Almost at my wits end

[Shanz]

My poor GSD Brandy has been through so much in the last year. She had pyometra and tumours in her stomach so we got them removed/biposied and got her fixed. Biopsy came back clear. She had a hard time healing from her surgery, but came through ok. Since the beginning of summer, shes been constantly licking between her toes of her front paws and has been having ear infections and is constantly shedding.

Shes licked her feet raw tot he point where there's no fur left between her toes. Vet said it was hot spots and prescribed us Fuciderm. The fuciderm took away some of the itchyness. I bathed her paws with antibacterial soap every day and dried them.

Then the ear infections started, my mom cleans her ears almost every day-every second day and when she does, the cotton balls come out full of brown wax. Shes constantly scratching at her ears to the point where she cries. Shes up all night doing this. Vet said put the fuciderm on her ears. We did that but infections still there

And then the shedding. My Mom can brush her for an hour and she'll still be losing fur like crazy. And the fur comes out from the rooms because you can see the follicles on the end

So since June weve been back and fourth to the vets. They now say its a food allergy. She was on a prescribed food from the vet to lose weight. We took her off that, put her on Natural Balance duck and potato because thats supposed to be non allergenic. Nothing has changed.
I've asked two of my teachers at school..ones a vet tech the other is a vet. The vet tech suggested it may be a yeast in fection called Malassezia, the vet suggested it may be mange.

Does anyone else have any idea what this can be?? We are spending so much money trying out different food and going to the vet and nothing is getting solved and poor brandy is miserable. Her eyes are also red and have lots of ocular discharge

 

[Tatertot]

I have no idea what it could be, but I hope shes okay! German Shepherds were always my favorite, until I got my first boxer.

Maybe you should go for a second opinion?

 

[BasilStreets]

It may take a while for hypo-allergenic food to make a difference if the allergy is showing up in the skin.
If you suspect a yeast infection, you need to get rid of anything in the dietwhich would feed the yeast. This means any highly processed starches, like white rice, which turns to sugar in the body, any fruits, anything that contains sugar.......and start adding pro-biotics to the food. Frankly, your best bet might be home cooking or raw.
You may also want to wash the feet and ears with an apple cider vinegar (the type from a health food store which contains the "mother") and water solution. Start with 3 part vinegar to 1 part water, decreasing the amount of vinegar as time goes on. Wipe down or soak the feet/ears in the solution and do not rinse.

 

[daniels1989]

Nutro Dog Food

This may sound too easy of a solution, but I used to work at Petland and we would hear stories like this often. On Sundays we would have a Rep from Nutro come in and do his spill on the benefits. 2 clients swore by Nutro as it contains no by-products or additives. Since starting my Dogs on Brewers yeast, my 8 month old boxer never itches anymore and they have not had 1 flea since day 30 of Brewers which I order through Drs. Foster and Smith online. This may not help, but wanted to pass along because like I said one of clients swore by Nutro for her dog who had been plagued with Allergies!

 

[Lancerella]

Sending Brandy a lot of ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~healing vibes~~~~~~~~~~~~~~poor girl.
Well with antibiotics absolutely her system got out of wack, and yogurt and probiotic can help out on this.
Are you up to raw? Maybe would help, but most likely if you not too comfortable with the idea maybe some of home cooking with some raw veggies (to keep weight down) and some raw bones.
I add to the everyday Merrick, sometimes once a week some organic raised chicken wings, and my boys love, and don't mess up too much my apartment(carpet and all)
Hope you find a prompt solution.
Give some smuches on Brandy from me,
Warm wishes,
Karin

 

[Shanz]

update

well we loaded brandy and cinnamon into the car and went off to the vet yesterday. Brandy for this whole problem and Cinnamon for her shots. Brandy's foot actually cleared up, but her ears were still a mess. We ended up coming home with some Surolan for her ear (only the right one) and some steroids for the itching. They still insist its a food allergy so were going to keep up with the food. It seems to be clearning up a little, whether its the swtich in food or the yogurt we havent figured out yet

 

[Slobber Baby]

Just so you know~if you buy food at petsmart and it doesn't work or they don't like it as long as there is at least half a bag left they will let you exchange it...so you don't have all those bags of food around..I too swear by Nutro Ultra..and missing link..it has helped Bubba bunches!! Sending hugs and slobbery kisses!

Laura