Understanding and Managing Pet Skin Fungal Infections
There are many causes for pet skin issues, but the end result is often the same: stinky, itchy skin. Many times pets with skin issues also experience rashes, sores, and even hair loss. Did you know that pet skin fungal infections are often a part of this process? At Dupont Veterinary Clinic, we deal with more than our fair share of pet skin infections, and we know that defeating the fungus is an important part of supporting pet skin health.
Underlying Causes for Pet Skin Issues
There are many reasons that a pet might be suffering from a dermatological problem. Pet owners would often like to blame the new food they bought or the neighbor’s dog for their pet’s skin issue, but in reality, it is often more complicated than that.
Commonly-diagnosed causes for pet skin issues include:
- Environmental allergies
- Parasites such as fleas and skin mites
- Food allergy
- Bacterial or yeast infection (yeast is a fungus!)
- Superficial fungal infection (ringworm)
- Contact dermatitis
- Endocrine problems such as hypothyroidism or Cushing’s Syndrome
- Auto-immune disorders
- Systemic disease such as liver problems or fungal infection
Fungal Infections in Pets
While fungal infections in pets are often secondary to a bigger cause of trouble like allergic skin disease or an endocrine problem, they can have a big effect. Some of the more common fungal infections diagnosed in pets include:
- Yeast — Yeast organisms are very commonly involved in skin and ear infections in pets. This fungus can cause discomfort when it grows excessively on your pet’s skin, which can lead to symptoms like itching, scaling, and an unpleasant odor. In chronic cases, the skin may even develop a thickened, “elephant-like” appearance. Yeast naturally exists on your pet’s skin, but certain conditions can trigger overgrowth. Increased oil production, often associated with allergic reactions or other skin conditions, provides an ideal environment for yeast to thrive. The most common yeast organism found on pets is Malassezia.
- Ringworm — Despite its name, ringworm isn’t caused by worms, and does not always appear as a ring-shaped lesion. This skin infection is caused by fungal dermatophytes. In humans, it often causes a round, red scaly ring around the edges. In pets, though, it can appear as a scaly, dry patch or resemble other skin conditions.
- Other fungal skin infections — Less common fungal infections, such as blastomycosis and Valley Fever, can affect your pet’s skin and other body systems. These systemic fungal infections are serious and often require intensive treatment.
Fungal infections in pets are common, but are usually manageable with proper care. If your pet is diagnosed with a fungal infection, rest assured that Dupont Veterinary Clinic is here to provide expert diagnosis and treatment. No fungus is too big or too small for our team to handle!