We’re writing about yeast infections this week because we’ve seen a ton of them at the store the last two weeks.
There is some great information available on line about yeast infections. This is an except from Pet MD…
If your dog is rubbing his ear or tilting his head, he may have an ear infection caused by an overgrowth of yeast.
Fortunately, a yeast infection of the outer ear is easy to spot. In addition to rubbing, the signs include a waxy residue and scabbing around the opening of the ear. The condition is usually simple to treat.
Unfortunately, an ear infection in your dog caused by yeast is sometimes associated with an underlying condition, such as
- Allergies
- Bacterial infection
- A ruptured eardrum
- Tumor or polyp within the ear canal
- A trapped object
Once your vet has determined that Fido is suffering from an ear infection caused by yeast, she might conduct tests to check for other health problems. First, though, it’s important to treat the yeast infection. A yeast infection can be painful and can lead to deafness.
What Causes Yeast Infection of the Ear?
A dog’s ear canal plunges downward and then away from the ear opening. That gives yeast a favorable environment in which to grow. If your dog swims or is bathed frequently, trapped water or debris in the ear canal can lead to yeast infections. Allergens like pollens, mold, dust, feathers, cigarette smoke, cleaning products, and certain foods can also lead to ear infections in a dog.
A dog’s outer ear extends from the outside of the earlobe to the ear drum. An infection in this part of the ear is called otitis externa. An infection in the middle ear — otitis media – typically develops in association with an outer ear infection. Then once the middle ear is infected, the infection can spread to the inner ear, where it will affect the dog’s sense of balance and position. An inner ear infection can also cause deafness. Catching and treating an infection early, while it’s still in the outer ear, will help prevent more serious middle and inner ear infections.
Yeast infections can also show up elsewhere on your dog’s skin. When one does, it causes the skin to become scabby, reddened, or crusty.
What Are the Signs of a Yeast Infection in Dogs?
You may notice your dog scratching his ear or rubbing it on the floor or on a piece of furniture. That’s a sign that he may have a yeast infection. Here’s what else to look for:
- Brown, yellow, or bloody discharge
- Odor
- Redness or swelling
- Crusted skin on the ear flap
- Loss of hair around the ear
- Head shaking or tilting
- Loss of balance
- Loss of hearing
- Walking in circles
- Unusual eye movements
It’s also important to note that when a dog licks an infected area then licks another part of the body, the infection can be transmitted to that area.
How to treat
You can treat a yeast infection yourself using a topical solution such as Zymox. Zymox used to be available only at your vet’s but recently it can be
purchased over the counter. Treatment is easy. In the ear, first clean the ear by squirting the solution in the ear and massage the ear gently. Then, using a cotton ball, wipe the inner surface of the ear with a dry cotton ball until it’s as clean as possible. Then, take a cotton ball soaked in Zymox and wipe inside the ear again to get any residual material.
If a dog has a yeast infection anywhere else on his body, the same procedure can be used to clean and treat the area. Be sure to check the sides of the neck, the rear end under the tail, and the paws.
Zymox has several products especially formulated to treat different issues. They have the ear infection treatment and cleaner, the dirty ear cleaner, one specifically for skin infections, and a shampoo specifically formulated for allergies.
For more information visit their website at; http://www.zymox.com/