Healthy Dogs

Yeast Infection in Dogs: Causes, Treatment, and Prevention

If your pooch is rubbing his ear or tilting his head, he may have an ear infection caused by an overgrowth of yeast.

Fortunately, a yeast infection of the outer ear is easy to spot. In addition to rubbing, the signs include a waxy residue and scabbing around the opening of the ear. The condition is usually simple to treat.

Unfortunately, an ear infection in your dog caused by yeast is sometimes associated with an underlying condition, such as

• Allergies
• Bacterial infection
• A ruptured eardrum
• Tumor or polyp within the ear canal
• A trapped object

Once your vet has determined that Fido is suffering from an ear infection caused by yeast, she might conduct tests to check for other health problems. First, though, it’s important to treat the yeast infection. A yeast infection can be painful and can lead to deafness.

What Causes Yeast Infection of the Ear?

A dog’s ear canal plunges downward and then away from the ear opening. That gives yeast a favorable environment in which to grow. If your dog swims or is bathed frequently, trapped water or debris in the ear canal can lead to yeast infections. Allergens like pollens, mold, dust, feathers, cigarette smoke, cleaning products, and certain foods can also lead to ear infections in a dog.

A dog's outer ear extends from the outside of the earlobe to the ear drum. An infection in this part of the ear is called otitis externa. An infection in the middle ear -- otitis media - typically develops in association with an outer ear infection. Then once the middle ear is infected, the infection can spread to the inner ear, where it will affect the dog's sense of balance and position. An inner ear infection can also cause deafness. Catching and treating an infection early, while it's still in the outer ear, will help prevent more serious middle and inner ear infections.

Yeast infections can also show up elsewhere on your dog’s skin. When one does, it causes the skin to become scabby, reddened, or crusty.

What Are the Signs of a Yeast Infection in Dogs?

You may notice your dog scratching his ear or rubbing it on the floor or on a piece of furniture. That's a sign that he may have a yeast infection. Here's what else to look for:

• Brown, yellow, or bloody discharge
• Odor
• Redness or swelling
• Crusted skin on the ear flap
• Loss of hair around the ear
• Head shaking or tilting
• Loss of balance
• Loss of hearing
• Walking in circles
• Unusual eye movements

How Is a Yeast Infection in a Dog Treated?

Using an otoscope, your vet will be able to look at your dog’s ear canal to determine if the ear drum is intact or if anything is present in the ear canal that could be causing the infection. The doctor will probably also take a sample of material from in and around the ear, and examine this under the microscope.