Fungal infections can affect dogs just as they do humans and most parasitic fungi that attack dogs live in the soil and are found in decaying leaves, plants, animal and fecal matter. Dog skin fungal infections are of several kinds and blastomycosis is an infection caused by fungus that lives in moist soil that contains bird or bat droppings. When the fungal spores are inhaled, it can affect the respiratory system, nervous system, musculoskeletal system and the skin.
The symptoms of this condition include coughing, pneumonia, rapid breathing, fever, seizures and lesions. Candidiasis is another condition that affects dogs and is caused due to an overgrowth of candida in the body. It usually affects the skin, oral cavities and gastrointestinal system.
The disease causes the formation of crusty skin lesions, fever, diarrhea and white cottony growths in the mouth. However, most fungal infections in dogs are caused by yeast that embeds itself in the moist areas of a dog's body, particularly in the ears, arm pits and deep folds in the skin.
Malassezia is the most common form of fungal infection, and it causes your pet's skin to itch and burn. The condition can easily be spotted if you look out for skin patches with no hair, sores that have discharge leaking out, redness and dry flakes, a little like dandruff. You may want to try a few remedies to make your dog feel better. First and foremost, shampoo your dog with an anti fungal shampoo that is easily available in supermarkets as well as pet stores. If the condition has aggravated, a stronger shampoo is likely to be recommended by your veterinarian. Use a rinse that contains either boric acid or chlorhexidine in consultation with your veterinarian of course as this will soothe the inflamed skin on your dog. Carefully follow the instructions on the packet as some remain on the dog’s coat and others have to be rinsed out thoroughly. Take a bowl of warm water and mix a little anti-fungal shampoo and a little iodine into it to soak your pet’s blistered paws. This will provide some relief from the itching as well as kill of the fungus attacking the skin. If your dog is suffering from ring worm infection, you can use anti-fungal creams or ointments on all affected areas. However, ring worm is highly contagious to humans and you must take care to wash up carefully after treating your dog.
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