Expert: The Bulldog Lady - you can e-mail me at mpmaltese@gmail.com - 2/8/2009

Question
Hi there,

I have an 11 month old English Bully named Oscar.  He has pretty bad tearing
that has caused some red yeast (I think) to grow in the folds of his face and
under the rope above his nose.  I'm sure I'm not the first bully owner to
encounter this problem!  I cleanse his face every day with an unscented baby
wipe, but the poor guy just can't shake this stuff.  He doesn't like to have his
face touched as it is, and it's hard to really get in there.  It's beginning to
smell and the reddish-brown stains won't go away.  In your opinion, what
works best to remove or lighten the stains?  I have tried a Tums every day for
two weeks, and it didn't help.  I also tried Desitin to keep it dry, but the little
doofus kept trying to lick it off.   I'm looking into a topical homemade formula
with boric acid to wipe his face with, how do you feel about this?  Oscar eats
Natural Balance Potato and Duck formula and takes one NuVet wafer each
day.  He's not on any meds.   Thank you for your suggestions!

Answer
Hi Brooke, I understand your problem...
I would give him 2 NuVET per day for this problem.  Most dogs need 1 NuVET supplement per day but when the stains are that bad you need 2 per day for 2-3 weeks.
Also, you are fighting a Yeast problem here and you may need some Metrondazole from the vet... WE can FIRST Try a good Probiotic and Keep on the NuVET ....
A good Probiotic to fight yeast would be this:

Flora Force - give 2 per day for 1 week and then 1 per day for 2 weeks.

This is great to get rid of yeast in his Folds..
http://www.mynsp.com/nuvetpetnurse/products/guide.aspx?stockNum=4080


IF the low cost Flora Force doesn't work, then you will need to see the vet for some Metrondazole or other Antibiotics to kill the red yeast.  

CLEANING HIS FOLDS...  Yes, the baby wipes - unscented ...
and use this solution...

Boric acid
Use a boric acid eyewash.
Make a solution of one quart of boiled water and one tablespoon of boric acid; allow to cool;
use with a clean washcloth or cotton ball three or four times daily; allow to dry, then rinse gently.
Use Baby wipe to get into his folds... SORRY I know it is hard to do with A Stubborn Bullie Boy!!!!


Again, YOU may always fight some yeast if he doesn't let MOM clean his folds...
YOU can take some Corn Starch and place it on a Q-tip / use this to pat small amounts in the folds, to keep them dry.
Corn starch is very safe to use and is not Messy like the Desitin stuff you used.


Let me know how it all goes..
If you need more nuVET -
here is the link:
http://www.nuvet.com/81098
Use reference code 81098 and ask for the 15 % Off....

Thanks
Marie Peppers LPN MA


mtnmom@gci.net