Anyone experienced yeast allergy?

[Jan/Billy]

I took Billy to see a dermatologist today as he's been plagued by itchy, hot , puss filled paws for months  . Although we are still awaiting the results of his blood tests and a full thyroid count (which she did today),the skin test they carried out today showed nothing apart from he is extremely allergic to yeast 


They are not yet 100% sure if this is the problem ( pending blood results) as there was only a small trace of yeast around his paws , but in the meantine I've got Nizoral 200mgs and a dog in a lot of discomfort and a purse that's £600 lighter     

Once they have the full blood results then they'll discuss things further. The impression I got is that yeast is a tricky one to deal with. Am not which is the best diagnosis to hope for -  a yeast allergy or a thyroid problem 


Has anyone experience yeast allergies in dogs?  I've googled it but there is so much conflicting advice about how it is triggered and how it is managed or more importantly how long did it take to overcome.


Billy is very uncomfortable right now so any advice would be appreciated


Thank You 

[Nicola]

Poor Billy   I don't have much advice on this as it wasn't one that came up in Rodaidh's results but I did read some stuff on it when I was doing my research for Ro and it seemed like cutting sugars out of the diet was recommended and also using an acidophilus supplement. Did they tell you what the treatment options would be if it is a yeast allergy?

[louis mum]

Strangely enough Jan I was talking to a lady from ringcraft at a show on Saturday about exactly the same thing. She was asking how Alfie had been and had we considered a yeast allergy. It was a friend of hers dog that suffered, so I am hoping to try to catch up with her again for further info. She suggested foodstuffs containing yeast but wasnt specific 

I am going to try doing a bit of research myself and maybe contact AG's nutritionist to hear there views with regards to food content etc.

I hope Billy is ok  Its horrid isnt it  Do you bathe his feet in hibiscrub Jan?

[Jan/Billy]

I did read some stuff on it when I was doing my research for Ro and it seemed like cutting sugars out of the diet was recommended and also using an acidophilus supplement. Did they tell you what the treatment options would be if it is a yeast allergy?

I wouldn't have thought there is much ,if any, sugar in his diet. He's on Healthy Paws which hasn't improved the condition at all. I'll look at the suplement  The nurse mentioned something about vaccinations but that I'd discuss it with the dermatologist once we have definate blood results back 

I hope Billy is ok  Its horrid isnt it  Do you bathe his feet in hibiscrub Jan?

Yeah I hate seeing him like this  . The steroids were superb but I know they can't be a long term solution. The dermatologist wouldn't see him until he'd been off the steroids for four weeks hence why he's in a mess now as he's had no steroids for 6 weeks now.
No I don't bathe them  she did say today that the yeast thrives in wet conditions so I think me bathing them may make it worse.

[Nicola]

I hope you get the results back soon and they can get him on some treatment, it's dreadful seeing them going mad with the itching. I wonder if by vaccinations she means immunotherapy?? I think the sugars I read about were referring to things like fruit, carrots etc. and foods and treats which contain beet pulp and added sugars but HP doesn't.

[louis mum]

I have been going around in circles with Alfie, he has just had a flare up  Do you mean the nurse is linking vaccinations to the condition, or as Nicola says injections to help alleviate symptoms? We have decided only this week not to vaccinate again with Alfie as I am petrified of an autoimmune response  We are going to investigate natural methods if anything.

Sorry I never even considered why not to use the hibiscrub.  Has Billy gone partially lame with it Jan? Lots of positive thoughts from us  Its heartbreaking I know watching them in pain  If I hear anything from this lady I will let you know 

[jann]

Poor Billy, I hope you can get some answers for him.

I know nothing of yeast allergies but Flo has an under active thyroid which has been so easy and effective to treat. She's been on half a tablet of soloxine twice a day for 6 months now.

 After only a few days she was a different dog, she went for her 6 monthly blood test last week and everything is normal, she just has to take the tabs for life.

Thinking of you Jann 

[spanielcrazy]

Oh, poor Billy  I can sure relate to this as Jordie has this; yeast and hypothyroid.

Yeast (malasezzia) and hypothyroid issues often go hand in hand, so good on you and your vet for doing a thyroid panel.  And starting on Nizoral is definitely the way to go as it is usually all through their systems so you do want to kill it. You may find it takes a couple of rounds of the Nizoral 

Yes, you do want to bathe to get the yeast off his skin, Malaseb shampoo is the recommended one. You can also do a vinegar rinse, it's helpful in killing the surface yeast and soothing to itchy skin (50/50 mix, and no, he won't smell too much like a salad  )

Yeast does feed on sugars, and grains make sugar so you will want to get him on a grain free diet. Most all of them have potato as the carb. Arden Grange, JWB and Orijen do grain free foods. My guys have been on Taste of the Wild for about 4 years, which I understand you can get in the UK. Jordie is on a fish and potato formula.

As Nicola said, and acidophilus supplement, or you can use plain yogurt (plain, no sugars, fruit or sweeteners!), and I also recommend some enzymes too to help him get the most from his nutrition (yeast tends to eat it up so the dog doesn't really get enough 

TBH, I kind of hope Billy is a bit low on his thyroid levels. When Jordie  started on his thyroid meds it made a huge difference in his skin and itching. Not 100%, we still needed to do all of the above initially, but it gave us a big leg up  Now he pretty much maintains on the thyroid meds and the enzymes and acidophilus. He only has occasional flare ups with his ears now  And as an added bonus you may see a change for the better in Billys behaviour 

Here's the "official dog pound photo" of Jordie before I got him, matted, scabby stinking mess  : (he looks great now but I don't have any photos 





Here's a good article too, but the products she mentions are all US, I think:

http://www.greatdanelady.com/articles/systemic_yeast_mini_course.htm

Good luck and keep us posted! 

[Jan/Billy]

I hope you get the results back soon and they can get him on some treatment, it's dreadful seeing them going mad with the itching. I wonder if by vaccinations she means immunotherapy?? I think the sugars I read about were referring to things like fruit, carrots etc. and foods and treats which contain beet pulp and added sugars but HP doesn't.

She may have meant immunotherapy.  I think they were reluctant to go into any detail until they have conclusive blood test results that was the impression I got anyway. Once I have blood results then I'll fire them with questions 


Carrots!!!!    oh for goodness sake!!!  typical! Billy LOVES carrots he runs around in circles when I say the word "carrot"  tsk!     Thanks for that though I had no idea 

[Jan/Billy]

I have been going around in circles with Alfie, he has just had a flare up  Do you mean the nurse is linking vaccinations to the condition, or as Nicola says injections to help alleviate symptoms? We have decided only this week not to vaccinate again with Alfie as I am petrified of an autoimmune response  We are going to investigate natural methods if anything.

Sorry I never even considered why not to use the hibiscrub.  Has Billy gone partially lame with it Jan? Lots of positive thoughts from us  Its heartbreaking I know watching them in pain  If I hear anything from this lady I will let you know 

No she didn't link to vaccinations she meant to treat the problem 

No he isn't lame at all. He's absolutely fine in himself during walks etc you wouldn't know there was anything wrong until you see him chewing  at home   It's hard to see the problem as he has such hairy paws ( even though they are trimmed short) the dermatologist said they were bad and that they must be very sore for him . She was doing lots of "ooohhhh" and "aawwwing" 
You're right though it's horrid watching them in pain. If the Nizoral doesn't help in a few days I'm going to ask them if he can go on steroids until a plan of action is sought. I can't stand  and watch him like this.

Hope Alfie is ok 

[Jan/Billy]

I know nothing of yeast allergies but Flo has an under active thyroid which has been so easy and effective to treat. She's been on half a tablet of soloxine twice a day for 6 months now.

 After only a few days she was a different dog, she went for her 6 monthly blood test last week and everything is normal, she just has to take the tabs for life.

Thanks. If it turns out to be thyroid I may pester you for info 

[Jan/Billy]

Oh, poor Billy  I can sure relate to this as Jordie has this; yeast and hypothyroid.

Yeast (malasezzia) and hypothyroid issues often go hand in hand, so good on you and your vet for doing a thyroid panel.  And starting on Nizoral is definitely the way to go as it is usually all through their systems so you do want to kill it. You may find it takes a couple of rounds of the Nizoral 

Thanks  for all that very helpful and has given me a few things to look into/ think about    I was going to move him onto Nature Diet but they all contain grains  .

They have said the thyroid test would take a week    I wanted the result on the same day    She did say that they found very very little yeast in his ears.

I was kind of hoping the Nizoral would kick in in a couple of days    ah well! 


In the meantime I'll just focus on his diet and the advice you've all given, can't do any harm can it 

I did find this useful factsheets on the naturediet site

http://www.naturediet.co.uk/advicefactsheets.html