Flea allergy dermatitis - Maltese Dogs Forum : Spoiled Maltese Forums

**courtney d'anne** · 11-06-2012, 01:13 AM

I adopted Tiffany a year ago from my local shelter, she had so much flea dirt on her she was grey and didn't even look like a Maltese. From her ribs back had no hair. I've kept her on comfortis and flea free for a year now. She also gets cortisone shots when needed. I can't get her hair to grow back though or get the yeasty smell to go away. I use medicated shampoo which I think is drying her skin out (she's flakey in spots) but the Dr insists that's the treatment for this. I have given her a teaspoon of plain yogurt a couple of times for the yeast but I'm really scared to do that you get such conflicting information off the Internet. Anyone have any suggestions or advice? Are we going to have to deal with a bald rear end forever?

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**bailey02** · 11-06-2012, 08:40 AM

There is a thread that has been started by the ROYAL PET CLUB and you can ask them any type of questions you have and a vet tech will answer your question. I think they can help you with your problem.

**courtney d'anne** · 11-06-2012, 02:27 PM

Thanks I posted there!

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**missalita** · 11-09-2012, 10:08 AM

She could also have demodex. Stress and poor health can bring this on. If she lived in a bad environment before you got her, her immune system is probably compromised-this gives the demodex mites a chance to run amock. The yeasty smell oftentimes goes along with this. Your vet can do a skin scraping but a negative result isn't always an accurate diagnosis. Steroid shots only compound the problem because they subdue the immune system further. (Don't be alarmed about the mites, 99.9% of dogs have them.)

I've helped quite a number of rescue dogs with this problem by using Ivermectin. This is off label use so not all vets will agree with this treatment. I used to know a dog with this same problem who was treated for years by the vet with steroid shots. The dog only got better when they stopped the shots and started the Ivermectin. They need a daily dose for weeks but it works. Depending on how bad their skin is, though, the yeasty smell can stick around for a while afterwards.

**Grace'sMom** · 11-09-2012, 10:55 AM

We had a mite problem earlier this year when my sister's dog moved in for a period....

I used Pet Alive Manage Mites shampoo and VETiONX Defendex shampoo - both are natural herbal shampoos. It quickly helped with the mite issue.... and I also use them for any skin rashes or dry skin. The herbs used are very soothing to the skin.

**maltese manica** · 11-09-2012, 12:34 PM

Check out Melissa's aloe vera for pets. My mom gives this to her yorkies, Newfie and Poodle

**courtney d'anne** · 11-13-2012, 05:09 PM

I'm going to post pics of her. I cut all of her hair today hoping that will help with managing her skin

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11-06-2012, 01:13 AM	#1 (permalink)
courtney d'anne Newbie Name: Courtney D'Anne Dog's Name: Tiffany & Bimini Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: West Tennessee Posts: 44	Flea allergy dermatitis I adopted Tiffany a year ago from my local shelter, she had so much flea dirt on her she was grey and didn't even look like a Maltese. From her ribs back had no hair. I've kept her on comfortis and flea free for a year now. She also gets cortisone shots when needed. I can't get her hair to grow back though or get the yeasty smell to go away. I use medicated shampoo which I think is drying her skin out (she's flakey in spots) but the Dr insists that's the treatment for this. I have given her a teaspoon of plain yogurt a couple of times for the yeast but I'm really scared to do that you get such conflicting information off the Internet. Anyone have any suggestions or advice? Are we going to have to deal with a bald rear end forever? Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

11-06-2012, 08:40 AM	#2 (permalink)
bailey02 Maltese Guru Name: becky Dog's Name: Bailey, Lucky Join Date: May 2009 Location: Houston,tx Posts: 984	There is a thread that has been started by the ROYAL PET CLUB and you can ask them any type of questions you have and a vet tech will answer your question. I think they can help you with your problem. __________________

11-09-2012, 10:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
Grace'sMom Maltese Guru Name: Tori Dog's Name: Grace -maltipoo, Gus - poodle mix Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: USA Posts: 2,931	We had a mite problem earlier this year when my sister's dog moved in for a period.... I used Pet Alive Manage Mites shampoo and VETiONX Defendex shampoo - both are natural herbal shampoos. It quickly helped with the mite issue.... and I also use them for any skin rashes or dry skin. The herbs used are very soothing to the skin. __________________ Grace (Dec. 4, 2011) & Gus (Dec.15, 2009) my lyme journey blog: purplelymegirl my lyme video (updated link): Tick,tick,tick... Time to see Lyme

11-06-2012, 02:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
courtney d'anne Newbie Name: Courtney D'Anne Dog's Name: Tiffany & Bimini Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: West Tennessee Posts: 44	Thanks I posted there! Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

11-09-2012, 10:08 AM	#4 (permalink)
missalita Member Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 78	She could also have demodex. Stress and poor health can bring this on. If she lived in a bad environment before you got her, her immune system is probably compromised-this gives the demodex mites a chance to run amock. The yeasty smell oftentimes goes along with this. Your vet can do a skin scraping but a negative result isn't always an accurate diagnosis. Steroid shots only compound the problem because they subdue the immune system further. (Don't be alarmed about the mites, 99.9% of dogs have them.) I've helped quite a number of rescue dogs with this problem by using Ivermectin. This is off label use so not all vets will agree with this treatment. I used to know a dog with this same problem who was treated for years by the vet with steroid shots. The dog only got better when they stopped the shots and started the Ivermectin. They need a daily dose for weeks but it works. Depending on how bad their skin is, though, the yeasty smell can stick around for a while afterwards.

11-09-2012, 12:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
maltese manica Maltese Guru Name: Janene Dog's Name: Babinka, Tiny Tina and Peppino Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Canada, Ontario Posts: 1,950	Check out Melissa's aloe vera for pets. My mom gives this to her yorkies, Newfie and Poodle

11-13-2012, 05:09 PM	#7 (permalink)
courtney d'anne Newbie Name: Courtney D'Anne Dog's Name: Tiffany & Bimini Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: West Tennessee Posts: 44	I'm going to post pics of her. I cut all of her hair today hoping that will help with managing her skin Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

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