Yeast and itchiness

September 20, 2012 at 7:29 am 14 comments

Recently, a client suggested that I cut out POTATOES (including sweet potatoes & yam) from Boogie’s diet. These are carbohydrates = sugars which contribute to yeast infections. Yeast infections lead to itchiness and possibly also bacterial infections.

I had no idea about potatoes and it saddens me that the giant boxes of The Honest Kitchen food in my kitchen contain potatoes and honey. Yep, honey is also a sugar. As are rice, wheat, corn, and ALL CARBOHYDRATES…. usually found in treats too.

Today I found this extremely informative video about treating and preventing yeast infections by Dr. Karen Becker. It’s long but worth watching!

Some anti-yeast tips from this video:

Anti-fungal foods: Oregano, garlic
Clean and disinfect yeasty parts of body every day- especially ears and feet, armpits, groin area…
Foot soak: Gallon of water + 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide + 1 cup white vinegar/lemon juice. Astringency = anti-fungal
Ear solution: Witchhazel & cottonballs. Clean out debris!
No Oatmeal shampoo! (Oatmeal is a grain/carb and will feed the yeast!)
Use Anti-fungal shampoo – tea tree oil based or herbal
Post bath rinse: Gallon of water + 20 drops of peppermint oil (do not get on head), or astringent solution (see Foot Soak). Towel-dry without rinsing.
A supplement to support the dog’s immune system.

Entry filed under: Food, Skin issues, Supplements.

Boogie’s first TTouch Experience Still trying to break the cycle

14 Comments Add your own

1. teresavet | September 20, 2012 at 10:45 am

Yeast infections are only a problem if the skin is already compromised. Normally by allergies. Find the allergy, elliminate the allergen if possible, if not vaccinate against it.
If yeast infection appears, acid baths (1 part lemon or vinegar per 10 parts water) usally help. Most important, NO LICKING, yeast needs a humid enviroment to grow. So keep the skin dry.
Yeast is an opportunist, secondary to other problems. Treat the first problem!!
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- 2. lili | September 20, 2012 at 6:05 pm
  
  Teresa – I still don’t know what Boogie is allergic to. It’s likely to be something in the environment. What if it’s something that cannot be eliminated, like pollen or dust or grass? 😦
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3. perthcyclist | September 20, 2012 at 12:50 pm

hm, but cutting all carbs out of the diet isn’t really practicable is it?
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- 4. lili | September 20, 2012 at 6:05 pm
  
  Not from MY own diet… But there are dog foods that are grain and carb-free, I think.
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5. oreoowner | September 22, 2012 at 1:12 am

It’s hard to eliminate all allergies-Oreo got tested and is allergic to 7 foods (including both kinds of potatoes), so its hard but I cut everything out of her diet (although I’m sure factories mix it with treats, etc so I am making much of her food). Plus, since we cut out the food allergies, I believe pollen is the culprit-but it’s impossible to keep her inside ALL the time. However, I DOOOO use witch hazel and a cotton ball to wipe her ears and believe me-IT WORKS!!!! She would get recurrent ear infections (yeast and bacterial), but hasn’t in a long time (knock on wood). I feed her homemade food, but also nature’s variety instinct-which is grain and carb-free. It’s the limited ingredients for dogs with allergies. Also, I add garlic and oregano to her food which has seemed to help. It’s interesting that she talks about not using oatmeal shampoo, when that is encourage for itchy dogs! Wow-good to know! Also-for supplements, I went to smith ridge vet-which uses conventional and herbal but lots of supplemental meds too. I was desperate for something to help Oreo with allergies and her itching. Among other things, they prescribed this : Seven Forests Quercenol Dog Herbal supplements
They told me it would help her immune system to help with allergies. You could probably google to find more info on it or ask your vet-it seemed to help Oreo a lot, she is still taking it.

By the way, how is the shampoo working you mentioned before? I use the same, but only once every two weeks-I was wondering how it was going for you and Boogie?
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- 6. lili | September 22, 2012 at 7:31 am
  
  Re: the oatmeal shampoo – I know! Crazy isn’t it? Everyone buys this for itchy skin!
  
  As for the shampoo that I’ve been using (Virbac Ketochlor & Virbac Cortisoothe) …. This summer I have added a few new things to Boogie’s routine… he is also getting an immune system supplement & I am spraying him daily with the Chlorhexidine solution and he hasn’t developed the usual staph infection this summer so something must be working, though I can’t tell if it’s the shampoos or the extra supplements and sprays. Or a combo of everything.
  
  I am going to look up the Seven Forests supplements. Thanks for this!
  Reply
7. Jane | September 22, 2012 at 2:24 am

stumbled upon your blog, love it! as I can tell you are, I’m a huge believer in diet to help remedy these situations. Have you tried ziwipeak yet? Rudy (my chi x – who, incidentally, is coloured and marked like your boston!!) had been on ziwipeak (both the dehydrated and, occasionally, the canned), and wow, what a difference it has made to his entire well being. Less itchy, less flakey, no more doggie smell, poop is smaller and less odor (tmi?). And he LOVES it. I would highly, highly recommend emailing to company and asking them for samples. There are three flavours in the dehydrated – venison, venison&fish, and lamb. Most reviews (and the other people I’ve converted, haha) have had luck with the venison for allergies and, while I do rotate flavours, I do find Rudy has less itchies on the lamb formula … I think it’s the fat content?

Ziwipeak ain’t cheap, but I’m really impressed by how far a bag will go – since it’s dehydrated raw and straight up real meat, you don’t need to feed very much to maintain weight at all. I pour a little water over it for kidney function and a tablespoon of Nupro in with it to make a “gravy” and he gobbles it up.

Worth a shot, even if you can only feed it once a day 🙂 And it has NO fillers (like potatoes) in it.

Jane
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- 8. lili | September 22, 2012 at 7:33 am
  
  Hi Jane, I have never tried Ziwipeak but I will check them out. I wasn’t aware that they have dehydrated versions. Boogie is eating Stella & Chewy’s now, and I am also going to try out Nutrisca (which is similar to Stella & Chewy’s) – no potatoes! Whew!
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  - 9. Jane | September 22, 2012 at 3:43 pm
    
    Hey Jill, definitely contact them!! When I asked for a sample I got three huge ones in the mail within a month 🙂 And now Rudy is hooked!
    
    The Nutrisca certainly looks good – and much better than a lot of what is out there – and I’m not trying to be contrary at all, but that brand includes peas and chickpeas. Veg is also considered a carb (chickpeas especially), so I would just be aware of any dog food that includes those kinds of binding fillers … know what I mean? 🙂
  - 10. lili | September 22, 2012 at 6:35 pm
    
    Jane – OK, I will ask for samples! 🙂 can’t believe how difficult it is to find quality dog food that doesn’t have carbs in it (that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg)
11. Jane | September 25, 2012 at 5:11 pm

Totally Lili (sorry for calling you Jill, not wearing my glasses, ha!). I know exactly what you mean. Grain and carb free dog treats are hard, too … I love Nothing Added for training treats for that reason (I think she sells her stuff in the states under SAD dog sushi??) Good luck in your search 🙂
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- 12. lili | September 25, 2012 at 5:56 pm
  
  Hi Jane, I guess I could use pure meat for training treats. I actually bought a dehydrator that is still in its box (I have no more counter space in my kitchen!) – I was going to make my own treats.
  I contacted Ziwipeak via their website but haven’t heard from them at all. Did you email them or call them?
  Reply
13. Jane | September 30, 2012 at 10:08 pm

hey!!! i would email her back and ask if she got it – she is SUPER nice, even re-sent me samples when they never arrived in the mail 🙂 I just emailed!!
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14. Yest infection No more | December 21, 2012 at 6:42 am

Be careful with antibiotic use. Antibiotics disrupt your body’s natural balance of good and bad bacteria. When you use antibiotics, you are actually more likely to get a yeast infection for that reason. When you use antibiotics, be sure to eat yogurt at least once a day to keep your bacteria in balance.
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