Dog and Puppy Yeast Infections: Home Remedies for Ear Infections

Signs and symptoms your dog or puppy may have a yeast infection: 

• Itchy skin anywhere on the body, including in between the toes. 
• Itchy ears – including head shaking or holding their ears in an abnormal position. 
• Skin or ears appearing red, inflamed or sore. This can be more obvious in breeds that have skin folds, where there is less air circulation. 
• A strong, musty smell caused by the infection. 
• Brown, smelly, waxy discharge from the ears. 
• The skin can sometimes look greasy, with a crusty or thickened/leathery appearance. Paler skin may look darker in colour. 
• Fur colour changes from licking and saliva staining. This is often seen as a brown/red tinge. 

What can cause a yeast infection in dogs? 

• Stressed or compromised immune system. 
• Any allergies, or imbalance in your dog’s skin or digestive tract. 
• Diet high in sugars. 
• Moisture in skin folds. 
• Secondary infection from other skin issues such as mites. 

How to treat a yeast infection in dogs

You can bath your dog in a prescribed or recommended shampoo that specifically targets yeast. If you’re worried about bathing your dog, talk to a vet or a groomer.  Some dogs may need a diet change if they have any allergies to the ingredients in their food, which commonly includes certain proteins. But this can be quite complex, so seek advice from your vet about trialling a special diet.   Some dogs may be allergic to something in their environment, which might need to be investigated. Lowering your dog’s stress levels may help to avoid overgrowth of yeast.  Your vet may prescribe oral medication, medicated shampoo or products that need to be applied to the surface of the skin. They may also provide treatments for the ear, a dietary change or a combination of these things. 

How to prevent a yeast or ear infection from occurring again 

• Regular cleaning of the ears and skin folds with veterinary products for breeds with skin folds. It’s recommended to routinely clean these to prevent certain skin issues developing (including in between the toes and base of the tail, but this can be advised or demonstrated by a veterinary professional or groomer). 
• Lowering your dog’s stress levels may help to avoid overgrowth of yeast. For more advice, contact our team. 
• Regular grooming of their coat and fur. 
• Drying of the coat and ears if they become wet. This can also prevent other skin issues developing, such as hot spots. 
• Checking their diet for levels of sugar with your vet and speaking about the best type of food to give them. 
• Consider adding pre and probiotics, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, to help support the skin and intestines. 
• Monitor their skin and ears closely for any flare-ups and seek veterinary advice. 
• Limit or reduce access to any environmental allergens.