Yeast Infection in Dogs

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Yeast Infection in Dogs

Checking your dog's ears should be a part of your routine care for your pet. Checking your dog's ears regularly will alert you to irritations and signs of yeast infection before they become painful to your pet. The longer an infection goes without treatment, the harder it is to treat it.

The inside of your dog's ears should be a light pink color. Some yellowish brown spots are normal but there should not be a heavy build up of wax. Also check to see if there is a foul odor emanating from the ear. Even a mild infection will cause a foul odor. Observe your dog, if he is scratching at his ears frequently, then have his ears checked for infection.

Dogs with long floppy ears are more likely to get yeast infections then those with ears that stand up. Dogs have long ear canals and the long floppy ears trap the moisture down inside. Weekly cleaning can help prevent yeast infection from starting. The hair inside the ears also trap moisture and debris that can cause yeast infection to start. Plucking the hairs from inside the ears helps to keep this from happening.

If your dog does have symptoms of yeast infection, such as foul odor, head shaking and scratching at the ears, take them to the vet as soon as possible. An anti-fungal medication will be prescribed for the yeast infection. It is important to treat your dog with the medication according to your vet's instruction to make sure that the infection is cleared up completely.

Dogs with deep skin folds are also at risk for yeast infection. Dogs like the Shar Pei have such deep skin folds that moisture is trapped in the folds, which is the perfect environment of yeast infection. It is important to perform regular checks on your pet and make sure that these folds are dry. Infection can be detected by a strong odor. It is important to seek treatment from your veterinarian if you suspect a yeast infection.

Dogs also suffer from yeast infection on the skin. Most often, it will start with a rash or with the dog just simply scratching. The skin begins to form an elephant like scaly appearance and produce a strong odor.

The causes of yeast infection of the skin vary. There may be an increase in skin oils, which usually occurs with allergy flare-ups or sometimes there is an immune deficiency.

Treatment can be a topical cream or ointment, an oral medication or both. Usually, topical treatment is not sufficient on it’s own.

It is the owner's responsibility to frequently check the animal for ear and skin problems. Pay attention to the dog and its behavior. Any time that an infection is suspected, seek the advice of a veterinarian as soon as possible.