Dogster

return to top

A Westie's health issues

Update on Sanibel's condition

Hello all, just a quick note to let you know that Sanibel's yeasty skin has improved. Still producing grainy brown debris about 5-6 days after Malaseb shampoo treatment. I've now substituted the baking soda rinse for Resizole leave on conditioner.

Her food is now Nature's Variety kibbles and raw (no potatoes, peas or tapioca) with a sprinkle of Seameal supplement. (Wysong starch free was too expensive to ship)

Morning and night she gets her glucosamine and flea treats.

Whenever a hot spot appears I apply my trusted ointment Animax once or twice and voila.

It's a slow process but we're getting there almost chemical free and that's what's count.

Woof!

ALLERGIES vs YEAST OVERGROWTH vs COMFORTIS

Unbelievable! I'm just learning now the reason why my 11 yr/old female Westie almost died in March of 08. I'm in central FL and my second Westie's been treated for allergies to just about everything (didn't need an expensive allergy test to figure that out either).

The usual treatments with prednisone and sometimes antibiotics were VERY temporary. Being my 2nd Westie I already knew to go as natural as possible with food and flea treatments. But sometimes you have to use the big guns ie Comfortis. Back in March 08 I ended up at an expensive $$$ skin specialist. She did a skin biopsy as opposed to the useless skin scrape done my most vets and found she had demodectic mange and flea excrements. So she gave her a Comfortis pill and prescribed Ivermectin liquid . After 2-3 days my dog was falling off loosing her balance while walking and totally disoriented and clingy. I took her to emergency clinic (of course she gets sick on a weekend). Vet said stop all meds and call specialist first thing Monday morning. I don't think the specialist knew about the interaction problem then, but she put her on Interceptor for 5 months and my Westie was perfect for 2 years.

I never give her Comfortis monthly (vets don't like this). Only at first sign of scratching(always cut in 4, mixed with can food). Our heavy flea season coincide with pollen season; Oct (trees shedding) and Feb through May (pollen etc) Whenever the temperature hovers between 70F-85F day time basically.

I also spray my yard and surroundings with the inexpensive flea/tick citrus shampoo from Hartz for $2-$3 at Walmart. Use hose attachement container, pour whole bottle of shampoo plus water and spray. Pray it doesn't rain for a few days and don't water your lawn either. Don't let your pets walk on ANY type of pesticide for 4-5 days. Also, get rid of your carpets. Best is laminate floors with disposable/washable area rugs.

My Comfortis dilemma is, I've been trying to narrow down on a new situation that started to occur with my Westie. At those time of the year mentioned above she has a YEAST overgrowth flair up. Her skin gets greasy, smelly and full of brown debris and dark areas where the most greasy. I've been doing extensive research on Yeast Imbalance here http://tinyurl.com/24792su

Turns out MANY dogs diagnosed with allergies have actually Yeast overgrowth and whatever treatments used to treat allergies actually PROVOQUE a yeast overgrowth which cause more scratching, biting and paw licking. What a catch 22!

Main causes of all this is, a weaken immune system caused by immune system suppressants like vaccinations (I only vaccinated this dog when younger), pesticides (who can avoid them totally?) and prednisone (which the specialist said never to give her again) among other things. Never give Comfortis close to vaccination or with prednisone.

Did Comfortis (dose of insecticide) suppressed my Westie's immune system so much so that it triggered a yeast overgrowth AND/OR pollens and other allergies caused the flair up?

In any event I ordered natural Flea Treats and may or may not give her Comfortis again unless a bad flea infestation.

Also looking into this new food by Wysong Epigen; it's starch free. http://www.wysongepigen.net/

My conclusion on Comfortis is; every dog is different. If a dog's immune system has been compromised in anyway shape or form by other triggering agents mentioned above, proceed carefully.

Ordering online is cheaper but now vets tell me "Oh well it's been a while since we haven't seen your dog and would like to do exam (take my money again) before we can allow the prescription."

Also very useful to treat skin ailments; most effective for me are:

1) Bathe with Malaseb shampoo (DO leave on 10 min), rinse thorougly, then pour over dog (and leave on) a suiting solution of 2-3 tbs of baking soda diluted in a gallon of warm water. DO NOT submerge dog, the parasites will gather around the neck area. Best is a dog rinsing hose in a shower stall.

2) Apply ANIMAX ointment on hot spots. (best ointment out of many) cheapest at vetdepot.com

3) Add immune system booster supplement to dog food. Solid Gold Seameal is good but proceed very slowly with SMALLER dosage or you'll come home to a house full of diarrhea.

Keeping finger crossed, for May is always the worst for fleas that I won't have to use Comfortis but since she'll be on Seameal let's hope and pray for no adverse reaction.

1) Photo of Sanibel March 08 after 3 weeks on prednisone and antibiotics for her so-called allergies:
http://i468.photobucket.com/albums/rr49/riviera1 992/Photo-0020Sanbody.jpg

2) close-up of demodectic mange infection:
http://i468.photobucket.com/albums/rr49/riviera1 992/Photo-0019Sanisidei.jpg

3)2 months later and finally healing. See darker areas.
http://i468.photobucket.com/albums/rr49/riviera1992/ Photo-0021Sanibelboat.jpg

Yeast overgrowth is very similar. See this page for more info: http://tinyurl.com/48q7gk3