I have a 20 month old German Shepherd who for the past three months has had a strong "doggy" odor (he stinks). Additionally, he was also has flaking and has lost some hair (really bad where the base of his tail and back meet). The vet says it is allergies, but from what I do not know.

About six months ago I built a concrete kennel and I put crushed granite inside the dog pen in front of the kennel (a huge mistake by the way it holds the urine oder). My wife thinks it might be the crushed granite causing the alllergies but I find that difficult to believe. Anybody ever here of that causing a problem?

I feed my dogs BilJac dog food and they have been on it over a year with no problems. My three other dogs do not have any issues similiar to the Shepherd. I used to feed Canidae but the Shepherd itched like he had fleas. Then I switched to Flint River which made all the dogs have runny soft stool. I know a raw diet is the best but there is really no practical way for us to do that right now. I think I am going to Innova to see if the diet change helps.

I would appreciate any advice

Trent - I had a similar problem with my pup when he was about a year old. It turned out to be a yeast infection. Exact same spot, very stinky - kind of a sickly odor, if that makes sense - not really a dog stink. I bathed him once a week with oatmeal shampoo (let the guy soak in it for a good 5 minutes) and put alcohol on the infected areas each night, and it cleared up completely in about three weeks. Hasn't come back.

Worth a try. It seems like most vets (and some people on this board <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> always want to stampede toward an allergy diagnoses. I won't get on my soapbox, except to say that it's worth getting a second look. Good luck!

Yeast infections smell alot like dirty socks or dirty feet <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> and seem to be fairly common. Ears are particularly prone to yeast infections but a dog can have it anywhere. Your vet can do a skin scraping in office and tell you if your dog has an infection and what kind of infection it is. A bath is a good idea to help calm the skin. Just don't use a harsh shampoo, which can remove the oil from his skin and make him itch worse.<p>I'll pass on my own experience with food...Innova gave my 9 week old pup severe diarrhea and made him itch like mad. Chicken Soup for the Puppy Lover's Soul gave him the runs as well. Good luck with your dog!</p>

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Trent - I had a similar problem with my pup when he was about a year old. It turned out to be a yeast infection. Exact same spot, very stinky - kind of a sickly odor, if that makes sense - not really a dog stink. .....Worth a try. It seems like most vets (and some people on this board <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> always want to stampede toward an allergy diagnoses. .....

True, true, true.

A yeast infection is caused by a yeast called Candida albicans, an opportunistic yeast that normally lives in the body and intestinal tract of the dog. The job of candida albicans is to recognize and destroy harmful bacteria. In a healthy body, candida albicans is controlled by a properly-functioning immune system and certain "good" bacteria.

If the immune system is weakened, the population of friendly bacteria decreases, and candida albicans will shift from yeast form to fungal form - and the yeast infection starts.

Yeast infection symptoms can affect all parts of the dog skin and the mucous membranes, with humid places being most susceptible (ears, folds, etc.).

Symptoms are itchy scalp, skin rashes, and possibly inflamed pimples with flaky edges. Sometimes the skin feels greasy.

No matter whether it's primary (or secondary to allergies), grains in the diet feed yeast infections, IMO. The grains are feeding a condition that exists, generally, as opposed to the grains necessarily being an allergen. (Grains are also an immune-response-damaging nutrient in large quantities, IMO, because of the stress on the canine system to produce abnormal amounts of grain-digesting enzymes.)

Biljac contains corn, brewer's yeast(!) and molasses. One dog who has no trouble with it can't guarantee that another dog, who may have trouble with yeast overgrowth, will tolerate it.

It sounds as if Jeff's dog had a primary infection, since the topical treatment worked well. Your dog may, too. But if his response is secondary to allergies, the allergies will have to be addressed before the response can be eliminated.

Yeast is not simple. The vet may be way oversimplifying that answer, and I'd want a vet dermatologist opinion. At least, I'd want to do what Sarah suggests, which is a scraping. Yeast is very often combined with bacteria.

Saying "allergies" and not addressing both the present infection and the *possible* underlying allergies seems to be much less than what you really need in the way of a diagnosis and treatment.

I would keep a close eye, checking every day or so, on his ears. Watch for any inflammation and get him to the vet if you see any, before you have a full-blown ear infection. And I'd eliminate grains, allergy or not.

This page -- scroll down to "yeast" under "Infectious Dermatitis" -- gives a good overview.

http://www.thepetcenter.com/gen/itch.html

Yeast can be treated, but not (IMO) with a dismissive "allergy" statement. I agree with Jeff about needing a much better diagnosis.

P.S. Editing to add that Omega 3 EFAs in the form of fish oil plus Vitamin E can help a lot to support the immune response, which is where all yeast overgrowth problems originate (whether primary or whether secondary to allergies).

Jeff a much better discription and more accurate discription of the smell than what I gave. I will try your treatment.

I will also have my vet do a skin scraping. I am suprised he did not do that in the first place.

Is there any kibble that does not cause the runs or make a Shepherd itch.

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Jeff a much better discription and more accurate discription of the smell than what I gave. I will try your treatment. ...I will also have my vet do a skin scraping. I am suprised he did not do that in the first place....Is there any kibble that does not cause the runs or make a Shepherd itch.

I would get away from grains in the food, and make the switch gradual enough to avoid diarrhea.

Connie I know you like the raw diet best. But is there any kibble that you consider good? I would appreciate any recomendations.

Thanks

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..... is there any kibble that you consider good? I would appreciate any recomendations....Thanks

The Honest Kitchen and Nature's Variety* both have grain-free versions.

There are others, too, which I know people on this board have used, and I'm sure they'll make recommendations.

http://www.leerburg.com/honestkitchen.htm

The switch to grain-free food will help stop feeding a yeast overgrowth and is a good forever move, IMO. But you will also need to get that current infection treated, and *if there are underlying allergies,* deal with them too. Good plan, to get a second opinion or a more detailed diagnosis from the present vet.

*Google Nature's Variety for sources.

Connie,

Have you ever used Apple cider vinegar for yeast problems on the skin? I have used it on/in the ears with good results for yeast problems.

Lorelei

I've had 2 GSDs (one at a time, over 10 yrs.) with on-going skin and/or allergy problems. In both cases, raw diets seemed to take care of over 90% of the problems, but also found that an appropriate dose of fish oil and vitamin E was necessary for the remaining 10%. Although it may not be practical for you to switch to raw, consider that the benefits from that diet are in part due to what the dog isn't getting, that is, all the crap that's in regular commercial dog food.

So one of the brands mentioned above plus some supplementation may reduce or prevent your dog's problems. Another brand to consider is Innova Evo (grain-free.) I introduced small portions of it a while back in anticipation of having to board for an extended period - I wasn't going to try and maintain a raw diet during that time. My dog seems to do very well on it. There's 2 varieties - RM (red meat) and turkey/chicken-based - their web site.