My czech German Shepherd is 3 years old. She was on holistic select dog food before I switched her to raw and I didn't have any issues with ear infections etc. I now have her on raw for the past 9 months and after she whelped a litter of puppies she developed an ear infection. I took her to the vet and he said it is yeast and gave me otomax. It seemed to almost clear it up but it came right back. It seems to be in the other ear now too but not as bad. Then I noticed it was in between her toes and now she has a splotchy redness on her stomach that she licks now and then. I feed her raw chicken and have now added a lot more red meat since I was told it might be a vitamin deficiency. I supplement with apple cider vinegar, vitamin c, vitamin E, kelp, alfalfa, probiotic, cod liver oil, and salmon oil. What else could she be missing? I was such an advocate for the raw diet but I hope I feel like she was in better health on the holistic select dog food. Any one have any experience with this? I will take her to the vet again but if it is diet related I would like to try to solve it myself. I have also done the white vinegar and water mixture for at least a week and it seemed to help and I think what was in between her toes went away but her ear just started up again yesterday and the redness is still on her stomach. Help!

Gotta run out, but bumping this so it won't fall off "recent posts."

I am no expert on this topic by any means, but would caution about jumping to the assumption this is food related. Depending on where you live, pollens are already bursting forth - this could very easily be an allergy completely unrelated to food.

The one other thing that comes to mind (and I'll keep thinking and will do some searches, but if you do have to go back to the vet - I'd recommend going straight to an allergist - it will save you much moolah in the long run.

Here is one topic on the subject of yeast/ears...
http://leerburg.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/167419/page/0/fpart/1

Edited by Barbara Schuler (02/21/2011 06:35 PM)
Edit reason: post topic

Do you think she would develop an allergy out of no where like that though? The only thing I can think of that she's ever had was dog acne as a puppy. I am in upstate ny.

I know people can develope allergies at any time in their life, so I'd assume (normally gets me in trouble when I do that...) that dogs can as well.

Connie, who bumped the post yesterday, is the resident guru on this topic and I know she'll get back with you when time allows. I wish I could be of more help!

I was told by someone that follows the volhard method to add oatmeal or a vitamin B to her diet. I have read so much that said grains are not necessary so I don't see why that would help her. Just figured I would mention that also to hear any input on that as well. Thanks!

 Quote: julie cattabiani

I have also done the white vinegar and water mixture for at least a week and it seemed to help and I think what was in between her toes went away but her ear just started up again yesterday and the redness is still on her stomach. Help!

Playing devil's advocate...if a simple remedy like dilute vinegar cured the paws, could it possibly also help the belly and ears?

Yeasts, fungi, molds, are everywhere and are just waiting for an inviting environment to land and grow. The warm, moist nooks and crannies on a dog are ideal--and are encouraged further if the dog licks the spots to keep them wet.

There are lots of simple topical "home remedies" that make the environment hostile to yeast. They go away. Vinegar is one. Gentian Violet, Boric Acid, there are many.

On an otherwise healthy dog that just happened to be unlucky enough to have some yeast take up residence, this may be all that's necessary.

I'm not saying that's the case here. But it could be.

Rather than head down the diet path just yet, why not try the simplest solution first to see if it works? Try the same vinegar wash on her belly. If the redness goes away and doesn't return, then Bob's your uncle.

Vinegar could be used as a simple ear wash too.

I'm not a vet. And home remedies are not a substitution for real medical care. Just saying.

 Quote: julie cattabiani

I was told by someone that follows the volhard method to add oatmeal or a vitamin B to her diet. I have read so much that said grains are not necessary so I don't see why that would help her. Just figured I would mention that also to hear any input on that as well. Thanks!

I strongly doubt that it's diet related. (I will add that while a raw diet supports the system MUCH better than grainy kibble, and while sugars and grains can contribute to yeast problems (IMO), the primary yeast-overgrowth trigger is not usually food.) But I'd definitely not add any kind of grain.

The more likely triggers are environmental allergies (a food allergy is much less likely) or possibly seborrhoea.

I'm wondering how many of the yeast threads you may have read here? (I don't want to type you to death when so much has been typed on this board about yeast overgrowth.)

I would get a cytology on the ear debris before altering it, now that it's not only recurring but is in more areas.

I would get a referral to a derm vet. JMO, but I've been there, done that, and it's a specialty for a reason. "It seemed to almost clear it up but it came right back" isn't good. It tells me that you might have had a combination (bacteria plus yeast) infection that was not addressed by Oromax.


All JMO. I'm not a health professional.

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2102&aid=321

Partial quote:
Malassezia is an opportunistic organism. This means the yeast takes advantage of any opportunity to grow when the conditions are right. Malassezia infections often appear during the high-humidity months of summer and they may persist into the fall. Any hereditary or infectious disease that weakens the skin's immune system can allow a Malassezia infection to begin. For example, dogs that suffer from a bacterial dermatitis (skin infection), allergies, or seborrhea can have irritated skin that is then susceptible to becoming infected with this yeast. In addition, increased levels of sebum (oils in the skin) or cerumen (ear wax) can lead to an infection. The prolonged use of certain medications, such as glucocorticoids (e.g., prednisone) or antibiotics, can predispose the dog to an infection with this yeast.



http://www.lowchensaustralia.com/health/malessezia.htm

Partial quote:
So what conditions lead to a yeast proliferation? An increase in skin oils (which often occurs in an allergic flare up) would be the most common situation. Sometimes there is an immune deficiency which allows the yeast proliferation. Some animals are battling seborrhoea (excessive oil production of the skin) ... they tend to recur unless the underlying allergy, seborrhoea, or whatever problem is controlled.

Edited by Connie Sutherland (02/22/2011 01:43 PM)
Edit reason: added quotes

Thank you for the responses. I did read a lot of the yeast posts on here but didn't see any of them pertaining to other parts of the body besides just the ears unless I missed it. (tracy I did use the vinegar on the stomach and the ears - it didn't seem to do much.) After reading those two links Connie provided I am thinking I should probably just bring her back to the vet then since this is getting a bit complicated and I would rather just know exactly what is going on. I am glad to hear that it is probably not food related which I honestly didn't think so anyway but wanted other opinions. If it was food or technically chicken since that was the main part of her diet then wouldn't she have had a reaction shortly after giving it to her? Not months after being on the diet right? Should I go directly to a derm vet? or do you think my reg. vet would be able to help. I use a different vet than the first one that prescribed the otomax and she is a much better vet and very honest - for other reasons not pertaining to this situation.