Content
- Malassezia in dogs
- Malassezia dermatitis in dogs
- Malassezia in the dog's ear
- Malassezia from dogs catches in humans?
- Malassezia symptoms in dogs
- Malassezia laboratory diagnosis
- Malassezia treatment in dogs
- Home Treatment of Canine Malassezia
If your dog has an intense itching in any part of the body or has an ear infection, one of the possible diagnoses is malassezia dermatitis.
Malassezia is a commensal yeast, that is, it lives naturally in the dog's skin, but in certain cases it proliferates in an exaggerated way, causing dermatitis.
This problem is often confused with scabies and allergies as it has similar clinical signs. However, it is a completely different disease. Therefore, PeritoAnimal prepared this article, for you to know all about Malassezia in dogs: symptoms, causes and treatment.
Malassezia in dogs
What is Malassezia? THE Malassezia is a fungus that lives naturally in the ears and some other parts of the dog's body. These fungi do not cause any problem in the dog unless they are over-proliferated.
This fungus feeds on substances produced by the skin and especially likes moist regions. Puppies of any age, race or sex can suffer from malassezia dermatitis, that is, when these fungi proliferate too much and end up damaging the skin.
Malassezia dermatitis in dogs
Any dog, regardless of age, breed or sex, can suffer from malassezia dermatitis. However, there are certain factors that predispose to the onset of malassezia dermatitis in dogs:
- Heat;
- Moisture;
- Skin folds;
- Obesity;
- Inflamed skin or ears.
This problem is usually secondary to various illnesses such as allergies, endocrinopathies (hypothyroidism, Cushing's disease) and other illnesses that compromise the dog's immune system.
The species that most often causes this problem is the Malassezia pachydermatis. As we've already mentioned, it can be found naturally in healthy dog skin without causing a problem. Problems arise when the skin barrier is compromised and there is an exaggerated population increase.
Although it can affect all dogs, there are some races more predisposed to this disease, among them the West Highland White Terrier, Basset Hound, Cocker Spaniel, and the Shar Pei.
Malassezia dermatitis doesn't just happen to dogs, it can also happen to cats, although it is less common, and the breeds usually affected are Persians or cats with a problem that affects their immune system.
Malassezia in the dog's ear
The ears are one of the areas most frequently affected by these fungi. Due to some endocrine disease or any alteration that affects the dog's immune system, the commensal skin fungi or yeasts suffer an imbalance and Malassezia takes the opportunity to exaggerately reproduce in the dog's ear, causing an otitis externa.
THE external otitis it is an inflammation of the dog's skin tissue, causing a lot of itching and discomfort. If you suspect that your dog has an ear infection, you should consult your trusted veterinarian, so that they can start treatment as soon as possible.
Malassezia from dogs catches in humans?
If you are wondering if the dog malassezia catches in humans? The answer is not! Although these fungi can also exist in humans and other animals, they are not transmissible. That is, if you have healthy skin, this microorganism naturally lives in it without causing any problems. In case of any problem where the skin barrier changes, these microorganisms can multiply and cause dermatitis. The mechanism is similar to the dog.
Malassezia symptoms in dogs
The clinical signs of this problem are diverse and depend on the location of the dermatitis. This disease is often confused with scabies or other dermatological problems and for this reason the correct diagnosis made by a veterinarian is essential.
You symptoms of malassezia in dogs are:
- itch;
- irritated skin;
- reddened skin;
- secretions in the ears;
- crusts;
- hyperpigmentation;
Puppies do not always show all symptoms, they can only show one of them. It is also important to note that clinical signs are not always associated with the degree of infection. For example, puppies with a large infection by this fungus, do not always have a high level of itching as you would expect. Therefore, at the first clinical signs you notice, consult your veterinarian.
At most affected areas of the body of the dog are usually the ears, neck, armpits, legs and under the tail.
Malassezia laboratory diagnosis
The veterinarian, in addition to a complete physical examination of the dog, uses laboratory tests to confirm the diagnosis. THE skin cytology or ear is the most common test to confirm that it is a case of malassezia dermatitis.
If the veterinarian detects a high number of these microorganisms associated with intense itching and irritation of the skin and after excluding other differential diagnoses, such as scabies as already mentioned, he arrives at the definitive diagnosis of dermatitis caused by malassezia.
To rule out other differential diagnoses, your veterinarian may need to other laboratory tests and even an elimination diet if you suspect a food allergy or intolerance that also has clinical signs very similar to malassezia dermatitis.
Malassezia treatment in dogs
The treatment of malassezia in dogs usually involves the use of topical pharmacology, ie shampoos, creams and lotions. It may also be necessary to use systemic drugs such as ketoconazole, fluconazole, and other drugs that the veterinarian considers more suitable for this specific case.
Generally, topical treatment is recommended for more localized malassezia dermatitis and systemic treatment for more severe cases or generalized infestations.
As secondary bacterial infections are very common, your veterinarian will most likely choose to prescribe an antibiotic as well.
Above all, the most important thing is that it be treated the cause that caused an imbalance in the dog's immune system, which allowed the exaggerated proliferation of the fungus.
Home Treatment of Canine Malassezia
A treatment prescribed by a veterinarian is without doubt the most effective and scientifically studied way to solve the problem quickly. However, there are some frequently used home treatments for canine malassezia that have shown some effectiveness, namely:
- Baths with sulfur soap
- Vinegar diluted in water 1:1
- Sunflower oil supplementation
Before using any home remedy, consult your veterinarian. Sometimes we try to do our best for our animals and we are just masking some symptoms that later make it difficult for the veterinarian to diagnose. It is essential that your puppy is properly diagnosed before applying any type of treatment.
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.