Rescue Yorkie in a lot of pain. Allergies? Help.
 

DH and I adopted our second Yorkie, T-Bone, on July 3 from a shelter in South Korea. Three days later, we moved to Arizona. T-Bone developed allergy-like symptoms soon after our move. We changed his food (Royal Canine to Wellness Small Bites) and also his environment, so we don't know what he is allergic to. We've been consulting with our vet, but T-Bone seems to make small little improvements, then slide back to his original state.

Symptoms:
* Constantly scratching his ears (and crying in pain)
* Constantly licking/biting his paws (and crying in pain)
* Itchy, swollen eyes (vet prescribed a steroid anti-itch cream) - was getting better, now getting swollen again.
* Doesn't appear to be particularly itchy anywhere else.
* On antibiotics twice since August for a respiratory and paw infection; runny nose and wet sneezes just again yesterday.

I was able to clean one of his ears on Friday, but he cried and yelped and fought me, and now won't let me touch his other ear (I have tried several times). He had a lot of brown gunk in it (despite fairly regular ear-cleanings) and lots of little cuts from his scratching.

I tried to put his steroid cream in his eyes this morning. I was able to get one eye, but then he actually bit me twice (hard!) when I tried to put the cream in his other eye. I let him calm down, sit on my lap, cuddle and relax before attempting the second eye. This has worked for the last several weeks, but not today.

I took a look at his paws today (as I do every day) and the actual pads are quite swollen and red. He chews mostly on this front paws, and today I noticed something new: the ends of his nails look like they were cut beyond the quick. T-Bone was last groomed on Sep 1. His nails look hollow, and I can see what I assume is the quick in the middle of the hollow area. This is only on his front paws.

Am I dealing with allergies, or a bad grooming job, or both? I am at my wit's end with this little guy. It breaks my heart to see him in such pain, and I don't know to do to make it better. I am hesitant to put him on antibiotics AGAIN (third time in two months!) since it does not seem to be a lasting solution. T-Bone seems to be getting more upset and aggressive, and I can't blame him since he is in such pain, but I just don't know what to do.

Help! T-Bone and I would appreciate any advice you can offer. I plan to take him to the vet again this week, but I have a feeling it's just going to be the same course of action as before. I want a lasting solution.

What about Fire Ants? I know they cause a nasty bite that swells up and itches...it also causes pain.

I have never used Royal Canin but I have read here on YT that it has causes allergy and skin issues in some Yorkies.

I have never seen fire ants here, but we do spend a lot of time outside, so who know what he has been exposed to. Also, I forgot to mention that he picks up EVERYTHING and chews on it (even a rock once!) so it could be that he is having an allergic reaction to something he has chewed on... ie: a root, stick, bulb (of flower), nut, acorn, etc, etc.

I do not feed Royal Canine. T-Bone ate that previously, but when I adopted him, I switched him to Wellness Small Bites.

Thanks for your input!

Is it possible that you are dealing with 2 separate problems? He's been on so much antibiotics that he could have yeast in his ears. Secondly, the biting of the paws could be a food allergy although Wellness is a good food. He could be allergic to something outside. Yo may want to ask the vet about giving him Benadryl or Zyrtec or something. Just a thought.

It's very possible that I am dealing with two problems. I can try giving him some infant/children's benadryl for the itching (and will ask the vet about Zyrtec), but what about for the yeast in his ears? His ears don't have a foul odor, but it certainly could be yeast growing in there. He absolutely will NOT let me clean them. I have tried numerous times.

Thanks!

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear what your little guy is going through. I don't have much advice, but have you thought of confining him to the house for a while (other than potty breaks) to at least rule out any environmental allergy? Poor baby sounds like he's so miserable, I really do hope you can find out what it is soon. Sending well wishes and prayers.

That is probably a good idea. He will hate it since we have a nice, grassy, enclosed backyard to play in, but it might help eliminate the problem.

Also, I was thinking of making one of those big collars to put on him so he can't itch and make his paws worse. Is that inhumane? I think I would kill someone if they wouldn't let me itch and I hurt that badly. But he is chewing his paws to the point of rawness, so I think I will need to give him some tough love. :(

As for the yeast, there is an ear ointment that the vet can prescribe. Just as a rule of thumb, whenever my dogs are on any antibiotics I give them plain yogurt.

My dogs get diarrhea when I give them yogurt, but I have a probiotic I can give him that should help. Thanks for your help!

Has anyone used colloidal silver for something like this? I read another thread about using it for an eye infection (here on YT), but I am hesitant to give it to him. And how much would I give? There is no way he will let me put it in his ears or eyes, but I could try adding some to his food and seeing if he will eat it.

Sounds to me like he needs to see your vet again ...and soon! If he has an ear infection, it needs to be treated and with the appropriate medicine. The vet would need to culture it to see if he needs anti fungal or antibiotic. If the infection is bad, his ear is irritated and it is painful to him when you try to clean it. He needs to be treated first!

As for the steroid in his eyes, I would not do that unless it has been recommended by the vet (which it may have been) because if they have any infection or an eye ulcer, then steroids will make the condition worse!

There are a lot of people on YT who know more about allergies than I do, so I will defer to them on that topic.

Poor baby sounds miserable. I hope you can find answers soon! Good luck. :)

Please do not put anything in his eyes without going to a vet. He could end up losing his eyesight. :(

The steroid eye cream was recommended and prescribed by the vet. I wouldn't put something in his eyes unless a professional approved it. That's why I haven't given him the silver... just makes me nervous. But I am willing to explore all options. I just need him to not be hurting. :(

I'll get a vet appt this week and see if we can get anywhere. Just wanted to get on YT and see if anyone has some other solutions. I guarantee you the vet will want to put him on antibiotics again, and he's already been on them so many times... poor little guy.

I agree that another vet visit is in order, but I also remember reading somewhere about yeast infections in dogs paws. This along with the fact that he was on antibiotics twice may well have led to yeast overgrowth/infection in his ears and paws. A friend of mine used to use this powder and couldn't say enough good things about it for keeping her beagle-mix dog's ears infection free:
Thornit Ear Powder - original 1907 formula from K9 Centre

Might be worth a try while you're waiting for the vet visit.

I have had fosters who came to me with skin infections that needed long term doses of antibiotics. I know that antibiotics can cause an overgrowth, but honestly I have not had it happen. If they have a bacterial infection, they need antibiotics and sometimes it takes different ones or even longer term doses of the same ones.

Maybe the vet will not prescribe an antibiotic. Make sure he cultures his ears and his paws. My vet does that...and can do it on the spot. I recently had a pup with fungal and bacterial infection in one paw. He is an allergy pup and has had problems over the years with yeast and bacterial infections...that often happens when they have allergies and lick and scratch.

If not happy with your vet and what he/she is doing, then go somewhere for a second opinion! I hope things settle for your little TBone soon! :)