Skin Issues, Allergies and Conditions

Hi, reading about the allergies. Start with a grain & gluten free diet. So, no kibble!!! Raw or home-cooked with lots of meat and veggies, pureed (1 of our dogs spits out the peas and corn!). I do not give pork- just in case that causes the allergy. I also give our 3 dogs a teaspoon of minced garlic- flea & tick deterrent-, sunflower oil- the best for Vitamin E - and ACV

1 of our dogs is very itchy. Had to put him on prednisone till I received my homeopatic remedy Psorinum. I have to wait now for a few weeks before I can start this remedy. This remedy is apperently very useful for most skin issues and also treating mange!

Hope this is helpfull.

First thanks to Earth Clinic and contributors. This if for dogs with skin issues and their people who it's driving crazy! I discovered these items because I have dealt with yeast issues.

Our dog is aprox. 8 years old and a rescue that is probably a Flat Coat Retriever or a Black Lab mix - he has long wavy hair. He developed skin issues a few years ago - especially in winter. He was going nuts chewing and causing hotspots. He also had flaky oily skin year round and this is much better now too. The vet prescribed steroid pills, creams, etc. That helped only slightly and we didn't want him on the rest of his life. We tried cutting out all the likely allergens from his diet w/o luck. He is still on a quality food with no likely allergens.

Finally he is having a better winter if I consistently give him this "treat" he loves every day.

I mix 3 large soup spoons of quality yogurt with a couple tablespoons of ACV and a couple tbsp of Fish Oil and 8 drops of Grapefruit Seed Extract.

I also add 3 drops of the Grapefruit Seed Extract to his water once or twice a day.

There was the start of a spot this year when I wasn't consistent which I applied Coconut oil to a couple of times and it went away.

I told the vet about this mixture and she said it was safe and that she knew some of it would be helpful/healthful.

I hope this helps lots of pets and their people! It is such a relief for us!

I did not have any trouble with my West Highland White Terrier's skin until she was about 6 years old and then it started in with hot spots, bleeding from an ear, excess thirst, excess itching and scratching and excess urinating, all I found were symptoms of fungus/yeast infection in dogs.

Searching the internet, most articles for treating skin problems are to use apple cider vinegar, which works but it is treating a symptom and not getting to the reason for the skin problems. If vinegar is showing signs of improvement, odds are the skin problem is a yeast/fungus infection.

With respect to treating dog yeast/fungus infections, I found a very good article online that I thought I had saved but cannot now find it. It said do NOT feed the dog grains, including oats, no potatoes or sweet potatoes, no peas and no honey because they turn into sugar in the dog and feed yeast/fungus. It said to use anti-fungus shampoos and conditioners with a certain anti-fungus ingredient that I did find at a pet store chain. It said to rinse the dog with a hydrogen peroxide, white vinegar mix watered down and to soak the dog's feet in that.

All vet pet doctors wanted to do was to throw steroids at it and to blame her breed. The results showed that that the majority of dog pet food manufacturers and many vets do not have a clue about yeast/fungus infections in dogs and actually contribute to the dog's health problems by putting the poor dog on dangerous steroids, which shorten any dog's life and gives them other health problems. I spent over $3000 in vet bills on my dog's skin problems. I had to ask the vet to do an allergy test, which showed she is allergic to nothing. The vet showed no interest in anything other than throwing steroids at the symptoms and not finding out the cause like a real vet should/would do. Another vet said they did not treat chronic skin conditions - blah! The problem is that many vets do not have a clue about effectively treating dog yeast/fungus infections when this should be basic knowledge to them.

The results of the no grain, no potato, etc. diet are my dog now has hair where she had none, no flaky, itchy skin exists on her any longer, she rarely scratches or itches at herself. She drinks far less water and urinates far less. She seems much happier.

I initially found a dog food with none of the yeast/fungus feeding ingredients in it that I had to rehydrate but the dog food smelled and I wanted a dry dog food that I could just put out and not have to mess with. I found a dry dog food held together with millet, which does not turn into sugar in the dog. This dry dog food is the only dog food that my dog was ever absolutely nuts about and eats with enthusiasm. Earth Clinic said to share the names of such foods in one place and in another place says not to put the names in the article so I will not share the name of the dog food that my dog is absolutely crazy about and which helped her finally have a healthy coat after two terrible years of skin problems.

Do not use those oat shampoos on a dog with skin problems because the oats in it are a source of food to the yeast/fungus. Find a good anti-fungus shampoo/conditioner to use.

For dry flakey skin on my german shepard I used 2 tbl spoon of olive oil once a week on his dry dog food till gone. I mean when I got him it looked like bad dandruff on a black sweater. He also had a 1" & 1/4 long, about 1/2 tall tumor looking spot on his butt he was nalling at- and it cleared it up also. Also his coat became so shinny it looked like I had wipped him down with the olive oil.

Oral Peroxide or MMS chlorite for allergic condition in GSD?

Ted...Have a 1yr old GSD w allergic type dermatitis on belly/paws/muzzle...Antibiotics take down staph/yeast which I think are secondary to hypersensitivity from multiple vaccinations in early mos....Read fr William Campbell Douglas how H2O2 Orally would oxidize circulating antibodies to reset system w new ones....I'd like your opinion, am thinking of trying oral H202 or oral MMS chlorite since no topical treatments seem to get to the root of the problem.

12 yr old tea cup poodle: After 3 yrs of trying Acupuncture and herbal treatments for my little Sapphire we have success. She had lost hair on stomach, all her neck hair, elephant skin on back legs and generally was so miserable, smelled, and just slept in curled up ball. Our vet 60 days ago wanted us to try new dosage of Atopica for CATs due to Sapphire being only 4 lbs, apparently the dog version doesn't have small enough dose. New dosage of the Cat version of this medicine was approved to give small dogs. Within first 3 weeks smell was gone and hair was growing back on her neck and stomach. After 45 days even the elephant skin on back legs is completely gone. She now sleeps with legs stretched out, runs and plays almost like a puppy again.

60 days - We now give her the dose every other day. To keep upset stomach side effect eliminated we keep medicine refrigerated and give her bite of treat 1st before giving her the medicine. A little food and chilled medicine have all but completely eliminated the only side effect we had of vomiting.

My 9 y/o yellowlab was recently diagnosed with Pseudopelade. It's a skin condition and basically the hair follicle is damaged and no longer able to grow hair. My poor little guy is getting bald spots all over his head. I was wondering if anyone has dealt with this and had any info to share. Thanks very much.

I have an 82# rescued, senior female Rottie who started "scooting" and had rectal bleeding. I took her to the vet, who found no blood in her intestines, but did find hookworms, which I treated her for with medication he gave me. Her anal sacs are fine, and the vet pronounced her otherwise healthy.

She tested positive for heartworms awhile back, and I've had her on the Bandit's Buddies program (google it online for complete info) for three months now. I'm concerned that the Nature's Sunshine HSII formula (hawthorn berry, capsicum and garlic) might be part of causing this tenderness and bleeding from her rectal tissues because of the capsicum being a nightshade, which dogs don't eat in the wild or digest well, so I stopped that part of the program (for now). I've been cleaning the area with 1/2 Epsom Salts & peroxide, then putting Vitamen E oil on the tissues, as they seem dry and almost cracked. There's no indication of infection or pus, just bleeding. To treat her internally, I've given her 1 TBS drinkable aloe (with a syringe) at night. And after reading these posts, I also just gave her about 1 1/2 TBS of melted coconut oil, which she gobbled up. Her diet is a high-quality dry food (first ingredient Salmon/no corn or wheat) that she's been on for about seven months w/no problems. She also gets a TBS or so of wet food 2x per day mixed with Nature's Sunshine Artemesia blend (a really thorough mix of vermifuge herbs).

My question is: does anyone here have any other suggestions for natural remedies to speed the healing of those rectal tissues? My first instincts are poultice, but I don't think she would hold still for that! Any other herbs I can add? I have shelves of capsulated herbs and tinctures, as well as quite a few homeopathic remedies. Thanks!

Hi there,

Dogs & Cats with skin rashes or seasonal skin irritations apply luke warm Rooibos tea with a cotton swab to the affected area 2 to 3 times a day for approx 2 to 3 days. The rash will scab up and heal. Don't use Cortisone creams for rash treatment unless it is very nasty.

One teabag in a cup, pour boiling water into the cup and leave it till it is luke warm. Then apply it with a cotton swab to the affected are, you can also use it at room temperature. Just leave the tea bag in for a nice strong concentration.

Regards, Solveig

I have come acrross a remedy that may help others concerning redness and scratchiness on my beagle mix. Every day I give salmon oil squirts over his food - no more itching and redness. A miracle!

I'm wondering if bitter almonds are okay to give to a goat. I know Apple seeds can kill dogs. She has a large carcinoma on her anus. I'm assuming it's from the sun as she is mostly white and carries her tail up most of the time. I don't know if they are toxic to goats and if will cure the cancer. She is currently pregnant with about two more months to go although I don't want to harm the babies. I really don't want to wait any longer to start treating her. I also thought about dabbing Apple cider vinegar or hydrogen peroxide on the spot and putting Apple cider vinegar in the water. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

My GSD, an older dog, not sure of age as she is a rescue, has been sick for about a month now, slowly recovering from a respiratory condition. I realized a few days after visiting the vet that I hadn't recieved a diagnosis and after calling still didn't get one. All I was told was that I had been given "two of the best antibiotics known" and a fever/pain med., rimadyl, of which the vet shoved two down her throat before I knew what it was and could object. The antibiotics are doxycycline and ****. I read up on the antibiotics & decided not to give the **** as the side effects were very bad. With the doxy I got confused from having read the dosage instructions for the other and gave her one every 12 hours when it was supposed to be 3,3x day or 9. I gave her none of the Rimadyl as it was side effect heavy also.

He had done a blood panel on her and said she showed signs of infection but no heartworms. She had what the vet called a fairly high fever, clear runny nose, gagging and occasionally a small amount of vomit, difficulty breathing, especially when lying down, fatigue, occasional staring into space or at the ceiling and a sudden development of fear of things she was never afraid of before. With the use of the antibiotic 2x and several supplements 5x day all of that is considerably better if not gone.

What is not better are the skin lesions. At first they were on the last foot or so of her back right up to the top of her tail. Now with the application of Neem oil and less regular addtion to the oil of dmso her back has cleared up. Also her nose had a crust across the top of it which is/was about 1/2 to 3/4 cleared up. I say was because the sores started appearing on the inside of one of her hind legs, a few on her belly and one on one front elbow. They may be the same or something different and it seemed like the more she licked the area the more it looked like the skin of her muzzle was getting pink and slightly swollen.

Well last night I was exhausted, the leg seemed worse than ever, swelling in spots, pinker and feverish, more sores, she would want me to throw her ball & after one time she'd go lay down looking worried which I figured meant she wanted to play but was in too much pain.

In desperation I read here on earthclinic enough treatments to get my head spinning and threw together what little I could find, 1/4 cup ACV, 1 tbsp epsom salts melted into a 1/4 cup very warm water, stirred it all together and sprayed and rubbed it into the leg and collapsed into bed.

Well today she is bouncing around happy, wanting to play, appetite improved (she stole the cat's last night chicken) and the inflammation and swelling in her leg seems 50% better. Here's hoping it continues to improve. I have been giving her the supplements wrapped in balls of Friskies cat food as every other thing I used failed to appeal to her after a couple of days and since I didn't raise her she gives me heck when I try to put them down her throat manually. I am feeding her raw organic chicken which pre-illness she'd wolf down a half chicken but now has been doing good to eat a quarter of one which sometimes takes hand feeding to persuade her to do. Hoping at mealtime this evening she'll also improve there. Just realized I've written a book here. Sorry but hoping it helps someone. Any advice welcome and appreciated.

The fur under my dog's chin was chronically damp, and she developed a persistent yeast infection. After a lot of research I purchased a tube of Monistat, the stuff they sell OTC for vaginal yeast infections. I rubbed it on the infected area once a day for 3 days, and voila! Yeast infection gone, never to return. It may not be natural or holistic, but it is cheap, easily available, quick, and it works.

Sunscreen for dogs belly and skin cancer:

Hi. I am trying to find a safe sunscreen with a 30 or higher SPF for my 11 year old pitbull's tummy. Epi-pet does not sound safe to me.

I am looking for a remedy for my 10 year old female cat. 7 months ago my daughter and her cat were attacked by a feral cat. My daughter was shredded so badly she is permanently scarred, three days later while having her wounds redressed at the Doctors, she had become so ill an ambulance was called, she was treated for cat scratch fever.

Her cat seemed ok, and I gave her 'Echinacea Goldenseal' to fight infection. About 3 weeks later one of her glands in her neck was about the size of a tennis ball, I gave her the remedy again for 2 weeks, 2 weeks off, 2 weeks on again. The lump halved in size, but still goes up and down, I am giving her colloidal silver and massaging the lump, but it still hasn't gone away. What can I give her to make the gland drain out? There is nothing at the skin level that is ulcerated or seeping, just the lump inside. Thanks.