Malassezia Dermatitis anyone dealt with this?

TxRider · 10-05-2009, 09:40 PM

My GSD had her vet trip today, she's had an infected dew claw for about a month or so, all red and puffed out. A two week antibiotic regimen didn't cure it.

The vet today took an xray to make sure she didn't have a thorn or something buried in there, scraped and looked under the scope, and he thinks it is Malassezia (yeast) Dermatitis.

After reading up on it I think I agree.

Seems to be localized to her feet, maybe ears. She has licked he feet a lot ever since I adopted her this spring, to the point her paws look tear stained at times, and she seems to have an itch on her muzzle, rubbing the sides of her face a lot.

Anyone dealt with this type of thing before? The vet cost me $500 today. She's now on anti fungal, antibiotic, and prednisone to try to clear her dewclaw up, as it's looking pretty bad. I wrapped her foot, the dewclaw part anyway in a little ace bandage to keep her from chewing/licking, can't believe she isn't tearing it off.

I'm wondering since it seems to mainly be between her toes if maybe a foot vinegar/water bath might help in the future? Or maybe some kind of non toxic to lick anti fungal creme?

It could be allergy related, but I don't see a lot of signs of allergy, her coat is beautiful and it seems to be isolated to just a few spots like toes.

I've always just had mutts before, I've never had a dog with an allergy issue.

TxRider · 10-06-2009, 11:26 PM

I'm beginning to get a bit worried tonight.

Hope hasn't pooped since Monday morning I don't think. I wasn't too concerned until tonight I noticed her belly looking unusual. She usually goes twice a day pretty much like clockwork.

I noticed tonight her gut looked abnormal, it seems full and bulging a bit, like I can feel her gut full of food down past her rib cage and I can even see it.

I'm wondering if it's just the drugs and just constipation, or maybe bloat or some blockage. She's acting pretty strange as well, listless and stressed looking but that could be the drugs as well.

Is bloat obvious like that? Any ideas?

I guess I'll just not give her any food tomorrow morning and call the vet if she hasn't gone by then.

Renoman · 10-07-2009, 04:21 AM

How's she doing?

TxRider · 10-07-2009, 08:15 PM

Ok now I think,

I didn't feed her today, she didn't go this morning on her morning walk again but she didn't look like she was distressed or hurting so I let her alone all day and she finally popped this evening after a long walk so I'm not so worried now. Gave her some food when we got home.

Infected paw is look remarkably better as well, not so swollen and aggravated looking.

On another note, she had leanred to spit out pills in a hot dog, and pills in peanut butter, so I tried some things from petsmart called pill pockets, gooey little hollow thing you out the pill in and pinch them shut. They seem to work quite well for pills.

I'm trying to avoid having to cram 4 pills twice a day down her throat for a month, so far so good.

I'm going to have to find a cheaper way to manage this paw thing though, I hate the drugs and they cost a fortune.

Cracker · 10-07-2009, 09:07 PM

There are antifungal shampoos out there for malessezia, marketed to humans but used sometimes at vets...I'm afraid I can't remember the name of the product. You could probably soak the feet and bathe the ears with it. Yeast issues often come up through diet as well...high carbs can feed yeast. You may want to supplement with a probiotic to help keep her gastro tract healthy (especially since she's been on antibiotics) the gas and discomfort may be due to the die off of the yeast in her system.

We used Nizoral shampoo at the vet for Malessezia. You may be able to soak/bathe the feet and ears with it to help with topical issues. You may also want to look at her diet, simple carbohydrates can feed yeast issues in the body...supplementing with probiotics will help this as will a food based in complex carbs (potatoe, veggies etc) instead of simple carbs like corn or rice.

TxRider · 10-08-2009, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cracker

There are antifungal shampoos out there for malessezia, marketed to humans but used sometimes at vets...I'm afraid I can't remember the name of the product. You could probably soak the feet and bathe the ears with it. Yeast issues often come up through diet as well...high carbs can feed yeast. You may want to supplement with a probiotic to help keep her gastro tract healthy (especially since she's been on antibiotics) the gas and discomfort may be due to the die off of the yeast in her system.

We used Nizoral shampoo at the vet for Malessezia. You may be able to soak/bathe the feet and ears with it to help with topical issues. You may also want to look at her diet, simple carbohydrates can feed yeast issues in the body...supplementing with probiotics will help this as will a food based in complex carbs (potatoe, veggies etc) instead of simple carbs like corn or rice.

I'll ask about shampoos when I take her back.

I have her on this food right now..
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_f...duct=943&cat=5

It's locally made, doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

I tried several low grain (corn) brands such a solid gold, canidae and they didn't do so well, gave her the squirts too much.

With the strongpoint she seems to do well, and has a poop I can actually pick up (out of neighbors yards), which was almost never the case with the other foods. I thought it likely had something to do with the probiotic aspect, but it does list brewers yeast and yeast culture.

I'm open to suggestions though, the local feed store seems to carry every top brand there is besides Orijen (they could have that and I didn't see it). Kinda bewildering going through them all. Price is not really an issue.

As I said she's the first dog I've had that wasn't just a mutt, and none of those ever had any skin issues.

Cracker · 10-08-2009, 09:00 AM

Brewer's yeast is not a probiotic and ADDS to the yeast load, what you want is an acidopholus supplement. You can buy capsules and I believe you can get a powder at health food stores, it also comes in dairy base (like yogurt). Regular yogurt doesn't have enough probiotic in it to make a difference in a dog that already has a high yeast load.

Keep experimenting with foods, some dogs can't do grain free, it's the QUALITY of the grain that is important. Like the difference between whole wheat bread and whole grain bread....the whole grain is much better.

TxRider · 10-08-2009, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cracker

Brewer's yeast is not a probiotic and ADDS to the yeast load, what you want is an acidopholus supplement. You can buy capsules and I believe you can get a powder at health food stores, it also comes in dairy base (like yogurt). Regular yogurt doesn't have enough probiotic in it to make a difference in a dog that already has a high yeast load.

Keep experimenting with foods, some dogs can't do grain free, it's the QUALITY of the grain that is important. Like the difference between whole wheat bread and whole grain bread....the whole grain is much better.

Yes I have also supplemented her with some probiotic chew tabs from petsmart, I probably will again once shes back off the drugs again as well.

This is the brand...
http://www.drugstore.com/products/pr...Y-PLST-0-BRAND

I gave her that twice a day after the last drug regimen for her infected ears she had when I adopted her, for a few weeks, then stopped.

No suggestions for a food to try? The feed store has dozens of brands and types, but the guys there aren't much help in selecting one.