What Causes Dog Yeast Infection?

A yeast infection is a skin disease that affects dogs and develops in certain areas. Yeast organisms are normally present on the skin, but yeast overgrowth can lead to a yeast skin infection. According to veterinary experts, yeast dermatitis is typically a secondary condition triggered by an underlying issue like allergies. 

Yeast infection occurs when conditions such as moisture, heat, or underlying health issues allow yeast to multiply excessively. Most often, this infection affects a dog’s ears, paws, and skin folds. Malassezia pachydermatis is the most common yeast causing Malassezia dermatitis in dogs, leading to significant inflammation. 

Fortunately, yeast dermatitis is a type of fungal infection that is easy to spot and can be treated effectively. Early intervention helps prevent the infection from spreading to the deeper layers of the skin.  Occasionally, a yeast infection might be connected to bacterial infection or allergies, so it’s best to visit your vet as soon as you notice the first symptoms.

Yeast tends to develop in a moist environment, so for canines, this can be in places like the groin, armpits, paws, paw pads, and ears. The following table outlines the hallmark signs of yeast overgrowth in dogs:

Affected dogs may show symptoms on various parts of the body, including the dog's ear, ear canal, and paw pads.

In chronic cases, the skin may become thickened and rough, resembling elephant skin.

What causes a yeast infection?

Dogs’ paws, including the paw pads, aren’t immune to yeast infection. Yeast infections can affect the paw pads, leading to skin inflammation, discomfort, and thickened or rough skin. They are always in contact with the ground and are exposed to more “damaging” elements. All the water, weeds and grass that touches your pet’s paws can provoke an allergic reaction.

When this happens, your canine’s skin barrier is weakened, which compromises skin health and allows yeast to grow out of control. Skin infections, including yeast, can cause symptoms such as redness, swelling, and irritation on the paw pads. Since yeast infections tend to be itchy, you will notice your dog licking or chewing their paws excessively, which adds more moisture.

While it’s not a life-threatening condition, it should be treated on time. Your vet will perform a physical exam and check your pet’s paws and paw pads for any signs of irritation, redness, or skin inflammation.

An accurate diagnosis is essential before starting treatment for a dog yeast infection. This usually involves a veterinarian taking a thorough medical history and collecting skin samples for cytology, skin scrapings, or even a skin biopsy in chronic cases. A definitive diagnosis often requires testing by a veterinarian using these methods to identify yeast, bacteria, or other underlying causes.

There are several ways in which you can treat yeast infection in dogs: topical, oral, or a combination of these two, depending on the severity of your dog’s condition and the veterinarian’s treatment plan.

Topical Treatments:

Medicated baths with antifungal shampoo are commonly recommended to control yeast infections on the skin and paws. These baths are typically advised every 3-5 days for a duration of 2-12 weeks, as directed by your veterinarian. Antifungal creams and sprays may also be used to target localised areas.

After this initial cleaning, you will bathe your dog with an anti-fungal shampoo with active ingredients like ketoconazole, miconazole or chlorhexidine. In most cases, this shampoo needs to stay in contact with the skin for at least ten minutes. When it comes to an ear infection or a light infection on the skin, your dog might get a topical ointment for daily use.

Oral Treatments:

In case of severe yeast dermatitis, your dog might get systemic or oral antifungal drugs. At this point, their skin barrier is broken, and most dogs with yeast infection will also have a bacterial skin infection. They will require antibiotics to treat the bacterial infection. Remember that antibiotics have potential side effects, so blood work is necessary every few weeks.

Ear Infections:

If your dog has a yeast infection in the ears, medicated ear drops are often prescribed to reduce yeast and manage the infection, especially when it is deep inside the ear canal.  VCA Animal Hospitals notes that cleaning the ear canal before applying drops is vital for the medication to reach the infected tissue.

Diet and Prevention:

Feeding your dog a healthy diet that is low in sugar and refined carbohydrates can help prevent yeast overgrowth, as yeast thrives on sugar. Nutrition plays a key role in supporting your dog’s immune health and preventing recurring infections.

Probiotics and Digestive Health:

Your canine's microbiome is responsible for many vital functions, including managing yeast infection. 85% of the immune system is located in your dog's gut so ensuring they have a healthy microbiome is crucial.

Using probiotics for dogs can contribute to your pet's overall health and help manage the yeast population from the inside out.  Good bacteria will flood your dog's gut, completely inhibiting yeast's growth and helping to restore the gut microbiome.

If your canine has a yeast infection in the ears and skin, it probably has spread from the gut. This means that yeast infection has started in the gut and then has spread to the rest of the body. By providing high-quality probiotics, you can help your pet restore balance to their microbiome.

Home Remedies:

Some owners use a vinegar rinse to help change the pH of the skin, making it less favourable for yeast growth. However, this should only be attempted after consulting with your veterinarian.

By following your veterinarian’s advice and addressing both the symptoms and underlying causes, you can help your dog recover from yeast infections and reduce the risk of recurrence.

Some dogs are prone to yeast infection, whether due to their breed or underlying medical conditions. Regular grooming and thorough drying after swimming and bathing can prevent the warm, moist conditions that allow yeast organisms to overgrow.  Yeast organisms are naturally present on your dog's skin as part of the normal flora, but they can become problematic if proper hygiene isn't maintained.

When it comes to ear infections, good ear care is necessary. Giving your pup regular ear washes will save you a lot of trouble and prevent yeast from taking hold.  You can always buy vet-approved over-the-counter products and ensure your pet has clean ears.

Allergies can also cause a yeast infection, so it’s crucial to address the signs as soon as they appear. Work closely with your vet to manage your pet’s allergies. The best thing you can do for your pet is to figure out the underlying cause.

Some of the best ways you can prevent yeast infections include:

• Drying your pet properly: Make sure your pup is completely dry after a bath or swim.
  
• Keeping your dog's ears clean and dry after swimming or bathing: Moisture in the ears is a common contributor to yeast overgrowth.
  
• Cleaning their ears frequently: This is the perfect place for bacterial and fungal growth. A simple cotton ball swab will do the trick and help you clean your pet’s ears.
  
• Focusing on diet: Include food like high protein meat, oregano and coconut oil to strengthen their immune system.
  
• Brushing their hair: Brush your pet’s fur frequently to remove dead skin and dirt.
  
  

Yeast infection is a common skin condition in dogs, so there is no reason for concern as long as you treat it on time. Preventing dogs yeast infections is important for your dog's health and overall well-being.

References

• VCA Animal Hospitals: Yeast Dermatitis in Dogs
• MSD Veterinary Manual: Food Allergy in Dogs