Multiple Remedies
★☆☆☆☆
Hello,
I have a 9 y/o blue heeler dog with chronic systemic yeast. When I read the posted comments from other dog owners, it would appear that many of the problems others are dealing with are mild in comparison to what I am going through. Buster's problems were similar to the milder systems I've read about in the early years of his condition and were thought to have been allergies to food at first, and later fleas. Each time I upgraded to a better quality food or tried some other recommendation, there was improvement for a while, but the symptoms always returned, and always worse each time. It wasn't until his ears became terribly infected with yeast (the ears were easy to take care of using the solution recommended by the Great Dane Lady) that I was able to connect all the dots and figure out what he was suffering from thanks to the Great Dane Lady's web site. I ordered the recommended Yeast Removal Kit and followed all the instructions to the letter, including ordering the recommended shampoo and buying the #1 recommended variety of food for the problem. This was over a year ago. With the feeding recommendations and enzyme supplements, there was great improvement and I had hopes of a recovery for him, but he has setbacks and each time the yeast is worst than ever. He looks so bad that I am embarrassed to take him to the vet and use a mobile vet instead. He suspects that Buster suffers from allergies as well as yeast and of course offered Prednisone, which I declined. He also said that dogs like this are often never cured and it is all you can do to just control their symptoms and keep them comfortable. I know that the root of the problem is probably based on a compromised immune system, because after all the work, he still looks and feels just as terrible as he did. I'm glad to have found this web site and plan to start him on the yogurt and vinegar suggestions this week. There seems to be some conflict on amounts. I am writing to see if anyone has experience with a dog who has an exceptionally bad yeast infection - stubborn and deeply rooted that keeps recurring. If there is someone out there who can offer any specific ideas for my dog, I would greatly appreciate it. I have been able to link his flare-ups to warm weather and heat. He flared up in the fall when we turned our a/c off for the year (even though it was not hot) and he flared up again come spring when the weather warmed. He has to be kept inside, he can't tolerate heat, even if it is mild to us. Rather a sad life for a blue heeler. He can only go outside at night during the summer months. I have considered a raw diet for him, but he does not like raw chicken at all and will only eat raw beef or venison. For the past year, he has been on a holistic dog food only with only meat based treats. There seems to be also some different suggestions concerning dog food. A pet shop owner recently recommended I try a grain free food for him so that is the only time we have strayed from the brand recommended. His yeast seems worse and I am not sure whether to keep trying it or go back to the other brand. I don't know how long to wait before giving up on it. Is grain free really okay when it has potato or sweet potato content? Obviously, I am conflicted about what is best for him at this point and all of these ideas and suggestions are wonderful but it's hard to figure out what is best for an individual dog. I am open to suggestions. Thank you!
(San Diego, CA)
10/05/2014
★★★★★
So sorry to hear...My dog used to go through the same thing every summer when the weather got hotter. Scratching constantly and practically biting all the fur off her hind end until sometimes it even bled. The Vet cost me almost 300 dollars and it cleared up almost overnight only to return in a couple of weeks.
A friend told me about applying a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water to the affected areas. Also, make sure to saturate the paws because the infection gets spread to the paws when they scratch. Do this everyday for 6 days. Leave on as long as possible but at least an hour before rinsing off with warm water. On the 7th day you will shampoo the dog with tea tree shampoo. DO NOT use the vinegar and shampoo on the same day as they will cancel each other out.
When the dog is thoroughly dry, you can apply pure coconut oil to soothe the skin. NEVER USE an OATMEAL product, soap, shampoo etc. for a yeast infection as the oatmeal feeds the yeast and makes it worse. Grain free diet helps, I use Blue Buffalo Grain-Free, but it's somewhat expensive. I'm sure there are other brands but believe it or not, my canine is a finicky eater. This next info is VERY IMPORTANT to note! Don't get discouraged, but rather expect the dog to scratch like crazy and even roll around after the vinegar solution is applied for about 1 or 2 minutes. It WILL subside! The 1st couple of minutes, the vinegar is killing the yeast, the yeast spores react by exploding. When they explode there will be a surplus of the bacteria on the surface of the skin making the itching worse but PLEASE be patient as this will go away as the bacteria dies in a few minutes. This reaction will be less and less in following treatments.
The once a week tea tree shampoo part of the treatment kills the bacteria that is in the skin under the surface that the vinegar can't reach. The tea tree oil gets absorbed into the skin and kills bacteria beneath the surface. Leave shampoo lather on the dog for about 10 minutes before rinsing well with warm water. The coconut oil soothes irritation as well as smothers the bacteria from getting more oxygen to grow. Also, spray down bedding with the vinegar mixture, leave on for 10 minutes then launder.This treatment takes time and patience but it's effective for yeast infections, the dog won't be taking antibiotics which are only temporary and bad for their system, and it's a whole lot cheaper than a vet visit! Here's the summary below and good luck!
Equal parts ACV (or white vinegar) and plain water, enough to saturate affected areas. I wear gloves and apply with cotton balls but a spray bottle will also work. Every day for 6 days.
Tea tree oil shampoo on the 7th day (once a week)
Pure coconut oil with no additives. Can apply as needed to soothe the skin. This isn't a mandatory part of the treatment but will aid in your dog's skin healing and comfort
Multiple Remedies
★☆☆☆☆
My Yellow Lab has suffered with yeast for most of her adult life. However, it is not her skin but anal glands which are yeast infected. She is in constant agony licking her anus, etc. and, lately, her front left paw, and vulva. She is currently on a high dosage of antibiotics for bacteria and struvite crystals in her urine. I have tried probiotic capsules, yogurt, etc. in addition to a steroid cream inserted in the anal glands. She has been on a diet of venison/potato for many years. Most recently, I switched to venison/sweet potato limited ingredient with no grain food. Any suggestions are appreciated.
(Gainesville, Ga)
02/19/2012
The grain free is good but even more important is to get her off anything with starches such as potatoes, rice, rice flour etc. This turns to sugar as soon as they eat it and yeast feeds on sugar.
Also check into using the grapefruit seed extract and the colodial silver.
Hope this helps.
Good luck.
Multiple Remedies
★★★★★
Yeast Infection in dogs: Our 20 lb. jack russell terrier was suffering from "beef" allergies so the vet said after a $200 visit in which they put her on prednisone and an antibiotic. She was fine for two weeks after the medication was finished, and then she seemed to be worse. She was on a salmon based dog food (Purina Pro Plan) and her skin became inflamed after eating anything. She was constantly licking, chewing and scratching herself. We bought her a collar so she could no longer lick or chew her skin--then she started to develop crud under her front arms and she was "sweaty" in her groin area and her skin was inflamed and bleeding from where she scratched and she stunk like yeast. I immediately went on the internet and found info about yeast infections in dog and the condition her skin was in was like that described on many differnet sites--hair loss, red, welty, blackened in spots. I immediately put her on 3 benadryl tablets a day to help with the itching, two tablespoons of organice plain yogurt, and 2 acidophilus pills a day. She was already eating chicken and rice and cooked veggies, but I cut back the rice and now only give her chicken, yogurt, and have switched the food to Merrick--a high protein dog food (1/4 cup dry w/a tablespoon of wet, a little chicken and the yogurt for her two meals daily. I have also added a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to her water dish daily. After 2 days the acidophilus tablets cut the smell. We wiped her skin daily with vinegar and water (50/50) and just gave her a bath yesterday--we had just bathed her 2 days before we bought the collar. She does not smell after the bath except slightly under her front arms--but not noticible unless you rub your hand on her skin. I also cut back on the benadryl as she started to itch less and now she is not taking any at all after 1 week. Her hair is growing back on the hot spot and no inflamation on the skin at all during the treatment.
Multiple Remedies
★★★★☆
Treating yeast infection in my dog:
I had no idea dogs could get a yeast infection! Pats, our 10 year old border collie, was chewing herself raw and her odor was absolutely minging! I was looking for a natural treatment for mites, I was told that she had mange, and came across greatdanelady's testimonial. After going to the website included with the photos I realized what her problem was. I felt really bad - I've had a yeast infection before and I know how maddening it can be!!
I had been feeding her a mix of Pedigree canned and Beneful dry food, plus Liva-snaps as treats. I stopped that and went with liver/chicken/hamburger and brown rice, and mix in plain yogurt and cranberry sauce, a splash of ACV, a splash of olive oil and a good sprinkle of turmeric. I've been bathing her with an oatmeal shampoo and rinsing with a mix of ACV and water, then following it up with a baking soda rinse. I've been brushing her 3 times a day (she loves it!) and doing everything I can to make her comfortable. She hates the padded collar I made to keep her from biting herself again, but other than that she's doing much better and her hair is starting to come in again. Still a little stinky, but better!
Thanks for this website!!
Multiple Remedies
★☆☆☆☆
my american pitt has all the symptoms of yeast infection so i changed to a hollistic vet she has been on hollistic meds for 3 mo. now and she is on raw meat and veggie diet and i also tried acv and yougert and she still breaks out with rash and itches like crazy she is defanitly feeling better but still breaks out and itches does anyone have any ideas about that? thank you D.B.
Multiple Remedies
★★★★★
I have been battling a yeast infection with my 15 y/o dog for months and in retrospect, it has been years. No vet connected all the dots. I read information at the greatdanelady's site and the information finally started connecting with me. When a dog's system is invaded with yeast, the root cause will always be the food. I switched Betsy to a no grain dog food, used hydrogen peroxide to clean her ears ( all herbals caused massive infections in her ears)just ONCE, bathed her in a shampoo that would kill the yeast coming out on her skin and make her feel better two times per week and made sure she exercised via walking every single day.At the worst part of this, Betsy could hardly walk so even if she walked two houses, it was good to get her blood flowing and move the toxins. I continue to add one teaspoon of a powdered probiotic to her food two times per day. She gets raw organic meat mixed in with her food daily.
Since she is still biting her area down below and still showing arthritic symptoms in her back legs, I started using apple cider vinegar just two days ago, 1 teaspoon, 1 time per day mixed in her food, using the raw meat as a "cover" for the taste. In two days, she is perky, walked two blocks today and isn't as wobbly on her legs. Every dog is different and I feel like I have literally tried everything (only holistic, no medicines in this house) to help her. We all have to remember that the skin is the largest organ of the body and when toxins can't get out any other way, they come out on the skin, the ears, the eyes. Yeast will come out of all these areas making it look like they are separate illnesses. I have been actively working on this for over four months now but I have made extraordinary progress with her.
(Vancouver, WS)
11/29/2008
My little lahso apso has had itchy skin for her whole 3 year old life. She is allergic to fleas. I thought it was yeast or allergies. She has a little yeast in her ears that cleared up with epi optic solution from the vet. But it was hard for me to believe it but yes she is allergic to fleas. I have to use flea drops every 2 1/2 weeks religiously. I use mycodex to spray for fleas in my house often. She is so much better and all that itchy skin and rashes is all gone.
(California, Usa)
07/31/2012
OK finally!!! I have a itchy face mixed breed silky terrier, stinky from tear-stains, and yeasty smelling. After doing all the above, and he is on RAW diet, and yes I use "benadyrl" for bad days in summer, but now.. I have a better way.
SHAMPOO AND BLOW DRY WITH standard no-scent head and shoulders shampoo ( yes its vet approved) let it sit for 3 mins...
1. use ZINC creme ( aveeno) pure as possible rub it on the fur- it also kills the STINK instantly! Safe.. to lick for them!!
2. use ALOE VERA ( plant only pure watch out for alcohol in most of the store brands)- rub it into the FUR ( HIS FEET) he stopped itching, immediately.
NON-EFFECTIVE; PUTTING AC VINAGER ON THE FUR ( made it more stinky)
and yes if nothing else, its ok... white vinager was more effective acually.
hope this helps everyone....!!!!
Over the Counter
★★★★★
We have a 14 year old mixed breed dog that suffers from recurring yeast infections on her skin. We started the traditional treatments the vet had to offer but it seemed we were just chasing the infection around her body. It had gotten so bad we were at the point of discussing having the vet come to the house to put her down. The vet told us that a last ditch remedy would be to try a woman's yeast infection cream on the bad spots. She said it would possibly help with the itching and scratching. After just two days of applying the cream twice a day on the bad spots, she was starting to clear up - especially the hot, red "elephant skin" she had under her arms. She was almost completely cleared up in a couple of weeks. We're still fighting it, but when we see a spot pop up we hit it with the cream. It keeps the spots from growing larger and it stops the itching.
(Ansonia, Ct)
08/16/2015
(Columbus, Oh)
08/17/2015
Over the Counter
★★★★★
My Jojo was born premature and has had yeast infection in ears and coat all his life. I am on limited income and can't afford vets and thier meds that don't work any way. I started giving him a bath every two or three days with Selsun blue shampoo w/ prithione zinc (1%) and then when he dries, I brush him really good and put miconazole 7 on all of his crusty places. He is looking much better and no more bloody sores from scratching and biting. The shampoo is much cheaper, $7 for 11 oz bottle compared to $15 and up. All can be bought at walmart or your favorite pharmacy. He really does look and feel so much better now.
(Blue Ash, Ohio)
06/20/2013
Have had our rescue dog 2yrs now. Came full of problems, but love her to death. We are both disabled Seniors with very limited funds. I hace been using Miconazole7 in both her ears and her what we call it to her: her wu wu area. They get a real mess if we don't. Then when she is groomed about every 2 mo, they pull ear hair and express anal glands. These items are done by a Vet Tech as a usual groomer trainer is not. So where we go, 2 girls work on her. Vet put her on the following med routine ro which we stick: Omeprazole pink tablets. She takes a 10mg tab, 2x/day. Next she takes 1/2 Baby Aspirin (81mg) 2x/day. Generic Benadryl 1/2 twice/day, a 25 mg tab split . Sometimes she is still itching so badly and try 3 (1/2) tabs. Just wondering if she could take 1/2 of Xyzal for allergies? She also has baby pepto bismol when she vomits or gets diarrhea really bably. Then is is Prednisone when all else fails. That just makes her hungry all the time and gain weight. Not a fun time for any of us, Just had to give her 5mg of Pred tonight as she was non-stop itching.
Plain Yogurt, White Vinegar
★★★★★
my dog is 10 now but her yeast problems stared when she was about 5 i have spent 1,000's of dollars and many days of testing and learning what i can from all the vets in my town if u have any Q's feel free to write me ok....my dog was heart braking about a year ago with VERY lil hair from her chin down the chest and belly! now she looks like a furry lion!! her skin used to look like a fire cracker red with black spots all over and now it light pink and white she has very lil black spots..her smell used to be OMG horriable for her and everyone around her! now no smell at ALL....for the last 6 months she has been getting:
PLAIN YUGURT ORGANIC 2 TABLE SPOONS A DAY!!!! IT WORKS AWESOME CUZ IT KILLS THE YEAST INSIDE FIRST WITCH IS WHERE IT STARTS! PLEASE STOP GIVING YOUR PETS APPLE CIDER VINEGAR!! IT HAS HIGH AMOUNTS OF SUGAR IN IT WHICH HELPS THE YEAST TO GROW!! TRY 3 PARTS WATER AND 1 PART (WHITE VINEGAR) ONLY USE OUTSIDE THO ALMOST BATH THEM IN IT WITH A SPONG! THEN DRY WITH TOWEL PUT CONE ON THEM SO THERE IS NO LICKING TIL IT DRYS.....I HAVE SOOOOO MUCH MORE INFO I'LL CHECK BACK LATER
GOD BLESS
(Gainesville, Texas)
04/20/2009
(Brighton, East Sussex, Uk)
09/13/2010
Hi, this is the first time that I have heard about apple cider vinegar and yeast. I've been giving it to one of my dogs that I believe has a bad yeast infection, in his ears. I thought I was doing my best for him! But it makes sence. As there are natural sugars in apples. I'm trying to change his diet and giving him natural yogurt. I'm going to try the blue power wash in his ears. He's been to the vets, had antibiotics and steroids, which I now know have made it worse. He's also had surgery to pull out all the hair from right down in his ears. Which my vet says is the cause of his infection and was given yet another course of antibiotics, which I've just stopped. The smell from his ears is foul. Like rotting cheese. I don't know what to do for the best. I've been on here for days, researching stuff to try and help him. I'm going to start making my own dog food. I have 2 shihtzus and they won't touch raw meat I've tried. Any help or advice would be most welcome. Thankyou.
(Greenport, New York, Usa)
09/16/2010
Dogs are the same as humans, what works for us will work for them. Your dogs are suffering from a lack of antioxidants and minerals due to the highly processed dog foods on the market. Have you noticed how dogs and cats love to eat grass? That's because they know they need the antioxidants in plant foods. Open a 100mg capsule of grape seed extract and mix it in their food. Do the same with a sea-mineral capsule also. Start with the low dose and then increase to 200 mg after they have acclimated to the new diet. The dogs will experience some diarrhea as their bodies flush out the buildup of acids and dead germs they have accumulated over the years. That is the normal detoxification process. Keep them outdoors as much as possible during the detoxification process. If unavailable take them to a friends house with a back yard that can be used. Also, you could detox one dog before the other to make it easier to keep control. Dogs need enzymes and cod liver oil in small amounts also (mix in food). Give them a high quality food and continue with the mineral and antioxidant supplements and they'll be happy and healthy pets.
(Greenport, New York, Usa)
09/16/2010
It would help greatly, as a start towards a high mineral and alkaline diet, to mix some baking soda into the dogs drinking water. Be sure it's pure sodium bicarbonate (no aluminum). Get them used to the taste of the water because it's the healthiest water they can drink(one level teaspoon to a quart of bottled water - no tap water). Do that for several days and then start them on the sea-mineral and grape seed extract regimen I mentioned previously.
(Greenport, New York, Usa)
09/16/2010
Possible Causes
I took in a dog to keep for a friend in the nursing home and found that the dog has a severe case of body and ear yeast infection. My question is can my dog and cat get the yest infection from this dog. I am suspicious that my dog might have it and she licks my cat so I am concerned that my cat might get it too. Also I cannot get the dog to eat the yogurt any suggestions.
Possible Causes
Anyone dealing with re-occuring skin and ears problems should check their dog food labels and see if they contain any of the following, CORN, WHEAT, SOY, CHICKEN OR BEEF. These ingrediants are known to be the leading causes of allergies in dogs, which in turn weaken their immune system. vets will either ignore the food issue or recommend their brand of food, but it's up to you to read the labels. In researching this annoying and smelly problem i've run across several people recommending a no grain food, as carbs aid in the growth of yeast, I am going to try this on my next bag of food.
Possible Causes
★★★★★
After a year of constant yeast infections and allergies in my lab/aussie mix, someone told me to check the label on her dog food. Come to find out, Brewer's yeast was one of the number 1 ingredients. It seemed that the added yeast was making the problem worse. I switched dog foods to a product that did not list Brewer's yeast and have not had a yeast infection since. I don't know if this will work for everyone, but for anyone with animals prone to yeast infections, it's worth looking into.
Pregnancy
Hello I have a pregnant Biewer Terrier. This is her second litter. Shortly after becoming pregnant last time she developed a yeast overgrowth in her ears. The commercial treatments are linked with birth defects in puppies so I could not use them. This time she has again developed a yeast overgrowth in her ears! I wonder if a hormonal change could trigger this. I am keen to relieve her irritation! I need advice on whether these home remedies, other than raw food which I embrace, are safe for pregnant bithches or if there could be side effects for her pups? If she has pups again I will prepare her with these treatments in the run up to her season and mating just in case it's a hormonal trigger. Prevention is better than cure I think!
(Mpls., Mn)
02/25/2015
Hey Jane!
The yeasty ears may well be from a systemic yeast infection - yeast overgrowth in her GI tract expressing overtly in the ears. This type of infection could be related to many things, diet in particular, but also could well be vaccine related or allergy related -and the hormones, or rather the physical stress of a heat cycle - certainly could depress her immune system enough to allow the yeast to go to town.
Since products with steroids are out [NO Zymox] as well as many other products, IMHO the safest approach to treating your girls ears would be Ted's Anti-fungal/Anti-staph remedy.
- 1/2 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide [commonly sold in drug stores]
- 1 cup distilled water
- 1 tbsp MOM
- 1 tbsp Epsom salts
- 1 tbsp Borax
Mix all the ingredients in an applicator bottle with a nozzle; I set it in a sink full of warm tap water to get the solution up to a comfortable temperature before using in the ears. Use the solution to thoroughly flush each ear. You can use multiple times daily or as needed. None of these ingredients will penetrate the blood or affect the puppies in any way.
You might also consider alkalizing your girl's drinking water with baking soda -1 teaspoon per liter of water for 7 days, and then 1/2 teaspoon per liter for the next 7 days, and then 1/4 teaspoon as a maintenance dose - or do for 7 days and then discontinue until the next yeast episode. I have used the baking soda water on my own prego girls and it is safe for both dam and pups inutero or on the ground.
Other nutritional approaches to consider might be adding turmeric to the food - just a good shake from the spice jar for each meal, or probiotics/acidophillus ; the key is to mix it up and give a wide variety of strains of probiotic and not just the same one over a length of time. Some prefer a dollop of kefir or yogurt for the probiotics but I find the powder or encapsulated form to have higher concentrations of the probiotics without the potential of an upset stomach [or the potential to trigger eclampsia] from the dairy.
One your pups are on the ground and weaned, you might consider Ted's borax protocol for dogs to directly address the systemic yeast.
Good luck with your litter and please report back!
Prescription Medications
★☆☆☆☆
I can't tell you how much I appreciate the information on this page - just looked at it today....Have three Bulldogs that have been having skin problems - they've been scraped, by four different vets - including a Dermatology Veterinarian. I have been prescribed most of the medications mentioned on these pages - nothing worked. the Specialist put them on a med called Chloramphenacol...It seems to have quieted the itching and scratching..but not completely
Prescription Medications
★★★★★
For your accumulated information on adverse reactions to drugs, two of my dogs were prescribed ketoconazole for a yeast skin infection. One survived the treatment, the other died during treatment. Other than the skin infection (which was not life threatening), he had no health issues. I was not told before treatment that this medication is hepatotoxic and that it can kill, that it has been established by the manufacturer that there is a 1:10,000 risk of allergic reaction (with underreporting recognized). The vet was not aware (!) of the symptoms of allergic reaction, so when I reported them she did not stop the treatment (dark urine, extreme fatigue, skin turning black and peeling...). When I finally stopped the treatment myself, because my dog was just getting sicker and sicker (after 13 1/2 doses administered out of 30 prescribed) it was already too late. 4 days later he came down with hepititis and 34 days after starting the treatment he died (with bloody vomitting and bloody diahrrea). Although I reported all this, despite my distress) nothing was taken into consideration, everything was dismissed as being a coincidence, and I was given the classic excuse 'your dog was already sick and would have died anyway.' This is an outright lie, of course, and contradicts all the medical file of my dog. But try to get an adverse reaction taken into consideration when the 'authorities' don't want to take it into consideration! Of course there is underreporting! Normally I never give vet medicines to my animals, only homeopathy, but at the time I had no alternative therapy, as skin yeast infection is very difficult to treat. I have since gotten my second dog almost out of her condition, using probiotics and herb Robert and direct applications of hydrogen peroxide on the worst affected areas. My opinion of vets and the authorities that 'oversee' them, has descended to about 0. Would like to know if others have had bad experiences with ketoconazole.
(Cuenca, Ecuador)
04/07/2011
★★★★★
The research is overwhelming of the benefits of Neem oil for every skin condition. It is antifungal antibacterial and anti parasitic. Neem capsules inserted in a bit of cheese or peanut butter in addition to the external application of the oil would be the most effective. Do your research and see.
(Fair Oaks, Ca)
08/06/2011
I am so very sorry for the loss of your beloved dog from ketoconazole. My chizu also had a severe reaction and when I inofrmed my vet they didnt tell me to stop using. I stopped cause my gut told me too. When we did blood work her liver enzymes were over 3000!!! They dont like them over 250!!!! I was so freakin pissed off. They almost killed her. I now will not go to vets. I use the net and find natural cures(like I go for me) my chizu had a chronic yeast infetion and I will noe go the route of organic plain(no sugar)yougert. Again I am sorry for your loss. Its so hard when we think we are doind right by our furry friends to only later find out we went. Please know your dog(s) see the pureness of your heart and your intentions and they dont hold us at fault. Namaste'