Yeast Infection in Dogs

Yeast is a type of unicellular organism that is found in the skin and mucus membrane of all living beings including dogs. They are more commonly found in the mucus membrane of the digestive tract, especially in the large intestine, along with a host of many other microorganisms. But, usually their population is kept in check by a healthy immune system as well as beneficial bacteria like lactobacillus. But when the immune system weakens, due to many factors including dog health problems and dog illnesses, yeasts multiply rapidly and release toxic substances that can affect the overall well being of any living organism.

Yeast infection in dogs is more commonly caused by malassezia pachydermatis and candida albicans. Malassezia pachydermatis yeast are normally found in the skin and ear canal of dogs. They can also be found in places like the rectum, anal sac, and vagina, but as mentioned already, they do not cause any health problem, if the immune system is healthy enough to control their population. On the other hand, candida albicans are primarily found in the digestive tract of the dogs. Certain breeds of dogs like silky, Australian, and maltese have been found to show an increased vulnerability to malassezia infection.

Causes of Yeast Infection in Dogs
Yeast infection in dogs is mainly caused by uncontrolled growth of two types of yeasts, malassezia pachydermatis and candida albicans. Dogs which have infectious diseases are more prone to malassezia infection. Any factor that can weaken the immune system contributes towards the abnormal growth of this pathogen, leading to yeast infection in dog ears and skin. Diseases like seborrhea, and dog allergies can cause skin irritation and make the dogs more susceptible to yeast infection. Use of antibiotics or steroids, poor diet, relying too much on a grain based diet instead of a meat based one, diseases like diabetes mellitus, thyroid problem, stress, and toxic gut syndrome are some other factors that can cause yeast infection in dogs by contributing towards multiplication of candida albicans species of yeast.

Symptoms of Yeast Infection in Dogs
Skin, mainly of the areas like belly, neck, feet, and ear are the areas which are more susceptible to yeast infection. The infection can start as a small skin sore, rash or lesion either confined to a particular spot or spread throughout the entire body. Gradually, you can witness scaling, hair loss, hyper pigmentation as well as thickening of the affected skin patches. These skin patches would be itchy and emit a bad odor. The itch can be so extreme that you can see your dog forcefully rubbing or itching the affected areas. If the ears are infected then your dog will frequently shake his head and scratch the infected ear.

How to Treat Yeast Infection in Dogs
Treatment for yeast infection in dogs involves the use of both topical as well oral medications. If a small area is affected by this infection, then application of topical ointments like miconazole cream can provide relief. Chlorhexidine shampoos or shampoos that contain benzoyl peroxide can be used for cleaning the infected areas of the skin. Otherwise, you can use acetic acid wipes for this purpose. You can also mix some vinegar with water to give your dog a bath. Ear infections can be treated with topical ointments like nystatin, thiabendazole, or clotrimazole. Along with these medicines, it is also important to clean the ears properly, and for this, acetic and boric acid can be used.

However, if the infection is of a severe nature and has spread to a large area, then topical ointment and creams may not be able to give much relief. In such a situation, you will need oral medications like ketoconazole or itraconazole. Oral medications may be required to be continued for several weeks to cure yeast infection in dogs. But these medications can have several side effects and hence should be administered only under the supervision of a veterinarian.

Along with medications, what is more important is to determine the underlying cause of yeast infection, so that it can be treated effectively. If the underlying causes are not treated, it would not be possible to prevent the recurrence of yeast infection in dogs. A healthy diet that includes more dogfoods like raw meat, and probiotic supplements, as well as physical activities can help to boost the immune system, promote good dog health, and thereby prevent recurrences of this disease.