Thrush is an overgrowth of yeast on a dog or even a human. Dog thrush can cause an infection in your dog’s, mouth, bladder, on the skin or in the digestive tract. Allergies can sometimes mask itself to being a yeast infection so a trip to the vet is probably a good idea. There are two different kinds of yeast – Candida or Malassezia. Candida happens in the mucous membranes, like inside the mouth or the digestive system, and Malassezia occurs on the skin. Infections in your dog can come on if their immune system is compromised, leaving the door open for yeast to grow in various places on their bodies, if the population of “friendly” bacteria in your dog’s digestive tract is low. Dogs with a suppressed immune system are more likely to have thrush where it invades damaged tissues. Dogs with diabetes are prone to thrush.
Make sure you’re drying your dog’s ears thoroughly after bathing or swimming. Also, a dog food with no sugar, including high fructose corn and honey and carbs are the best option since yeast grows with sugar of any kind. If you notice your dog scratching or biting a lot, this can make the yeast infection spread. They may need a cone. Whatever treatment your vet recommends for your dog, know that a vast majority of yeast infections clear up after treatment.
Skin Yeast Infection
Know that all dogs are at risk for a yeast infection, but some breeds are more susceptible than others. Skin yeast infections are very uncomfortable for your pooch. He will most likely be scratching incessantly and you may notice some hair loss. Inspect the skin – taking notice of scaly skin, red skin irritation, and/or an odor coming from their skin.
Behavioral signs may also be noticeable in your dog, as mentioned above, scratching a lot, along with shaking of the head if it’s on their skin or ears. If it happens to be in the ears, you may notice some balance issues or hearing issues.
Allergies Vs. Infection
Allergies and a skin infection can look very much the same with the same symptoms and the same behavioral patterns. Your vet can do an allergy test to determine what exactly you’re dealing with. A change in diet may be required to reduce yeast-building sugars in their system, or grooming products can cause an allergic reaction. It’s best to do a trial on that.
Some dogs are prone to yeast infections and may benefit from regular disinfecting washes or soaks, depending on the location of the infection. Try shampooing your dog every 3-5 days with a medicated shampoo for a few weeks. You can purchase these shampoos at your local store, a pet store or from your vet. The shampoo should contain the ingredients chlorhexidine, miconazole or ketoconazole. The shampoo should be on your dog for at least 10 minutes before rinsing off.
Your vet may prescribe your dog an oral medication if the home remedies and/or topical treatments are not working. Typically, they will recommend a topical anti-fungal shampoo or cream containing benzoyl peroxide or chlorhexidine to reduce the yeast buildup on the skin by removing excess oil. Oral medications can possibly affect their liver so make sure to have it tested by your vet.
You can take matters into your hands after you have cleared up your dog’s infection to keep it from reoccurring by trying some home remedies. Always check with your vet before making any drastic changes to your dog’s diet or normal regimen. Try to add or change fresh meats and eliminate grains and some vegetables to prevent further infections. Add some probiotics to your dog’s diet to help replenish the good bacteria in their digestive tract.