Question:
I just don't know what to do anymore! Everytime he goes off an antibiotic, everything just comes back. Ear infections, eye infections, bladder infections, tail infections.

The eye ones are the ones that concern me the most, because BNP eye ointment isn't even working anymore.

Last friday he finished a 10 day perscription of clavamox (penicilin based) and he was looking good, but within 2 days, his eyes had green discharge again!!

What's weird is he was on Urinary SO (chicken and corn based) for a month for struvite crystals, and that was the healthiest he was!! At least his ears were great. But as soon as we put him back on the DVP duck and potato, his ears are all red and flakey again (like eczema), his tail is red, his anal glands are getting plugged, and his eyes are all gucky with a green discharge.

At least I have a new job, so vet costs aren't a concern, but I don't want to keep putting him on so many antibiotics!! He doesn't do well with yogurt, so we put in probiotics instead (powder), but it doesn't seem to help. He also gets flax seed oil.

Now it looks like we need a new food as well. Any suggestions?? Should we ask the vet to let us keep him on Urinary SO, since he did well? Or would that be damaging? It is supposed to make him pee more and drink more, so I don't know if I like that.

Ug. I called to a few holistic vets, but most of the listings were old, or I was told "sorry, he/she doesn't do holistic medicine, just chinese medicine or massage, or accupunture...etc etc"

We can't do raw, because we don't have the room to freeze large quantities of bulk meat.

Does ANYONE have any idea? I just want to cry when I see him like this. Maybe we should ask for a consult with Guelph animal hospital to see what they say?

Answer:
I'd put him back on that icky food for a bit, just to get him stabilized without antibiotics. If that's what he needs and that stops his itching/redness/infections than that's what he needs...
Have you tried giving him probiotics?

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We can't do raw, because we don't have the room to freeze large quantities of bulk meat.
well unless odin weighs 250 lbs and you live out in the boonies far from a grocery store, that's no excuse even the smallest "top of the fridge" freezer will do it - been there, done that.... here's some info on "why" and "how to", if you want: http://www.rawlearning.com/rawfaq.html

antibiotics and steroids are band-aids, they don't cure problems but merely provide a temporary solution, while piling on the side-effects... i would seriously give it a try, you have nothing to lose at this point. even buying pre-made raw patties would be better for odin's health & cheaper than constant vet visits & drugs, IMO. sooo many dogs with odin's conditions have turned into "new dogs" by being put on a raw diet.

some testimonials with photos...
http://www.healthy-paws.ca/testimonials.htm
http://www.freshlyfedpets.com/testimonials.htm
http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/shasta.htm
http://www.leerburg.com/diet.htm

anyways... lots of info available out there, just wish you could find a good homeopathic vet to guide you through this difficult period. sometimes food is not enough to get a kick-start to good health, but at least it's a start. odin's body has already told you, commercial diets are not right for him.

hope he gets better no matter what you choose to do!!

Answer:
The Urinary SO "may" be a dissolution diet only(as in meant to be diet to dissolve crystals only) with too high a salt content to use as long term diet, if he is reacting to the duck and potato than one of those 2 ingredients he may be allergic to, that is the beauty of the simplified diets as the ingredients are simplified so it can be an aid in learning what your dog could be allergic to.

Chances are high it is the duck, so find an alternative simplified food
eg Canidae chicken and rice, DVP sweet potato and fish, DVP Venison and Rice

If you try a couple other foods with disimiliar ingredients and problems continue than you know that it likely is not a food allergy and it could be an immune system problem instead and this helps narrow down the amount of vet testing that needs to be done.

antibiotics and steroids are band-aids, they don't cure problems but merely provide a temporary solution, while piling on the side-effects...
With some immune system problems steriods/antibiotics are not a bandaid solution but a way of managing a disease that has no cure, as much as I hate steriods and their long term effects I won't hesitate to use if that is the only option left as it can provide for a few extra quality years, I lost Buddy 15 years ago this December to an autoimmune disease at the age of 7 years old and I know how hellish it is to manage, I now have Maya who also has, which I first noticed and 20 months of age, right now she is on an alternative treatment part of which includes antibiotics but if the disease progresses to where the treatment no longer helps than she too will be on steriods inorder to relieve some of the symptoms, their is no magic bullet, it is about extending the quality of life for the dog for as long as possible.

Answer:
We have already tried many allergy foods and it seems he has sensitivities to everything. DVP duck and potato was the first one that he didn't lick his paws excessively and other stuff. THat was for the first few months.

Then, in the late winter/early spring, his ears got worse and everything. I would have suspected an enviro allergy until his ears were looking so good when on the urinary SO.

So, it seems he is ok with rice, Chicken, corn, egg, rosemary (those are the ingredients in Urinary SO, other than the vitamin, etc.).

I was thinking of trying the DVP venison and rice one first, but he already tried the wellness one like that, and wouldn't eat it. Maybe DVP would be better, and they also have a wet food with the same ingredients.

Answer:
Originally Posted by raingirl
So, it seems he is ok with rice, Chicken, corn, egg, rosemary (those are the ingredients in Urinary SO, other than the vitamin, etc.).


What about California Natural or Canidae Chicken and Rice?

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Hey, what about avoderm?! Maybe he's allergic to the meat protein? It's worth a try...
http://www.breeders-choice.com/dog_p...ermdog_veg.htm

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Have they done a culture on the discharge?Sounds like it might be yeast to me.

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I was having a similar situation with Bud's ears everytime he would go off the anitbiotics it was back in a couple of weeks. My vet then switched him to Baytril and it is our little miracle antibiotic. Suggest it to your vet maybe it will help Odin. Poor baby give him a big slobbery kiss from Buddy

Answer:
Joey had so many eye problems that we were at our wit's end. I switched vets and it took a few months and a surgical procedure but the problem was eventually soved. Not the same os Odin's problem though. Joey had ulcerated corneas. We had to put drops in his eyes several times a day for the rest of his life. (And he was very ornery about it. LOL ! It was a two man job and there were thick gloves involved. But you do what you have to do for the doggies.)

I wish I had soemthing helpful to say but as usual I don't. I agree with Prin though. If the Urinary SO worked for him I'd put him back on that for now. Something about it seemed to agree with him.

Answer:
Well, vet doesn't think it would be good to put him back on the Urinary SO, so we are trying DVP venison and rice. Since we know he is ok with chicken and rice, we got some basic canned food that is only chicken and rice. We also found a brand of 100% canned cooked chicken. Bones and all. the bones have broken down and are gelatinous, so no worries there.

We are also trying the "magic blue power" ear cleaning solution, to see if that helps at all.

What sucks is I think his anal glands may be infected again, and there is nothing I can do to help that but a trip to the vet and more antibiotics! Ug. With the exception of two UTI's, he has been on antibiotics for anal gland infections 5 times in the last year. i really want to find a holistic vet who can recommend some supplements to build up his immune system. Our vet told us to stop using Solid Gold Sea Meal, because dog food is perfectly balanced for dogs, and the nutrients in sea meal can cause imbalances in the body and thus struvite crystals.

Answer:
I strongly suggest getting cultures done.If it is yeast,the Blue Power will help ears and nothing else.Yeast likes mucous membranes and can be virtually all over the body,and starchy or sugary stuff like potatoes can set it off as well,and many can react to flax so personally I would stop that and cut out all treats and people food if you haven't already.With ears and eyes and skin and anal area involved,it really sounds yeasty.What area area are you in?

Answer:
Yeah, I'd definitely cut out the sea meal. It's a really heavy dose of flax, which can cause a lot of itching. Boo's anal glands itch like crazy if he gets the sea meal.

Answer:
Originally Posted by LL1
I strongly suggest getting cultures done.If it is yeast,the Blue Power will help ears and nothing else.Yeast likes mucous membranes and can be virtually all over the body,and starchy or sugary stuff like potatoes can set it off as well,and many can react to flax so personally I would stop that and cut out all treats and people food if you haven't already.With ears and eyes and skin and anal area involved,it really sounds yeasty.What area area are you in?




http://www.greatdanelady.com/article..._allergies.htm


For Yeasty Ears:
There is an excellent ear wash K-9 Ear Solutions for yeasty ears at www.liquidhealthinc.com

For further information I suggest the following books:

The Yeast Connection Handbook -William G. Crook MD
The Candida Control Book - Gail Burton

Note: If an animal or human has Candida Albicans, during the detoxification process you may witness or experience symptoms flu-like symptoms, nausea or loose stools when the fungus starts to die off and the body is detoxifying.

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The vet did a culture of the ears and it was yeast and bacteria.

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Raingirl,I am so very sorry Odin and you are having so much trouble,he is such a sweetie and I hope he'll get better soon

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Oh ok, I would ask for an oral yeast medication from the vet,it is all through the body and treating it locally ie ears only will not kill it.It can be in mouths and ears and bums and eyes and skin etc.There is also a really good supplement called Yeast Cleanse by Solaray and it is cheap and you can get it at health food stores.What is your location?There is a great holistic vet you could also go to in Rockwood.Sharon Kopinak. Sharon Kopinak , DVM Rockwood, Ontario Phone 519-853-5142 Fax 519-853-4245

Answer:
That's not too far from us. I was driving farther to work each day. I will give her a call sometime, since we can't find anything near us (in Brampton).

Answer:
Sorry to hear Odin still has his troubles...
www.HolisticPetVet.com
These folks are at St. Clair and O'Connor in Toronto (just a jaunt east from the DVP-Eglinton exit if you aren't familiar with the 'hood). I really encourage you to think along the candida lines - it sounds like classic symptomology to me. I'd also really encourage you to give some more consideration to a raw diet. Odin sounds like where Ceili and Bridie were at six years ago. It's not as daunting a prospect as you might think and you really don't need that much space ~ but you do need to be prepared to shop for bargains. for Odin's recovery.

Answer:
Originally Posted by LL1
Oh ok, I would ask for an oral yeast medication from the vet,it is all through the body and treating it locally ie ears only will not kill it.It can be in mouths and ears and bums and eyes and skin etc.There is also a really good supplement called Yeast Cleanse by Solaray and it is cheap and you can get it at health food stores.What is your location?There is a great holistic vet you could also go to in Rockwood.Sharon Kopinak. Sharon Kopinak , DVM Rockwood, Ontario Phone 519-853-5142 Fax 519-853-4245

I just made an appointment for Sept. 16th. I will report any results after that. Hopefully she has some suggestions.

Answer:
Have you treid adding garlic to his diet? Garlic is a natural antibiotic and so is Walnut Oil and they are both safe and recommended for use in animals. garlic oil can be given in Gel form (make sure you are using apure oil and not one "cut" with another type of oil) Herb stores are great places to buy pure oils. I used both of thos ingredients in enema form for parasites & bacterial infections in cats. Olive oil (extra Virgin) can be used topically to ease some of the scratching and discomfort. It is safe if they lick it too. Can also be used as ear drops for ear infections...even works for people!

Answer:
Not too hard to fix but antibiotics make yeast worse! (as women we get yeast infections FROM antibiotics). PROBIOTICS are going to be needed on large amounts....back to the herb store. Natures Sunshine brand Probiotic Eleven...if you think he's had enough...give him more....it replaces all the needed "good" bacteria the awful antibiotis took away. can be sprinkled on food and tastes good. Acidophilous/bifidopholis comes in a chewable form. no sugar added (sugar feeds yeast). Check refrigerated section for that......Plain yougurt too.......of course organic is always best. make sure to stir in the fat...don't buy fat free or low fat....we need the fat for calcium absorption.
Keep us posted.

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