doodles on schnoodles
Fantasy Pups
Itchy skin is the most common ailment that vet's see, but not all itchy skin is reason for concern. Think how often you nonchalantly scratch an itch in the course of a day. Dogs also get such non-consequential itches, and so one should not assume that a dog with a scratch is suffering. But persistent scratching, licking or chewing is another thing. There are eight main causes for such compulsive behavior: boredom or anxiety, pain from a foreign object such as a thorn in the skin or hair, a joint problem (such as arthritis), parasites, hormonal imbalances, allergies, dry skin, or yeast infections. We will consider this last cause of persistent scratching: yeast..
Yeast is a fungus that lives on almost every animal’s skin, but normally the body’s immune system keeps it under control. Certain situations, however, can alter the balance in favor of the fungus, and microorganism can over multiply, commonly infecting skin, paws, and ears. Thick growths of hair in your dog’s ears will provide a warm, humid environment for the yeast to grow. A constantly wet beard from drool or the water bowl will also provide an ideal environment for yeast to grow on the chin. Commonly, yeast will make a home between your dog’s paw pads (dogs have sweat glands in the paws), and then progresses up its legs. Generally, skin folds will provide a warm humid environment so yeast overgrowth in armpits, jowls, and anal areas are also typical. Here is what to look for: Usually yeast infections will be itchy. If the infection is in the ears (the most common place for such overgrowth), the dog will incessantly scratch its ears, or tilt and shake its head. (But first rule out parasites such as ear mites: look for the black specks of mite droppings.) Itchy skin will cause your dog to scratch or lick the infected area. Pink or red skin in early stages can turn grey and leathery in later stages of the infections, imagine elephant hide. Often the skin will become excessively oily. Crusty or flaky skin is another common sign. Infected skin will frequently get warm with inflammation. As the yeast advances, your dog may even lose hair in the infected spot. Although there are many causes of odor which have nothing to do with yeast infections, yeast infections commonly produce an odor as well, which some liken to the odor of Cheetohs corn chips. Treatment: First eliminate the cause where possible. Antibiotics kill the bacteria that displace yeast so limit antibiotic use as possible. Steroids suppress the immune system, which kills invasive fungal growth, so limit steroid use as possible. It is common for yeast to proliferate in the summer months, especially in humid environments. Yeast thrives in moist environments, so keep your dog dry when possible. Keep the hair in problem areas dry and trimmed close. Ask your groomer to remove thick ear hair at the roots. (You can also do this yourself if it is twisted together and rapidly pulled out. Your dog may yelp from the surprise and the momentary discomfort – think of the feeling when a band aid is removed -- but it is unlikely that it is genuinely hurt by this process. You can get quite a bit of hair out at once, but don’t overdue it: if your dog still “favors” the ear several minutes after the hair removal, you have pulled too much hair out at once.) In rare cases, a dog will be allergic to yeast. In such cases, one does not have a true yeast infection since there is not overgrowth, and yet your dog will scratch as if he did. Consult your vet if you suspect your dog may be suffering yeast allergies. Treating your dog’s yeast infection: One of our dogs has chronic yeast infections in her ear. It seems to be caused by hormonal changes because every time we cure it, it erupts again during her next estrus. But we have learned through experience and research effect ways to treat it. First, starve the yeast! Eliminate sugar and starch from your dog’s diet. The dog’s saliva turns starch into sugar, and yeast feeds on sugar. Make sure your dog food is free of sugar and starch (carbohydrates). Make sure your dog’s treats are also free of carbs. NO TABLE SCRAPS! I cannot recommend any commercial treats since I have not studied this area, but I can say what we do. We buy beef liver at the grocery store, cook it up, dice it into small cubes, which we freeze on a cookie sheet, and store in a jar in the freezer. These make excellent treats and we know exactly what’s in it. Put a few in a zip lock bag when you take your dog for a walk. Second, we recommend that during a yeast infection, consider feeding your dog salmon, such as “WholeHearted Grain Free Small Breed Salmon and Pea Recipe Dry Dog Food”. Why a salmon recipe? Principally, it is for the fatty acids found in salmon. These essential fatty acids boost the immune system, aids in the reduction of skin inflammation, protects the skin from allergens, and sooths skin irritations due to dryness and dandruff. Third, we recommend adding an omega-3 fatty acid supplement to your dog’s diet. We use “PAWSOME NATURALS WILD ALASKAN SALMON OIL FOR DOGS” which is sold on Amazon.com. Omega-3 fatty acids are heat-sensitive and often breaks down in the manufacturing process of dog food. For this reason, a supplement is recommended. Fourth, bath your dog regularly. A build up of oil and dirt can have negative effects on your dog’s skin and its ability to resist allergens. Make sure, however, that you are using a shampoo formulated for the pH needs of a dog’s skin. Some shampoos made for irritated skin contain colloidal oatmeal, which sooths dry, flakey skin, but also FEEDS the yeast. DO NOT USE SHAMPOOS WHICH CONTAIN CARBOHYDRATES. “Nature's Specialties Quick Relief Neem Shampoo” contains Neem Oil which is a natural antifungal agent. Wait ten minutes before rinsing. (Daily baths may be necessary until the yeast infection is under control, though local baths of the affected area will suffice.) Fifth, always use a conditioner after shampooing your dog. Shampoo strips oils for your dog’s skin and so they need a conditioner to moisturize and sooth the skin. Sixth, brush your dog regularly. This will remove dirt between baths and distribute the skins natural oils through your dog’s coat. Seventh, consider using a humidifier. Although high humidity encourages the growth of yeast, very dry air can lead to dry, cracked skin. In the winter, forced hot air dries out a dog’s skin and makes it susceptible to disease. Air conditioning can also dry out a dog’s skin in the summer. Eighth, I apply tea tree oil to the affect spot. You may prefer to buy “Wham Anti-Itch Spray” which contains tea tree oil and aloe vera, but I make my own ointment from coconut oil and tree oil. (The coconut oil is simply to dilute the tea tree oil, which in concentrated form will burn the dog’s skin.) I rub the tea tree oil on the affected spot. This does two things: the bitter taste of the oil discourages your dog from licking the infected skin (which only spreads and feeds the yeast) and it acts as a fungicide. I also place drops of this concoction in the dog’s affected ear (after it has been thoroughly washed), and then massage the oil into the ear. Ninth, for ear infections, make sure you thoroughly clean the ear daily. I use “Zymox Ear Cleanser”. Tenth, for ear infections, I use two different treatments: first, 14 days of daily application of “Zynox Otic Enzymatic Solution,” following the directions on the bottle; I then follow this up with 14 days of my tea tree oil drops massaged into the ears after cleaning, using my own tea tree drop recipe. Eleventh, finally for ear infections, make sure you keep water out of your dog’s ear. Dry well with a clean clothe after baths, or swimming, or rain, and check the ears regularly for any moisture or foreign bodies. Twelfth, for stubborn infections, we sprinkle a dosage of Tylosin powder in the dog food of our infected dog daily for six weeks. You know the Tylosin is eliminating all the yeast from the dog’s system because the yeast-stained hair around the mouth, and near the tear ducts clears up quickly. Tylosin used to be available over the counter, but the FDA now requires a veterinarian’s prescription. For stubborn yeast infections, your veterinarian may prefer to prescribe an oral antifungal medication such as ketoconazole, fluconazole, or terbinafine, but because these are hard on the liver, we prefer Tylosin which can be purchased online.
4 Comments
|
BreederHello. My name is Marie, and I have three Schnauzers that fill my life with joy! With the help of my children and grandchildren, I am raising Schnoodle puppies and placing them in good homes. Feel free to browse through my website and enjoy the pictures! Archives
February 2020
Categories |