Yeast-laden Bacteria-crusted Warrior Princess Storms the Addiverse
No, no--not me--Freckles!

Another day, another vet bill. This time, it's Freckles Warrior Princess that's sick, not Lucy (who, by the way, has mysteriously stopped puking and poop shooting, praise the gods!). Freckles has been a smelly mess of a dog. In fact, she is flaking all over the place like she has dry skin even though she is all greasy. How can that be? She's got these awful red spots surrounded by gross, flaking skin chunks, basically on her front legs, sides and chest. Her eyes are full of boogers and her stench is just not very attractive. A bath did not help the stench. I love her very much but she stays up licking all night and the slurping sounds are disgusting. Although it wasn't in the budget, off to the vet we went.

I am happy to report to TV Eagle (high school friend who visited this weekend) that Freckles does NOT have mange. There were a few moments of concern this might be the case, but all is well in the mangy dog department. What DOES Freckles have? Well, according to the vet (which, humorously enough, specializes in cats), she has a yeast infection and a bacteria infection of her skin.

Sounds like my dog has crotch rot, only on her skin. Ha ha!

WHY SUSPECT YEAST?

Yeast infections are especially itchy, crusty, and smelly. Often a dog starts with a rash or with simple itching but the skin thickens to an “elephant” skin appearance. The itch is extreme and the odor can be especially troublesome. Parts of the body or the entire body can be affected. Mostly dogs are affected but cats can get yeast infections as well. Yeasts are the spore-like forms of fungi; Malessezia dermatitis is a fungal infection of the skin.

Freckles is a yeasty beasty!

WHERE WOULD A DOG GET A YEAST INFECTION?

According to marvistavet.com, "Yeast happily live on most normal skin and in ears and anal glands. To get a yeast infection, conditions on the skin surface have to change to favor the proliferation of the yeasts. The yeasts in small normal numbers are harmless but when the yeasts are present in large numbers, disease results.

So what conditions lead to a yeast proliferation? An increase in skin oils (which often occurs in an allergic flare up) would be the most common situation. Sometimes there is an immune deficiency which allows the yeast proliferation. Some animals are battling seborrhea (excessive oil production of the skin) and thus are naturally predisposed to the yeast proliferation. Some animals are actually allergic to the yeasts themselves. The most important thing to realize is that yeast infections are not contagious but they tend to recur unless the underlying allergy, seborrhea, or whatever problem is controlled."

(Thank god it is not contagious!)

"The following breeds are predisposed genetically to yeast infections: the West Highland White Terrier, Basset hound, Cocker spaniel, Silky terrier, Australian terrier, Maltese, Chihuahua, Poodle, Shetland sheepdog, Lhasa apso, and the dachshund."

(Ah, so FWP is a Lhaso apso-ish yeasty smelly beast.)

According to peteducation.com: "Bacterial skin diseases are more prevalent in certain dogs, and with bacteria often comes odor. Yeast infections of the skin can also cause odor. Keeping your pet's skin free of bacteria and yeast can help prevent many skin conditions that lead to itching, hot spots, hair loss, and other disorders.

Vinegar rinses with equal parts of vinegar and water can also help control yeast, though some people complain their dog now smells like a pickle."

(Um, so would I rather have a stinky dog or a pickle-smelling dog???)

What does one do for a yeasty, bacteria-y dog? Well, my favorite part is the vet says I have to bathe her in this expensive shampoo and leave it on for TEN MINUTES and then rinse it off. Okay, can you even imagine trying to keep shampoo on FWP for ten minutes? Any dog? It's not like I can have her stand in the stationery tub all that time and I can't do this outside. I may have to get creative about this if I truly want to try the ten minute shampoo rule. I'll let you know how this goes. The second thing I have to do is give her anti-biotics, which is easy to do as those pills slide in with ease, thanks to peanut butter.

What causes a yeasty, germy dog? I guess it's secondary to her allergies. And, what is Freckles allergic to????
Grass.

Doesn't it just figure that I own a dog that is allergic to grass?






P.S. Countdown reminder: Only THREE more days until the Xena Convention in Chicago! What the hell AM I going to wear????? I watched FOUR episodes of Xena today, leaving me with only one more episode plus the Friends in Need two-part finale (which I refuse to watch as I have no desire to see Xena decapitated again). I made it! Bring on the Xena trivia contests!