It has not been a good day for Bailey

[China_cat]

He went in to have 2 melanomas removed from his head and have his ear flushed. He has a chronic ear infection that keeps him on cipro and prednisone so he had lost most of his hair and evidently got too much sun.

So, while doing the melanomas, the vet found a mass on his chest and removed it to send to the lab for analysis. No idea of what it is.

While at the vet, somebody marked the wrong box and Bailey got his yearly shots, which he wasn't due for until July. When he came out of the anaesthesia, a tech took him outside to relieve himself and saw that there was blood where he was walking.

So, my poor baby, who should have come home with part of his head shaved, came home home with part of his head shaved, stitches in his chest and a yellow splint bandage on his rear left leg. He's 13, a perpetual puppy, who today looks at us with deep contempt for what we've put him through.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Damn! A thoroughly a bad day. He deserves a whole bunch of extra TLC!

Hope that the biopsy turns out to be nothing serious.

He is a real cutie.

PS I have heard that those constant ear infections can be a result of yeast in the system and a diet change can help.
Perhaps Ennova or Wellness? If you do decide to change, gradual change is in order.

Here is an article about the systemic yeast infection.
http://www.greatdanelady.com/articles/systemic_yeast_infections_candida_albicans.htm

http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/ahealth.htm

Yeast in Pets

Systemic Yeast Infections - Candida Albicans
In the past years we have seen the overuse of antibiotics in humans and animals, with little regard for the ramifications of this overuse on the environment of the beneficial bacteria of the gut (intestinal flora). Antibiotics are necessary at times, but need to be use judiciously, and at the same time as we are using antibiotics, we need to supplement probiotics (beneficial bacterias) to reestablish the intestinal flora of the gut that is killed off from antibiotics or lost to stress.

When the dog is on antibiotics or stressed, the pH balance of the gut is out of balance, and beneficial bacteria in the gut may be destroyed. This causes this insidious fungus to take over and this overgrowth is very detrimental to our health and well being. These are some of the conditions that can alter the pH balance of the gut: learn more

"The main cause of yeast infections, such as Candida Albicans, is from grain-based foods. Dogs were never meant to eat grains. Their main diet in the wild is raw meat and vegetation. The only grains they ever get are already predigested in the stomach or the bowels of their prey. Cooked foods—anything in a can or a bag, vaccines—which compromise and destroy the natural immune system, and antibiotics—which kill the friendly bacteria which would ordinarily fight and overwhelm the yeast, any other drugs are all additional reasons for seeing such a preponderance of yeast infections. Symptoms include: chronic ear infections; incessant licking of the genitals or the paws or both; lick granulomas; habitual scratching, usually the ears, sides of the torso and underbelly; rashes, most often on the underbelly; and when the yeast begins to move into the head; loss of hearing; loss of eyesight; loss of intelligence, memory and comprehension. Yeast infections always start somewhere in the digestive system; then move to the genital area or to the ears; then finally to the brain, taking over the entire body. It is insidious. Very often these problems are treated with antibiotics or steroids, which only make matters worse." Pat McKay Yeast Infection - An Insidious Disease - More on the side effects of steroids

Candida albicans is a yeast-like fungus that normally lives in healthy balance in the body, found mostly in the intestines, genital tract, mouth, and throat. When the balance is upset, infection results. This is known as Candidiasis and the fungus travels to all parts of the body through the bloodstream. Safe and effective herbal remedies are available for the treatment of yeast infection

Has your dog suffered from ear infection after ear infection after ear infection? Are you sick of giving your dog antibiotics and other expensive toxic drugs while your precious dog still has chronic ear infections? Learn why chronic ear infections occur as a result of overuse of antibiotics.

You can use Prozyme and give Bailey acidohphilus every day. It is available in any health food store and will do him no harm. Both can be given in his food.

[China_cat]

2. Oh yes, we've already changed foods

No yellow corn, no yeast. It's definitely NOT the food.

Part of it is my fault. When he was first diagnosed with this 11 years ago we found that one of problems is that his ear flaps are VERY tight against his head. The vet at that time recommended a partial ear crop to open it up to air so that his ear wouldn't stay wet. I refused to put him through it because he was way out of his puppyhood and it just didn't seem right.

We have tried everything...and I do mean everything. But nothing has worked. The steroids and cipro keep him comfortable. The infection has not progressed beyond his ear. With the herbal remedies (sorry, but I wasted a lot of time and put the dog through a lot of pain with them) we thought we were going to have to put him down because you couldn't even walk near him without it causing him serious pain. And we couldn't comfort him because it hurt too much to put a hand on him. The cipro and the steroids have allowed him to live, to be comfortable, to be loved without it hurting him.

I know the dangers of steroids. Diabetes, (got 2 cats with that...but not steroid induced), brittle bones, aggression, etc. But, for now, Bailey shows no symptoms of anything other than hearing loss which is natural for this condition. I'm very conservative in the treatments I allow for my animals but I will not rule out anything. I will use what works. This works. It's the only thing that has.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. At 13 I guess you have to be glad that he is comfortable and happy.

It is great that he has someone like you that cares as much as you do.
Lucky boy!!!

PS Prozyme and acidophilus are not herbal remedies. They can be used with what you are using now.
Whenever I have to give my pets antibiotics I add acidophilus to their food, or if I take them, I take it myself. It just replaces the flora in the digestive system that the antibiotics destroy. Helps prevent diarrhea and other digestive upset.

Prozyme is just a probiotic that aids digestion.

[China_cat]

5. Oh yeah, he gets full culture yogurt

3 times a week. I thought you were talking about the herbal anti-fungals that we've tried with disastrous results.

[Grateful for Hope]

4. Awwwww, poor Bailey.

I sure hope that mass is nothing more than a fatty one. Poor litle guy, my heart goes out to him (and to you also).

Please keep us informed.

:grouphug:

[Eurobabe]

6. oh poor furbaby

I sure hope he gets better soon...

[China_cat]

7. He has a lot of comfort.

Right now he has a cat on either side of him tending his wounds and cleaning his ears.