My dog has a yeast infection. What causes it & can Neosporin treat it?

Yeast infections are especially itchy, crusty, and smelly. Often a dog starts with a rash or with simple itching but the skin thickens to an “elephant” skin appearance. The itch is extreme and the odor can be especially troublesome. Parts of the body or the entire body can be affected. Malassezia overgrowth is particularly problematic where there are skin folds ("armpits," eyelids, facial folds, lip folds, throat latch, and especially between the toes). Treatment can be topical, oral, or both. Topical treatment is best used for localized spots of infection while oral medication would be better applied to larger infected areas. If the yeast infection is recurrent or if one wishes to supplement oral medication, topical and oral treatment can be combined. Oral medications are available through your vet. Shampoos such as Chlorhexiderm Max® or Malaseb® shampoo both strip skin oil and kill yeast; however, other anti-yeast products include Selsun Blue®, Miconazole® shampoo, Nizoral® shampoo, Douxo® shampoo and more. The pet must be bathed twice a week to start and the shampoo requires a 15 minute contact time (meaning do not rinse the lather for 15 minutes). It is important to realize that yeast overgrowth occurs in response to a primary problem be it allergy, seborrhea or something else. If the underlying problem is not controlled, yeast dermatitis is likely to periodically recur. It is common for allergic dogs to require some kind of periodic if not on-going anti-yeast therapy.

If you stopped the Fluconazole course before you were supposed to, then that would be why the yeast infection spread from his paw to his leg. It's never recommended to stop a course of treatment unless told to do so by your vet. I would take Bruno back into your vet today for an exam, the vet can advise if they want you to continue on the Fluconazole. Itching in dogs can be causing by fleas, mites, or allergies. If he isn't up to date on his flea treatment, you will need to give him a spot on treatment such as Advantage or Revolution, and you will have to disinfect the environment. Should he be up to date on his flea treatment, I would have the vet examine and test him for mites (skin scrapings) and allergies (blood tests) when you see him for the yeast infection.

Yeast ear infections often need antifungal topical ear medications to help resolution. Most topical ear medications will also contain an antibiotic (not always needed) and a steroid, which will help with the itch the yeast can cause. I would recommend that you discuss the proper medication with your veterinarian. Many times yeast ear infections are caused by too much moisture in the ear (like after swimming in a pool or lake) or from inflammation caused by allergies (from fleas, food, environment, etc.). If Tiki has recurrent yeast ear infections, you may need to have her vet work up allergies as the primary problem. For minor yeast ear infections that aren't red, swollen, or itchy, you can try an ear cleanser to help remove the yeast. If you do this for a couple days and it isn't better, than she will probably need prescription medications.

It looks like he also has a bacterial skin infection. You could soak his paws in a warm Epsom salt solution and also bathe him with an anti microbial dog shampoo but he probably needs some prescription medications, too. Schedule an appointment with your vet for treatment.

I would suspect that Augie has an ear infection leading him to itching and rub his eat against the carpet, thus causing the scab you now see. I would take him into the vet today for this problem. Ear infections are caused by ear mites, yeast, or bacteria in dogs, and the cause of the ear infection needs to be diagnosed so he can be prescribed the correct medication. While at the vet, they can treat the scab as well. I would refrain from putting Neosprin on it, you don't want any to get into his ear, it's starting to heal if there is a scab, and it won't do anything to help him if he does have an ear infection. I hope this helps!

Instead of the neomac i would recommend a medication called Itraconazole that is taken orally for 3-4 weeks, it's more effective for this sort of problem. i would also recommend to treat possible skin mites which are often the primary cause.

Monistat is not likely to help in this case, you will need either a medicated shampoo to treat yeast infection or an oral antifungal medication, these are prescription only and you will need to take her to the vet in order to get them.