Itchy Dog Skin with Raised Hair on Back

Hi Diana,
My Dog has had yeast problems for years, mostly with his ears, but last year he did come down with a strange skin condition which my vet ran tests on but could not determine what it was. I figured it was related to his ears.

He also gets worse when I add brown rice to his diet, so I only add very little to it now.

When it was warmer out I gave him a bath with an anti-yeast shampoo which I got from my vet for about $9.00, that really helped. I did it about once a week several times over the summer.

One other thing that does seem to help is a can of immune support vitamins, anything that can help to boost his immunity might help, and also keeping the carbs on the lower end seems to help my dog, but he is 16 so I don’t want to cut out the carbs altogether because he has more energy when he has rice / carbs. But when he has too much his ears really bother him, its sort of a fine line…. hope thats helpful in some way.

Best, Judy

Hi Diana,
From the photos you submitted of
1. Bella’s chin, skin fold dermatitis secondary to yeast and bacteria in the skin folds
2. Raised hair on her back, due to folliculitis from inflammation of hair follicles
3. Her feet, brown discoloration due to saliva stain from licking her feet, and yeast,

I suspect she has BOTH allergies and yeast. The allergies have caused chronic inflammation, allowing the superficial bacteria and yeast on her skin to gain access to hair follicles and cause disease. This has probably occurred because she has a poor or weakened immune system.

Since this has been occurring for 2 years, and she is only 3 1/2 years old, I suspect that vaccinations and genetic susceptibility (and dry dog food, if that is what you had been feeding her!) have played a factor.

In fact, if she had skin allergies and yeast at the time she was *due* for a vaccination, she should NOT have been vaccinated. Inside every box of vaccine, is an insert that states, “To be administered to healthy animals only.” If Bella, presented with itchy, allergic skin and yeast at the time of her vaccination, she was NOT healthy and should NOT have been vaccinated.

So, here’s the plan to get Bella straightened out and on the road to improved health!

I. NO MORE VACCINATIONS (at least until she is healthier, OR, seek the help of a holistic veterinarian to write an exemption for her).

II. Diet
A totally raw diet would be the healthiest. But if finances are a problem, then try a combination of a good quality canned food, and add in raw meat, NO RAW PORK or RAW FISH, plus cooked green beans and carrots.

Feeding only beef and green beans would not be a balanced diet. Check out Wysong’s ‘Call of the Wild’ as a supplement to help balance out a diet.

If Bella weighs about 50 lbs, she will need about 800-850 calories per day. Therefore, she could have 400-425 calories per meal, two times daily.

Avoid grains as much as possible. In Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, most grains are considered a ‘hot’ food. With Bella’s red, inflamed and itchy skin, she is already TOO hot!

III. SUPPLEMENTS for Healthy Skin/Immune System
A. Omega 3 fish oil for dogs
Add 1,000mg to each meal two times daily-fatty acids can act as an anti-inflammatory

B. Antronex by Standard Process – a liver supplement that helps the liver to remove histamine from the skin, in effect, acting like an ‘anti-histamine’. Give Bella 1/2 to 1 tablet two times daily or as needed for allergies/itching.

TO BE CONTINUED IN PART TWO

Hi Diana,
Here is the rest of my response:

C. Immune support: (use one or more of the following)

1. Missing Link Canine Formula
2. Immuplex from Standard Process
3. OrthoMolecular Specialties, Mega C Powder

For the Immuplex, add one capsule into her food two times daily.

IV. External Treatment for her skin

1. Chin–use cotton or soft cloth to apply apple cider vinegar to the skin folds under her chin, to help kill the yeast, two times daily, after meals.

2. Feet–apple cider vinegar foot ‘baths’ to dip her feet into either ‘straight’ apple cider vinegar, or diluted 50:50 with water. Especially, when she comes in from outside.

3. Oatmeal shampoo: shampoo her two times per week for 3 weeks, then one time per week for 3 weeks, then as needed to control itching.

V. Homeopathic Remedies – seek the help of a holistic veterinarian for more specific treatment using homeopathic remedies if the above suggestions are not enough to restore her to complete health.

Another resource for vets knowledgeable in homeopathy is AVH.org.

Please keep us posted by coming back to this page and clicking the ‘click here to add your own comments’ link below.

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

DISCLAIMER: The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.

Hi Judy,
Thank you for your comments. You provided some very good suggestions! I added some more details in my response to Diana to help her dog Bella’s yeast and allergy problems.

The only thing you forgot to mention was to seek the help of a holistic veterinarian!

Take care,
Dr. Carol Jean Tillman

Related Pages:
– Dog Skin Conditions,
– Dog Itchy Skin,
– Dog Skin Rash,
– Dog Skin Allergies,
– Ask a Vet Online Library – Dog Skin Rashes, Marks, Spots, Lesions & Patches (including itchy skin and mange) Section

DISCLAIMER: The above should never replace the advice of your local veterinarian, as they have the ability to evaluate your dog in person.