Stinky Eyes?

[Ellie May]

Ellie's eyes smell strange. About a year ago after she had surgery I noticed her eyes smelled weird and they were runny. A couple months later the whites of her eyes turned red, so we went to the vet. She was diagnosed with conjunctivitis and since has been cleared of that and her eyes are fine medically. They continue to stink. The vet says keep the hair out of them and use baby wipes but that isn't going to do anything for the smell... I have since let her hair grow thinking that everytime I cut it short it starts to poke them agian. Anyway, they are still somewhat runny (clear, never red or green) but I really don't like the smell. Any suggestions? No Angel Eyes please.

[Jacoby]

I hope you get some good suggestions....my babies eyes boogies smell funny too!

[4doggiemama]

I read once to use sensitive eye contact cleaner to clean around the eyes. Never tried it, though. Maybe check with vet.
Joanne

[Ellie May]

Strange, huh?

I know it isn't an infection in Ellie's case and to just clean the fur a couple times a day doesn't make since to me because it isn't originating there. I think it stinks before it leaves her eyes. Her face is a bit wet too. I pull the dried goop out.

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by 4doggiemama

I read once to use sensitive eye contact cleaner to clean around the eyes. Never tried it, though. Maybe check with vet.
Joanne

Contact cleaner...interesting.

[Wylie's Mom]

I've always heard that stinky ears or eyes is a sign of yeast overgrowth. Just a thought.

Systemic candida overgrowth can wreak havoc in humans (but can be terribly difficult to actually diagnose)...so it kinda makes me wonder a bit with all of Ellie's sneaky little symptoms....

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

I've always heard that stinky ears or eyes is a sign of yeast overgrowth. Just a thought.

Systemic candida overgrowth can wreak havoc in humans (but can be terribly difficult to actually diagnose)...so it kinda makes me wonder a bit with all of Ellie's sneaky little symptoms....

Very interesting point.

Ellie was diagnosed and treated for a yeast infection in her ears about 11 months ago. The brown goop is "trying" to come back (just barely...not enough to treat). How is a systemic yeast infection treated and diagnosed? because obviously treating her ears over and over isn't the best idea if it isn't the problem.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

How is a systemic yeast infection treated and diagnosed?

That's the tough part. There are very few labs that actually test for it...if I remember right, they test the blood for antibodies - and it's usually quite expensive. Instead, it's usually a deductive diagnosis - ie, symptoms just indicate it (and other things are ruled out) and it wouldn't hurt to treat for it, so they just treat for it.

For humans, local yeast infections are treated w/ topical creams (or, eye ointment). For systemic (usually more chronic -or- recurrent), I've seen people prescribed a weekly treatment of Diflucan -or- a daily treatment (for 15 days or so) of oral Nystatin tablets. I wonder if they could do something similar for dogs?

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

That's the tough part. There are very few labs that actually test for it...if I remember right, they test the blood for antibodies - and it's usually quite expensive. Instead, it's usually a deductive diagnosis - ie, symptoms just indicate it (and other things are ruled out) and it wouldn't hurt to treat for it, so they just treat for it.

For humans, local yeast infections are treated w/ topical creams (or, eye ointment). For systemic (usually more chronic -or- recurrent), I've seen people prescribed a weekly treatment of Diflucan -or- a daily treatment (for 15 days or so) of oral Nystatin tablets. I wonder if they could do something similar for dogs?

I will ask her vet about it if her symptoms continue... What's one more thing to treat for?

I got my book today................
It is HUGE.

[Wylie's Mom]

The thing about recurrent (or, undiagnosed) systemic candida - is that it affects the entire digestive system, it can make you 'hazy', give you UTIs, poo issues, menstrual issues, mood issues, gas issues, bloating, lethargy....I mean, it can really affect so much...that it's hard to diagnose. BUT, easy to fix!!!

[TLC]

This is interesting....

Here's my Roxy comparison to Ellie for the day (hehehehe)

Last year all of a sudden Roxy started to Red Tear ALL the time. And stain really bad. I used to cut that hair so short and all the time, but they irritated her skin. I took her off the Nupro supplement I had feed them at the time and was going raw. I think the Nupro was causing the Red Tears and it stopped as soon as I stoped the Nupro - GREAT! - But her eyes continue to clear tear like crazy and she gets these big globs of boogers that cover her eye balls. I clean her eyes in the AM and PM - sometimes I have no idea how she can see with that glob over her eyeball.

Now her ears, about 1 years ago I noticed that she 'leaks' a lot of wax. She has this 'crease' in the lower portion of her ear and the was cakes into her hair. I have to use a flea comb when her ears are wet and soapy to get some of the was out of her hair, some comes out, but not all of it. Also, it seems that the whole back of her ear has got 'crap' on it. I thought dry skin or soap residue b/c that's what it looks like, but I really make sure to wash her ears really good, again it seems like a leakage of wax

The Vet has looked 'in' her ears and they are ok, he said she's just got waxy ears IDK - something doesn't seem right. Next trip to the Vet we are gonna have to do some more investigating

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by TLC

The Vet has looked 'in' her ears and they are ok, he said she's just got waxy ears IDK - something doesn't seem right. Next trip to the Vet we are gonna have to do some more investigating

My Floop went thru something VERY similar until I went to a different vet. I asked the vet if we should test for yeast. Vet said "nope, let's just use this ointment I have that'll treat it no matter what he has" - VOILA - treated his ears for 2 weeks - and it was the first time they didn't smell in 2 years (I secretly kinda miss his smelly ears ).

I will try to remember to look at exactly what ointment she prescribed when I get home.

[Ellie May]

Ellie gets clear globs of "something" on her eyes also.
Then the yeast infections in her ears.
Then the itchy paws (from food allergies but that could be connected to yeast somehow).
And the UTI and urination issues.
Wylie's Mom, you might have something there.
I just don't want to treat her for something else without a diagnosis because we've been doing that a lot lately. I don't know what to do because more testing is just out of the question irght now.........

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

My Floop went thru something VERY similar until I went to a different vet. I asked the vet if we should test for yeast. Vet said "nope, let's just use this ointment I have that'll treat it no matter what he has" - VOILA - treated his ears for 2 weeks - and it was the first time they didn't smell in 2 years (I secretly kinda miss his smelly ears ).

I will try to remember to look at exactly what ointment she prescribed when I get home.

Hmmm, if it is something to just treat ears I wouldn't mind. I just don't want to keep giving her oral medicine without a diagnosis.

[Wylie's Mom]

Originally Posted by Ellie May

Ellie gets clear globs of "something" on her eyes also.
Then the yeast infections in her ears.
Then the itchy paws (from food allergies but that could be connected to yeast somehow).
And the UTI and urination issues.

Interesting....bc yeast overgrowth is often diagnosed by seeing yeast between toes as well (toes, groin, armpits, ears are most common). Well, maybe your vet could tell you over the phone how a systemic yeast would be treated; if the treatment would cause almost no harm (just mild meds), then...maybe?