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Have tried everything for yeast and feet...need additional suggestions

3K views 16 replies 12 participants last post by  OutWest 
#1 ·
So I've done a search but have found nothing any diferent than what i am doing/what I've done so.....

My 6.5 year old Golden, Karma has had yeast issues forever. About three years ado, I figured out yeast was her issue.....here is what I have done/learned so far....

Brewer's yeast is BAD....I stopped giving it to all 4 of my dogs, and that is when I figured out Karma's problem was yeast (persistent ear infections, balding feet)

Once I stopped the brewer's yeast 3 years ago, she has only had one yeast ear infection in the last 3.5 years, and all the hair grew back on her feet, but for the last 3 years..

Stained feet.

Pads break and sometimes fall off and bleed...

I have tried both 50/50 raw apple cider vinegar (1.5 yrs ago) AND Nzymes (for the last year)....her current condition:

3 of four paws are stained with that brown stuff in-between and some pads are cracked/bleeding...

This breaks my heart!!!

She loves the snow right now, but does not stay out long because her feet are sensitive....

Today I washed her feet really well with SulfOxyDex, and rubbed her feet with 50/50 coconut oil and essential oils (rosemary....tea tree, which have anti fungal properties)

She also has a stained butt, so obviously the Nzymes are not getting rid of her systemic yeast issues (and I switched her to one of the recommended foods a few years ago and she gets no treats other than a rare Hockey puck Wysong "Dream Treat".....

Any suggestions are welcome!
 
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#2 ·
Does she lick her feet and butt? The hair on Honey's pads is very dark because she licks it. Honey has had problems with her feet in the past, but I think the licking is mainly a habit with her. I was surprised when I found out that something in the saliva will make the hair darker.

Just a suggestion. Could you try some boots when she goes outside.
 
#3 ·
Are you using organic Apple Cider Vinegar, the one with "the mother" (the nutrient-rich sediment at the bottom of the bottle; just shake before using). The best brand is Braggs at your local health food store.

Also, check out this link for additional suggestions on natural remedies (you can do a search, or click through the alphabetized list of ailments):

Pet Remedies on Earth Clinic
 
#4 ·
Sulfoxydex is a good antibacterial shampoo, but I find it often is too drying. I am a fan of chlorhexiderm 4% shampoo. It is antibacterial and anti fungal. We also use Mal A Ket wipes. Have you considered a food allergy trial? Or blood testing for inhalant allergies? Sometimes we have to treat with ketoconazole...
 
#7 ·
Sparkles mom Sunny had this issue when we took her in after her owner passed. We tried all kinds of things tested thyroid etc. Then we did a food trail, it takes quite a few weeks 8-12 for a food trail to work. We switched her from Chicken and lamb to Duck as the protien. no wheat, corn soy or rice instead it was sweet potatoe.
We also used the shampoo that helped it was not the sulfa one sorry I no longer have the bottle. It took about three to four months before the problem went away. We had to be really strict to make sure she did not get anything else.

So I would check the thyroid if you haven't and if that is good do the food trail. It worked wonders for Sunny the vet was so pleased at the difference.
 
#8 ·
What does your vet say?

Brewers yeast - I think does not cause yeast infections. But allergies may make your dog prone to all kinds of skin irritation and skin infections.

Our Sammy would lick and chew his feet out of boredom. And he developed hotspots on his toes which made licking them a very BAD habit. He would even chew his toenails.... IF we could get him to leave his feet alone, they would heal. But the fur always was red. I think it was red from "sweat" as well, for that matter.
 
#9 ·
I've been dealing with this with Tucker. Have been feeding the ACV, and I think it helps but am not sure. I've also been doing as my vet recommended. I soak his feet in Epsom salt water. In addition, I wash them gently using a medicated shampoo. All this seems to lessen his desire to lick his feet, but not make it go away. So lately I've been giving him generic Benadryl and that seems to help also. The other two dogs have no issues like this. So whatever is going on--food, environment, whatever--is for Tucker only. I wish I could figure it out because I don't want to ride herd on him all the time and neither do I want his paws to get so sore that he's in pain (happened a few weeks back). So it's a ongoing process. I'll watch this thread...Perhaps there will be other ideas.
 
#10 ·
You also might consider this. Dr. Dodds is a leading expert on thyroid as well. I just did the Nutriscan test on my puppy Jordan.


NutriScan
Additionally, Dr. Dodds has introduced NutriScan, a novel, patented canine food sensitivity and intolerance testing system. This assay system uses saliva, rather than serum, and offers a clinically important new approach in nutrition. Salivary diagnostics can more reliably identify the foods to be avoided rather than focus on those that are less likely to be reactive.
Dr. Dodds' revolutionary concept is the first food intolerance and sensitivity testing program to match pets with their individual nutritional needs and genetic makeup, i.e. functional nutrition or nutrigenomics. This provides owners with accurate information to select the optimal pet foods and treats based on high level nutritional principles. Please visit NutriScan’s website for more information.
 
#12 ·
Hearty welcome from another Mainiac. I'm from the North end of the Maine coast. I hope you are able to find the answers to your pups paw problems. My pups have had minor problems in the winter with the salt and calcium and I've used Musher's Secret cream but it seems your pup has bigger issues. I agree with TippyKayak that a FULL thyroid panel may be in order.
 
#13 ·
Update

Things have gotten worse for poor Karma.....

She has absolutely no appetite. She's been a little finicky for the last week, but now I put food down and she walks away.

I took her to the vet...all bloodwork normal, but I asked the vet to run a thyroid test. Her TT4 was 0.9....the vet wasn't concerned....it pissed me off....but I also requested a FT4 which they sent out.

This wasn't the vet I like to go to.....I hate when they talk about the dog walking in salt or getting into things. It just doesn't happen. My dogs eat in their crates and they all get their own special food. They do not get treats or table scraps.

I tried giving her chicken and rice. She didn't eat that. I tried 4 or 5 different dry foods, and even some canned food from the vet that was supposed to entice her.

She's skin and bones! They found nothing wrong with her at the vet. Today she ate 1.5 scrambled eggs, and ate one yesterday. The day before she had some chicken and rice and some wellness I got from a friend, but has not touched it since (that was dinner....she didn't eat breakfast)...similar issue the day before that (no breakfast, but ate some of my other dogs dry food and hasn't touched that since).....the day before that it was her regular food with yogurt mixed in.

This dog ate 1.5 cups of dry dog food twice a day and now suddenly she won't eat.......

I'm afraid she is going to die without me knowing what is wrong with her. My next step is calling the vets office and seeing if I can get an appt with my regular vet....I am also thinking that the saliva test is the way to go as well...

I'm totally stumped....
 
#14 ·
Be adamant about seeing your regular vet as soon as possible and have him/her examine your dog. I'm not a vet, but I would consider a t4 of.9 way too low. As has been mentioned previously, a FULL PANEL thyroid test should be done, just a t4 does not give a complete picture of what's happening thyroid wise. Also she may have an illness that is depressing her thyroid levels. Your vet should be able to tell you more once he's checked everything out. If not, then do not hesitate to take her somerwhere else for a second opinion.
 
#15 ·
I agree with getting the second opinion. And don't let the vets plan to do tests over a period of weeks, eliminating this and that. If she's not eating, acting weird, and losing weight, you need them to diagnose her quickly. they often don't want to do tests all at once because it costs a lot for you. But it sounds like you need answers now.
 
#16 ·
Update: Two week roller coaster and sadness

The last two weeks have been a wreck....

Karma not eating well
Karma going to my vet and the emergency vet with no change
Karma going to a specialist who scoped her and diagnosed her with IBD and PLE....no evidence of cancer....will take 4 months to recover with a limited antigen diet
Getting the biopsy results back 5 days later and finding out she had Intestinal Large Granular Cell Lymphoma
4 days later having to put her down last night......

6 years is just way too short of a life....

Thanks to everyone for their help. A couple things I have learned:

In the future I think a limited antigen diet is a good way to go with a dog

Golden retrievers are one of the breeds if not the breed with the highest cancer rate. At one point I wanted a dozen Goldens because Karma was such a sweet loving and smart dog...I'm not supposed to have favorites and I love my other dogs, bit Karma was a special angel. Knowing the cancer statistics now, I don't think I will get another Golden.

Good luck to everyone
 
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