Can I soak my dog s paws in apple cider vinegar for yeast infection

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

Contributions sourced from

Apple Cider Vinegar For Dogs Yeast Infection

Do your dogs ears give off a sweet musty smell? Does the poor thing lick his paws obsessively? Your pet might have a yeast infection.

Before you fly into a panic, remember yeast infections are quite common among dogs, and humans, unfortunately.

While such an infection might cause a lot of misery it is highly-treatable and the first remedy you should try is in that bottle of apple cider vinegar (ACV) sitting in your cupboard.

Heres all you need to know about ACV, how to apply it to soothe your suffering pet and, also, when it might be time to see a vet.

Why do dogs get yeast infections in their ears?

Most yeast infections in dogs usually affect the ears, but your pet can also have it on his paws or skin.

Before addressing the why part, lets see what yeast infections are. Yeasts are unicellular microorganisms that have been around for hundreds of millions of years. Theyre a very large family, with over 1,500 different types, some of which are responsible for nasty itchy infections. Yeast are basically fungi and, under certain circumstances, can multiply rapidly. This is good when youre baking bread, but not when the yeasts multiply uncontrollably on the skin.

When you ask yourself why your dog got that infection, you should keep in mind that its not like he caught it from some place. Yeasts are to be found on any healthy dogs skin, together with thousands of other bacteria. In a healthy animal, these microscopic guys live in peaceful harmony and cause no harm whatsoever. Infections appear when something upsets the balance, allowing the yeasts to grow out of control.

As with humans, dogs are more liable to get yeast infections in the folds of the skin, such as the joints or the genital area. This problem is quite common among dogs with wrinkly skin or those with long floppy years. Yeast likes wet warm places, the perfect ground for them to multiply.

The breeds more prone to yeast infections are French Bulldogs, Shi Tzu, Shar Pei, Dachshunds, Poodles, Cocker Spaniels and many of the Terriers family. However, all dogs can get such an infection at some point in their lives, including puppyhood.

Common causes of yeast infections in dogs

When a dog develops a yeast infection, this means that something has upset the balance keeping the pesky microorganisms on his skin at peace. This can be caused by:

Allergies
Use of antibiotics
Steroid treatments
Underlying skin problems

Yeast Infection Symptoms

You dont need a doctor to see your dog has a problem. If theres a yeast infection it gives off of a musty smell, like old bread or your grandmas attic. You might also notice a dark discharge in the ears or paws.

If the problem is with his ears, you will notice the red irritated skin. Since these infections are extremely itchy, the dog will lick or scratch the affected area until it bleeds, which is very dangerous as he might get a secondary infection. When the yeast infection has taken hold of your dogs nether regions theres going to be a lot of scooting on the floor or licking.

All these symptoms indicate the poor creature is looking for some relief from that terrible itch and this is where you can help right away.

What is Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)?

As the name indicates, ACV is a type of vinegar which can be made of fermenting apple juice. During the first part of the production process, bacteria and, yes, yeast, are added to the apple juice to kick off the alcoholic fermentation process. Basically, the sugars in the juice are transformed into alcohol. Next step, another bacteria is added to turn the alcohol into acetic acid, that is vinegar.

How does Apple Cider Vinegar kill yeast?

ACV has been known for many centuries to have disinfectant, antimicrobial and antifugal properties, which is why it is a staple of traditional medicine. Usually, the concentration of acetic acid in ACV is somewhere around 5-6%. Acetic acid works by effectively killing bacteria and yeasts.

At the same time, ACV contains malic acid, commonly used in skin care products, as it helps remove dead skin and reverse the aging process. That is obviously not your main concern at the moment, but this malic acid helps restore skin health and promotes skin hydration. This is important as a healthy skin is not a breeding ground for yeasts.

Will white vinegar kill a yeast infection?

White vinegar is obtained by fermenting grains and has an acetic acid content of 4-7%. It also has antimicrobial properties and might be of some help for your pets problem, but is not as good as ACV when it comes to treating skin problems. That is because ACV is obtained through a double fermentation process rather than just one.

The point is that the bacteria used in the fermentation process for ACV is acetobacter aceti, popularly known as the mother. This mother is made of good bacteria, aka probiotics, as well as enzymes which help digestion and have many other health benefits.

If you want to do yourself a favor, you should look for raw ACV. In most store-bought ACV products, the mother is removed as it gives the liquid a murky appearance, which might put off customers. However, the best ACV is the murky kind and this would be the best product to use for your dogs yeast infection.

How do you use ACV to kill yeast infections?

Although ACV is considered a weak acid, its still an acid and used undiluted might cause burns to your pets skin.

Before applying ACV, however, you should give your dog a bath to remove as much as possible of the yeast buildup and the crusts caused by the brownish discharge. If you go to a vet, the first thing theyll recommend is an antifungal shampoo.

Your pet wont object, hopefully, since the warm water itself will provide a bit of relief. Massage the shampoo into his fur, work up a lather and let the dog soak in it for a good 10 minutes.

Find something to distract the dog while youre waiting, tell him a story, offer him a nice treat cut in very small pieces to last longer. Rinse the dog with plenty of water, use a big towel to remove most of the water and then you can proceed to applying the ACV solution.

This is simple to make, just use a 50/50 ratio of water and apple cider vinegar. If the yeast infection is in the dogs ears, you could use a spray bottle so its easier to squirt it into the ear. When your dog has a problem in his paws, you should soak his paws in the diluted solution for some five minutes. Tell him another story if you have to, but make sure that you give the solution enough time to kill the nasty yeasts.

Keep in mind that even this diluted solution stings a bit, so avoid getting any in areas where your dog has scratched himself raw.

Once youre done, dont forget to dry his fur because, remember, yeasts love wet areas.

Are there any side effects of using ACV?

Apple cider vinegar is not toxic for dogs so even if he does manage to lick a bit off his coat it wont cause him any problems. Just make sure it doesnt get in their eyes and on the wounds he got from scratching.

An ACV and water solution can also be used on healthy dogs as a flea repellent.

Will ACV cure a yeast infection if a dog drinks it?

Probably not. There are many pet parents who give apple cider vinegar to their dogs, for the many health benefits ACV has, like stabilizing blood sugar levels or even weight loss. However, a dog can only have a teaspoonful of ACV in his water bowl and no more than a couple of times per week, otherwise it might cause stomach problems. Such a minute quantity is unlikely to have any effect on the raging yeast infection. It wont kill the yeasts directly, but, on the other hand, boosting your dogs immune system might prevent recurring infections.

What other home remedies might kill yeast infections?

After dousing your pet with an ACV and water solution, you should also apply coconut oil on the affected skin. Coconut oil is not only soothing, but it can help repair the damaged skin.

Tea tree essential oil can also be used to treat yeast infections, but you have to be very careful with that. Used at 100% strength, tea tree oil is poisonous to your dog even when applied on the skin. If the dog licks any of it, he might have a serious problem and there is no antidote for this type of poisoning. If you want to use tea tree oil, use a 0.1 1% concentration. That requires careful measuring and making sure to apply the solution only in places the dog cannot reach to lick himself. If youre not very sure you can manage that, best stay clear of tea tree oil.

When should you let the vet treat an ear infection?

Ear infections are very tricky. First of all, the internal structure of the ear is very complex and you cannot be sure if you managed to squirt enough diluted ACV solution so it can reach the most hidden parts of the inner ear, where the yeasts might be hiding. Also, taking a careful approach and treating your pet with ACV solution over many days hoping it will work might put your pet through unnecessary suffering. Ear infections are very painful, your dog will be miserable and he might hurt himself by pawing or scratching at his ears.

Theres another problem, location. Any sort of infection in the head area can lead to complications, since theyre so close to the brain.

Our advice try the ACV solution on the ears for a day or two, but if you see no improvement, go see the vet. Most drugs come with a whole range of side effects, but in this case this might be the safest choice.

Closing Thoughts

Yeast infections are very common in dogs and they can affect many areas: the ears, the paws, the genital or anal area. Yeast infections can also develop in the skin folds. If you notice a rash, itchiness, a musty smell or a dark discharge, its quite possible your dog has a yeast infection.

This can be treated at home with a water and apple cider vinegar solution. However, if you dont see any improvements in a couple of days, you should take your dog to the vet.

Apple Cider Vinegar to Stop Dog Licking Paws

Its very normal for dogs to lick their paws. But when your dogs licking goes overboard, you need to break the habit as it can be bad for them. The good news is theres a home remedy treatment that easily available and simple to use, apple cider vinegar.

Thats right, you might find the solution to your dogs excessive paw licking in your cupboard. Because yes, apple cider vinegar does stop a dog from licking paws. But you need to know how to use it properly.

Ive put together this handy guide on apple cider vinegar as a natural remedy for dogs that persistently lick their paws. It includes what makes ACV effective, how to use it on your dogs paws (and how often to soak), and what to consider before using it.

Using apple cider vinegar to stop a dog licking paws

Heres all you need to know, and lower down the page it explains how you use it on your dog. If you dont have any,you can buy it on Amazon.

How apple cider vinegar prevents excessive paw licking

Apple cider vinegar to stop dogs licking paws gets the stamp of approval for persistent foot lickers. Heres what makes this natural solution quite effective:

1. It has antibacterial and anti-fungal qualities

Apple cider vinegar is pretty much a bacteria or yeast-fighting formula. Its main ingredient (acetic acid) destroys bacteria and yeast.

If your dog has bacterial or yeast overgrowth on their paws, they will be super itchy and want to lick their paws every other time. Applyingapple cider vinegarwill help kill the bacteria or yeast and leave your dog itch-free.

2. It contains anti-inflammatory agents

ACV has natural compounds called flavonoids, which are known to have anti-inflammatory qualities. If your dogs itchy spots on the paws are painful, apple cider vinegar will soothe these spots and offer much-needed pain relief.

3. Its a natural repellant

Youre probably familiar with apple cider vinegars strong scent. Applying apple cider vinegar on your dogs paws will chase away the fleas and other bugs terrorizing your dogs paws. They hate the smell.

When these annoying creatures are gone, your dog wont feel the need to constantly lick their paws. Also, most dogs dont like thesmell of ACV. If your dog gets a whiff of it on their paws, they will likely avoid licking the area.

Before you use apple cider vinegar on your dogs paws

Before you begin using ACV to curb your dogs excessive paw-licking behavior, there are three things you need to keep in mind.

The type of apple cider vinegar to use

If you want your dogs paws to reap all the benefits that ACV offers, purchase the organic type.

Organic apple cider vinegar often has labels like organic, the mother, raw, or unfiltered on the bottle. If you click the image below it will take you to a recommendation on Amazon.

When it comes to AVC, the cloudier the appearance, the better. Thats what the organic version looks like. Organic ACV has all the natural, beneficial enzymes that will resolve your dogs persistent paw-licking problem.

Dilute the product before use

Undiluted apple cider vinegar will be quite harsh on your dogs paws. Its highly acidic PH (because of the acetic acid) will irritate your dogs paws and may even cause mild burns.

So, dont drizzle apple cider vinegar straight from the bottle onto your dogs paws. Dilute it first. The generally recommended ratio is 2: 1. That is, mix two parts of water with 1 part of ACV.

Never use ACV on broken skin

If your dogs paws have open sores, rashes, or a cut, do not apply ACV, as they will experience a burning sensation.

For this reason, you should always inspect their paws before applying this magical solution. If you notice any wounds or cuts, avoid ACV. Instead, speak to your vet for guidance.

How to use apple cider vinegar on your dogs paws

Using ACV on your dogs paws is simple. And for the best outcomes, consider applying it daily for at least a week as you monitor whether your dogs paw-licking habit is slowly getting under control.

Here are three different ways to go about this:

1. Spray bottle method

Mix the diluted apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle and spray generously on your dogs paws (dont forget to spray itbetween their toes).

You dont have to rinse their paws afterwards since the smell will fade away as theapple cider vinegardries up. Plus, the mild ACV scent left behind will act as a repellant.

And because its diluted, you dont have to worry if your dog licks their paws. Diluted ACV wont cause any harm when licked.

Be careful not to spray the mixture into your dogs eyes.

2. Use a cotton ball

Soak a medium-sized cotton ball into a bowl with the diluted apple cider vinegar and dab it gently all over your dogs paws for a few minutes (about five minutes).

Ensure every paw is covered with a generous amount of ACV. No need to rinse it off.

3. Do a paw soak

In this case, add the diluted ACV into a spacious container. Dip your dogs paws in the solution one paw at a time for about five minutes.

The best thing about this soak is that it will drown any bugs or pollen hiding on the paws that make your dog lick a lot.

You could alsobuy paw socks from Amazonto then put over your dogs feet as an extra barrier to licking.

4. Pay attention to how your dog reacts when you apply the ACV

If you realize your dog is whimpering or withdrawing their paw every time, discontinue the process. It could be they have a tiny cut on the paws that you hadnt noticed, and the ACVs burning sensation is making them uncomfortable.

5. Monitor your dog for any improvement

If you notice nothing has changed several days later (your dog is still licking their paws as excessively as they were before you began using ACV), take them to the vet.

They may be having an underlying condition manifesting in form of persistent paw licking. Your vet will determine whether theres a health problem triggering the excessive licking and offer professional treatment.

Can I put apple cider vinegar directly on my dog?

No, you cannot put apple vinegar cider directly on your dog. It should always be diluted to a 50/50 ratio with water.

How often do I soak my dogs paws in apple cider vinegar?

When your dog is excessively licking, you could soak his paws daily for the first week. After that perhaps just twice a week once you see an improvement in the behavior.

Why your dog is licking their paws

If youre beloved dog constantly licks their paws like its their favorite pastime, this habit can be both annoying and a cause for concern.

Theres no fun in listening to the weird sounds dogs make when engaging in their paw-licking spree. And like most dog parents in a similar situation as you, you may wonder why your dog just cant seem to keep their tongue off their paws.

Well, your dogs excessive paw-licking habit could be triggered by many things.

They may be trying to relieve an itch on the paws caused by a minor injury, a bacterial infection, or a yeast infection. Or theyre constantly licking to get rid of irritants like pollen or fleas stuck on their paws.

The trigger could also be something as ordinary as boredom or the simple fact thatlickingtheir paws makes them feel good. In serious cases, excessive paw licking may be a symptom of an underlying medical issue or behavioral problem.

For most of these triggers, apple cider vinegar often made from fermented apples, can be of great help. Theres more to this popular, inexpensive household ingredient than just spicing up salad dressings.

Apple cider vinegar is one of those gifts from nature known to solve several dog problems thanks to its amazing properties.

From curbing excessive paw licking to treating ear problems and digestion issues, apple cider vinegar is a top performer!

FAQs

Are there any alternatives to apple cider vinegar for dogs?

Yes, there are apple cider vinegar alternatives. These includehome remediessuch as diluted lavender oil, raw honey, coconut oil, or baking soda paste, and using green tea to make a paw soak on their feet.

Paw socks also work very well too.

Can I put apple cider vinegar on my dogs paws?

The short answer is, yes, you can. But you must dilute the ACV with water before applying it to your dogs paws. You should also ensure your dog has no open wounds or cuts before covering their paws with ACV.

What can I give my dog to stop licking his paws?

Applying diluted apple cider vinegar to your dogs paws can do wonders. But make sure your dog doesnt have broken skin on the paws before using the diluted ACV.