Malassezia dermatitis is a very common skin condition also known as yeast dermatitis. It’s caused by the Malassezia pachydermatis fungus, which is normal to have on the skin. Problems only arise when it grows excessively and leads to inflammation of the skin, more commonly known as dermatitis. This condition can be quite itchy for your dog and it requires long-term treatment, though most dogs will recover just fine and the itchiness should abate in the first week of treatment.
How Do Dogs Get Malassezia Dermatitis?
The Malassezia fungus is present on dogs’ skin, and under normal conditions, it never causes a problem. However, should the immune system take a hit, this fungus might seize the opportunity that the weakened immune system represents for infection. This allows the fungus to multiply, creating a yeast infection. Infections of this nature are known as opportunistic infections.
Sometimes, the immune system may be repressed due to medications the dog is taking, such as corticosteroids. Other dogs might have immune deficiencies that have a poor ability to fight off a yeast infection. Luckily, yeast dermatitis is not contagious, so it’s not something your dog contracted from another or can pass on either.
Certain canine breeds seem to experience higher rates of yeast dermatitis than others.
Common Signs of Yeast Dermatitis
Knowing the signs of yeast dermatitis can help you to catch it early and get a head start on treatment.
Diagnosing Malassezia Dermatitis
Your vet can diagnose this skin condition by obtaining a skin sample and examining it under a microscope.
Treating Yeast Dermatitis
Depending on how serious your dog’s dermatitis infection is, it might receive treatment in the form of oral medication, topical treatments, or a combination of the two.
Oral Medication
Oral medications tend to be used for the most severe and repetitive cases of Malassezia dermatitis. Antibiotics may also be required to treat bacterial skin infections that commonly accompany dermatitis. Treatment by oral medication lasts for several months. Close monitoring of your dog’s blood is required with such medications because they have some serious potential side effects.
Topical Treatments
Medicated shampoos are commonly used as a topical treatment for yeast dermatitis. If your dog has particularly oily skin, it might need to be washed with a shampoo that has benzoyl peroxide or selenium sulfide in it to get the grease off before bathing with an anti-fungal shampoo with ketoconazole, chlorohexidine, or miconazole as an active ingredient.
When washing with an anti-fungal shampoo, it’s essential that you allow the shampoo to stay on the skin for 10 minutes or more. Treatment will need to be repeated twice each week for as long as 12 weeks, depending on the severity and persistence of the infection.
Final Thoughts
Yeast dermatitis or Malassezia dermatitis as it’s scientifically known is a fungal infection of the skin that occurs when a dog’s immune system becomes compromised. It can range in severity from mild to extreme and seems to affect certain breeds more than others. Treatment can take the form of oral medication or anti-fungal shampoos, though dogs with severe yeast dermatitis will likely require both. It’s a very treatable condition, but if left untreated it can severely impact your dog’s quality of living.
Featured Image: Kittima05, Shutterstock
