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I took her in to the Vet clinic had her checked out with a new vet; he gave her some antibiotics. It seems to have somewhat gotten rid of the rash but it has since then reappeared and she has eaten no grains.
I have done some research on this and just like to humans--antibiotics kill the natural flora in our intestines. I think she is having over active yeast growth in her ears and flaky red bumps on her belly and genital area. I have treated her ears with apple cider vinegar and water (50/50) and it healed quickly. However, the few bumps on the back hind legs that I can't seem to treat because of all the fur. I spoke to the vet and he wants to give her antibiotics again!
What do you recommend? A second opinion? Can I give her plain organic yogurt w/ live cultures or dog probiotics? I'm confused and annoyed because several vets I have spoken to just refer the rash to an allergy? An allergy to what? She doesn't eat any grains! They never seem to mention yeast growth. At this point any advice is welcomed. I hate to see her cry when she licks her belly. Thank you!
Best Regards.
Michell B.
According
to statistics, the top three reasons dogs visited veterinarians in 2012 were
skin allergies, ear infections, and skin infections. Poor Maddy appears to have all three, which
is not uncommon. The ears are just an
extension of skin, and both are prone to infection secondary to allergies.
Pruritis
(itchy skin) can have multiple causes and take months to sort out. My goal is to equip you to better communicate
with your vet about Maddy’s condition.
We
have two
issues to address:
1. Maddy’s ear and skin infection.
2. The underlying cause, which is most
likely allergies. We must manage her
allergies to prevent recurring infections.
I do
think Maddy has food allergies, which are typically incurable in dogs, and can
develop at any age. However, she may
also be affected by things in the environment.
Dogs with allergies seem to have an “allergic threshold”, meaning they
have multiple allergies, but there is a point where “the straw breaks the
camel’s back” and symptoms manifest. The predominant sign of
food allergy is that symptoms are year round, not seasonal.
Further, recurrent external ear infections are present in more than half
of dogs with food allergies.
The
most common food allergens for dogs (in order) are: beef, dairy, wheat,
chicken, egg, lamb, and soy. About half
of all
dogs are allergic to more than one ingredient. It’s important to
understand that “grain free” is not synonymous with “hypoallergenic”. Consider the ingredients in diets on which
she thrives, versus the ingredients found in foods or treats that cause her to
flare up. I’m guessing there’s more to
the story than just grains. How can we
determine what Maddy is allergic to?
Blood
tests for food allergies are not reliable and are a waste of your money. A “dietary trial” is the gold standard for
diagnosing food allergies. Talk with
your veterinarian about conducting a food trial. Maddy’s doctor may recommend a prescription
diet, or even home cooking a balanced recipe.
Over-the-counter diets should not be used for food trials, but can be
fed once the offending ingredients have been identified.
As
for her skin, the rash you describe sounds classic for a skin infection. While
this is not the same thing as skin allergies, the two often go hand in
hand. This type of infection is caused
by bacteria and/or yeast, and each is treated differently.
Bacterial
skin infection, called pyoderma, is best treated topically and with oral
antibiotics. Through simple tests, your
veterinarian can tell what types of organisms are causing her skin and ear
infections and determine proper treatment.
If she requires another course of antibiotics, I would recommend
administering high quality human probiotics, or a doggie product like
FortiFlora, during the course of her treatment.
Ultimately,
I completely understand your concerns.
Allergies are frustrating for clients and veterinarians alike, not to
mention the dogs! While, Maddy will
likely always be prone to skin flare ups, I feel confident that you and your
veterinarian can transition her out of a skin “crisis” to long-term successful
management of her skin and allergies.
Dr. Julie Buzby is a homeschooling mom of seven, American Veterinary Chiropractic Association and International Veterinary Acupuncture Society certified holistic veterinarian, and passionate advocate for canine mobility.In her free time she serves on the Advisory Board for The Grey Muzzle Organization. She can be found at Twitter @DrBuzby and on Facebook.com/ToeGrips. You'll also find more of Dr. Julie's posts at our Ask the Vet Archives page.
Here are a few of her articles that may be of interest:
Dr. Julie's opinion or advice does not replace an actual exam with a veterinarian.
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