Yeast infections can be a minor inconvenience or a major recurring hassle. The most common yeast found in infections in dogs is Malassezia, which thrives in warm, moist areas on the dog’s body. That means that ears, paws, and skin, especially the groin and armpit areas. These are favorite spots for yeast to colonize on your dog.
The best treatment will attack the yeast, and possible secondary bacterial infections, while you work on the underlying cause (that is a must!). Topical treatments are the first choice. This means medicated shampoos, mousse, or ear drops. Oral medications can be necessary for severe and stubborn cases of yeast.
If you catch a yeast infection while it is just getting started, some home treatments can help. For example, for paw infections, soaking in Epsom salts to clean the paws is a first step. Then dry the paws carefully and apply foot powder. Most foot powders are anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, antibacterial, anti-itch, and taste bad so they discourage licking. Gold Bond is a personal favorite. While I would not put foot powder in a dog’s ears, it works for mild armpit, paws, and groin cases.
Does My Dog Have a Yeast Infection?
Many dogs live in harmony with a low level of yeast. When something tips the balance, however, your dog will start to show clinical symptoms.
You might notice your dog rubbing or scratching his ears, a musty sort of smell, and when you lift the ear, you might see moist, red inflammation or dark debris. Either way, this yeast infection can be painful for your dog. With severe cases, your dog may hold his ears funny (sort of like “airplane ears,” where he tries to hold them out from his head). He may also have a mild head tilt.
Yeast infections on paws tend to start in the spaces in between toes. If you look carefully, you will see moist, red, and inflamed skin. The surrounding hair may turn brown due to enzymes in your dog’s saliva as he licks and chews on his feet. There is an odor, too. If his paws become painful, he may limp, shorten his stride, or become less active.
Yeast infections in the skin tend to be red, moist, and inflamed areas along with the sickly, sweet odor. If areas where your dog can lick are involved, the hair will be discolored. The haircoat may feel greasy.
What Causes a Yeast Infection in a Dog?
Causes for yeast infection tend to center around disruptions of the immune system. That might mean allergies (ear yeast infections often tie in with food allergies specifically), endocrine disorders such as hypothyroidism, grass and pollen allergies for the paws, or secondary to external parasites like fleas and mites. Obviously, you want to try and determine the underlying cause, if possible, as treating that will help to cure the yeast problem.
Yeast infections tend to be more common in dogs with drop ears like Cocker Spaniels, Basset Hounds, and other breeds with drop ears. Ear canals are often moist and tend to be warm and safe for yeast. Your veterinarian can diagnose a yeast infection by doing a slide impression of the affected area and examining it under the microscope.
Remember that your dog may need a diet change as well. Diagnosing food allergies requires food trials. Sometimes simply changing the protein source may be all you need. Adding a good, canine probiotic can also help.
Caught early, yeast infections can be reasonably easy to treat, especially once you identify the triggers.
