Skin Tags on Dogs

Yeast infection is not only a disease in human, but it is also found in animals such as dogs. Symptoms of yeast infection in dog’s skin include itchy, greasy or waxy, and crusty skin. You can treat the infection by following these instructions.

1. Visiting Veterinarian

The first thing to do if you suspect any existing yeast infection on your dog’s skin is always visiting a veterinarian. There are other skin problems that have similar symptoms to those of yeast infection, and a veterinarian can help you to diagnose the exact underlying disease. Furthermore, accurate diagnosis is always necessary, so you can provide effective treatments. A veterinarian can also prescribe some medications and explain about the best possible treatments to apply depending on your dog’s condition.

2. Bathing the Dog Regularly

Bath your dog with a shampoo containing an antifungal agent such as ketaconazole. It is an OTC (over-the-counter) drug to treat various fungal infections. Unless the veterinarian suggests you to use a different antifungal agent, ketaconazole is a good choice. Bathing your dog regularly twice a week can help to alleviate symptoms of yeast infections. For each bathing, let the lather stay on the dog’s skin for approximately 20 minutes before rinsing.

3. Topical Ointment

Topical drugs are also effective to treat yeast infections and relieve the skin irritation. They are usually available over-the-counter, so you can easily purchase them without prescription. The good thing is that most topical creams or ointments have soothing effect, and this will help to reduce the itchy feeling.

4. Oral Ketaconazole

Ketaconazole is also available as oral drug, usually as tablets. If the shampoo treatment does not show significant improvement, oral drugs can be taken as well. The drugs are usually consumed twice a day or every 12 hours, but it always depends on the severity of yeast infections and the size of the dog. A specific dog breed may require a specific dose.

5. Long Term Medication

Even when the yeast infections are completely healed, continue giving ketaconazole tablet to your dog. It is a good method to prevent the yeast infection from recurring. A full course of treatment gives the chance for the dog to develop better and stronger immune system, so the pet becomes less prone to further infections or skin tag disease.

6. Itraconazole

Itraconazole is similar to ketaconazole, but it is stronger and often used for treating resistant yeast infection in dog’s skin.

7. Homemade Antifungal Agent

You can also create a homemade antifungal agent by mixing 2 teaspoons of baking soda with a gallon of warm water. Use the solution to wash your dog’s skin after every bathing in order to reduce the itchy skin.

8. Well-balanced Diet

Feeding your dog with well-balanced diet will generally strengthen the immune system and help to naturally remove dead skin cells. This is as well a smart method to prevent the disease from recurring.

Conclusion

Yeast infection in dog’s skin is easy to diagnose and treat. You can purchase OTC drugs or even create a homemade formula to bath the dog. It is always recommended that you consult a veterinarian concerning the skin problems, so you figure out any underlying problem that causes the disease and apply effective treatments for the best result.