Dog fungus - Symptoms and treatments

Author: Laura McKinney
Date Of Creation: 2 August 2021
Update Date: 6 November 2024
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As temperatures rise, many species of animals and plants reactivate their life cycles and can cause reactions in our furry friends. But when we see a lesion on our dog's skin, how can we differentiate it from the thousands of variants that can affect it? There are external parasites such as fleas or ticks, skin allergies due to contact with flowering or new plants in the environment, as well as fungi such as so common and dreaded ringworm.

Unless you have a veterinarian in the family with whom you can discuss your concern, it is necessary to see a veterinarian to make the differential diagnosis on your pet. Often, through simple observation it is possible to arrive at the diagnosis, but in other cases it may be necessary to perform a scraping in any of the injured areas and an observation under a microscope to know exactly what the new guest in your dog and, thus, face the proper treatment.


As the title already indicates, the subject is dog fungus, but as there are thousands of species and subtypes, we are not going to tell you what each one of them is and their possible treatments, as this will be the task of the professional who attends his furry friend. In this article by PeritoAnimal we explain how to recognize the problem and which treatments exist on the market.

Fungal symptoms in dogs

Symptoms may vary, but main symptoms of fungi in dog are as follows:

  • Constant itching;
  • Hair loss in specific areas;
  • Skin peeled in different ways, with white or black skins;
  • Inflamed, reddened or hardened skin;
  • Color changes in hairless skin;
  • There may be nail injuries;
  • In very extreme cases you will notice the dog very anxious and uncomfortable.

The first thing you should keep in mind is that no matter what type of fungus is affecting your dog, he will be experiencing a topical disease, because fungi first colonize and then reproduce in the superficial layers of the skin.


Diagnosis of fungus in a dog

The diagnosis that the veterinarian will make to identify the fungus in the dog is very simple. First, before ocular inspection of injuries, you can use the wood's lamp, which generates a fluorescence in the presence of mites and will be positive in 50% of cases. These will be the injuries chosen to continue the assessment.

Samples are always taken from the lesion periphery. If the dog has many, the most representative or the youngest will be chosen, to avoid contamination. In general, the oldest are the most contaminated. But to further reduce this possible contamination, the area will be cleaned with some disinfectant prior to sample extraction.


Samples are usually from hair, nails or skin. The most common are hair and skin. The hairs are usually plucked to be complete, not cut. The skin is shaved in the periphery, as usually in the center we have inflammation and the sample would not be as representative.

Once this sample is correctly collected by the veterinarian, the procedures that can be used are: o direct microscopic examination, which generates many doubts and false positives, so it is not the most used method, and the cultures. The latter are the most common for an accurate diagnosis, as it is possible to use antibiotics to check which ones are resistant and which ones are not. Often this method must be sent to laboratories as the veterinarian is not always equipped with everything that is needed, and this can delay the result by a few days.

What to do to eliminate fungus in dogs

We've already talked about the fact that, in the presence of any of these fungus symptoms in a dog, it is necessary find a veterinarian for a correct diagnosis, as there are many diseases that share symptoms with fungal ones. Some steps you can take until you can go to the vet are as follows:

  • Don't bathe the dog too often, as this creates an ideal environment for parasites to continue to proliferate;
  • If you have more animals at home, or children, try prevent them from sleeping together, share blankets or clothes and brushes, as this facilitates contagion;
  • They exist dog fungi that can pass to humans, like ringworm, so you should always sanitize your hands.
  • If the infected dog travels in the car or climbs onto the couch, use blankets and wash them regularly.

See, below, what to do to eliminate fungus in dogs.

Remedies for fungus in dogs

Known treatments for the treatment of fungi in dogs are:

  • Allopathic or conventional treatment: corticoids and/or antibiotics. Ketoconazole is the most used drug for these types of diseases. It can be found in the form of lotions or ointments, and in its oral variant. I insist that only your veterinarian can prescribe it and indicate the most appropriate use for each case, depending on the severity of the animal.
  • Homeopathic treatment: there are no exclusive medications for these problems, but I can tell you several things that will motivate your choice. These types of illnesses are caused by your pet's low defense. We live with these pathogens on a daily basis, but we don't always get sick. Therefore, by taking your base medication, you will help him find his balance again and not get sick again from fungus or other diseases.
  • Bach flower: There are 38 different florals, according to the pet's mood. The depressed animal is not the same as the one who is anxious because of the itch he is suffering. Therefore, consult a veterinarian flower therapist or your own veterinarian if he is knowledgeable about this.
  • Reiki: I am not going to tell you that we will find the solution through this therapy, but rather, it will help you to harmoniously accept whatever treatment you choose and will help you not to end up with a new problem, something that often happens in these cases.
  • Healthy eating: there are homemade diets that will help your dog to have high defenses to face any disease that presents itself to him. They are progressive changes, but in the future they will help your pet's life.
  • antifungal cream: You can also give a dog fungus cream, but only when recommended by your veterinarian. These fungal dog ointments can help the dog relieve its symptoms and gradually reduce the infection.

As you will see, there are several possible treatments for these "pets" and some advice that will be helpful in making your pet happy and full again. Thoroughly clean the environment to eliminate spores that can reinfect your pet, clean or remove all objects that have been in contact with your pet, and wash your hands periodically.

Home Treatment for Dog Fungus

While there are foods and products with antibacterial properties, such as apple cider vinegar for dogs, its use as a home remedy for fungus in dogs is discouraged, given its limited effectiveness. Only your veterinarian can prescribe the right product to eliminate your furry friend's infection.

Dog fungus can pass to humans

Among the various diseases that a dog can transmit to a human being, we know that dog fungus can pass to humans, between dogs and even between different types of animals, such as cats or guinea pigs. This transmission can be produced by direct contact or by objects that contain the agents that cause this disease, usually by desquamation or hair.

Treating your dog's fungus is important not only for their health, but also for you and your family members.

This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.