Allergy and yeast infection?

[yorkielover217]

My yorkie has been itching his ears and licking his paws. Once he starts itching it seems like he does not want to stop. I have been doing my own research and wanted to confirm.. Could this be allergys and yeast infection? I was looking on PedMeds and found some otic suspension meds that seems to work great. Should I take my dog to vet or try to treat it with the meds and change his food?

[TXschnauzerlady]

I see that everyone answers with warnings about food allegies but dogs can also be allergic to enviornmental things like grass, seasonal pollen, just like people.  I have a mother and daughter dogs who licks their paws all the time and chew their hips and above their tails raw and then it scabs over, a cycle.  My vet calls it seborrhea.  And yes, yeast and bacterial infections then set in.  Your vet should have a Rx spray for those.  Scratch-Ex also helps a lot.  It's Betadine and there are other brands as well.   I have another dog, unrelated, who is allergic to plant mites.  He scratches a lot and has bald patches that look like mange (also caused by an allergy to certain mites) but it's not.  He's on Nexguard for that.

[ginger899]

I have a friend who has the same problem with his Poodle (itchy feet which keep being licked and nibbled at!)
He has discovered that his dog is allergic to yeast. He was feeding the dog a good food which contained yeast (for vitamins) When he stopped that food and changed it to totally yeast-free, the problems subsided.

That would also apply to any sugars.

I think the best thing might be to research a food for him which is completely natural. That will be quite a task, but worth doing. Even if it costs more. Think of what you will save in vet's bills and ointments/medications etc.

It might of course, not apply to your dog but is worth mentioning, and maybe worth a try.

[ginger899]

(oops! I just replied on a really ancient thread! It is very hard to tell how old a thread is in this new format!!)

[Misfits4Me]

http://www.dogfoodscoop.com/bad-dog-food-list.html

[Jerry_NJ]

Allergies are tough to diagnose.  Sorry if I repeat, I posted a reply a few days back.

I am still working the same problems you list and my Westie has been to the vet many times.  The steroids and other high cost prescriptions for the ears and yeast treatment always bring him back, but only temporarily. Nonetheless, if there is an infections antibiotics and steroids, for example, may be needed to stop the infections.  

Talk with a vet about making payments, there must be (I do not have any examples) some flexibility for payment.  I always pay with a credit card so I have no idea (or need) if our vet would extend some help with time payments, but I hope so.  In general a vet early cost less in $$ and pain that a vet late, especially too late.

In spite of the upscale sounding name I think Pedegree isn't particularly good in cases like ours.  Our dog seems to be allergic to beef, any brand, and chicken may be in the same "boat".

A lower cost high quality dog food is sold by Tractor Supply under their name 4Health.  I use both their canned fish and will try their fish kibble when I run out of "Taste of the Wild" salmon/potato kibble.  This brand has a high ratting on "dogfoodadvisor".  These are grain free or at least have no wheat, corn and few other allergy causing worthless food contents.

Our Westie is now also on a Probiotic treat, once a day.  He doesn't get any milk bones.  On chews I'd be careful, a dog can choke on those once they are chewed down small enough to try to swallow. If he chew helps distract from paw licking, it may be worth the risk, but take the chew away when it gets small enough to swallow and get stuck in the throat.  This is advice I have received, I have never seen it happen.

[yorkielover217]

Ok well I changed my dogs food to pedegree and I bought VetTrust medicated ear rinse, which says "dual action to kill odor-causing bacteria and yeast" should I give this ear rinse a try? I am currently unemployed and do not have the money to take him to the vet.. my little boy just had to have surgery. So money is tight. I just do not want my dog to have any more pain.. :(

[yorkielover217]

Its not fleas I am sure of that. But thank you, I will change his diet and see if it changes.

[Misfits4Me]

The come and go part of this makes me think, Fleas....However, you DO need to evaluate both the food you feed AND the treats....Everything you listed are the lowest quality food/snacks you can buy, packed full of allergy causing agents.........Bottom line is you get what you pay for.....Again, do some dogfood reviews and upgrade his diet to better food...It will help him (All Around) and for the future....Karla

[yorkielover217]

My yorkie is 2 years old. He has been doing this scratching for about a year. It seems like it comes and goes. I clean his ears weekly and remove his ear hair. I only started removing the hair because of the scratching..even this seems to not work. At this moment we are living with my fiances parents and they have two other dogs, so he has been eating gravy train. I give him milkbone treats and regular rawhide bones. It werid because I think its an ear infection and then he will stop for long periods and then start the scratching again (weeks apart). This is why I figured it was allergies. Before now I had no clue about yeast and alergies.

[Jerry_NJ]

Yes, have a vet check you dog.  They may prescribe some steroids (even a shot) that will give immediate, but only temporary relief.

There are medicated shampoos that can help and some topical treatments both prescription and over the counter that can help.  But, if there is an allergy none of this will cure the problem.

Our rescue Westie has all of the problems you note and it has taken me over a year to finally step up careful management of his diet.  I am so far sure he is allergic to beef.  We have him on a quality kibble and wet supplement that is grain free and fish based.  I am seeing some improvement.  If this works my plan it to add some chicken and only chicken and see what happens.  Food allergies are found by trial and error, I think, and they can cause a lot of discomfort for both you and your dog.

Yes, Yeast stinks on our Westie.  He will lick and chew his paws and leggs raw - hair gone and the skin all festered and red.  It is the problem we all have when we itch, we scratch and make it worse until something is done to stop the itch.  

[Help_my_johnsee]

What about Azo yeast plus tablets and monistat cream have u ever tried it? I like u have had my rotty to the vet over and over and I think they just wanna sell there supplies nothing they doing is helping our beautiful boy!!

[Heather8448]

The yeast infection could be due to an allergy. My dogs allergic to yeast and gets the infection. Does it have a foul odor? I would seek vet advice..Since i am not there and there is little information here

[Misfits4Me]

Welcome, How old is your guy? Has he always done this or is it something new? Does he have an odor? Normally, ear problems are food related....Foot problems can be a combination of many allergens...What do you feed this guy? Include treats, please.....How long has he eaten it?  Karla