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.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Rocky (Napa, Ca) on 10/24/2024
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Most dogs that have been on kibble most of their lives develop a beef or chicken allergy. Usually beef. It's the high calcium content and low Omega 3 of beef and chicken that causes the yeast infection. I had my dog on duck most of his life and changed his food to freeze dried because he had some teeth removed in his old age and I switched him to beef and could not figure out why his skin was turning white and thick and scaley, tried expensive medicated shampoos because thought maybe it was mange because he had been around so many other dogs recently. Was talking to a pet food employee and she said most dogs that have been on kibble most of their lives can't switch to beef or chicken and have an allergic reaction almost immediately when they do and that it's quite common to turn into a yeast infection, primarily with beef but often with chicken too. I switched him back to duck and have been feeding him yogurt with acidophilus mixed in it and washing him with a generic dandruff shampoo and he's finally getting better, thank you God! I also started giving him a squirt of Omega 3 fish oil in his food for his skin.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Joanne (Florida) on 03/20/2019
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When dogs chew their paws and paws are stained the Biggest Allergies are Chicken, Chicken fat, Chicken meal!! No corn Soy of wheat! So go with Grain Free dog food with none of these ingredients Salmon,Turkey, Duck and Lamb are fine! Watch your Treats too!! No Wheat!!!
Dietary Changes
Posted by Robin (Virginia Beach) on 05/13/2016
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I am caretaking my brother's Shih-Tzu, who is the sister of my own Shih-Tzu. I know that skin problems are genetic because I struggle with periodic scabs on my dog. However, My brother's dog has an absolutely horrible skin problem where she is bald in 30 percent of her body and the skin is sticky and smells horrendous. I too have assisted him and tried everything-yesterday I bought vetricin which was recommended by my groomer. Its safe to spray areas where the dog will lick. I just gave her her second bath in Miconazolle-type shampoo and let it sit on her for 15 minutes-then dried her and sprayed again with Vetricin. I shall keep you posted.
I wanted to mention-I see a lot of posts about changing the diet. I have a lab mix that was my husband's when we met. For the first 3 years that I've had her-she's had a chronic ear problem where gobs of gunk would come out of her left ear-everyday.
Finally her ear is better! After several vet appointments and ointments-washes-etc....a new vet suggested that she may have a food allergy and said that most of the time the allergy is CHICKEN!!
She hasn't had chicken in 2 years and her ear is clean as a whistle.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Livelyladyv (British Columbia, Canada) on 10/09/2015
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I have a puppy who was suffering terribly five years. she was seen by different vets and we couldn't seem to clear things up for her no matter what we did. She would chew on her front paws so her feet were swollen twice their normal size. The skin was bright red, then she started scratching her face and would scratch it until it bled. She also licked her genitals until they were ulcerated And would hide in my closet all day. I was at the end of my rope and one night I googled "canine yeast infections". then I was led to the Great Dane Lady's site. I started my puppy on her recommended products on July 8th and I can tell you EVERYONE notices Molly's improvements. Her feet are normal size and no longer red, she her genitals are back to normal size and no longer ulcerated and she is with us constantly and no longer hiding in the closet. It cost $125. + shipping and duty from the USA but was the best money I ever spent. I am just now going to order more of some of the products as I'm starting to run low on some things but I can't tell you what an amazing difference these (all natural) products have made for my little Molly. People used to think she was an old dog when she was only 1 yr old. Now she's five and the lively, loving puppy she once was.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Ecam (Paris, Tennessee) on 02/20/2012
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I "inherited" a giant schnauzer 6 years ago. He was 3 at the time. He came to me with ears swollen and black inside, bleeding, scratching, etc. He's been a mess for years. We've done the allergy thing, the shampoos, the diet change, etc. After much research I determined his problem was a SEVERE yeast infection. My vet reluctantly prescribed him an oral anti-fungal.
I also started him on a RAW diet of venison, hardboiled egges, organic brown rice, and organic yogurt. He's like a different dog. I can't believe what has happened to him. He doesn't smell anymore, he doesn't itch, his ears aren't bothering him. When I bathe him - which is down from 2 x per week to once every 2 weeks - he doesn't have that nasty crusty black stuff on him. I'd recommend a raw diet to anyone. Just be careful of what you put in it. Stay away from anything starchy. I use organic brown rice so as to not put any gluten in his system. It's amazing.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Jacalyn (New Hyde Park, Ny) on 05/17/2010
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I adopted a 22 lb. peekapoo in September 09. He had terrible skin allergies. Constantly scratching and licking his paws. The shelter where we adopted him from fed him store bought kibble. The main ingredient in this kibble was corn. I totally changed his diet to raw and also premium kibble (without, wheat, corn, soy or dairy). His allergies are about 85% better on this diet. I buy him raw frozen food (chicken or lamb medallions)at a pet supply store. I give him 3 medallions in the morning (with a little of the high quality kibble) and the same amount in the evening. It basically adds up to 1/2 cup morning and evening. I also add 1/4 tsp of organic aloe vera juice and 1/2 capsule of food enzymes for dogs to each meal because he also has a sensitive stomach. He is doing very well. The diet change has been going on for about 6 months. It takes patience and it is well worth seeing him so happy and healthy.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Vanessa (Acton, Ca, Usa) on 02/22/2010
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My blue pit bull started to get really bad skin allergies when he turned 3 y/o. It would drive him nuts, he would itch so badly and try to lick/bite everywhere whining and in pain. It would keep him (and us) up at night. He would get "hot spots" and hives that would get as big as marbles under his skin and they would ooze. We took him to the vets who in turn gave him a steroid shot, perscribed antibiotics and charged us a ton of money to do so. It would last a few weeks, then it would come back. I decided to look into pet food. Before I would get Costco's Kirkland brand food. I went to a family owned pet store and spoke to one of the guys that worked there. He told me that vets only get 6 months of training in regards to pet nutrition and mostly get comission to sell brands like pedigree/etc. He introduced me to hypo-allergenic dog food which was hollistic. Also he told me I could give him a tbsp of extra virgin olive oil to mix in the food every time I fed him. In addition we tried to keep him out of the sun and in our air conditioned house (in the summer). He was completely cured. I also made sure not to feed him any "treats" that were commercially made. His "treats" consisted of baby carrots, ice, pieces of fresh fruit and veggies. He was as healthy and happy as could be, and so was our lhasa apso who also had to go on a diet. I recommend this to anyone whose dogs have skin allergies!
Dietary Changes
Posted by Dottie (Harrisburg, Pa) on 12/11/2009
★★★★★
Mange
I am in rescue & with 8-9 dogs most of the time I run into all kinds of problems. I have had serious side effects from meds so- I have mostly gone natural.
My Benji got ringworm 4 years ago & then mange & bacteria infection. Got rid of the RW but for 4 years the mange & bacteria has come & gone every few month. Yes I tried the borax 7etc & it works but he kept getting it back. Finally I insisted on an allergy test.The vet said no way is that the problem but i INSISTED!!!!!!
Sure enough he had lots of allergies & mostly foods. I had him on a really good holistic dog food. BUT His allergies were beef-fish-barley oats- potatoes - sweet potatoes- lamb - grass- dust mites to name a few.
I immediately changed foods. He now gets chicken & rice only - no perservatives & no treats unless they are chicken. Guess what he has been great for 6 months - back to his old self. Yes he has scars & always will as he had it so bad he bleed all the time from the sores. But this was the culprit. So if you have skin problems check for allergies - ivemectin & antibotics for 4 years without stop. That's not good.
I also sprayed him with collidal silver & it also works.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Sherri (New York City, New York ) on 06/03/2009
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My 14 month old Tibetan Terrier is finally doing great after months & months of digestive problems, diahrea, vomiting, etc. All the vets would give us were antibiotics which made him sicker. After trying EVERYTHING, we now feed him organic kibbles (no corn/no wheat) and mix it with an organic home cooked mixture I prepare mysefl of meat, mixed organic veggies & sweet potatoes & a tsp. of olive oil. Dessert is stalks of lettuce leaves and carrots to clean his teeth. He LOVES it and no more tummy problems! He is even bathed with natural shampoos and skin lotions. So after all this, it pains me to give him Heartguard and Frontline!! I started sprinkling dietomaceous earth around the house and on him for flea prevention, but my husband turned out to be allergic to it. I dont know of any other natural remedy. They are so, so toxic. I am about to try a tiny dose of garlic to prevents fleas, but I am very nervous about hurting him. Just dont know what to do. He's doing so well, but this awful Frontline.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Cheryl (Fresno, CA) on 05/21/2009
★★★★★
I have a German Shepherd that has auto immune problems. I would highly recommend that any dog with allergies be fed a "Limited Ingredient Food", which means it only has 1 protein and 1 carb in it, ie: duck & sweet potatoe, venison & potato, etc. Give them a protein that they have never had before. I also find that they can become allergic to a food after about a year thus having to change to a new protein combination. Be sure to stay away from anything with wheat, corn and soy in it. Hope this helps with the food issues.
Dietary Changes
Posted by Jessi (Fairfield, IA) on 12/23/2008
★★★★★
For those of you whose cats are scratching and biting themselves, I'm told the source of the problem is usually the cat food. Find a natural pet food store (they're popping up everywhere these days) and put your cat on some natural pet food WITHOUT GRAINS, CORN OR WHEAT in it. Ask the clerk to make sure the natural pet food you buy doesn't have either of those 3 things. The scratching is due to an allergy to the ingredients in store-bought pet food, or to the grains, corns, or wheat your current pet food contains. I was told this by a knowledgeable source, passed it on to a neighbor whose cat was bleeding because it was scratching itself so much, and she reports the change in food cleared the problem up in the one month she's been doing it. She also commented on how little the natural cat food cost - she had been prepared for a big increase in her pet food bill, but it was negligible.
