Yeast infections are common in dogs and are generally brought on by a food allergy, change in diet or nutritional supplements. Most commonly an infection occurs in the ears. In response to an allergy, mast cells in a dog's ear will produce histamines and other inflammatory chemicals. These chemicals cause the ear to produce an overabundance of wax which causes yeast spores to germinate. Yeast infections may also occur in other body orafices, on the skin, or systemic (throughout the entire body).
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Skin Yeast Infection
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What may seem like an allergy causing your dog to scratch excessively may be a yeast infection of the skin. Chlorhexidine shampoos, shampoos containing benzoyl peroxide and sulfur, or shampoos containing ketoconazole may be used to treat yeast infected skin. For localized skin problems, a miconazole cream applied twice a day for a few weeks may do the trick. An oral medication called itraconazole can be obtained from a veterinarian for dogs who are resistant to topical treatment.
Ear Yeast Infections
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Ear washes that contain acetic or boric acid used at least once per day will restore the proper pH balance, inhibiting yeast growth. In addition to ear washes, a topical cream containing nystatin or clomitrazole may be used.
Systemic Yeast Infection
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Systemic yeast infections in dogs are called dog Candida. Candida is yeast that lives the digestive and genital tracts of dogs. Candida is caused by a poor diet rich in sugar, grain, starch, and other carbohydrates. If Candida is not treated early it can lead to a fungal form of yeast called rhizoids. Rhizoids destroy the intestinal tract, eventually causing death. The best way to treat a systemic yeast infection is to improve the diet. Antifungal medications are usually prescribed but have a potential for serious side effects. There are natural remedies that may help.
Natural Treatment
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A proper diet is meat-based, grain-free, starch-free and low in carbohydrates. 1 tsp. of organic coconut oil for every 10 pounds of body added to dog food will kill candida and other harmful organisms and speeds the intestinal healing process. The next step is to replace the enzymes that are destroyed during the processing of dog food. There are some herbs that are effective in controlling yeast growth; black walnut leaf, olive leaf, and pau d'arco. Add Echinacea to dog food to strengthen the immune system. Add the above items to your dog's food for two weeks then add probiotics to the mix. It may take several months to return the balance of organisms to their optimum proportions. As a dog is being detoxified, he may have an increase in symptoms. Probiotics are essential at this point. As bad enzymes are being eliminated from the body, probiotics will replace the bad ones with beneficial ones.
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