[Anikka]

Hi, for a couple of years now my Cocker spaniel has been struggling with skin issues. He's had sensitive skin ever since, but up to now hasn't recovered from bald spots, waxy crusty skin, skin odor, severe itching and black scales on his tummy and throat. This sprouted some two years ago and the bald spots have since gotten larger. We've gone back and forth to the vet who has diagnosed food allergies and fungus. He was given antibiotics, put on hypo allergenic commercial food and given a medicated shampoo. However, it didn't seem to work and he was suffering same as before.

I read online about natural remedies for yeast infection, so now I'm giving him ACV in his food (cooked pork and beef, no grains) plus EVOO and flaxseed oil. He gets yogurt once a day and fish thrice a week.

The result: the unaffected parts of his body seem to be growing fur like crazy, and the infected parts are now covered in fine down. So I think his skin might be responding well to it.

However, the black scaly parts seem to be darkening. He's still shedding as much dandruff as before. I read that while on this treatment the symptoms may appear worse because the yeast is dying off. Apparently it takes some time.

Has someone experienced this, and how long until the skin got better? I want to continue the natural treatment because I'm loathe to put him on drugs again. But every day it pains me to see him scratch his skin off.

Also, does frontline and heartworm medication worsen the yeast infection? He's on frontline regularly and ivermectin shots every 2 months. Thanks!

 

[Binkalette]

Have you tried this shampoo? It's really good stuff, might be worth a try.

 

[Michelle27]

I do believe that it all starts with a healthy immune system to prevent a lot of problems, so I think most of what you're doing will help immensely. But Frontline has been known to cause skin reactions and even worse. It was recently on the news all the reports of serious side effects. I adopted a new dog 5 months ago and was very hesitant to use store flea and tick products. I also spoke with a holistic vet who said he never uses chemicals on his own dogs, especially because he has children around. He gave me some other alternatives and I also found a little article that lists a few helpful tips on other natural ways to prevent fleas and ticks. http://www.gomestic.com/Pets/Natural-Flea-and-Tick-Repellent-for-Dogs.694111 I've been following it for a while now, and even if it isn't 100% effective, it does make my dog's coat a lot healthier. I hope your dog heals up well.

 

[Anikka]

I do believe that it all starts with a healthy immune system to prevent a lot of problems, so I think most of what you're doing will help immensely. But Frontline has been known to cause skin reactions and even worse. It was recently on the news all the reports of serious side effects. I adopted a new dog 5 months ago and was very hesitant to use store flea and tick products. I also spoke with a holistic vet who said he never uses chemicals on his own dogs, especially because he has children around. He gave me some other alternatives and I also found a little article that lists a few helpful tips on other natural ways to prevent fleas and ticks. http://www.gomestic.com/Pets/Natural-Flea-and-Tick-Repellent-for-Dogs.694111 I've been following it for a while now, and even if it isn't 100% effective, it does make my dog's coat a lot healthier. I hope your dog heals up well.

You may be on to something there, because while his skin was starting to heal up with the natural diet and remedy, when I applied frontline this month, in the next 2 days his skin got worse than ever! The new hair he was growing disappeared, and the bald areas got larger and blacker! Frontline may be the culprit, because I suddenly realized that his skin was okay until I started him on Frontline around 2 years ago.

but ticks here are always a present danger so which of the methods in the article worked best for you? Which kills and repels ticks best among the ones you've tried? thanks!

 

[agility collie mom]

Did the vet do a skin scrape? Normally the ivermectin treatment is given because of a suspected mange problem. The yeast infection can be secondary to the mange problem.
http://petcare.suite101.com/article.cfm/mange_in_dogs