Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

Why does my dog have itchy skin, sores, and allergies? Is it yeast?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Golden Retriever | Male | unneutered | 11 months and 22 days old | 75 lbs

Male, golden retriever with allergies..has sores on his back, legs, etc., dry & itchy skin...gets cytopoint injections monthly, takes flea pill, spectrum & vaccinated against Lyme. Hylyt or mane/tail used. Tried tea tree/chamomile spray, added to bath water. He is a service dog in training and gets very dirty so he bathes weekly...eek. Is this yeast???

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on July 4th, 2017

It is possible we could have yeast or bacteria here. The only way to tell for certain is to do what is called a cytology on the area. Your vet can take a sample (they may use a piece of tape or press a microscope slide directly on the skin) and look at it under the microscope. They can then determine if we have infection present and treat appropriately.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on December 29th, 2019
It could be a yeast infection but if the steroid wore it, Cole's allergies could have returned. Some dogs with allergies need allergy medication regularly. Have him seen by his vet to discuss putting him on something like Apoquel or Cytopoint.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr Stafford, BVetMed, MRCVS
Veterinarian
Published on August 4th, 2019
This looks like a secondary infection due to allergy or pyoderma which is a bacterial skin infection. Either way it requires being seen by a vet to establish exactly what is going on, then treat appropriately. If allergy we need to distinguish if it is good or environmental. Primarily the skin infection needs treated though, likely with antibiotics and medicated shampoo.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on May 20th, 2019
I am sorry to hear about Precious! I would be concerned about a bacterial or yeast infection of the skin, possibly secondary to allergies if this is an ongoing issue. Malaseb may help depending on how deep the infection is in the skin (be sure to leave it on for 10 minutes or according to package directions before rinsing for full effect) but if the underlying cause of the skin condition is not addressed it will likely come back, so I would recommend an exam at Precious' vet to help determine why her skin is having this issue.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

Health & Wellness

My dog has a strange spot on its leg. Is it yeast or skin infection?

This could be an allergic reaction, a skin infection (bacterial or yeast) or even a skin tumor. You should have it examined by your veterinarian, as it is not possible to distinguish these by just looking at a photo. An bacterial skin infection can usually be treated with antibiotics , a fungal infection (yeast) with a fungicidal medicine. To identify a tumor, your vet may want to do a fine needle aspirate (he takes some material from the area in question with a needle and then looks at it under the microscope) to determine whether this is concerning.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog's skin is red and itchy. Is it yeast infection or allergies?

It could be both - yeast and bacterial skin infections can occur secondary to allergies. I would recommend having your vet examine Tucker’s skin to determine what type of infection if any is present. They may recommend taking a sample using tape to look for yeast or bacteria.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog has skin issues. I suspect yeast. What should I do next?

This is probably due to a severe allergy, although it could also be fleas or mites. First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat Rufus with a high quality flea treatment (e.g. advantage), then get him to the vet to perform a skin scrape - this might reveal an infection or a mite infestation. If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try discovering the cause of the allergy. Some medications can be given by the vet in order to repair the skin lesions (steroids and antibiotics). simultaneously you should start him on a prescription hypoallergenic diet for at least 2 months. Hopefully you will see some results after all this, if not you and your vet should consider putting him on a long term allergy treatment (Atopica or Apoquel).

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog has a red, itchy belly and armpits. Allergy or yeast infection?

Skin problems in dogs are usually related to allergies. They can get secondary bacterial and yeast infections. Unfortunately there is no way to know if Minnie has a yeast infection just by looking at the a picture. I would recommend taking her to a veterinarian where they can do a thorough exam and skin cytology. They place a slide against the irritated skin and then stain the slide and examine under a microscope. They can then give medication based on it is bacterial or yeast. If the primary areas are the armpits and the belly- I suspect that Minnie is allergic to something in the air which has caused a secondary infection. One thing to remember with allergies is that there is not one magic treatment . Do not get frustrated when the first treatment doesn't' work, each dog is different. Allergies can be controlled, but not cured. Thank you for reaching out to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog has red, itchy skin. Is it allergies or something else?

Red, itchy skin can be from any number of things. * allergies * skin infection (bacterial or yeast) * skin mites (mange) * flea allergy * hormone related * autoimmune disease These are things I can think of right off the top of my head. It is best to have Oreo examined by your vet.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My dog has a rash, swollen paws, and licks. Is it yeast or allergies?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could be due to allergies and a yeast infection is possible. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My dog has itchy, inflamed paws and scabs. Is it yeast or pyoderma?

It would be hard to say what the cause is without having a sample of the affected area taken. Your vet can do this and have it cultured to determine if it is yeast or bacterial in cause which can provide a more targeted treatment. In the meantime, keeping the paws clean and dry is the best course of action as this can help minimize yeast and bacterial growth, especially between the toes where they thrive on moisture. Placing an Elizabethan (cone) collar on Val can also help keep her from licking which can introduce more moisture and bacteria.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share