What to feed a dog with skin yeast

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...

What to Feed a Dog With a Yeast Infection: Vet-Reviewed Guide

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

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If you have recently discovered that your dog has a yeast infection on their skin, between their toes, in their ears or all over, you want to work diligently to get them on the road to recovery. Yeast and bacterial infections of the skin are almost always secondary problems that have been allowed to take over due to a primary disease process or breed conformation. For example, a Shar-pei with deep set skin folds will be much more prone to yeast infections than a dog without skin folds, because yeasts thrive in warm, moist environments. Diseases that alter an animals skin defense such as Cushings disease, parasitic infestations and allergies, predispose an animal to yeast and bacterial skin infections.

In this article, were going to discuss some different ways you can enhance your dogs diet to improve the skins barrier to infection through diet and supplementation. Dogs with yeast infections will require veterinary assistance to diagnose the primary problem, treat the yeast infection and make a plan to prevent the infection from returning.

Ask Your Vet

Before trying to feed your dog something different to treat a yeast infection, make an appointment with your veterinarian. As a yeast infection is secondary to another problem, having your vet on board will help you, and especially help your dog.

Your dog could be getting a yeast infection for a variety of reasons, and they will require more than just over the counter or at-home treatments. It is imperative to get to the bottom of the problem so you can solve it once and for all.

While we mean to give you valuable information and suggestions, always clear any dietary changes and supplements with the medical professional who knows your dog best.

What to Feed a Dog with a Yeast Infection

If you have already spoken with your vet and youre looking for supplements that could help improve your dogs skin barrier and reduce the likelihood of a repeat infection, we have a few suggestions.

Prescription Dog Food

Yeast infections of the skin, feet or the ears are almost always secondary to an underlying problem. This primary problem is what has allowed a yeast infection to take hold and could be any number of things. One of the most common primary issues that predisposes a dog to a yeast infection are allergies, either to the environment or their food.

If your vet suspects a food allergy as the primary cause, they will likely advise that you buy a prescription dog food. They might want to try a specific brand or ingredient to see if it helps with the underlying allergy, and thus reduces the likelihood of the yeast infection recurring. Alternatively, they may recommend a hydrolyzed diet, where the proteins have been blitzed to such a small size that they essentially become invisible to your dogs immune system. Often, food trials can be taxing and long, but they are the best way of diagnosing a food allergy.

So, if you are trying your first prescription diet, remember that it wont work overnight, and that a food trial will take between 8-10 weeks to complete. Prescription diets can also be pricey, so be careful to follow your vets advice when picking the right one.

Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs)

There is a lot of research that has gone into finding supplements that help maintain the health of a dogs skin. This is particularly important when it comes to multi-modal management of dogs with allergic skin disease. Essential fatty acids are just that; essential nutrients that must be provided through an animals diet as they cannot be synthesized within the body.

Their function within the skin barrier is multi-fold, but in summary they help with the following:

• Improving the barrier function of the skin and thus reducing transepidermal water loss and microbe/allergen entry
• Modulating inflammatory pathways, reducing itching and thus reducing self-trauma to the skin layer.

Effective skin supplements are hugely useful in the management of allergic dogs, and should contain both omega-3 and omega-6. The sources of the EFAs used in veterinary supplements on the market varies greatly.

What else can I do to help my dogs skin?

1. Complete the course prescribed

Once your vet has diagnosed the primary problem and given you medication to use on your dogs skin, ensure you finish the course prescribed (be it an anti-fungal, ear drops, medicated shampoo etc) and ensure you visit your vet at the end of the course to ensure the infection has gone. Your vet will take a sample from the affected area of skin (usually with a cotton bud) and have a look under the microscope to ensure the infection has gone.

2. Prevent swimming

Dogs that love the water can be particularly prone to yeast infections in their ears, due to the constant warm and wet environment that is created. If you cant stop your dog from swimming, use an appropriate ear cleaner in both ears after the swimming event.

3. Ongoing management of your dogs condition

This depends on the primary diagnosis, but if your dog has been diagnosed with a systemic problem that has predisposed it to yeast infections, make sure you follow the advice of the vet and keep up with your dogs medications and check ups.

Keeping on top of parasite preventatives can reduce self-trauma, and therefore reduce the chance of another yeast infection.

Avoiding known allergens such as freshly cut grass or very dusty places can help to reduce your dogs itchiness, and therefore reduces self-trauma.

Regular cleaning of any skin folds and ears can help reduce the build up of yeasts, especially during the warmer months or after swimming.

What Causes Yeast Infections in Dogs?

There can be many different causes of a yeast infection in dogs, ranging from allergies, systemic disease processes, anatomy, conformation and parasitic infections.

In order to understand how to combat a yeast infection in your dog, it is important to know what the primary cause is first. For this, you will need to visit your vet to start investigations.

What Are the Signs of Yeast Infections in Dogs?

Usually, you will notice the signs of a yeast infection quite quickly, due to its classic, sweet and beer-like odor. Yeast infections are most common in a dogs ear canals, between its toes, or within skin folds.

Here are the usual signs of yeast infections in dogs, depending on the area infected:

Ears:

• Obsessively scratching ears
• Shaking head
• Classic odor
• Brown, yellow or bloody discharge from the ear
• Crusting on the inner part of the pinna (ear flap)
• Redness of ear canal

Paws:

• Obsessive licking and chewing feet
• Yellow saliva staining to hair around the paws
• Pinkness to the skin between the pads on the feet
• Brown discharge in nail beds

Skin (particularly skin folds):

• Intense itching
• Darker skin color
• Musty odor
• Flaky, greasy or crusty skin
• Red, irritated and inflamed skin

Which Dogs Are Most Susceptible to Yeast Infections?

Dogs with food and environmental allergies are highly susceptible to yeast infections, due to their poor skin barrier which allows allergens and pathogens in.

Certain breeds, such as British Bulldogs, Shar-Peis and French Bulldogs are prone to yeast infections of their skin folds, known as skin fold dermatitis. Breeds with long, droopy ears such as Cocker Spaniels and Labradors are more prone to yeasty ear infections.

How Are Yeast Infections Treated?

Treating a dog for a yeast infection will greatly depend on the signs that they are displaying. There are a wide variety of treatments for yeast infections, including topical antifungal creams, sprays, medicated shampoos, and wipes. If the infection requires continual topical management, your veterinarian might prescribe chlorhexidine or miconazole based shampoos.

If the yeast infection is proving very difficult to treat or is very widespread, your vet might prescribe antifungal medications by mouth. Ultimately, the goal is to relieve your pets discomfort and prevent yeast infections in the future. So, discovering the underlying reason why your dog is getting yeast infections is a good way to prevent them.

Is a Yeast Infection Life-Threatening?

A yeast infection on its own is not a fatal problem. However, if a yeast infection is left untreated for a long time, it can lead to complications. If a yeast infection spreads, it can cover the entire body and is very painful and uncomfortable. Because a yeast infection causes so much skin irritation, dogs commonly also develop a bacterial infection on top of the primary infection.

Is a Yeast Infection Contagious?

A yeast infection is not contagious. Therefore, if your dog develops a yeast infection, they did not get it from another dog or animal. Yeast infections occur due to a buildup of yeast on the skin that grows out of control.

How Can You Prevent Yeast Infections for Dogs?

The only way to prevent recurring yeast infections is to uncover the reason your dog is getting them in the first place.

Typically, there is a defined underlying reason for recurring yeast infections, such as allergies and other systemic conditions. Until the underlying problem is controlled, yeast infections will likely continue to be a problem for your dog.

It is important to work alongside your veterinarian at this time. You will likely have to go through a few tests and trials before uncovering the problem but a correct diagnosis can help to reduce or prevent the occurrence of future infections.

Conclusion

So now you know the basics of managing yeast infections, and hopefully feel more knowledgeable about the process of finding out what is causing them to occur and reoccur in your furry friend. Keep in mind, this article is not a substitute for professional guidance. Always ask your vet before making any changes to your dogs diet.

With any luck, you understand yeast infections in dogs just a little bit better, and hopefully, you can get your itchy pal on the path to better health.

Featured Image Credit: Kobkik, Shutterstock