Foot and ear combo sure sounds like excessive yeast. But I looked back at your posts and aren't you feeding a high protein/low carb diet??

Does he have any digestive issues?

First I would review food, including treats, to reduce carbs and increase protein. Some dogs are more sensitive to yeast imbalance than others. It sounds like Rocky is very sensitive, and right now he is licking but the skin is not inflamed, so he is not too far into this.

Also, the topical stuff helps relieve the symptoms but does not get at the cause, as I'm sure you know.

So please give info on Rocky (age, breed, health issues, etc.) and what he is eating, including treat types. Also, any recent events that could "hit" his immune system (shots, boarding, etc.).

That's where I would start. There are things like probiotics and some other things that can help, too, but the basics are the most important and are the usual culprits, in my experience.

 

Rocky is a 2 year old Chow/husky. He currently eats raw chicken (or beef, pork, liver, eggs, fish, etc) for breakfast, and in the evening he gets one cup of kibble which is always either Orijen, Evo, or Taste of the Wild with a little 95% meat canned food. Right now he is getting one cup daily of Taste of the Wild Bison formula and his paw chewing seems to be worse. The only treats he gets are dried sheep lung (Baa Baas) or Stella and Chewy's raw carnivore crunch. He will spit out anything with vegies or fruit in them so we don't even bother with any other treats.

I am thinking about taking away his evening cup of kibble and giving him raw for dinner. That was he will have eliminated ALL potatoes and other carbs from his diet. Maybe it is the sweet potatoes and fruit that are in the kibble at night causing him grief. I have three dogs and don't have the freezer space for all raw all the time with them, but I can give just him the raw and give the other dogs the kibble at night for awhile and see how he does.

If it is a yeast, I was thinking I could try something like Vagisil or Monistat, but didn't know if it would hurt him if he licks it off?

 

If they smell like corn chips for fritos use vagisil wipes and the cream for some relief in the meantime.

 

Hmm...Louis' paws have always smelled like corn chips, but he doesn't lick them excessively. That doesn't mean he has excessive yeast does he? And should I start ACV as a preventative?

 

I would try to remove potatoes to see if that helps. A friend of mine has a bulldog who used to have really bad issues with yeast stains around eyes, mouth and paws. She started giving him ACV mixed with water (braggs) and dipping/wiping face and paws with acv/water mix. It doesent have the greatest smell, but it really worked for her. I can ask her the exact ratio to be sure.

here are some pics of her pup before and after ACV

after:

 

I would try to remove potatoes to see if that helps. A friend of mine has a bulldog who used to have really bad issues with yeast stains around eyes, mouth and paws. She started giving him ACV mixed with water (braggs) and dipping/wiping face and paws with acv/water mix. It doesent have the greatest smell, but it really worked for her. I can ask her the exact ratio to be sure.

Those are great before and after pictures!! When she give him the ACV, does she feed it to him in addition to putting on the paws? How much would you feed?

I gave Rocky raw chicken for supper instead of his cup of kibble and needless to say, he was happy with it! Shade didn't seem to notice that he only got kibble while Rocky got raw, but then again, he would eat rocks with gravy on them! We'll see if taking all the kibble away from Rocky helps those paws. In the meantime I will look for some ACV.

 

I too was gonna suggest Brodie (the bulldog's routine) as it's amazing how white & clear his skin is especially for a bulldog. Shellie has been dealing with a chronic ear infection for last 3-4 weeks (even though she's raw fed), I added the Bragg's ACV as I'd been out for a month or two and quit giving it, and within a week, she's already improving. Also giving her Probiotics (acidophillus from walmart 1/2 a tab per day). She's just been on the probiotic since Wednesday. I think the ACV really is helping. I'm giving it to Zoey my chi who still will lick her paws ocassionally and they are still stained a little, but not as bad as she was on kibble. Make sure any treats/diet etc is free of grains/carbs as those feed yeast. I give Shellie 70# 2 tablespoons per day in her food.

 

The ACV wash that Unosmom is talking about is a 50/50 mix. Or I should say that is what we do.

 

It looks as if that beautiful bully may have also had unfiltered ACV added to his water of food. Kofi won't touch it in her water, but I do put a couple of teaspoons a day, more if I can get away with it, in her food.

It has many benefits, on being great for the skin.

 

you can find it at any health food store:
Apple Cider Vinegar by Bragg - GG-7001 - at The Vitamin Shoppe

 

Thank You very much. Of course, as always I had to order the gallon! LOL

 

I just found it in Amazon. Thank You very much for this idea and this post.

 

You can buy Braggs unfiltered apple cider vinegar at some groceries. Mine carries it. At present, I am using Tree of Life. The brand is not as important as making sure that its raw and unfiltered.

 

I sent her an email, I'll let you guys know when she responds

 

If you willing to take away the kibble meal, go for it ;0) I would definitely add 2 tablespoons of ACV to his drinking water or food. Make sure you dilute it. Braggs seems to be the strongest out of other ACV's I tried. Another thing is add extra virgin coconut oil to his food. It is an antifungal;0) You can use it to also put directly on his paws and in his ears. I use it to clean my dogs ears for maintenance. Nutiva brand is the best;0)

 

You can use it to also put directly on his paws and in his ears.

Both the ACV and the EVCO? Or just the EVCO?

 

I use ACV 5 days a week as a preventative;0)

 

you can use both, but not at the same time. Also dilute acv with equal parts water. I tried acv to clean my dogs yeasty ears, but it made it worse. Alot of people have good results though. there both good, you just have to see what works best.

 

Ok, got a response- its 2 tbsp daily in water(to drink) and she also gives an acidophilus capsule daily(spring valley brand from wal-mart), but I dont think it really matters as long as it has at least 2 billion live cultures in it.

 

Thanks. I've had Rocky on just raw and 95% canned for almost two days now and he actually seems to be not licking his paws as much. Maybe he was reacting badly to the Taste of the Wild. It's the first time I've had a whole bag of it and he loves it, but it might just be too much potato for him. For a big, tough looking dog he really is a sensitive boy!!

Shade will have to finish the rest of the bag (like that's a problem for him!!!).

I'm going out to get the ACV today to dunk his paws in......he ought to love that!

 

I was wondering if I can use another ACV like Heinz?

 

Supermarket ACV has the good stuff filtered out. It has been stripped of its nutrients. By only raw acv;0)

 

I ordered yesterday, but I can not wait to use it. So, it is why I was asking if I can use the other one until it arrives.

 

Well, Rocky has gone 54 hours without any kibble, just eating raw chicken and 95% canned food and I have not seen him chew his paws today at all! He had been at them non-stop before this, so I'm starting to really think he was reacting badly to the one cup a day of TOTW kibble. Guess I will have to look for more chickens on sale this week and have the kids eat the pizza's that are filling up the freezer!! Sooner or later I will have to find myself a bigger freezer for doggy meat, or make the kids leave home :heh:

 

This is like, the best thread ever. My dog has suffered with seasonal allergies and has yeasty paws from the time we brought him home as a pup last June. I am going to pick up the acidophilus tablets today and start dipping the paws in the mixture 5 times a week. The doctor has gave me ketoconazole (an antibiotic I believe?) and it seems like that doesn't even work anymore but we still give it to him. I am going to try those acidophilus tablets though for sure. Should I stop the Ketoconazole and just try the acidophilus?

 

Agree with you. I am so happy that it were posted here. Great information.

 

I have tons of animals who all get ACV. I can buy it in small amounts locally or have it shipped. neither one is cost effective for me. Now I make my own. It is easy, just takes time. I use the recipe here: Apple Cider Vinegar Recipe, but I use apple cider or frozen apple juice concentrate.

 

Kofi will not drink it in her water. I add it to her food, and then you do not have to dilute it.

 

You can mix it with food, shouldnt be a problem, heres more ifo:
http://www.natural-dog-health-W517180bremedies.com/apple-cider-vinegar-for-dogs.html

 

Just out of curiosity...when you guys say 2 tbsp ACV, how many parts water do you add? I picked up some Braggs Sunday and poured maybe less than 1/2 tbsp into Louis' bowl. He wouldn't stop drinking it...I had to take the bowl away from him. I knew he wasn't feeling too well a couple hours later though, and he threw up all this liquid and foam in the middle of the night. The next day I just dribbled some into his water and he handled it fine. Maybe it was a little too strong for him :tongue:

 

I'm doing some reading now and it seems like recommended ammount varies. I know for people the standard is 2 tbsp per 8 oz, 2-3 times a day, but I think its little too much for dogs. Maybe start off with 1 tbsp for now.

 

Hey, Chowder -- is this what you used in Rocky's ears?

Amazon.com: Pet King Brand Zymox Otic Enzymatic Solution for Pet Ears, 1.25 Ounces: Kitchen & Dining

Also, did you continue using it, or just use it for 7 days?

My allergy vet recommended Epi-Otic (Amazon.com: Epi-Otic by Virbac (16 fl. oz): Kitchen & Dining) for ear cleaning, but my dog is starting to itch his ears again, and I don't want to make another trip to the vet.

 

I got the Zymox otic with the hydrocortisone, and the cleaner but I haven't used the cleaner yet. Lew Olson recommended it as the only thing she uses in ears. I used the otic with hydrocortisone only about 3 days (twice a day) and his ears cleared up completely. He hasn't scratched them again. It got rave reviews at Amazon. I got them both thru Amazon and got the free shipping.

Zymox Otic

I have a bottle of Epic-Otic from the vet that doesn't do anything at all for the ears except make the dog upset :biggrin: It just sits on the shelf now . Between the cost of the vet visit and the Epic-otic, it was a lot cheaper to just get the Zymox from amazon.