yeast dermatitis in dogs

Sadly, this is a very common condition in dogs. yeat dermatitis also known as yeast malassezia, occurs for many different reasons, and you must look at the condition in a very holistic manner. Here, we are focusing on the skin surface.

The skin's surface is a complex structure, and yeast, in low numbers, is part of the skin's normal flora.

The skins flora is like a delicate ecosystem and is easily

disturbed and unbalanced. when the natural flora is unbalanced it can spiral into a whole host of skin issues for your furry friends. IN this article we are just focusing on the symptoms that occur in the skin.

Several factors can cause a healthy level of yeast on the skin to become a dermatitis infection, including humidity, excess heat altered pH levels, poor management of skin folds, food allergies and often it is a secondary problem due to underlying skin disease such as allergic disease (including canine atopic dermatitis and flea allergy dermatitis), recurrent bacterial pyoderma, and hypothyroidism. Yeast dermatitis is often a secondary disease caused by factors such as, antibiotic therapy, and prolonged corticosteroid therapy.

How to recognise if your dog has yeast dermatitis. Frist of all if you suspect your dog is suffering a type f drmatitis or any infection you must speak to your vet to rule out any other possible issues or underlaying causes.

Here are common signs of yeast dermatitis: 

1 Your dog is itching more than normal

2 Small patches of alopecia

3 Greasy or waxy hair and skin often with yellow scaly dandruff 

4 Inflamed crusty skin

5 Thickening of the skin particularly the ears

6 discoloration of hair without obvious signs of chewing particularly between the toes

7 a bad smell 

8 intertrigo

Here are our top grooming tips for dogs with yeast dermatitis

• Excessive heat will upset the Skin's natural flora, and a dog who suffers from yeast dermatitis will be particularly sensitive. Avoid your dog being damp in warmer weather keep their skin cool And dry
  

• When washing your dog use berries and leaves shampoo specifically designed for yeast allergies the shampoo is highly conditioning and helps to rebalance the skin's pH level keeps the water cool no hotter than 30 degrees keep the pressure of the Water low so you're not forcing excess pressure onto the dog's skin with a squirty hose. 
  

• for areas of alopecia use the berries and leaves skin mask for yeast allergies. massaging the mask in will help remove crusty skin, soften thick leathery skin and encourage healthy hair growth
  

• Rinse off with lots and lots of water to cool the skin down once the skin is clean. 
  

• Towel dry your dog without excess rubbing Pat the dog dry and get as dry as possible with just the towel, particularly skin folds, armpits and between the toes
  

• If your dog is still damp use a dryer but keep the heat turned down low the worst thing you can do is blow warm air onto a dog with a yeast allergy If you don't have a hair dryer where you can alter the heat it's better to leave the dog dry at room temperature to avoid adding excessive heat to the skin.
  

• For heavy-coated dogs like cocker spaniels it's best to keep them clipped fairly short to avoid excess heat on the skin

Alongside our grooming tips, a very careful dietary management is needed making sure your dog has a grain-free food that is also free from chicken Is very important be mindful of any treats given to your dog that could provoke yeast dermatitis.