Need Some Advice For Tibbe's Very Smelly Feet & MVD

[yorkietalkjilly]

Before we go to the vet, I need some advice from the real experts - YT moms. Tibbe has a compromised liver, having been diagnosed with MVD, and also has a pretty rough case of IBS - can only eat his strict diet without getting sick - nauseated, vomiting, refusal to eat and eventually mucous-y stools if he varies even a tad from his prescription food of Hill's ID GI and Hills LD Hepatic(canned) mixture. But now I think he's possibly got a yeast infection, mainly from the smell, which has been going on a couple of weeks.

His Frito Feet(and seemingly, his whole underside) have gone from a mild corn smell of his his pawpads to that of rank, musty, bad, bad yeasty smell coming from his pawpads and undercarriage and the poor boy really, really stinks, even with daily soaks in vinegar and water, vinegar and hydrogen peroxide mixed in water, baking soda in water(have tried a different one each of the last 4 days) and baths(using Hexachlor-K) every 5 - 6 days. He's been itchy lately with one small hot spot on his chest now and another on his hip that formed last fall, before the bad smell started, but healed without his acting itchy. He's scratching some now though he doesn't scratch much - maybe 10 times a day. His eyes are quite weepy this last 10 days.

I'm going to be ordering coconut oil, acidophilus and whatever else you all recommend. I would very much appreciate your advice on the brands you all use that a liver-compromised dog can use - brands that I can order from Amazon.com.

I'm frightened to death to try to change his food due to his IBS but any help with the brands of things you all have used in this type of yeasty, itchy, eye-weeping situation will be so very appreciated.

[BorderKelpie]

Just a random thought, when was his last check-up and bloodwork done? I am wondering if maybe his liver isn't functioning correcting to help filter toxins from his system and maybe they're building up and (for lack of a better grasp of wording) oozing through his skin?

I wonder if maybe a dose of IV fluids to help dilute and flush any toxins, maybe?

What about something holistic like milkthistle for liver support?

Best wishes for you. I am quite sure this is frustrating to have to experience.

[Lilah Charm]

Oh I am sorry Jeanie what a struggle! I would think an anti fungal cream would be the way to go. I wish I had some better advice to share but my sympathy and well wishes are all I am armed with tonight. Best of luck, I hope a guru answers promptly

[lynzy420]

Ohhhh Nooooo Not my Tibbe....I hope you get to the bottom of this quickly, keep us posted...xoxoxo Tibbe!

[Jellybaby]

I'm so very sorry Jeanie to read that poor Tibbe is suffering

If you decide you want to try and change his food then a grain free diet can sometimes help with yeast issues, YT members may be able to list some safe food brands for you to try since I'm not familiar with all the US brands. Hoping other members might have some better suggestions for you.

Hoping Tibbe finds some relief soon. Hugs to both you and Tibbe from myself and Pebbles.

[Wylie's Mom]

Aw, poor Tibbe !! So sorry all this is going on for you both.

If the yeast is really systemic and wide spread, then you may very likely need a round of Diflucan or Nystatin x 14 days or even more. That would clear it up easily and quickly, and prevent further spread. Baths and topical stuff doesn't always work well w/ infections that have spread and are rapidly multiplying.

For shampoos, I'd probably go with either/both Duoxo or one of these shampoos going forward, if there are ongoing skin issues:

http://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_...bs+vf++shampoo


"Hot spots" are actually staph intermedius infections (pyoderma) and can sometimes be treated topically/locally, like w/ Mupirocin from the vet.

[lisaly]

Jeannie, you and Tibbe are so dear to me. I'm so sorry he is not feeling well. I don't know if it can be purchased through Amazon, but I give Katie a probiotic and digestive enzyme that was recommended by Ann that really helps when Katie has an upset stomach. I'm sure the company can help answer questions about whether it will cause issues with Tibbe's liver. The owner of the company is very knowledgeable. I really trust this company and have purchased many products from them.

DOGZYMES Probiotic Max 8 oz » Natures Farmacy Inc.
Systemic Yeast Infections in Dogs | Natures Farmacy Inc.
THE FORGOTTEN ORGAN IN OUR BODIES??? DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS? | Natures Farmacy Inc.

I've never dealt with yeast infections, but the medications that Ann suggested might be a good idea first and then a follow-up with a good probiotic. I realize that there may be too many ingredients in Nature's Farmacy for an allergic dog, but I would call and speak to Jennifer, and she might be really helpful. I trust that she would not recommend anything that would harm Tibbe.

Hugs to you and Tibbe. I have been especially busy with work and John and Katie, but just know you are never far from my thoughts or heart. I will pray for both of you.

[mimimomo]

Poor Tibby, is he also a itchy miserable mess?

Not sure if coconut oil kills yeast...it does kill fungus & bacteria...is yeast a form of one or both?

Here's a good video on how to bathe your dog w/coconut oil.
Coconut Oil: The Kitchen Staple Perfect for Your Pet's Skin

I've also read an article by Dr. Becker that a yeasty dog should not be fed any sugary foods, like carbs. Because that is fuel for the yeast. I know Tibby is on a RX diet & that is almost impossible to avoid...

[ladyjane]

Teddy Bear had a liver shunt repair and has MVD and IBD. He was put on Hill's Ultra Z/D and has done very well on it.

[pstinard]

For normal bad-smelling frito feet, I swear by a diluted Betadine foot soak. Add Betadine to warm water until it's the color of iced tea, and have Tibbe stand in it for a minute. However, since it sounds like the yeast has spread beyond the feet, I don't know how well this would work. Maybe your vet can recommend a topical antifungal like Lotrimin that isn't absorbed through the skin and won't affect the liver. (Yeast is a fungus.)

[Maximo]

Poor Tibbe! Sending well wishes for your little boy. I do not have any suggestions to add to the good advice you have already received other than, if you include coconut oil in your treatment plan, I love Cocotherapy and Nutiva brands.

[pstinard]

I dug up a little more information on the Betadine foot soak. (You're supposed to do it for 2 to 5 minutes, not for one minute like I said.)

The Huge Benefits of Foot Soaks for Dogs|Dr. Karen Becker

And it looks like you can treat the whole body with diluted Betadine from the neck down:

https://www.facebook.com/notes/dr-jo...t/102327473731

I realize that this information is from Mercola, and some people have issues with his work, but I know for a fact that the foot soak works for Bella's yeasty feet. Also, it seems to be nontoxic and doesn't have to be rinsed off with water. Just soak the feet and you're good to go.

[ladyjane]

Originally Posted by pstinard

For normal bad-smelling frito feet, I swear by a diluted Betadine foot soak. Add Betadine to warm water until it's the color of iced tea, and have Tibbe stand in it for a minute. However, since it sounds like the yeast has spread beyond the feet, I don't know how well this would work. Maybe your vet can recommend a topical antifungal like Lotrimin that isn't absorbed through the skin and won't affect the liver. (Yeast is a fungus.)

Another solution that my vet gave me years ago is to do a warm 50/50 vinegar and water solution as a rinse after shampooing. Acid to counteract base. Works great on fungal infections on the skin.

[Kerryn915]

My boy has bad food allergies and I swear by the wellness limited ingredient, grain free dry food for small breeds and mixed with a little of the vital grain free, poultry free whitefish blend or the beef blend.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Thank you one and all for the good wishes and ideas. I'll be running those by the vet but mostly I appreciate those who mentioned actual brands they've used without harm. I'm scared to death to just branch out and use something I order off the internet without a referral of some kind!

Tibbe's last blood work was done just before he had his dental cleaning, which was done 12/30/14, and was all normal. His thyroid has been tested last summer and is normal. He's rarely nauseous or lethargic or any of the symptoms he had before he started on the special MVD diet - nor did he have any itching until he started on the hepatic diet. That's why I give him only half of the hepatic canned food - he itches badly if he eats a whole meal of the hepatic diet so cutting it with half of the Hill's ID GI tones the itching down to about 10 or so scratches a day.

I may be wrong but I don't think his MVD is really not the problem right now - it's his bad, yeasty smell, stinky feet and really, his skin. I've tried all the foot/underbelly soaks between baths there are mentioned by you all - been to Dr. Becker's website a lot, watched her videos and many, many other websites that discuss systemic yeast infection in dogs. I've tried all the different paw soaks except the betadine recommended by pstinard, from baking soda and h20, hydrogen peroxide and h20, hydrogen peroxide mixed with white vinegar and h20, and white vinegar and h20 alone - none really stop his stinky feet/underbelly. I swish the solution up onto his undercarriage and chest hotspots during the foot soaks. Only a full bath in the Hexachlor takes the odor completely away for a day before it come right back but I can't bathe him any less than 5 days apart of he gets dry, flaky skin and itchy.

He's itchy as it is now, but not wildly so - again maybe scratches 10 times or so a day when he's up and about - didn't seem worth it to have him on a medication for it, possibly compromising his liver or IBS further, for so little itching so I've not taken him to the vet for it. It's the odor and those hot spots that worry me that he's become yeast-infected systemically and that's scary.

Borderkelpie, the thing is, I don't know a thing about milkthistle and wouldn't know which brand is trusted for a liver-compromised, MVD dog, as OTC drugs have no oversight by anyone to prove they don't have harmful things in them. I'm so scared of products no government agency really tests out or at least reads reports on that someone signs off on. Besides, his liver seems to be doing well for the time being, it's just this awful smell and the two hot spots I'm worried about right now. That and changing his diet to help his yeast problem touching off his hair-trigger IBS.

Ann, I appreciate the ideas and will be asking the vet about all of those - sounds like a comprehensive plan for all of his problems right now and thank you for mentioning the brand names! I believe his yeast is systemic, flared up within the last 2 or 3 weeks from his diet but am soooooo scared to chance sickening him and flaring up his IBS by introducing new, yeast-unfriendly food!

Lisa, I'm likely ordering your recommended products later today after I read the articles - I've scanned the articles and they sound like part of what we need as it's apparently going to take a multi-pronged attack to harness this yeast.

I'm going to buy some extra virgin coconut oil also but need a brand name recommendation someone has successfully used with a liver-compromised dog. Anyone on YT know of one?

You all are the best - I knew I would get help here and my YT experts would point the way to go to help little stinky, itchy Tibbe!!! He's the BESTEST, sweetest little boy and I really need to get a handle on this but wanted to hear from you all before we see the vet.