When your dog's immune system is in optimum health, it adequately destroys and wards off yeasts to keep them at bay. However, when your dog's immune system weakens, yeast can get the upper hand in invading your dog's system. The growing number of yeast causes the production of toxins and prevents the immune system from working properly. The yeast toxins can then trigger allergies, infections and disorders, causing your dog to develop health problems.
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Treatment
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Yeast infections, often occurring in your dog's ears, can be caused by an adverse reaction to a particular food item or to ear mites. Symptoms of yeast infection in the ear include the increase of ear wax production. The ear wax is often pinkish-brown in color and gives the ear an unpleasant odor. Yeast also causes your dog's ears to itch, and he will tend to paw or scratch frequently.
Initial treatment for yeast infection in the ears is through cleansing. A gentle ear cleansing solution is applied on the flap of the infected ear. The nozzle of the bottle is then inserted in the ear, near the ear canal. Place a few drops and massage into the ear to distribute the solution. These ear wash solutions are available at pet stores.
Other Over-the-Counter Treatments
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You dog should be treated with a medical solution called, chlorhexidine, which kills the yeast. Depending on your veterinarian's diagnosis, oral antibiotics, other ear cleaning solutions, as well as antibiotic ear ointments are also typically prescribed.
To manage the itching and the inflammation in your dog's ear, antihistamines such as Benadryl may be used, similar to the treatment of human allergies.
Yeast Infection treatment generally takes up to three weeks. If the infection frequently recurs, allergies may be the main cause of your dog's ear infection. Discuss allergies with your vet in order to put into action the appropriate treatment plan which may involve a food elimination diet to determine if your dog has a food allergy.
Canine daily dietary supplements, microbial powders and canine microbial gels may also be purchased at pet stores and used to treat yeast infection and strengthen your dog's immune system.
Home Remedy
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Homemade acetic or boric acid solutions may used to treat the yeast infection. Fill your dog's ear canal with drops of a solution made of one part boric acid to three parts water and massage it in the ear's base while leaving the cleaner inside it for five minutes. Use the cleaner daily, for a week to up to 10 days. This will help loosen the debris that can easily be wiped clean.
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