Health & vet care
Dog Yeast Infection: Signs, Causes and When to Call the Vet
A dog yeast infection is an overgrowth of Malassezia, a yeast that normally lives on healthy skin. It usually shows up as itching, redness, a musty smell and greasy or crusty skin, often in the ears, skin folds and paws. It is not contagious, but it needs your vet to confirm and treat it, because the same signs can come from allergies or bacteria.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 13, 20265 min read2 sources
What a yeast infection usually means
VCA Animal Hospitals explains that the yeast Malassezia pachydermatis lives on normal dog skin and only causes trouble when it overgrows. Excess skin oil, often linked to seborrhea or allergic skin disease, is a common reason. Dogs with weakened immune systems, or dogs taking immunosuppressive drugs such as steroids, are also at higher risk. Some dogs are hypersensitive to yeast and react strongly even when only a few organisms are present.
Because the yeast is already on the skin, the real question is why it got out of balance. Yeast is often a sign of something underneath, most often an allergy. That is why a vet will usually look for the cause as well as the yeast. It is not contagious, so your dog cannot catch it from another dog, and you cannot catch it from your dog.
Common signs to look for
The most common signs are itching, redness, a musty or sour smell, and scaly, greasy or crusty skin. In longer-standing cases the skin may thicken and darken. The AKC lists scratching, licking or biting, redness, scabs, crusting, scaling, hair loss, skin thickening or darkening, discharge and a strong odor among the general signs of dermatitis, and yeast can produce many of them.
Look at the places yeast likes, where skin stays warm and damp. Check the ears, the folds of the face and neck, the armpits and groin, and between the toes. Many owners first notice a dog chewing its paws, rubbing its face on the carpet, or giving off a smell that returns soon after a bath. Chronic or repeated ear infections are another common clue.
Which dogs are more likely to get it
VCA lists a number of breeds as more prone to yeast problems, including West Highland White Terriers, Basset Hounds, Cocker Spaniels, Silky Terriers, Australian Terriers, Maltese, Chihuahuas, Poodles, Shetland Sheepdogs, Lhasa Apsos, Boxers, Shih Tzus and Dachshunds. Any dog can develop it, though, and a mixed-breed dog with allergies is just as likely to.
Dogs with skin folds, floppy ears, oily coats or long-standing allergies tend to have it again and again. VCA notes that dogs with severe underlying allergies may get recurrent yeast or bacterial infections, sometimes two or three times a year. If your dog is one of them, a long-term plan with your vet will do more good than treating each flare-up by itself.
When to call your vet today
Call your vet if your dog has ongoing itching, redness, odor, scaling, thickened or darkened skin, or repeated ear infections. VCA also says to seek a re-check if the signs come back after treatment. Do not wait for it to clear by itself, because a dog that is scratching and licking can break the skin, and that lets bacteria in.
Book a visit the same day if the skin is raw or oozing, if there is a bad smell from the ears, or if your dog is shaking its head, pawing at an ear or holding its head tilted. Also call if your dog seems unwell in other ways, such as being quiet, eating less or running a high temperature. A vet needs to see the skin to tell yeast from allergies, mites or other infections.
When it is an emergency
A yeast infection on its own is rarely an emergency, but some situations need a vet the same day or an emergency clinic. These include a dog that cannot stop scratching and has open, bleeding sores, an ear that is swollen, hot and very painful, a head tilt, loss of balance or eye flicking, or skin changes along with vomiting, lethargy or refusal to eat.
Facial swelling, hives or trouble breathing alongside itchy skin point to an allergic reaction and need emergency care straight away. If you are not sure how serious it is, phone your vet or the nearest emergency clinic and describe what you see. They would rather hear from you early than late.
What you can safely do at home
Until you can see your vet, keep things simple and gentle. Stop your dog scratching and licking the area if you can, for example with a clean, loose T-shirt over the body or a soft recovery cone, and keep the skin clean and dry. After walks, wipe the paws and between the toes with a damp cloth and dry them well, since lingering moisture helps yeast. Our dog paw cleaners are one way to make that routine easier.
Do not use human anti-fungal creams, essential oils, vinegar rinses or leftover medicines from a previous pet. Do not give any pill or drops without your vet's direction. A regular bath will not clear a yeast infection, and over-bathing can dry the skin. VCA says medicated shampoos are the core therapy, so ask your vet which type to use, and how often. Ordinary dog shampoo is a coat-care product and is not a treatment for yeast.
What the vet will check and how to prevent a repeat
Your vet will examine the skin and ears and take a sample, such as a skin scraping, a swab, an impression smear or sticky tape, then look at it under a microscope. VCA says treatment often combines a medicated shampoo with an antifungal, and sometimes antibiotics if a bacterial infection is also present. Oral medicine is used for severe or chronic cases. Itching often improves within a week, but treatment is usually long-term.
To cut the chance of a repeat, finish the whole course your vet gives you, even if the skin looks better. Work with your vet on the underlying cause, such as allergies. Keep skin folds clean and dry, dry your dog well after swimming and baths, and book rechecks if the smell or itching returns. For related problems, see our guides to dog ear infections and dog allergies. This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.
Common questions
What does a yeast infection look like on a dog?
Typically red, itchy, greasy or flaky skin with a musty smell, most often in the ears, skin folds, armpits and between the toes. Long-standing cases can thicken and darken the skin. Only a vet can confirm it.
Is a dog yeast infection contagious?
No. VCA states that it is not contagious. The yeast normally lives on healthy skin, and infection happens when it overgrows because of allergies, oily skin or a weakened immune system.
Can I treat a dog yeast infection at home?
It is best not to. Signs like itching and odor can come from allergies, bacteria or mites. Your vet needs to confirm the cause and choose a medicated shampoo or other treatment.
Why does my dog's yeast infection keep coming back?
Usually because something underneath, most often an allergy, has not been controlled. VCA notes that dogs with severe allergies can get yeast or bacterial infections two or three times a year.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.
