The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Posted by Chement (Oakland, MI) on 03/04/2022 ★★★★★
Excellent advice. Saved me having to go to the vet. I have a 4 month old puppy and the stupid breeder gave her a bath and got water in her ear which started to smell yeasty. I bought regular cheap store brand apple cider vinegar (not Braggs organic) and mixed it half and half with distilled water and sprayed it in her ear and used cotton balls to squish it around and get the brown out. My dogs ear turned red and she was shaking her head more often so I did not repeat and do it a second time that first day. Instead, I added a little more water to the mixture and sprayed it in her ear once the next day and used the cotton ball method again. She was still shaking her head that second day but not as much and the inside of her ear was still red. I repeated the procedure again on the third day and she was shaking her head even less but her ear was still red. On the fourth day, she stopped head shaking and her ear looks great and is no longer red or smelly. THANK YOU for this valuable info. Saved me from buying those over the counter expensive solutions or going to the vet and having to spend $100 for an exam. Glad I found this post.
Posted by Stephanie (California) on 07/05/2017 ★★★★★
My dog has yeast chronic issues and has been on medications his whole twelve years for skin allergies. Now, I just use vinegar.
EC: Hi Stephanie, can you please provide more details, such as dosage, dilution (50/50 water), frequency, and whether you applied apple cider vinegar topically or added it to food? Thank you!
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
If this were my dog I would not hesitate to use the Zymox as it can be applied to a dirty sore ear - no need to clean out the gunk first. This to immediately address your dog's pain.
You mention you switched to grain free only after your vet prescribed the cocktail of meds that worked only temporarily; if the diet was the issue - the underlying cause of the problem - then the meds could only work so far until the diet was switched. You certainly could try the Arcane formula, which is an OTC cocktail of very similar medications that your vet prescribed. I would use the Zymox first if at all possible because it is a thin formula that can drip deep into the ear while the Arcane formula is more of a cream or gel and it takes some time to slowly melt into the ear.
As to the underlying issues - you changed the diet, and that is a good first step in the right direction. Other steps include getting a handle on the systemic yeast that thrived on the old diet. Consider Ted's Borax Protocol for dogs and also alkalizing the drinking water; when mine get gunky allergy ears [and like your dog, seems on only one side - the side that they sleep on! ] I alkalize the water in varying doses of baking soda for 3-4 weeks, and will do course of the borax water in between. This seems to really help knock the yeast down. Keep in mind that if your dog is sensitive to something in the diet or environment that staying on top of this yeasty ear will be an ongoing issue - there may be no permanent cure for it, only keeping any yeast infection at bay with constant cleaning and paying careful attention to diet.
My dog, an 11 yr old Akita/Retriever mix, has had a tough year of a recurring ear infection in 1 ear only.
He has had ear infections in the past - but its always in the same ear. This year, the ear has taken a turn for the worse. He was having dark, waxy stuff coming out of his ears and was in pain, so we took him to the vet, but his inner ear was so inflamed she could not even see down it. The vet prescribed a cocktail of anti inflammatory/anti fungal/anti everything medication, including Zymox.
I noticed an improvement while he was on the meds, but after 2 very expensive rounds of these medicines, we are back to a painful ear - especially at night (2am). I don't want to go back to the meds since they obviously didn't treat the underlying condition.
I have switched him to a grain free diet since then, but he needs relief ASAP.
Can I use ACV if his ear is this inflamed and painful? Would the Arcane solution work better in this case? I am willing to try ANYTHING at this point as my dog is in pain and now his hair is starting to fall out in clumps - just brushed out enough hair to fill a grocery bag, poor guy. Does this sound like an underlying yeast issue-turned-infection? I was thinking of trying the Arcane solution topically and putting ACV in his water or food instead of on his ears.
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
Upgrading the groceries usually helps. Also consider treating the drinking water with borax or baking soda. This advice from Ted:
"Sometimes we are dealing with internal/systemic yeast or an internal fungal infection - and sometimes despite the best nutrition out there we will experience an individual that for some reason is deficient in a mineral such as boron. If the dog is low in magnesium quite often allergies will arise. If you are dealing with yeast try adding 1/16 teaspoon of epsom salt in 1 liter of drinking water for 2-3 days - max; this is not intended for long term use, just to nip a break out in the bud. When you stop the epsom salt in the water you can then start adding 1 teaspoon baking soda to 1 liter of water; do this for 5-7 days. This is a 'break out' or crisis dose. After a week you can cut it back to a maintenance dose of 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda to the water. If you suspect a fungal component you can add 1/16 teaspoon borax along with the baking soda in 1 liter of water. In acute and extreme cases 1/4 teaspoon of borax in 1 liter of water is indicated. Many humans take 1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon borax in 1 liter of water daily as a detox and antifungal/antiyeast, so long term use is not an issue, however all these remedies are something you should 'play by ear' and should be adjusted as you see fit. The water additives address mineral deficiency issues and should be addressed first."
Sounds like an allergy of some kind, either food or from the enviroment. Nibbling paws is usually a yeast issue.
Two suggestions, one is to wipe off his feet every time he comes in from the outside with a wash cloth soaked in warm water that has a hint of dog shampoo in it. I've been doing this regularly with my dog who also chews his paws at certain times during the year (fall and spring) and it has helped immensely.
Other suggestion is to look into possible food allergies. Get him on a grain free diet. if that doesn't work, have him tested at the vet to see what food allergies he has. He might also be having an allergy to something outside so the washing off of paws should help. Good luck!
Posted by Eileen (Norfolk, UK) on 08/29/2016 ★★☆☆☆
Dog nibbling feet:
Hello, I hope you can help. I've been using cyder vinegar for nearly one week. I use it on his body and feet I put a tsp on his breakfast he is a big dog, he keeps licking the vinegar off he loves it what else can I do, please help.
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
Red and inflamed ears may benefit from garlic infused olive oil before treatment with ACV. If this were my dog I would use the garlic infused olive oil twice to three times per day to both calm the ears and clean them. When the ears are less 'ouchy' I would then use the diluted ACV treatment to continue to clean out the gunk as well as quell the infection.
i just made this, bathed him and applied to his neck and ears he whined Lil when put in ears I cleaned all the gunk out gently and his ears were red and inflamed.. I hope and pray this works, thank you
I noticed someone saying not to use ACV to help treat a yeast infection in their dog because of the sugar in apples but if one does their homework they will know that apples are on the LOW glycemic list of foods. My daughter has candida overgrowth and I have found that a lot of the remedies for her also work on the canine children. Here is a link for low glycemic foods and their glycemic ratings. Note that raw carrots are lowest while cooked are medium and canned are high. So, as long as you feed raw carrots you should be good. Sweet potatoes are also low. When starting out you want to eliminate all of it because of the natural sugars then slowly add back in one at a time. Figuring out along the way which ones trigger a reaction.
It would be great if everyone who posts on here was thorough in their directions and specific on their ingredient amounts.
I read an article (can't remember where at the moment) that stated to put a teaspoon in their water twice a week. It also stated that if they consume too much it can cause kidney stones. I put some in my dog's water a couple of days ago and she lapped it up. I was concerned she'd detect it and wouldn't drink it. I have also changed her food from Iam's Proactive Health Adult Mini chunks to Zignature Trout and Salmon Meal Limited Ingredient Formula Dry Dog Food.
I have also purchased an anti-fungal anti-microbial shampoo from Pet Meds. It's called "Be Super Clean."It's extremely thick so I diluted it a bit. It also doesn't lather much. It seemed to be working but now my Basset is still itchy after baths and soaks of water, peroxide and white vinegar. this mixture is good for foot soaks too.
I actually read the ingredients in Mane and Tail Shampoo and found nothing that will add to the yeast issue (sugars, oats, etc).
I continue to find solutions as it seems one thing work for awhile and I have to then try something else.
Hello. We have been searching for something to help our yorkie out. She has struggled for some time with yeast infections in her ears and all over her body. She has had the same problem that you mentioned of losing hair on her legs and parts of her body becoming black in color. We really want to find her some relief. Nights are especially hard for her. Can you please tell me more about the diet you switched your dog to and the mixture of ACV you used? We reluctantly gave in to steroid treatments and antibiotics after taking her to several vets in our area but would really like to find a more natural way of helping her. Any help would be so greatly appreciated.
Please, please, PLEASE use only THIS remedy (Healthy Ear Recipe (from Arcane) for healing your dog's ears (it's been posted multiple times here on EC):
DO NOT PUT STRAIGHT VINEGAR (organic OR white vinegar) into a dog's ears if they're red/inflamed/sore, etc. It'll only sting!!!
READ THIS RECIPE VERY CAREFULLY AND COMPLETELY!!!!!
It's an excellent remedy for ear infections (yeast and/or bacterial) in dogs. I've used it on my Golden Retriever's ears when she had a yeast infection. Totally cleared it up. Plus, find a new food with NO GRAIN, NO CORN, and NO RICE (rice=sugar which yeast loves).
Healthy Ear Recipe (from Arcane)
1 tube Monistat (generic is fine)
1 tube Polysporin (use the real deal - it's inexpensive)
1 tube Cortaid (generic works here as well)
Use tubes of similar size. Mix all three together in a container that can be closed well. It takes a bit to incorporate because the Polysporin is a bit like Vaseline. Once incorporated, it stays mixed.
If ears are gunky, inflamed or smell bad, start with using a pea sized dollop twice a day. Use your finger to gently push it into the ear. Rub. Dogs will only shake their heads once or twice! It's a creamy, very soothing mixture. Once you have the ears under control, lessen how often you use it till you're only using it once a week. Once a week, it keeps ears from getting bad again.
My doctor (human) is the one that came up with this as her dogs were having ear issues that weren't really under control from the things her vet was prescribing! Anyone that I know that has gone to using it has had remarkable results and the dogs are much happier and SAFER than using anything with alcohol in it. I was told by my vet that alcohol just dries the ear out - which includes drying out the ear drum AND that if there is even the tiniest of perforations in that ear drum, it can let alcohol down into the middle ear where it can do permanent damage. That's why this cream is SOOOOO good! There's nothing "liquid" about it. It goes in and melts its way down to where it's needed. No alcohol to cause drying or damage and it will take care of anything yeast, bacterial etc...
My Yorkie whose previous owner had tried many things including allergy testing, would gnaw and chew his back until he had sores. His skin was very oily and had a bad smell after just a day of being bathed. After trying many things to relieve his problem I happened to discover Douxo online and ordered some. I have been using it for about a year and no longer have any problem with his skin. I shampoo him weekly and although the Douxo is a little pricey, it lathers well so a bottle lasts me for 8 months or so. Apparently his probably was never allergies but a yeast overgrowth.
Saundra, Beneful is the worst dog food on the market! Pedigree is not much better. Go to Dog Food Advisor dot com for more dog food info. I feed raw food which is high fat, moderate animal protein, low carb, grain free. This is a dog's natural food. Too much carb feeds yeast bc it breaks down to sugar in the digestive system.
After numerous visits to vet with scratching, skin sores, inflammation, and yeast infections my shepherd mix's medical root cause was determined to be a low thyroid. He is now on low dose of thyroxine which helps but at onset of spring he still had a severe skin flair-up. My observation is that his recurring yeast infections manifest from an overgrowth of yeast in the gut that he cannot balance due to his poor immune-system. After listening to a lecture on probiotics from a doctor at recent dietitian conference I decided that this was worth a try. I have now had him on Mercola's probiotics (human dosage) which had 70 million flora and I do believe it seems to be helping. My philosophy is it can do no harm. His itching is waning and he's resting better, less anxious. Not sure if this is the answer but I believe it is a part of the answer. The right probiotic helps restore the yeast imbalance caused by the complexity of a immune-system run amuck.
Hi all just want to say I have a rescue pup who has allergies of some kind food or evironmental. I like holistic vet care but the closet one is in Austin, TX. You look him up and you can follow him and learn how to care for your pets. Like how repeated vaccines hurt and toxic flea meds are bad.
This is what I recently did for my rescue: coconut oil 2oz and 2ml colloidal silver in a hair color bottle from Sally's...rub it into coat and skin head to toe and leave for 2 hours, then bath and boy he looked so much better the next day and the good news is if there are hidden mites, which happens often, the colloidal silver kills them. Pup allergies bumps biting itching gone.
Witch hazel cleans ears. This last time I put 2-3 drop colloidal silver messaged and cleaned out.
They say that food allergies are either chicken beef or grains. Its' my under standing that grains are not good for us or pets. Raw or home cooked best or canned dog food. I use standard process muliti vitamin - great product. Sometimes shedding is low vitamin e. I hope this helps someone.
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
Please do not beat yourself up over putting your girl to sleep- she well may have had atopic dermatitis, which is a genetic condition and for some dogs PTS is the only way to get relief. You sound like a conscientious pet guardian, and I am sure your girl got the very best care during her time with you.
I had a beloved black Scnauzer mix named Missy about 25 years ago. When she was about 4 years old she developed a horrible, black, oozing, gummy, stinky secretion on her entire body. She would scratch non-stop. No amount of baths, different shampoos helped. My vet told me it was bad genes/hereditary, and there was nothing to clear it up! He had no idea what she had. I did everything I could think of to help her, to no avail. She became so crazed with scratching, that she wasn't even the same happy, little dog anymore. She literally scratched all the time. I came home from work one day, and she had rubbed her little body all over the walls and blood was everywhere. I had to take my sweet little dog and have her put to sleep. She was only six years old. I cried my eyes out all the way home. Today, I believe she could have been helped. Obviously, she had a terrible yeast infection. If I had only known....
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
A simple approach for yeast is adding borax to your pet's drinking water. For a female add 1/8th teaspoon per liter of drinking water, and do this for 7 days - then reduce to 1/16th of a teaspoon of borax for another 7 days - the take 7 days off and repeat the cycle. In addition you can also bath your girl in Ted's Anti-fungal/Anti-staph dip:
Mix 1 tbsp of MOM with 1 tbsp epsom salt and 1 tbsp borax into 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide plus 1 cup of plain water. Apply and do not rinse. This solution should knock out any staph infection or yeast infection going on in the skin.
My dog has a yeast infection due to the change in her diet we had to implement as she has liver shunt. There aren't a lot of options we can find in the way of food, and have been feeding her the hills LD dry food, plus some cottage cheese/boiled vegetables/white rice as instructed by the vet.
I'm now thinking the carb content in the white rice AND the potato they told us would be fine is actually bringing on this yeast infection!! We can't feed her any animal protein so raw meat and bones are out of the question. Her health is great - no seizures etc - except this yeast!!
Any suggestions? I really don't want to put her on steroids :(
I'm not sure how your baby is doing but if you are fighting a yeast infection more than likely your dog could have candida of the stomach like humans often have. Give them an excellent probiotic daily; I use Dr. beckers on Dr.Mercola's website and it is high about 30 billion per serving. It needs to be high. Also, watch what you are feeding them, no grains, sugar, starchs such as potato in foods. Wet food is better. I have totally switched my dog to a dehydrated organic dog food which he loves! Hope this helps! Best of luck!
My dog suffered from yeast infections in ears and body for three years straight. She was so bad that after thousands of dollars on vet bills and meds that would make her sicker and showed no improvements I started with home remedies that though worked better would still come back. Finally I found two things that got rid of everything and shes been symptom free for two years. This dog was so bad I was seriously considering putting her down. She looked like she had soars all over and haf to wear a cone of shame all the time. I put her WELL BALANCE CORE NO GRAINS WHITE FISH FOOD. I also started her on DINOVITE. Dinovite clearly says she will get a little worse the first two weeks while everything gets expelled but stick to it. Sure enough after two weeks I started to notice improvements and within a month her hair had already grown back. I still almost three years later have her on both the core wellness white fish no grains diet and dinovite and she has never gotten another yeast ear infection or those horrible yeast scabs she had. Vet visits are just for physical and vaccines. Shes healthy and happy now.
I'm glad you posted today because it did help. I thought about the monistat but would be concerned if my dog ingested it. I am going to try your baby oil idea. Thanks
Whenever I bathe my dog she always gets an ear/yeast infection. What works the best whenever your dog gets wet from baths, swimming, etc. is Epi-Otic Advanced ear cleaner by Virbac. Apply after bath or swim, it dries up any water in the ear and helps prevent bacteria from attaching to the skin surface in ear. I also bought Zymox ear solution from the "pet store" to treat an ear infection when we were on vacation. It worked faster and better than antibiotics, it's a natural bio-active enzymes, It treats bacteria and yeast infections. I saw results the next day and it cleared up within 2 days and only 2 applications. These products are the best for dogs ear issues
I realize the post is old but thought I would respond in case anyone is still having these problems. Regarding the stomach discoloration, dirty spotted looking belly etc. that doesn't come clean with a bath. I shave my dogs stomach or area then put baby oil on it. I let it sit for about 5 minutes then with a baby oil soaked Q-tip I rub off the discoloration. I think it's just dead skin cells, she's left with a nice soft pink tummy and she loves it. I think bathing your dog at least once a month helps keep the discoloration at a minimum, use extra soap on the tummy area and give them a good rub.
With regard to the yeast infection did anyone try monistat cream? I would think that would be the best treatment for a yeast infection anywhere. When my daughter was small she had a red area on the top of her nose, she was diagnosed with a yeast infection. Doctor prescribed monistat cream it cleared up quickly.
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
I must respectfully disagree with your proclamation.
First, the basics:
For both humans and dogs "A highly important component of skin is what is called the acid mantle. This is a lightly acidic layer that covers the skin, serving as a barrier to protect the porous topmost layer of the skin, the stratum corneum, from environmental contaminants such as bacteria and viruses. The stratum corneum is responsible for keeping the outer body well hydrated, by absorbing water and not allowing excessive evaporation to occur. When we bathe, using soaps and shampoos, we wash away this layer of acidic oil."
Next: "The acid mantle can also be defined as the relative pH balance of the skin. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with levels less than 6.4 considered high acidity, and levels more than 6.4 considered high alkalinity. The normal range of skin pH levels for humans is 5.2 to 6.2...Depending on breed, gender, climate, and the anatomical size on the dog, the pH levels range from 5.5 to 7.5, ..."
"...if a shampoo that is formulated for human skin is used on a dog, the dog's acid mantle will be disrupted, creating an environment where bacteria, parasites, and viruses can run rampant. Unknowingly, many pet owners will repeat washings of their dogs because of the smell caused by a proliferation of bacteria, making the problem worse as the skin's acid mantle/pH level becomes more imbalanced."
Because dog shampoos can be very expensive, and human shampoos are usually very affordable, the solution is to give your dog an ACV rinse after the bath to restore the acid mantle and balance the PH of the skin.
And, about the Selsun Blue not working on the fungal infection on the skin of your dog, the working ingredients in Selsun Blue are selenium sulfide [anti-fungal]or salycilic acid [anti-bacterial] in either 1% or 3% concentrations. The VetTrust shampoo from Walmart has chlorhexidine gluconate [anti-bacterial] and ketoconazole [anti-fungal]. It would seem that the yeast/bacterial infection on your dog was simply not sensitive to the Selsun Blue, but was sensitive to the VetTrust product. What works is what works, however a far less expensive and super effective approach would be Ted's Anti-fungal/Anti-staph remedy.
Don't use Selsun Blue or ANY HUMAN SHAMPOO on DOGS! That's for humans! The PH is different for dogs skin/ears. I used to use dandruff shampoo on my dog and never did get rid of his fungus. I later learned it was too potent for animals to use human shampoos. I found Vetrust antibacterial/antifungal shampoo for dogs at Walmart and it works great. Good luck!
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
Hello, my puggle has a ear yeast infection. How do I use the Apple Cider Vinegar? Do I put it in her ears or in her water? Please help my baby is so uncomfortable
I had a pit that had very sensitive skin had to put him on taste of the wild salmon, he healed up beautiful.... My dogs don't eat anything but that.
Don't ever use wheat germ or grains cause these all are yeasty so for ears go to vet they give good tube of stuff that takes yeast away but then you also get a bottle of ear cleanser which you need to do especially if your dogs ears get wet like swimming baths. Always dry ears cause yeast likes wet dark places so go to vet, get these things, doesn't cost much but as in my dog who has yeast all over bottom and arm pits. I need a shampoo and she cannot have any sugar! Taste of the wild has some potato which is sugar but it's from me feeding her crackers, potatoes, chicken, lots of dogs are allergic to chicken!!!!!!!
I have a 10 year old SharPei and German Shepherd mix. Two breeds known for skin issues. She's had seasonal allergies her whole life but this year has been especially bad. We've always dealt with her yeast issues with predisone - but steroids are not only bad for the animal, they lose effectiveness over time. The yeast and allergies has been compounded over the last couple years due to hypothyroidism. Sandy dog is having a rough year. She currently has a yeast infection on her skin that I just can't seem to beat. I had it almost cleared up using Malaseb shampoo, but then we went to the beach for a week and she was wet all the time and it came back. So, here we go again. The poor dear hates the baths, but it seems to help the itching immediately. I switched her food to Blue Wilderness this week and I'm going to start giving her the acidophilus supplement. She gets yogurt, but not every day. Guess we'll change that too. And no more human scraps. Anyway, I wanted to share that the Malaseb shampoo really does work. We've also used Be Soothed tea tree oil shampoo in the past - it works fine on lesser yeast infections. OH, and this will seem weird - but if you have spot yeast infections in the armpit or around the genital area you might try generic monistat cream, its usually miconazole cream. You can find it in the drug store. It works awesome for killing the yeast. Unfortunately, for the whole dog, it would be rather messy and expensive. lol
I have a 10 year old SharPei and German Shepherd mix. Two breeds known for skin issues. She's had seasonal allergies her whole life but this year has been especially bad. We've always dealt with her yeast issues with predisone - but steroids are not only bad for the animal, they lose effectiveness over time. The yeast and allergies has been compounded over the last couple years due to hypothyroidism. Sandy dog is having a rough year. She currently has a yeast infection on her skin that I just can't seem to beat. I had it almost cleared up using Malaseb shampoo, but then we went to the beach for a week and she was wet all the time and it came back. So, here we go again. The poor dear hates the baths, but it seems to help the itching immediately. I switched her food to Blue Wilderness this week and I'm going to start giving her the acidophilus supplement. She gets yogurt, but not every day. Guess we'll change that too. And no more human scraps. Anyway, I wanted to share that the Malaseb shampoo really does work. We've also used Be Soothed tea tree oil shampoo in the past - it works fine on lesser yeast infections. OH, and this will seem weird - but if you have spot yeast infections in the armpit or around the genital area you might try generic monistat cream its usually miconazole cream. You can find it in the drug store. It works awesome for killing the yeast. Unfortunately, for the whole dog, it would be rather messy and expensive. lol
I have a westie - a breed well-known for skin issues. I have struggled to help him since he was 3. He forms scabby bumps that break open and ooze, will develop red rashes around his rear-end, his arm pits and legs even scabbing on his face. Its been so difficult.
The best thing I have ever done for him is got an RX shampoo called Ketochlor. In one washing I saw an amazing difference!! Not kidding! I also found virbac makes a similar leave-on lotion that really helps.
But I am dealing with 2 things: skin allergies and yeast. For the yeast, I add probiotics to his food...just break open a cap and put in on his food.
For food he gets chicken or beef with venison. I add either olive oil or fish oil to his food because his skin is also dry and he needs the fat.
If the yeast gets really bad, I put desitin ointment on those areas.
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
You asked: "Why would the condition reappear if she was on a maintenance diet - not feeding the yeast."
Many factors are involved here - including airborne allergens and seasonal molds. It could also be that while you are not feeding the yeast, it is not getting digested/eaten/ imbalance of internal flora. You might consider switching the probiotics - change acidophillus brands frequently which will allow a variety of strains to populate the GI tract. I switch around between DDS w/FOS, PB8, Shiff's Digestive Advantage, Forti Flora, and whatever I find on sale. The key is variety.
Ted has some remedies - this is paraphrased from his many posts:
Sometimes we are dealing with internal/systemic yeast or an internal fungal infection - and sometimes despite the best nutrition out there we will experience an individual that for some reason is deficient in a mineral such as boron. If the dog is low in magnesium quite often allergies will arise. If you are dealing with yeast try adding 1/16 teaspoon of Epsom salt in 1 liter of drinking water for 2-3 days - max; this is not intended for long term use, just to nip a break out in the bud. When you stop the Epsom salt in the water you can then start adding 1 teaspoon baking soda to 1 liter of water; do this for 5-7 days. This is a 'break out' or crisis dose. After a week you can cut it back to a maintenance dose of 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda to the water. If you suspect a fungal component [yeast] you can add 1/16 teaspoon borax along with the baking soda in 1 liter of water. In acute and extreme cases 1/4 teaspoon of borax in 1 liter of water is indicated. Many humans take 1/8 - 1/4 teaspoon borax in 1 liter of water daily as a detox and antifungal/antiyeast, so long term use is not an issue, however all these remedies are something you should 'play by ear' and should be adjusted as you see fit. The water additives address mineral deficiency issues and should be addressed first.
Now, when I am dealing with a dog with the itchies I first treat with Ted's mange remedy; I find that the veterinarian prescribed or OTC medicated shampoos just do not have the efficacy that I seek and they also tend to be on the spendy side.
Ted's Mange Remedy
Ingredients: Borax laundry booster - the plain stuff with NO scent. 1 -16 oz bottle of 3% hydrogen peroxide
I get both of these from the grocery store.
Process: Empty hydrogen peroxide into larger bottle - I use an empty 1 gallon vinegar jug. Add to this 32 oz filtered or distilled water - I just refill the hydrogen peroxide bottle twice - and dump into the jug. What this does is change your 3% hydrogen peroxide into 1% hydrogen peroxide.
Next add 1 cup of the borax crystals and shake. There should be some undissolved crystals in the mixed solution - this is just right. I try to use hot water from the kettle on the stove, that or sit the jug of mixture in the sink full of hot water while I bathe the dog.
NEXT: Bathe the dog - use whatever shampoo and rinse well. Squeeze out excess water and make sure the tub is drained. I then plug up the tub. Now pour the mixed up solution over the dog. I use a small sponge to soak up the solution from the bottom of the tub and squeeze it out onto the dog again and again, making sure I get the head and underneath. Keep squeezing solution over and over onto the dog for about 15 minutes - 30 minutes is better. Then pull the stopper from the tub and let the excess drain. DO NOT DRY THE DOG OR RINSE THE DOG. The solution has to remain wet as it is still working. Allow the dog to air dry. I just pop mine into their crates and I remove any absorbent bedding.
If you are worried about poisoning your dog keep in mind that borax has the same toxicity as table salt. The solution doesn't seem to hurt the eyes or sting any sores on the skin. Some dogs feel instant relief!
You can make up a solution for a spray bottle and touch up areas on a daily basis if you choose – just keep the hydrogen peroxide ration 1:2 – so 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide straight from the bottle to 2 cups filtered water OR 1 tbsp hydrogen peroxide to 2 tbsp water – and then add powdered borax until it stops melting into the solution and remains as grains on the bottom of the mixing bowl. The key is to make a “saturated” solution, the point of saturation is where the grains of borax stop dissolving; again the solution should be grainy whatever the ratio of hydrogen peroxide and water that you use.
To make a stronger or more aggressive solution use an equal amount of white vinegar [NOT ACV] - so add 48 oz of vinegar to recipe above for a peracetic acid solution and then use as directed above.
Now, the above remedy is for mange - but its a good start for troubled skin. If that doesn't seem to be working and things do not look better you can make a topical skin solution for the troubled spots. I would first make up a large batch of the following solution and bathe with the above protocol - ie no rinsing, allow to drip dry for as long as possible.
Anti fungal/staph skin solution - you will need: Milk of Magnesia [magnesium hydroxide] Epsom salts [magnesium sulfate] Borax [sodium tetraborate] 1% hydrogen peroxide solution
Mix 1 tbsp of MOM with 1 tbsp epsom salt and 1 tbsp borax into 1-1/2 cups of 1% hydrogen peroxide. Apply and do not rinse. This solution should knock out any staph infection or yeast infection going on in the skin.
Additionally you can add pet vitamins, ie Pet Tabs - for a week, along with flaxseed oil and evening primrose oil; you can also try flaxseed oil and coconut oil - 1 -2 tsp am and pm in the food; you should see improvement in a couple of days.
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
Your baby sounds like a lil' doll-baby! [Yes, I am partial to the breed! ]
The probiotics are certainly a step in the right direction; consider this formula - DDS w/FOS - am and pm for 3 weeks as a start. After 3 weeks consider switching to a PB8 formula for an additional 3-6 weeks. Probiotics are good, but they are not all the same - the DDS w/FOS contains both acidophillus and sort of a starter medium to help get the bacteria established in the gut. The PB8 has additional strains of acidophillus and also has a bacteria 'feeder' to further help establish the 'good' bacteria in the gut.
You are right to consider a change in diet. There are so many kibbles out and the branding and advertising can make it confusing and hard to choose. The right diet is whichever one your pup thrives on. If you started on a puppy chow, at 14 weeks you should be switching to an adult forumla. The main ingredients in the diets you have been feeding is CORN. This can cause all sorts of problems as you have seen. Consider feeding a 5 or 6 star diet from the diets rated on this site:
I typically hard switch diets rather than fiddle with the gradual mixing of kibbles; to avoid loose stools simply feed a small quanity to start, and increase the portion over 2 days. If after switching fully to the new diet you see loose stools it may be due to feeding too large a portion, so reduce the portion size; this is particularly true for high protien/mostly meat based diets such as Orijen.
Be on the lookout for yeasty gunky ears and urinary tract infections; if you notice frequent urination keep an eye out, as high corn diets are thought to contribute to UTIs and now that your girly is heading down the road to puppy puberty changes in her vulva may also create an environment for a UTI to take hold.
Ahh - pibble puppy breath! I can smell it from here!
I have a 14 week old blue pit bull pup named Bella, she's a rescue dog and I got her at only 4 weeks old. Needless to say she had not been weaned so I weaned her on Purina Puppy Chow and a weaning formula from PetSmart. She was not infested with fleas thank goodness but I very quickly noticed she was scratching and itching a lot. I kept her on the basic puppy chow and formula until she was 6 weeks old, at that point her itching was getting much worse and I could see her skin, which is very pink on her belly looked red and felt hot to the touch, so I took her completely off the puppy chow and started her on Pedigree Healthy Digestion (canned) and One Beyond kibble by Purina. She's a very active and rambunctious little gal with loads of energy, I caught her rolling and tumbling in poision ivy. Seemed like she was drawn to it for some reason, my husband went to the point of fencing the area with the posion ivy off, anyway I beleive she is allergic to it just as most human's are. At this point I know I am dealing with allegies and that she also has yeast. Thanks for all the great information on yeast infections! I am using tea tree oil shampoo and white vinegar rinse, also started her on probiotics, fish oil and DE. I am now searching for the right food for her. I am open for suggestions, please. Blue Buffalo Wilderness has been highly reccomended as well as Precise lamb meal and rice.
Posted by Debbiefudge (Brighton. Uk) on 08/18/2013
Hi. The most important thing to do is to change the dogs diet. Change to raw feeding only. Give probiotic yogurt every day. Half a clove of raw garlic daily. Bath in an antifungal shampoo and after the final rinse, mix half white vinegar/half water and soak every part of the dogs skin and leave to dry. Do this once a week. And also have a spray bottle with the same mixture in and spray any hot spots or where the dog is scratching, twice a day. I would stay away from the ACV until there is some improvement. Add a teaspoonful of DE (Food grade only) to the yogurt and mix well. This will help detox the dog. Don't give any vegetables. Just alternate different types of raw meat and raw bone. And, fish, once a week.
Sounds like a really bad yeast infection. Read how people have treated their dogs at this link (using ACV, Monistat, changing the dog's food to a higher-quality/no grain food, yogurt, and other treatments): https://www.earthclinic.com/pets/yeast_infections_dogs.html
My dog has developed black elephant skin, itches all the time, and it has started developing on her front paw where she limps a little. I heard that apple cider vinegar and plain low fat yogurt helps so I have started using one teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar and a heaping tablespoon of yogurt in her soft food. I also read that it takes about a month to work. Has anyone tried this. My poor baby looks miserable and I can't afford for the vet to do test after test only to find they didn't find anything.
Posted by Raine (Marsh Harbour, Abaco, Bahamas) on 06/20/2013 ★☆☆☆☆
My 12 yr old shih-tzu battled gooby, smelly eyes, ear infections and itchy skin on and off almost her whole life. It wasn't until she began losing the fur on her chest that we finally connected the dots and began researching yeast infections. The vet was no help all these years-would just give her an antibiotic shot and put her on prednisone everytime. We distrust him so much now we are scared to take her there for fear of him shooting her up with antibiotics again, I'm scared that would be the final blow to her health. Started treating her many different ways, she was on a homemade food of brown rice, mackerel and green beans, and has since been changed to straight salmon with some yogurt. Was powdering her with a cornstarch, turmeric&clove mixture, but that didn't seem to be helping, and also the ACV 50/50 spray mixture, as well as putting it in her drinking water. NOTHING has helped!
Just learnt today that some brands of ACV contain yeast, so I'm pretty sure that is a big factor in why she has gotten worse rather than improving. I live on a small island in the Bahamas and chances of finding organic ACV are very slim. I have had this dog since I was 10 and it is literally breaking my heart to see the misery she is in. Can anyone please help? Any super cures that have been known to work well & work quickly? Stuff that doesn't neccessarily have to come from an organic or specialty store? We do have some coconut oil that they would put on her food, but she does not like it at all and would sometimes not eat her food or just eat around the oil. Maybe we need to shoot it down her throat with a syringe, can anyone give me a relative amount for a 13lb shih-tzu?
Other than all the problems accossiated with yeast (full, irritable anal gland, "old age" lumps, oozy eyes & ears) and some arthritis, she has no other health problems! We have been fighting this for I'd say at least 2 months now, and it's getting to the point where it's selfish to keep her here if we can't get her health improved. The affected skin runs on her underside from under her chin, down her whole chest straight down to her groin now. The armpits are an especially bad place. Also, does anyone know if antibiotic powder would feed the yeast? After she started licking the cornstarch mix off, we started using BNT antibiotic powder because it dries open raw wounds out in a snap.
Please please please, I am desperate and about to lose my best friend! Thank you in advance!
Posted by Gena (Pasadena, California) on 05/18/2013
Hi, I would be careful shaving that area. Only a professional should do it. I think that if you bathed her first that would be sufficient. Make sure the ACV is well diluted... More than 50% water may be necessary. More important is to put ACV in her food, also mixed in with water. My dogs don't like ACV, but they will eat it after it's been mixed with water and soaked in their kibble for a few minutes. Probiotics may also help the dog's issue, but if it it is caused by the food, which it sounds like it might be, you will need to find another brand. Please let us know how she is doing!
Posted by Rayrmjaj (Bancroft, Idaho) on 05/18/2013
My dog's yeast infection is in her vaginal area. And she has a lot of hair. I have never shaved a dog in that area. Where can I get some help on how to do this. I don't believe I can get the vinegar and water to where it needs to be unless I do this. Can you use people medicine on her for the same ailment? The dog food I feed her is low fat low ash "Pride".
I bought Dr. Karen Becker's book about what to feed our cats and dogs for optimal nutrition. My pitbull has yeast and after thousands of dollars on vet bills, medications including antibiotics, steroids and atopica. We also took him to a dermatologist, we gave him injections for allegies. Sadly these "doctors" even advised to feed him sweet potatoes as treats. At that time I was new to owning a dog. Now I feel like over the first year of his life taking the advice of these vets actually caused more harm to him. He is now on a raw diet, getting meats, vegetables, bones and also organ meats. His yeast has significantly reduced but hasn't fully gone away. I think there's more I can do and just researching. All in all though to help your dog it begins with diet. Sadly store bought dog food is mostly bad for them. If you can't give them a raw diet try at least buying the "raw diets" for dogs that some stores are now carrying.
Posted by Lilly (Pompano Beach, Florida) on 02/20/2013
Please know that after years of searching for a remedy for my dog's itching, scratching and allergy to fleas. I read (in one of my many searches) that if your dog has allergies and or licks their feet. They have candida albacan (spelling may be off). You need to take her or him off all carbs, to starve the yeast. So I took my dog off of all dog food, bought some beef liver, heart, and ground beef. She gets one patty (ground beef), one liver and one slice of heart for breakfast and dinner, nothing else. I also give her activated charcoal and diatomaceous earth to help get rid of the yeast. It's only been one day but I think this will detox her from the yeast and any other allergies she may have. Good luck. BTW, she is a 70lb pit bull.
Posted by Monika (Cooroy, Queensland, Australia) on 02/20/2013
hi, my dog a west highlander has a very bad yeast infection. I'll start tomorrow with the ACV treatment and yoghourt. I use for a short time the shampoo and conditioner Pet Esthe. It is 100% natural. The ingrediens are from bamboo and charcol. After the first wash my dog my dog didn't scrached at all for two days. I hope with the vinegar I get rid of the yest.
Posted by Lilli (Kenmore, Wa, Usa) on 01/14/2013 13 posts ★★★★★
I read all the great posts here about ACV and the various uses in caring for a dog who has a yeast infection. I just had to write and share my success story.
My adopted pal, whose breed is prone to severe skin problems, developed a bad skin yeast infection. His legs and parts of his torso turned black and lost fur. He scratched 24/7 and we had to watch him constantly or he would scratch and bite until he bled. Eventually, we had to keep him in onsies and a plastic cone.
When he lived with his previous family, we think he was given too much prednisone and too many anti-biotics which ruined his immune system. Every vet we took him too wanted to prescribe the same meds including atopica. IMHO I would never give these things to him again! Prednisone shuts down the adrenal glands which stops the itching but causes severe medical problems down the road.
We were at the end of our rope watching our poor guy suffer. Here's what worked for us:
We finally found a naturopathic vet who has been allergy testing and giving him Chinese herbs and tinctures which attacks the yeast internally but takes time to work. We changed his diet to a commercial brand of frozen raw meat with some veggies. (I would not recommend dry kibble of any kind because it is still processed and most have binders, starches, and grain products. ) He lost the extra weight, that he gained due to the prednisone, and was much livelier, but still scratching.
The single most amazing change in him occurred when I started spraying him with ACV/distilled water, 50/50. (I use organic ACV which has the "mother" in it. ) I sprayed the hot spots and black areas of his skin and rubbed the vinegar in. I kept him standing or moving until he air dried. (Do not spray it on open wounds and sores) Then I put him back in a cotton onsie. It is important to keep them from scratching and re-irritating the skin. I did this in the morning, after feeding, and the evening before bed. It reduced his scratching 75% in two days! I also mixed a little ACV in his food. (I would not recommend giving ACV on an empty stomach)
About every three days I mix a lotion of pure aloe vera with pure vegetable glycerin and distilled water and rub it on the troubled areas and let dry. (Do not use straight glycerin on skin because it traps moisture and may cause blistering) After a day or two, the lotion dries the surface yeast and it sloughs off. I clean the areas and new pink skin is underneath.
We are at day four of using this system. My dog is calmer, scratches less, and sleeps better. His skin is pinking up and I do not have to keep an eye on him all day.
(One word of caution: Talk to your naturopathic vet before starting any new remedy. Dogs can have a reaction to most anything whether it is natural or not. Start on a small patch of skin as a test before using any product on your dog.)
Thank you to everyone who posted ACV suggestions. After years of frustrating vet visits, many $$$'s spent, bad drug reactions, and the arrogance of Western medicine, a little $3.00 bottle of ACV did the trick!
Hope you didn't apply it full-strength. That would have hurt badly and he's probably scratching from pain. Did you read the other posts on this site about the amount of dilution to apply? You should see what the vet can find from looking into the ear, then you would know what kind of remedy to try.
apple cider vinager for ear infection/ yeast infection. I tried the apple cider viner water mixture and my dog started going crazy!!! She started scratching to death!! Help!! Will it help in the long run???
Posted by Nina (Fernandina Beach, Florida) on 12/31/2012
My vet in Fernandina Beach florida told me ACV/water 50/50 to flush the ears weekly to restore the PH balance. If I don't... the lab smells. I just took a Mastiff to foster for adoption for Mastiff Rescue of Florida--will start the ACV and go for yogurt today.
I've tried a grain free diet and it has seemed to work. I heard their raw diet works well too. I have an English bulldog who constantly gets ear infections.
Posted by Lplaunt (Madison, Ohio, United States) on 09/03/2012
Hi There, I am new to this board and have been reading all the replies. Great info. I have a 4 month old english bulldog who just started to develop yeast on her under belly side and on the face around the folds as well as her eyes. Lots of oozing on the face. Poor baby. I have made a list of things from all the tips I have been reading but wanted to add my input on one great thing that I am using for the yeast treatment on the skin and face. Coconut oil. I have been cooking in coconut oil for a healthier immune system and intestinal tract.
Coconut oil is a wonderful treatment for many things including YEAST. It also kills the strep virus, staph infections, and many other things.
I melted the coconut oil and then poored over my dogs food. I also took some of that melted oil and rubbed it all over her skin where the yeast was present. It's also safe to apply to her mouth area and eye area. Not to mention she likes licking her chops afterwards. lol. Here is a link on more info on coconut oil.
Here's a quote from the article.
"Melt 2 tblsp of oil in a cup of hot water. After bathing, refill the tub with luke warm water, add the cup of melted oil into the running water. Using a plastic bowl, pour the coconut oil water all over the dogs coat, rubbing to get down to the skin. Be sure to get the whole body.
Do not rinse
Dry as usual. You will immediatley notice the coats healthy condition. And it smells great!
Posted by 5 Pooches Home (Houston, Tx) on 08/17/2012
You can feed them carrots but make sure to saute them very long as they need to be very very soft for dogs to digest and get the benefits from them.
You can put some oil in the steel pan, saute the carrots on low and then sqeeze some fresh lemon juice and cover so it can steam and this will not only cook the carrots slowly but will retain the nutrients. Give all types of veggies to your dogs as they contain all kinds of nutrients and are full of fiber.
I have been giving my dogs organic carrots everyday for the past few years and it does keep them healthy. When serving, put in a 2-4 tablespoons of good unrefined coconut oil depending on your dog size. Both carrots and lemon juice help in liver detox - the most imp. organ in our body (next to heart).
I also add spices - tumeric, GROUND fennel seeds, GROUND cloves, thyme, iodized salt and little cayenne along with flax seeds, GROUND sunflower seeds and GROUND pumpkin seeds - all done in the grinder then and there just before going in the cooking pan.
Posted by George (Wappingers Falls, Ny) on 08/15/2012
A few posters here mentioned about not feeding dogs carrots while dealing with yeast infections because they are high in sugar. Will steaming them help reduce the sugars or should I just totally avoid them? My dog has been living on them for years. Isn't it true that dogs cannot digest carrots and pass them completely?
For yeast problems: Please stop shampooing with oatmeal products, eliminate all grains and potato products from diets. These products all inflame yeast problems. 1 cup vinager + 1cup peroxide to 1 gallon of water is a great rinse for after shampoos (anti-fungal). Can also be used daily especially on the paws. This cured my dogs yeast problem in 2 weeks. Hot and humid weather also adds to yeast blooming, so pets should be kept cool and dry. T
Posted by Tizalee (Sonora, Ca.) on 07/22/2012 ★★★★★
I use AC Vinegar as a rinse for my dog who has systemic yeast infection-remember people many times the yeast infection can be a secondary infection due to something else going on. In my dog's case it was staph (in fact MRSA)-I had to put her on antibiotics-no choice-30 days of it-but I also gave her pro-biotics, omega 3 & milk thistle. Bathed her in Malseb with the vinegar rinse. She is a Doxie I found 7 months ago curled up in a ditch, thought she was dead. She weighed 8lbs and was covered in sores & scabs. She's now 14lbs, her hair has grown back in and we may have the staph licked. My vet tried to say it was allergies-didn't listen-that is the usual diagnoses. I did put her on Precise holistic grain free food though as I didn't want anything yeasty in her system. Good luck folks yeast is a tough one to conquer!!
Posted by Anne (Calamvale, Qld Australia) on 07/20/2012
I have a white Maltese with a yeast infection who has turned pink and rather smelly her skin is very flaky and it shreds like desicated coconut the vet keeps giving me different shampoos but so far has not made any real difference she has taken a course of Nizoral tablets which calmed the skin a little but the dog has been quite miserable and snappy and has suggested we try just changing her food to just dry food and water for next 4 weeks I would like to try your remedy can someone give me the dosage please?
Posted by Atticus (Wellington, New Zealand) on 04/14/2012 ★★★★★
I have been using vinegar for a few days, before reading a post for getting rid of cat and dog yeast smells on the carpets and pet bedding. 50/50 vinegar and water sprayed on carpets and the next morning doggie and kitty smell gone! The vinegar smell evaporates. I also used this in the rinse when washing dog blankets today. Finally got rid of the smell which putting disinfectant in the wash hadn't resolved in the past.
Posted by Amanda (Sagadahoc County, Maine) on 03/26/2012
I believe my 11 month old lab/chessie mix has a yeast infection. I have begun spraying him with Apple Cider Vinegar and water solution 3 times a day. How long should it take for his bald patches to begin to grow back? I am also giving him plain yogurt with his meals.
I am the owner of 2 Dane mastiffs and the male one, Zeus, had nearly chewed the padding of his foot off. They gave him antibiotics and it seemed to do the trick. But he has a tummy rash. His sister has huge welts on her tummy that appear to be yeast so I'm pumped to try remedies tomorrow. I hear you mentioning Omegas and since I manage my lupus with adult opcs I am going to order her pet opcs. They are already on Blue dog food so I'm going to do mobistar and yogurt and the apple cider vinegar and medicated shampoos. Thanks!!!
Akeentruth - try getting your dog tested for hypothyroidism. This is commonly associated with skin disorders. It is like an autoimmune disease in that it lowers a dog's resistance to infections whenever they get a surface scratch on the skin. It takes about 45 days to see improvement and about 4 months to get 90% better. Please note that hypothyroid tests tend to not be accurate. So, if it comes back no problem with hypothyroid you might want to ask your Vet if it would hurt any to try a low dose med for hypothyroid for 30 days and see if there is improvement. This med is very inexpensive. You should also try Ketochlor Shampoo at the same time, bathing 3-4 times a week for 3 weeks, reducing to 2 times/ week and then once/ week at the 3-4 month mark. For ketochlor to be effective, it is best to shave the areas where the lessions are. I ordered a gallon of it since I was sure my dog would have outbreaks from tiem to time for the duration of his life. The shampoo works its way down the hair shaft- it is very effective. I also try rubbing apple cidar vinegar on my dog on days when he does not get a bath, to kill bacteria and yeast. The vinegar does not seem to bother him. Good luck!!
I have 2 English Bulldogs, a male and a female! My male has no problems at all. My female on the other hand has had ear, feet and wrinkle problems for about a year. My vet said it is probably an allergy. Well I have been usiong the Zymox on her ears which helps alot!
My question is, can I use the apple cider vinegar on her face, (wrinkles) and if so how much?? I purchased acidopholus pills today, so I will be starting that with plain yogurt tonight! Does anyone have any tips for the folds of her face?? also I just switched her food to Wellness core Oceanfish.
In large breed dogs, low normal thyroid levels can also contribute to yeast overgrowth. Unless the low normal levels are corrected the probiotics will not work. If you are having trouble fixing the yeast problem, get a T3 and T4 thyroid panel run and medicate if needed. Once the thyroid is hormone in in balance, the yeast treatments will work.
Posted by Akeentruth (Las Vegas, Nevada, Usa) on 01/12/2012
Hello I need some advice, I have been reading a lot of post on this site and I was hoping someone my be able to direct me in the right place. My name is Krys I have a 5 1/2 year old pit/chocolate lab mix with skin issues like no tomorrow. I have had my dog since he was 3 weeks old. When I first got him he had parvo and I made sure he survivred it. The first year and a half of his life he was fine no skin or ear issues.
After he hit two everything went down hill. His skin started to get really oily, and he would shake his head a lot. Slowly but surely he devoloped hives, losing hair, ears all red etc. Needless to say he also had happy tail syndrom... When the itching became excessive he chewed a sore on his tail and he caught gang grene and I had it amputated. I have tried everything, I feel like, for him. He was living in a cone/donut for the last 2 years on and off. I have taken him to vets, and dermatologist. He has been put on various meds, kenakonzol, doxicyclin, prednizone, many anti fungals, he takes zerytec daily, benadryl stopped working, I wash him with 3 medicated dog wash every other day. I have tried a daily bath of dawn dish soap per the dermatologists, I have tried yogurt in his food, as well as fish oils, and acidophilus.
Now he has developed a blood pocket in the inside of his ear, I have to take him to the vet tomorrow... Oh I also have tried switching his foods many many times. Right now my dermatologists has him on natural balance duck and potato high protein no grain. I am really at a loss. I love this dog with all my heart and I am afraid they have given him so many meds nothing is working, that the steroids are affecting his kidneys and that he is suffering, even though he is playful and full of life. If anyone and give any advice I would be so grateful.
Posted by Annie (New Jersey, Camden) on 12/28/2011
I have a dog who has elephant skin on her back of head below the ears. She has allergies which I have not been able to find anything to help her eyes from drying up and peeling. She has yeast on the inside of her ears. I have to keep socks on forever because she will lick them constantly and make them bleed. The puffiness is starting to go down. She doesn't have excessive thirst and I have trouble with her appetite. And she doesn't pee often. But I make sure she gets water. If she cannot have potatoes and rice what else can you give her? She has one ear tip that won't heal it keeps getting larger because she flicks it all of the time. She also has anal gland trouble so I have to make sure she eats foods with fiber. I tried elimination of diet and never found anything to work right for her. Prednisone make her worse so she is off of it. She has been to holistic vets many times. I had her on a kit called enzymes and it did not work. I need a special shampoo for the yeast infection. Any suggestions?
Our buddy Mike has been having a terrible time with what we have figured out (after 2 vet visits, all blood ok, thyroid ok, 2 rounds of antibiotics-which made him worse- and some Science Diet 50dollar food which smelled awful and he hated) to be a systemic yeast infection. He has an odor which he never used to have, very painful joints and diarrhea, he is lethargic and grouchy, has blackened skin on one ear and under arms... ( we've been wiping him down with diluted Apple Cider Vinegar on the yeasty spots which he seems to like) We changed his diet to anti-yeast and gave him probiotocs but now has extreme die off symptoms and his joints are so sore especially ankles, and his eyes look dry and irritated.
So, we stopped the probiotic for now to ease these symptoms a bit, still eating anti-yeast, taking natural joint supplement. We ordered enzymes product for him so we will see how that goes when it arrives. It is so hard to watch your best friend suffer, we are trying to be patient but it's tough to keep perspective.
Posted by Jan (Denver, Colorado Usa) on 11/11/2011
I would suggest you feed a dog with yeast issues a grain free/potato free food such as nature's variety instinct or great life grain free. Also make sure any treats do not contain any grains or potatoes... Yes, they are expensive but compared to vet bills and meds it is actually cheaper. Find a shampoo that does not contain any grains such as oatmeal.... Tea tree or neem works... It has been my experience that most vets do not have much knowledge of nutrition or using food to heal. Google yeast free diets for dogs. I now have a foster golden with this issue and am using the foods above....
Posted by Mons (Chattanooga, Tn) on 11/02/2011 ★★★★★
I have a 6 yr old daschund and he has been having a horrible time with yeast infections in his ears and all over his body. I just found this site yesterday looking for a home remedy because we just can not afford the vet bills. We gave him a bath last night and right before we got him out we poured a little ACV diluted with water over this back but did not rinse him after that. He did not itch at all for the rest of the night, it was amazing. However he did wake up in the middle of the night itching again, I know it takes awhile to completely clear up so we are gonna continue this for a few weeks and hope it continues to give him relief. Also, wanted to put some ACV drops in his ears but was not sure how much. I think I will just try to put a couple of drops in each ear tonight and see if that helps. Thanks so much for this site, this has helped answer a lot of my questions.
Posted by Chichiritad (Boston, Ma, Usa) on 10/04/2011
My cat has a yeast ear infection that is not going away. Can I use Apple Cider Vinegar to treat this and how would I do so? I am only reading about using this for dogs with ear yeast infections.
I agree 100% on the info given from Great Dane Lady and Dr. Dodds. My response to the info was jaw dropping as well. I knew that the topical creams I had been administering to my 5 year old Rottweiller were bogus, but I had no idea how bogus and threatening to her immune system they had been. I have treated her on and off for the past 4 years with the topical creams Otomax and Surolan. I switched to the Surolan only after insisting to my vet that I felt my dog had developed some sort of immunity to the Otomax. (Which also made sense to happen after 4 years). Again the Surolan started working then would fail miserably. Her flare ups in her ears had actually progressed with each new flare up occurring. I strongly encourage all of you to read the article by The Great Dane Lady on Systematic Yeast Infection and how it attacks your dogs system. I was so angry at myself for allowing the vet to give me what I knew(antibiotics) weren't helping.
I strongly urge you to get to the "core" of the infection which is VERY INTERNAL and in most cases VERY MISTREATED by our vets today. A holistic approach to managing your dogs needs is crucial. After all it's common sense that guides us as humans with our physical well being....... Do the same for your dog. Food choices(which don't have to be expensive) are the number 1 ally you can have paired with your dogs physical/nutritional needs. Please feed your dog nutritional food. And please stop with the topical steroid treatments. The pretty packaging on Pedigree brands and Beneful brands are just that..... Pretty packaging. They can be a slow death sentence to a dog who already suffers from yeast. And the steroid treatments only remove what's left of your dogs natural immune fighting defenses, which take into mind are probably VERY depleted already(Hence why you are on this site desperately seeking help) Great Dane Lady definitely hit the nail on the head with this one.
Linda, I had a yellow lab who was allergic to dust mites and I had the vet give him IVERMECTIN injections .. 1 shot then 2 weeks late a second one.. I dont know the dosage.. But it completely cured him. Good Luck
I battled ear infections in our labradoodle for 5 years, probably a dozen trips to the vet, several hundred dollars and about a gallon of Animax, but it still didn't solve the problem. I found a recipe online from a cocker spaniel owner for a vinegar based solution that has been a miracle. I use it once a month and for the past four years there hasn't been a single ear infection. Here is the website: http://www.zimfamilycockers.com/EarCleaner.html
I live very close to you and have been battling ear infections for 9 years with my cocker. I am wondering what vet you use, the name of the product you mentioned and where you got it. She has been on Natural Balance Potato and Duck dog food for years. What dog food do you use? The yeast infection has always been in her ears and often her eyes - now added on 3 paws. I am now doing a dip of 1/4 C vinegar, 1/4 C hydrogen pyroxide, 1 qt water. I am worried about getting her dry enough.
Posted by Ang (Port Elgin, On Canada) on 05/26/2011
I almost lost my dog to sysmatic yeast infection. Her symptons were red sores, greasy skin, discharge for her bum and finally seizures that almost killed her. Not to mention thousands of dollars in vet bills.
After hours of research I highly recommend these two sites, The great dane lady and Dr Dodds. Dr Dodds is a vet and a thyroid specialist. Yeast infection and hypothyroid are 99% connected. When reading the information on the great dane lady my chin hit my chest. She describe my dog to a tee' This is very dangerous condition. As I said before it almost killed my dog.
I'm glad to say my dog yeast free, rash free and living a healthy and happy life after a year and a half of hell. And may I add she is only on and 1 low dose thyroid pill and vit.
Posted by Jodeli (Harmony, Pa) on 05/17/2011 ★☆☆☆☆
WARNING!
FYI - Nutro has switched to using soy in their foods and MANY dogs and cats who used to be fine on it now cannot tolerate it. I switched my cat to Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance and ALL allergies cleared up within days. No more scratching, gnawing, licking. My dogs now eat only grain free food, either Tast of the Wild or Before Grain because one of them had serious seizures from the fillers (grains) in almost all dog food. Not a single seizure now for almost 3 years.
Posted by Hailey (Granada Hills, California) on 05/05/2011 ★★★★★
Just diagnosed my lab with yeast and I have been fighting my own battle with candida with coconut oil so what easier way to give to them in their food and put in their ears, belly, paws, and groin and is harmless of couse give them the best virgin coconut raw oil you can buy it for 45 at rawfoodworld.com for a Gallon!
Posted by Lavender (Edmonton, Ab, Canada) on 04/25/2011
Hi there, I was reading thru posts about ACV and would like to try for paw chewing. Someone asked if pill form works rather than liquid. I did not see an answer to this. If this will work what would the dosage be and what is the difference between liquid and pill form? Thanks
Posted by Adrianna (Emerson, New Jersey) on 04/24/2011 ★★★★★
I would definitely start with changing the food your dog is eating. The brands you are giving them are of the lowest quality. It's made of slaughterhouse waste and fillers. Check out the website www.dogfoodadvisor.com it will help guide you to a better food. Grain free is not always expensive. A lot of people use Taste of the Wild and it's affordable.
Can someone please tell me the proper mixture of ACV for treating my dog's Yeast ear infection. (either spray the ears of put in drinking water). Thanks
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