Chronic dog yeast infection: Could a no-starch diet be the solution?

Hi, thanks for using Petcoach! Poor Millie! If Millie has an infection, be it yeast or bacteria, she needs to be on either an antibiotic or an antifungal (for the yeast). If the steroids are not working I would discuss weaning and stopping them and ask to start apoquel or cytopoint for the scratching. If Millie has skin allergies you should get her either on a prescription hydrolyzed diet (royal canin HP, Purina HA or Hill's z/d) or an over the counter novel protein diet (chicken is the most common allergen, not grains) of either venison or fish. If you are looking for a weight loss diet there are prescription diets as well. Millie sounds pretty miserable with her skin and she should see your Vet to discuss the next steps in trying to get this under control. I've attached a link to some shampoos you can try. Bathe 2-3 times per week and leave the lather on for 10 mins before rinsing. Then apply the conditioner. I hope this helps and I wish Millie a speedy recovery! http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=27307 http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=35843

This is probably due to a severe allergy, although it could also be fleas or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat Rufus with a high quality flea treatment (e.g. advantage), then get him to the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try discovering the cause of the allergy. Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair the skin lesions (steroids and antibiotics). simultaneously you should start him on a prescription hypoallergenic diet for at least 2 months. Hopefully you will see some results after all this, if not you and your vet should consider putting him on a long term allergy treatment (Atopica or Apoquel).

Science Diet Z/D is great for dogs with food allergies. I recommend trying Clyde with that to see if it helps. Royal Canin also have a Hypoallergenic dog food that is good for dogs with food sensitivities that manifest as skin issues. I hope this helps!

Allergies are frustrating and unfortunately can often not be cured, thus they are a chronic management issues. There are 4 types of allergy; flea, food, inhaled (atopy), and contact. Dogs can have more than 1 type and allergy can change over time. The first step is figuring out what allergy a pet has, so it is a multi step approach. If food allergy, then a food trial. If atopy, then allergy testing. Secondary infections are also common, causing worsening itch, and requiring treatment. Unfortunately steroids help with itch but do not address the underlying issue. It sounds like you are frustrated which is understandable because allergy is frustrating. Most owners of pets with chronic allergies find it helpful to see a dermatologist for help with diagnosis and treatment approach. They are many new treatments available that may help. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

This is a great question. Dogs can have food allergies that cause skin infections (or environmental allergies that cause infection), so the TYPE of protein in the diet could be a problem, but not the AMOUNT. I do not worry about the carbs in dog food. As a rule, I recommend a high quality food such as Purina ProPlan, Hill's Science Diet, or Royal Canin for food. There are special prescription diets that are hypoallergenic and can be used to rule out a food allergy. Your veterinarian should be able to get you information about this if you give them a call.

I am sorry to hear of Princeton's ongoing war issues. If you are concerned about possible medication side effects I would recommend discussing this with your regular veterinarian. I would also discuss with them the possibility of food allergies. Chronic/recurrent ear infections like you are dealing with for Princeton can often be secondary for a food allergy, a diet change may be what is needed for him. When considering a new food remember that the protein source is typically the thing that causes the allergy-look at Princeton's current dry food to see what the protein source is. You will need to look for a food with a protein source he has not been exposed to (remember that the chicken you feed mixed with his food is a potential allergen as well). Your vet can discuss any particular brands or products they recommend, and be aware that a food trial for allergies can take 6-8 weeks before any effect is seen. Also talk to your vet about culturing the material in Princeton's ears, if you haven't already. Sometimes the yeast or bacteria that is present becomes resistant. A culture will show what type of organism is present, and what medication is going to be most effective. Your vet can then help you tailor a new treatment plan to try and resolve the issue. I also recommend routine ear cleaning at home using a cleaning solution recommended by your vet. Keeping the ears clean of debris can help reduce the number of infections. Good luck-I hope you are able to get Princeton feeling better soon!

Many dogs like Frank have allergies. They fall into four main categories: fleas, food, thyroid conditions or environmental allergies. The key is to go through and systematically rule out each one. If none of the diets seem to be helping, I would recommend to try a special hydrolyzed protein diet as this is like an elimination diet. If that does not seem to be helping then I would bet Frank does not have food allergies. Make sure Frank is on an oral flea preventative like Comfortis as this will ensure that fleas are not a problem. To determine his thyroid levels he would need a blood test. Lastly environmental allergies can be the most challenging to diagnose and there are many different treatment options available. If his skin is breaking out that bad and oral antihistamines are not helping, take him into the veterinarian for further treatment. I hope Frank's starts feeling better soon.