From Scooters paw to Cidneys ear!

[Cidney]

A few weeks ago I posted here about Scooter having a paw problem - he was licking it constantly to the point where its red. The vet prescibed medication which I took him off of real quick because of side effects. Some of you here suggested Tea Tree Oil diluted with Nuetigena Oil (man that Tea Tree Oil is strong). I finally found some yesterday and Scooters paw is worse, now its swollen and really irritated.


I noticed Cidney was shaking his head and tyring to scratch his ear. After I got done doctoring up Scooter's paw I looked at Cidney' ear. Oh man, poor little Cidney, his ear is inflamed! His ear has swollen bumps in the inside of his ear, not deep in the ear but where you can see and touch. Its like the where the ear cartlidge part all along the inside of his ear is all swollen and very red. I am thinking Scooter licking on his paw and he loves to lick Cidneys face and his ears has infected Cidney. I put some of the Tea Tree Oul concoction on Cidneys ear, boy he was pissed at me for doing that. This morning everthing looks the same for both but at least not worse. I just wished I knew what Scooter has on his paw that could possible transfer to Cidneys ear! I am taking both to the vet and hope she doesnt give them some funky medication again. I hope that Tea Tree Oil at least helps with some of the pain because Cidney didnt look too happy this morning.

 

[Cidney]

I just realized the beginning of my post seems might make you think that the Tea Tree Oil made Scooters paw worse, his paw was already worse before I applied the Tea Tree Oil.

 

[LoveNewfies]

I don't necessarily think that one would transfer to the other as you're describing, probably coincidence - but you never know.

Tea tree oil is very strong and should be diluted prior to applying to the skin, unless prescribed differently by a holistic or homeopathic vet. Tea tree oil can make your dog ill if he consumes too much of it.

It sounds to me that perhaps there is a yeast problem - ears and paws are the perfect places for yeast to grow and very common if an allergen is present.

Have you changed foods or anything in the environment lately? Is this a new problem for you?

 

[Renee750il]

That is puzzling, since a dog's saliva kills most stuff. Like LoveNewfies opines, it would be unusual for something to be transferred that way. I've read several anecdotal articles describing the "healing" properties of dog saliva - like the guy with athletes foot whose little Terrier kept licking his feet whenever he took his shoes and socks off - and the athletes foot disappeared.

The Tea Tree Oil is a very powerful anti-bacterial and anti-fungal/yeast agent. It is strong, which is why we dilute it with the Neutrogena.

Since your other dog is having a similar problem now, you really might want to look into information on yeast. If you'll click on this this link and scroll down you'll find a series of articles on yeast. They're very readable and should help you: http://www.greatdanelady.com/articles.htm

She's added some new ones since the last time I read them. I'll have to catch up!

 

[Cidney]

Man, I really hope the boys dont have a yeast problem, that sounds scary! As I am reading the aritcle is says one of the problems that may cause yeast and an antibotic is one of the causes, well guess what I started giving the boys yesterday - you guess it, amoxcillian!


I am really hoping each problem are not related. I have not changed one single thing about their diet, we havent treated our grass with anything, I cant think of anything thats differnt that has caused these problems. I am going to ask the vet if she thinks it could me a yeast problem. Thanks for that website!

 

[Renee750il]

Any time you or your dogs take an antibiotic you should eat yoghurt or drink buttermilk. Try adding some yoghurt to your dogs' food. It's good for them whether they have a yeast infestation or not.

Be warned that most vets will dismiss any mention of yeast and want to treat symptoms with things like steroids. Prednisone and other steroids are linked to tumors in dogs. Sometimes it's imperative that we do something to relieve extreme discomfort for our pets since it's hard for an animal under stress to fight off diseases or let their bodies heal, but steroids are just used far too often by too many as a quick fix. I hope you've got one of those great vets who look outside the short list of pat answers - maybe she's even open to reading the articles you've read.

Antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections, and the only way to be certain an infection is bacterial is to analyze it.

 

[Cidney]

Well, the vet confirmed Scooter is the little monkey that caused Cidneys ear problem. I guess Cidney broke the skin when scratching his own ear and Scooter transferred his paw germs to Cidneys ear via saliva. The vet told me Scooter must stop licking Cidney all the time even if it means separting them in differnt rooms, RIGHT!! Scooter and Cidney panic if they are away from each other so I guess I will have to come up with a way to make this behaviour stop. When the vet was telling Scooter he has to stop licking he stopped in mid sentence and said "ahh, look at that face, its as if he knows I am talking about his bad habit".

Anyhoo, the vet gave them each two injections and daily oral meds for 10 dyas, I cant remember what it is but I am sure its anitbotic. I am doing what some of you suggested if they are on anitbotics - I am giving them plain yogurt. All I could find is nonfat yogurt, will this do and if so how much should I give them?

 

[Renee750il]

I can't remember if you've told us how big Scooter and Cidney are. If they're medium sized dogs, a quarter cup won't be out of line. You can adjust from there. The nonfat is fine; what you want to avoid is the stuff with aspartame or other artificial sweeteners.

If it's 10 days, it's just about got to be antibiotics. Just make sure they get all of it. You probably know that it makes it worse if they don't get the whole regime.

Let us know how they get on.

Right, like you can keep them separate . . .