What are Yeast (Candida) Infections?
The fungus Candida albicans occurs naturally in your dog's body and is kept in check by "good" bacteria. Yeast infections in dogs most often occur when the immune system is suppressed due to medication or an underlying condition.
Yeast infections may affect the ears, skin, paws, and other areas. Treatment is usually straightforward and involves topical medications or oral antifungals.
Yeast infections can range from mild to severe. Some dogs are more sensitive and prone to developing yeast infections than others. If you notice your dog exhibiting unusual behaviors or excessively licking and biting a specific area of their body, take them to the vet.
You'll find several home remedies on the internet for yeast infections in dogs. However, many of these remedies are not backed by medical research and may end up worsening your dog's condition. Consult your vet before administering any treatments at home.
Yeast (Candida) Infections Average Cost
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Symptoms of Yeast (Candida) Infections in Dogs
Symptoms of yeast infection in dogs can manifest in a variety of ways. Symptoms may include:
- Yellow, brown, or black buildup of debris in one or both ears
- Excessive shaking of the head
- Excessive scratching of the ears or other places on the body
- Hot spots
- Skin rashes and infections
- Excessive licking of the paws, legs, tail, or other areas
- Dull or greasy coat
- Hair loss
- Odor
Causes of Yeast (Candida) Infections in Dogs
Many environmental and biological factors can cause a yeast infection, including:
- Humid environments
- Skin folds
- Skin diseases
- Bacterial infections
- Medications or conditions that suppress the immune system
Some breeds have a higher risk of developing yeast infections, including, but not limited to:
- Golden Retrievers
- Shih Tzus
- Basset Hounds
Please note this isn't a complete list. Any breed with excess skin folds is more prone to developing a yeast infection. Curious about whether your dog might be predisposed? Consult your vet or chat with a vet now.
There's a common misconception that antibiotics cause yeast infections. This isn't necessarily true — there is a correlation, but not causality. Taking antibiotics for an extended period of time can reduce the "good" bacteria that usually regulates yeast populations in the body. This reduction allows the yeast populations to grow, which causes an infection.
Diagnosis of Yeast (Candida) Infections in Dogs
Your vet will perform a thorough physical examination to assess the severity of the condition. Tell your vet about any symptoms you've observed, as well as any pre-existing conditions and current medications.
To rule out other bacterial and fungal infections, your vet may swab or take a skin scraping from the affected area. This process is known as cytology. The vet will then examine the sample under a microscope to confirm that Candida is causing the infection.
Treatment of Yeast (Candida) Infections in Dogs
The treatment will vary depending on the location and severity of the condition. Topical treatments are usually the first line of defense for yeast infections in dogs. Your vet may prescribe a medicated ointment, ear drops, spray, or shampoo. Bathing your dog with antifungal shampoo can also help prevent future yeast infections, especially in dogs that are predisposed to them. Never use antifungal shampoos or topical treatments designed for human use on your dog unless explicitly instructed to do so by your vet.
If your dog's infection doesn't respond to these treatments, your vet will prescribe an oral antifungal like ketoconazole in conjunction with topical treatments. It can take up to two weeks to start seeing an improvement in your dog's condition. Oral antifungal treatment typically lasts up to four weeks.
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Recovery of Yeast (Candida) Infections in Dogs
With prompt treatment, the prognosis is typically good. With the proper treatment, dogs suffering from dermatitis resulting from a yeast infection typically recover fully within four weeks.
Your vet may schedule a follow-up appointment to assess your dog's recovery progress. Let your vet know if your dog's symptoms aren't improving or start getting worse. Be sure to follow all treatment guidelines exactly to prevent a future flare-up.
If your dog suffers from chronic yeast infections, talk to your vet about prevention and treatment options.
Yeast (Candida) Infections Average Cost
From 504 quotes ranging from $300 - $700
Average Cost
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Top
Yeast (Candida) Infections Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Mix
Joey
7 Months
11 found this helpful
11 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Loss Of Fur And Scabby ( Back)
Hi my dog is 7 months old and he has a scabby back and also loss of fur in his back and he scratches his back . Could this be yeast (Candida) infection ? Greetings
March 25, 2018
11 Recommendations
Candida is more of a wet than dry condition; if you are noticing what appears to be scabs it may be due to other infections, parasitic mites, hormonal conditions, seborrhoea, chemical irritation among other causes. You should really visit your Veterinarian for a skin scraping to check for parasites and a general examination to determine a cause since treatment is different for each cause. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
March 25, 2018
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Labrador Retriever
daisy
8 Years
1 found this helpful
1 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Head Shaking
Hi, I have a white lab about 8 years old and she has scaby/scaly skin and crusty nipples. She also has goopy ears. we have taken her to the vet and they told us that it wasn’t a yeast infection. What else could it be?
Dec. 11, 2017
1 Recommendations
Crusty nipples may just be due to a normal waxy discharge, the scaly skin may be due to infections, parasites, hormonal conditions, seborrhoea among other causes; if there is a discharge from the ears you should clean them out with an ear cleaner from the pet shop and bathe Daisy with a sensitive shampoo. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Dec. 11, 2017
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Morkie
Wookiee
6 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Constipation
Licking Paws
Uti
Trouble Breathing
Tears
Allergies
Scooting
Smell
Itch
Ear Infection
Yeast
Sight
Bladder Infection
Foggy Eyes
Allerg
Bladder Inf
Bladder Infe
Ear Sores
Black Flakes
Pink Paws
This vet commenting on this page has NO IDEA WHAT HE’S TALKING ABOUT! Dogs get VERY dry with yeast! Are you vets programmed to blur the word CANDIDA ALBIANS?? Do a F’ing TEST! Quit guessing, because you all are 99% wrong every time!
———
You definitely have to get ur pup on meds and he needs to be on them for much longer than a week. 90% of infections are Candida Albicans. Chances are, your pup got this disease from you.
It’s a fantastic hider. You have sudden “allergies”, digestive problems, tiny itchy bumps, fatigue, depression, etc? That’s yeast.
You can not let your dog eat after you. EVER. You’re reinfecting him. Rule: DON’T SWAP SPIT with your dog. Lol.
Treatment Options: The imitazole class of antifungal drugs is most commonly used in fungal diseases including Ketoconazole, Itraconazole, and Fluconazole. I know humans must be on it for AT LEAST 6 weeks. Some say 6 months.
DO NOT...I repeat DO NOT give your dog an antibiotic, a steroid, or have surgery. Those are common mistakes vets make with this disease. Your dog DOES NOT have cancer, neurological problems, diabetes, allergies, etc and these are common misdiagnosis. If your vet won’t listen or at least TEST for Albicans...find another vet!!
Pit Bull/ American bully
Saint
10 Years
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Lethargy
Loss Of Appetite
Trouble Defacating
Hello my dog saint was sick for three weeks lethargic just laying around uninterested in anything really took him to the vet they ran blood work and did an examination only to come up with a elevated white count and FUO shortly before his visit he had been constantly licking his paws and they were a pinkinsh color from the elbow down they prescribed antibiotics we went home I continued feeding him boiled chicken and brown rice after 10 days of the antibiotics he still wasn’t 100% so I scheduled another vet visit for that Friday well on Tuesday I came home and it was like he was never sick he was playing and his appetite was ferocious so stupidly I cancelled the vet visit thinking he was fine. After a week he is now exhibiting all the same symptoms I did switch him back to his regular food wondering if in his aging state it could be a yeast infection and what I should do I really can’t afford much more vet costs at the moment
Yeast (Candida) Infections Average Cost
From 504 quotes ranging from $300 - $700
Average Cost
$500
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Easily compare quotes from the most trusted pet insurance companies in the United States.
