Do dogs eat grass when they have a yeast infection

Yeast Infections in Dogs

What Are Yeast Infections in Dogs?

Does your dog frantically itch their skin? Have you noticed a bad smell or greasy fur when you pet them?

If so, they may have a yeast infection.

Yeast are fungal organisms that normally live on a dogs skin without causing problems. However, when a dogs immune system weakens or an underlying health condition, such as hypothyroidism, is present, yeast can overgrow and cause an infection.

The yeast that commonly causes skin infections in dogs is Malassezia, which grows on warm, moist areas of the skin. Yeast infections cause extreme itchiness and changes to the skin, such as thickening and discoloration over time.

Yeast infections in dogs are common among pups of all ages.

While yeast infections in dogs are not considered medical emergencies, they should be treated by a veterinarian immediately to prevent symptoms from worsening. If left untreated, yeast infections can cause extreme discomfort, which can lead to a decreased appetite and lethargy, necessitating prompt veterinary care.

Because yeast infections typically develop secondary to an underlying illness or suppressed immune system, they are not contagious among dogs or to pet parents.

Types of Yeast Infections in Dogs

Yeast infections can affect various areas of the skin, including the ears, skin folds, paws, armpits, vulva, and groin.

• EarsYeast infections of the earalso referred to as yeast otitiscause a thick, brown discharge and strong odor in the ear canal. Affected dogs repeatedly scratch their ears to try to relieve the discomfort. They may also shake their heads and develop a head tilt. Ear infections are commonly related to food allergies.

• SkinYeast dermatitis refers to a yeast infection anywhere on the skin. Affected dogs have a musty odor, greasy coat, flaky or thickened skin, and hair loss. They tend to lick the affected areas of the body, which leads to brown discoloration of the skin over time.

  • Dermatitis, which is often due to allergies or a suppressed immune system, can affecta dogs skin folds, armpits, vulva, and groin.

• PawsYeast infections that affect the paws are generally related to environmental allergies, such as allergies to grass or pollen. Dogs constantly chew or lick their itchy paws, which leads to brown discoloration between the paw pads. Over time, open sores can develop on the paws.

Symptoms of Yeast Infections in Dogs

Signs of yeast infections in dogs can vary depending on what area of the body is affected.

Symptoms of yeast otitis may include:

Symptoms of yeast dermatitis may include:

• Itchy skin

• Small, red bumps on the skin

• Brown discoloration of the skin

• Frequent licking or chewing of the affected area

• Greasy hair coat

• Thickened skin

• Strong odor

Symptoms of a yeast infection affecting the paws may include:

• Licking and chewing the paws

• Brown discoloration of the skin and fur

• Red, moist areas between the paw pads

Causes of Yeast Infections in Dogs

Yeast is opportunistic, which means that although it is naturally present on the skin, it can cause an infection when conditions are favorable.

Yeast infections in dogs can develop if a pup has a weak immune system or an underlying health condition. Underlying environmental or food allergies can predispose dogs to developing yeast infections.

Skin parasites, including fleas and mites, can cause dogs to repeatedly itch their skin, which disrupts the normal skin barrier, making an infection more likely.

Some breedssuch as Pit Bulls, Boxers, and Cocker Spanielsare more frequently affected by yeast infections.

How Veterinarians Diagnose Yeast Infections in Dogs

A vet may use several tests to diagnose a yeast infections in dogs.

First, they will gather a through medical history, including when the symptoms started, if your pet is taking any medications, and if they have previously been diagnosed with any health conditions.

Next, your veterinarian will perform a full physical exam to check your dogs overall health. They may also perform blood work to check for any abnormalities.

Additional tests will depend on what your veterinarian finds during the initial exam, but may include the following:

• Tape impressionDuring this test, your vet presses a piece of clear tape to the affected area of skin to collect a sample. Its then stained and examined under a microscope to identify yeast.

• CytologyA cotton swab is used to collect a sample from the affected area, and it is then rubbed gently onto a microscope slide. The sample is then stained and examined under a microscope to look for yeast.

• CultureA sterile cotton swab is used to collect a sample from the affected area. It is then sent to a lab to identify the type of organism present.

• Skin biopsyFor chronic infections or those that are unresponsive to treatment, a small sample of skin can be taken and sent to a lab for a more accurate diagnosis.

Treatment of Yeast Infections in Dogs

Treatment for yeast infections in dogs will depend on the location and severity of the infection. Yeast dermatitis is often treated with antifungal medications and prescription shampoos.

If the infection affects only one area, a topical medication may be all that is needed. For more widespread infections, oral medications and frequent bathing can help resolve the issue.

Yeast otitis is typically treated with topical antifungal medications and steroids to reduce inflammation. Your veterinarian may recommend that you use a medicated ear wash prior to instilling ear medications.

Paw yeast infections may benefit from medicated antifungal wipes and oral medications, including antifungals and steroids.

Recovery and Management of Yeast Infections in Dogs

Because yeast infections in dogs often develop secondary to another health condition, they will not resolve without veterinary treatment.

Determining the underlying cause of the yeast infection and treating it accordingly improves treatment success. For example, if your dog has an underlying food allergy, an accurate diagnosis and treatment can help their skin improve.

It can take a few weeks to a few months for a yeast infection to fully resolve, depending on the severity. Most dogs start to feel relief from their symptoms in a week or two, but it can take several additional weeks for a pet parent to notice significant improvement to their skin and coat.

Prevention of Yeast Infections in Dogs

Ensuring your dog receives regular preventive care and vaccinations keeps them healthy and less likely to develop infections.

Additionally, health conditions that can lead to yeast infections in dogs can be caught and managed early during routine wellness visits.

Yeast Infections in Dogs FAQs

What food causes yeast infections in dogs?

Most of the food ingredients that cause allergies in dogs are proteins. Chicken is the most common food allergen related to yeast infections.

What happens if dog yeast infections go untreated?

If a dogs yeast infection is left untreated, it will progressively worsen and lead to extreme discomfort. Over time, the discomfort can cause the dog to become very sick.

What should I feed my dog when they have a yeast infection?

Unless the yeast infection is due to an underlying food allergy, its generally fine to continue your dogs usual diet. However, it is best to follow your veterinarians recommendations when deciding what to feed your dog.

Featured Image:SerhiiBobyk/iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images

WRITTEN BY

Brittany Kleszynski, DVM

Veterinarian

Dr. Brittany Kleszynski is a veterinarian and freelance medical writer who specializes in creating meaningful content that engages readers...

Yeast infection in dogs: A vet's guide to causes and treatment

A yeast infection in dogs is a very common diagnosis in veterinary practice. Many dogs suffer from skin and ear complaints, and yeasts are a frequent contributing factor to these. But did you know that even normal dogs have a small number ofcommensal yeastspresent on their body at any one time?

These low levels do not cause an issue in healthy dogs, but in animals suffering from underlying conditions such as skin allergies orseborrhoea, these yeasts can start to multiply. This increases levels of discomfort, causing itchiness and skin redness.

In this article, well explore yeast infections in more detail, including treatment options and preventative measures.

Symptoms of yeast infections in dogs

Yeast infections commonly occur in the ear canals of dogs, contributing toear infections. Yeast problems can also be seen anywhere on the skin, but most commonly in warm moist skin folds, in-between toes, and around the nail beds.

If you are wondering how to identify a yeast infection in dogs, there are some characteristic symptoms to look out for. These include:

• Increased itchiness
• Inflamed, red or pink skin
• An increased odor to the skin or ear canals
• Discoloration of the nail beds or paws
• Greasy, scaly skin
• Increased discharge and wax in the ears

What causes yeast infections?

Yeast infections usually occur secondary to other issues. Yeasts are found in low numbers on normal dogs in places like the ear canals and lip margins, usually causing no issues.

But in a dog that has an underlying skin condition, these yeasts are given optimum conditions in which to multiply. The most common yeast infection in dogs is known as Malassezia dermatitis caused by a yeast calledMalassezia pachydermatis.

The types of underlying conditions that can predispose a dog to secondary yeast infections include:

• Skin allergies
• Bacterial skin infections (pyoderma)
• Skin conditions likeseborrheic dermatitis
• Hormonal conditions likehypothyroidism
• Excessive skin folds (as seen in breeds like Shar Peis and English Bulldogs)
• Parasitism (infections with mites or fleas)

When to visit the vet

Get your dog examined if they are showing any of the previously listed symptoms of yeast infection. You should visit your vet as soon as you think there might be a problem, rather than trying to manage the problem at home. The longer things are left untreated the worse they could become.

How are yeast infections diagnosed?

Your vet will start by examining your dog. This could include looking down his ears with an auroscope (a tool used to examine ear canals), as well as checking his skin and paws.

Samples are sometimes taken for analysis.Cytologycan be performed, where samples of skin or ear wax are examined under the microscope. This allows your vet to see the yeasts, as well as any bacteria. Swabs may be taken for culture to check for any concurrent bacterial infections. Your vet will also be looking to rule out other causes of skin disease such as parasites.

How to care for a dog with a yeast infection

If your dog is diagnosed with a yeast infection then your vet will usually prescribe you some medication. The exact type will depend on the location of the yeast infection. For ear infections, topical ear drops and ear cleaners could be advised. For skin infections, medicated shampoos or washes are used. Occasionally, oral medications like ketoconazole are used, although this is rare.

Sometimes additional medications are required such as steroids (which are potent anti-inflammatories) to help with inflammation and itchiness and antibiotics (if a bacterial infection is also present). Other allergy medications may be discussed or perhaps a prescription diet to carry out a food trial if your dog is suspected to have afood allergy.

Home remedies for yeast infections

There are no proven home remedies for yeast infections in dogs. Prescription medications are usually required to treat your pet effectively. So, rather than spending money and time on products bought online, take your dog straight to the vet for a check over.

What food causes yeast infection in dogs?

There is no specific food type that will definitely cause yeast infections in dogs. Some animals have underlying allergies to certain ingredients found in dog food though, leaving them more prone to a secondary skin infection.

Everyday ingredients like chicken or beef could cause flare ups in some dogs, so adietary trialmay need to be performed to work out what your pets individual triggers are. Unless your dog has a proven allergy, his diet will not be causing his yeast infection.

What to feed when a dog has a yeast infection

No one diet is right for all dogs with yeast infections. Avoiding ingredients that have been identified as allergic triggers (through a proper dietary trial) is important. Diets are also available for improving general skin and coat condition, which contain things like extraessential fatty acids- this can be helpful in some cases of inflammatory skin disease.

Preventing yeast infections in dogs

Preventing yeast infections usually involves managing the underlying cause of your dogs skin complaint effectively.

Skin allergies may require regular allergy medications. Allergy testing can also be performed to try and help work out the cause of your dogs flare ups, with dietary trials being used to identify potential food triggers.

Dogs that have excess skin folds may need maintenance therapy to try to keep on top of moist areas. Medicated wipes can be useful for these animals.

Otherwise just keeping a close eye on your dogs skin and ears is a good idea, so that you can get them checked out if you notice any problems.

Conclusion

Yeast infections are very commonly seen in dogs and are usually secondary to an underlying skin complaint, such as allergies. If you think your dog is showing signs of a yeast infection, then make sure you take them to your vet for a check over as soon as possible.