is not a good idea to give a senior dog raw meat at this stage in her life. I then found this page & the ACV & yoghurt diet, I was confused because I had ready dairy was not good as it feeds the yeast, but decided the good outweighed the bad.
I rinsed her daily in ACV & put a teaspoon in her food, I also alternated with a spoonful of coconut oil & a tablespoon of live yoghurt, after 4 or 5 days the improvement was amazing!!
We are now on week 4 where she just has her cooked meat & grain free kibble (Lilys Pantry)
It's so lovely to have our healthy dog back again,
I would recommend it to anyone.
Hope For Dogs (Covington Ky) on 02/28/2014:
Jill (Womelsdor, Pa) on 03/27/2013:
Jill (Womelsdorf, Pa) on 03/23/2013:
Lynne216 (Ventura, Ca/usa) on 09/25/2012:
Good Luck Dragon (Gosport, Hampshire, United Kingdom) on 01/30/2012:
Then I saw this site- absolutely amazing. Did as the previous lady mentioned- shallow filled a bath to about an inch poured neat Apple Cider Vinegar over him then sponged him and left the dilute on him he didn't scratch for the rest of the day. Am now giving him a tablespoon of yogurt twice daily which he happily licks of the spoon, am making my own now for extra goodness and money saving, and I put a small amount of Apple Cider Vinegar in his water gradually building up to additional strength, and spray him with the 50/50 solution daily.
I am only on day three and he is virtually a different dog much happier 98 per cent less itchy it is early days. I am sooo thankful to all the people on this site for their insight, so pleased I stumbled across this site by accident when I typed in cheap alternatives to malaseb, v clever. I have done some research on Apple Cider Vinegar- amazing, his coat is so glossy, apparantly it helps prevent fleas and ticks which I think someone mentioned on this site so amazing, overjoyed.
Peace out.
Aly (New York, Ny, Usa) on 07/30/2011:
We have been battling skin issues for years and through the internet finally realized it was a yeast infection. She was a rescue dog and I think she was over-immunized. This left her immune system weak and when she has needed anti-biotics (after dental surgery) she winds up a scratching mess, poor baby. ACV and plain yogurt have been very helpful. I am going to add coconut oil to the mix. One way I could tell the ACV was working was that she did not smell like vinegar after the rinse. She smells like corn chips before the bath and then has no odor after. I put a quarter cup of vinegar into a quart of water and pour it on her at the very end of her bath. No rinse after that.
Lisa (Billerica, Ma) on 07/05/2011:
Another trip to the vet for more meds. The hot spots are almost gone but his skin is very red still. While I was washing his face again last Thursday I see the brown greasy yeast infection is back. UGH pissed. So I searched the web and found this sight, after alot of reading and searching other sites I decided to try the ACV and yoguart. 2 DAYS!!! Its gone... I can't believe it. I know I caught it early this time but still I an thrilled with the results of the yogurt and vinegar treatment. I also changed his food to a no grain "taste of the wild" I would rather spend the money on his food than at the vet.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
Steph Hull (Hull, Uk) on 06/19/2011:
Wynnie (Pineville, North Carolina) on 06/11/2011:
It was the incessant (recent now that hot humid Southern USA Summer is here) foot licking and then the brown waxy substance at the base of several of his nails that started my search for an answer - he had licked one pad absolutely raw - almost oozing blood. A friend and knowledgable dog person suggested it might be a yeast infection. I had no idea a dog could get a yeast infection. I found this EarthClinic site and was spellbound reading the posts.
It's been two weeks of ACV treatment and here's what I've done... One Tablespoon of ACV per dog, per day. They don't care much for it and I have to keep switching how I "trick" them into ingesting it. I've used the pill-pocket type of thing commercially available, but it doesn't hold much and the vinegar makes them go "gummy" very very quickly. I tried it in their food, but they'd turn their noses up at it and I had to stand my ground and not feed them anything else until they gave up and were hungry enough to eat it anyway (maybe a 12 hour standoff). My current, successful, "trick" is to measure out the tablespoon of ACV and slowly pour it along one half of a hotdog roll. I break each half of roll into quarters, make them Sit and their other limited tricks and give the piece as a "treat". The older dog loves bread of any kind and just gobbles it down; the younger dog is catching on that it's vinegar and turns his nose up at it until he sees his father/buddy eating the same thing - he can't stand to be left out of anything and then deigns to eat each piece. I've successfully used a soaked pretzel rod to the same end. I have begun giving them this soaked piece just after they have eaten half the normal amount of their regular food so that the full strength vinegar isn't upsetting to their stomach. They seem happier with this timing. And, by soaking each piece of bread I know that each dog got their dose of ACV for the day.
The greek yogurt... My dogs don't particularly like it. I am sticking with it because it has multiple kinds of the "good bacteria" a digestive system needs. I am, again, "tricking" them into ingesting it... I put about 2 tablespoons on top of their dry food, keeping it in a little heap - don't spread it out - , then pour over that some wet food w gravy that I know they love to eat. They eat the yogurt in the process of eating the wet food that they love. I no longer Stir the yogurt into the food (thinking that mixing it would make it more palatable) as my two dogs will turn their nose up at it and refuse to eat it at all, even when I wait 12-18 hours for them to "give in" and eat it anyway. I feed a very high quality dog food and can't afford to waste it like that. Initially I was giving each dog one-third of a cup per day for the first week. I have since backed off to the heaping tablespoon per dog per day.
Diluted vinegar in the ears: Well, I tried the 1/3 ACV to 2/3 water once in the younger dog's itchiest ear. He was so blatantly miserable and in pain that I apologized profusely as I grabbed a handlfull of cottonballs soaked them in water and flushed the vinegar out. He forgave me, but wanted to hide when he saw a cottonball and smelled the vinegar. So, I diluted the mix down to maybe 1/8 ACV and 7/8 water.(1/8 cup vinegar to 7/8 cup water). I put the mix in it's own spray bottle so it was ready to use anytime. I then thought it's be easy just to spray the mix onto their paws and/or ears. Ha - silly me. My dogs are afraid of the spraying sound and, after almost dislocating my shoulder holding them to me as I sprayed their feet, I caught on and changed tactics. I now soak a palmful of cottonballs with the spray bottle solution and then walk calmly into the room they are lounging in and very gently swab between their toes, around the base of each nail and then another clean cottonball to gently wipe the inside/underside of their ear flaps. They no longer have the discharge at the nail bases and they don't run when they see me with a cottonball!
OverTheCounter Yeast Infection ointment: I bought the version with a tube of ointment with 7 applicator tubes. You screw the applicator onto the tube and squeeze in a small amount of ointment (maybe the size of three green peas, or the size of a mini marshmallow). The applicator is smooth and sterile and slips easily into the penis sheath with no "wrestling" of the dog to comply. Press the plunger and the ointment is deposited. I used one small dose each day for 5 days.
Results so far: The older dog stopped chewing at his feet in just a few days and hasn't licked any raw spots at all, seldom licks at all now (two weeks in). His penis sheath is less than half as swollen as it was and the mucous-ish discharge has stopped. It is not longer an angry-hot red at the opening. He is not dragging his rectum on the carpet as if it itched. He had one seizure on the third day of treatment, but it was smaller and less intense than any other ever and he recovered very quickly as well. He is not itching at his ears with vigor, just the occasional, more typical, doggy itchy-scratchy of an ear. His eyes are not as red at the rims/base of eyelashes as they were and he seems to be "feeling better" and has more energy and actually plays with toys now instead of just having his head down and looking up at you with very sad eyes as if to say I Don't Feel Good.
The younger dog doesn't lick his feet anymore and the nailbed discharge/brown waxy substance is almost all gone.
And all this from a half gallon of apple cider vinegar and two large containers of greek yogurt. I think we are on to something here and it is a very pleasant surprise. I feel terrible that the older dog was in such apparent misery (Ladies - if you've had a yeast infection you KNOW what I mean! ) for so long. But, he's acting half his 9 yr age and I couldn't be more thrilled.
Moral of the story: Give it a try, the ACV and the greek yogurt(plain, no flavor), be realistic and stick to it. I didn't see any concrete proof of it working until mid way into the second week. When his discharge symptoms abate further I will lower the vinegar to half a tablespoon and the yogurt to every other day and keep it up as Preventative Maintenance.
Tara (Los Angeles, Ca) on 01/26/2011:
It has been a week and a half and the improvement is enormous. His skin is 95% better. The hair has started growing back and the itching is all but gone. I'm assuming that he'll be perfect again (mommy eyes) in another week. I am so grateful that I found this thread. I give him a tablespoon of plain yogurt once in the morning and once at night. Spray him with the 50/50 solution of ACV/water in the morning and sometimes brush him with it at night. Please attempt this if you're dog is suffering from a yeast infection. It has saved me untold $$$ at the vet and I couldn't be happier with the results. Thank you all!!!
Joyceepoo (Mobile, Alabama, Usa) on 01/19/2011:
Tuesday Angel (Whittier, Ca) on 12/20/2010:
Here is what I did. I bathed her with Zymox enzyme shampoo (3 times a week) and used Zymox ear drops, found both on amazon. I made her food weekly in a crockpot, put in chicken thighs with skin, brown rice, barley, carrots, water and let cook until the meat falls off the bones and skin disappears. Take out bones and mix well. I feed her this food 3 times a day, 1/2 cup each time, I mixed in 1 TB alfalfa powder, 1TB kelp powder, 1TB flax meal, 1 TB olive oil and some water. Once a day I mixed in 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder and 1 broken echinecea capsule as an natural antibiotic. I also gave her 1 acidophillis capsule daily. Finally, I massaged a few drops of tea tree oil on the irrated skin. I am still amazed at the results. I hope this helps other owners and dogs.
Sylia (New York, New York) on 12/04/2010:
This is the fourth day that I have given her yogurt and I cannot belive the difference. She is no longer chewing and scratching and the terrible redness has gone down a good bit. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this is not just a temporary solution but that it will last. I have ordered Acidopolus for her but if the yogurt keeps working I will just keep her on that. If your dog suffers from yeast infections do try the yogurt. It may not work for your dog but it's definitely worth a try, it was for my little girl. The Malaseb shampoo is no longer available but the alternative is KetoChlor shampoo by Virbac. You can buy it online.
Jean (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) on 09/19/2010:
Gina (Iuka, Ms) on 08/18/2010:
Rhonda (Harriman, Tn.) on 04/13/2010:
Christine (Vista, Ca) on 03/08/2010:
I did not feed him this morning to make sure his food had left his stomach. He is on a national dry brand with salmon and yogurt but I think it is causing irritation. It is a lower brand of food. I have tried the higher brands but they irritate his skin more. Tonight I found a wet food that was mostly meat products no glueten or grains in it. I added a 1/4 of plain yogurt and a tablespoon of ACV. Mixed it up and he ate it all. Right now Sammy is sleeping peacefully in his bed for the first time in many, many months. He usually wakes up scratching and biting. I am going to continue with this diet and start to dilute the ACV with distilled water as we go on. I don't understand why Vets can't seem to figure out that yeast is the cause of most scratching and self biting in dogs. I makes sense that the yeast is spread to other parts of the dogs body by scratching. Treating Sammy's paws has made a world of difference.
Becki (Blaine, Mn) on 02/14/2010:
Mr. Smithster (Los Angeles, Ca) on 12/29/2009:
Our experience. My dog Willow is a 20lb terrier mix, current age 2 1/2, fixed female. We rescued her at age 5 mo. She is the best dog I have ever had the pleasure of living with. From day one she has been a no issue pup, except... Allergies. At approx. 9 mo. old she had an eye infection. The Vet gave antibiotic eye meds and cleared right up. 3 mo. later, same thing. Same meds again, cleared up again. At 1 1/2 years old she started licking her paws to the point of no hair on the paw. Vet gave some antibiotic spray, Seemed to clear up. Approx 3 mos later she started loosing all her fur on her back legs and around her rear. Vet said, Allergies. Gave steroid shot and she was fine, fur grew back. 1 mo later same thing except now all four legs and all paws. Vet suggested steroid pills, we tried them for about 2 weeks and she was not getting much better, but the steroid pills made her a zombie dog. I stopped the meds and went in search of a vet that might be able to help. After 4 vets, all suggesting the same thing, I found a great vet that was willing to work with us. After much trail and error and little success, we discovered a med called Atopica. This once a day pill isnt a steroid, so no side effects. Willow responded very well, 80-90% of fur grew back and no noticeable itching/scratching. Then i stumbled onto this site. Even with the Atopica, Willow would get small patches of what the vet said was a skin yeast infection. 2 wks ago i started the ACV/Yogurt treatment. Within 3 days i saw noticeable improvement. Now she has fur gowing fur where i didnt know she grew it! No yeast spots on skin. Absolutely no itching/scratching. Wow! I also had an allergy test done on her 6 wks ago. She was slightly allergic of turkey/chicken. Of course I was feeding her Orijen kibble mixed with Wellness Core kibble, both turkey/chicken. So for the last month she has been on Wellness Core Fish kibble, with a 1/4 can of canned salmon in the morn. I also stopped the Atopica when I started the ACV/Yogurt. In the morn i have been putting 2 teaspoons of ACV on her canned fish along with 2 squirts of high omega fish oil. At lunch she gets a 1/4 cup of plain Yogurt. 1 cup of Grain free Wellness Core kibble, which she eats over the day. Thats it. I guess it could be the new food, but i didnt notice much difference till we started the ACV/Yogurt. I am going to keep this up. I did use white vinegar, 50/50 w/water on her yeast spots and they cleared up in a few days. They havent returned and fur has grown over the spots. We have our little furry pup back! She is so comfortable now. Its so nice seeing her with no discomfort. Thanks so much for this info. I will keep posting to let everyone know if this treatment is lasting. It sure seems to have worked for us. After 4 vets and hundreds dollors, if not more, this is a blessing. Thanks Again!!!
Cat (Dallas, TX) on 07/29/2009:
Thank God for Google and this website.
Cat, Chachacha, Chugger and Chiclet
Claire (Port Charlotte, FL) on 07/03/2009:
Gena (Nicholasville, Kentucky) on 05/17/2009:
Thanks to all for the feedback and suggestions that you post.
Joy (Hohenwald, Tennessee) on 04/29/2009:
Mary (Rochester, New York) on 03/19/2009:
Mary
Ambra (Kent, Washington) on 02/08/2009:
Ambra (Kent, Washington) on 02/02/2009:
Kelly (Singapore) on 10/10/2008:
After earthclinic online, I purchased ACV and yogurt yesterday. After showering, I sprayed the ACV (half acv and water)on the affected area. It must have sting real bad cos my dog was frenzily running around d house.
This morning, I noticed that the reddish inflamed skin is gone, especially around the eye area and the affected areas have turned pinkish! Not flaky anymore but soft skin. Her ears are clear and have no smell at all :)
I am definitely continuing with ACV and yogurt, and have a small bottle ACV spray that I can use daily. No way am I going to feed her all those unneccessary meds from the VETS!
Karen (Pittsburgh, PA) on 10/01/2008:
Stacey (Navarre, Florida) on 07/05/2008: