Can Your Dog Get a Fungal Infection?

Fungal infections are rather worrisome. They’re a serious issue for humans and animals alike. Fungal infections can also affect our pets. Most people know that dogs can get fungal infections on the surface of their skin, but did you know that these fast spreading infections can also affect their insides? Fungal infections are rather common in dogs. Not all types of fungal infections are curable. However, treatment is often easy and also readily available to pet parents everywhere.

Fungal infections are caused by fungi. There are lots of fungi in the world we live in. They appear in many different forms and can do lots of harm. Fungal infections usually happen when the fungi enters your dog’s system through his skin or his respiratory tract. Here are some of the most common fungal infections that dogs experience and how you can treat them.

1. RingwormThis infection mainly affects your dogs’ skin, nails, and fur. Symptoms include itching, crusty or flaky skin, hair loss, and brittle or misshapen nails. Ringworm can also spread to humans as well as your other house pets. So time is of the essence here. Treat it as soon as you spot it. The treatment for ringworm depends on the severity of the infection. It can be treated with both medicated baths as well as oral antifungal pills. To stop the infections from spreading to other animals or people, disinfecting and vacuuming the house would be a good idea.
2. Yeast infectionsWhen there’s an overgrowth of yeast in your dog’s body, it can cause really irritating infections. The infection affects his paws, ears, and skin in general. Treatment for yeast infections usually involve antifungal or antiseptic creams, which can be applied onto the infected areas. If your dog’s condition is quite sever, he may need oral medications. Yeast infections are not contagious to other animals or humans. Yeast infections could reoccur if the underlying conditions have not been treated. Discuss your options with your vet.
3. BlastomycosisThis is a type pf lung infection caused by fungi found in moist soil. So if your dog goes sniffing along the sides of river banks, there’s a good chance that he might end up developing lung infections. Once the organism is in your dog’s system, it can travel to almost any part of his body, causing damage as it goes. Symptoms of blastomycosis include limping, weight loss, poor appetite, coughing, breathing difficulties, eye problems, fever, and skin lesions.

Fungal infections are really serious and can range from a simple irritation to something life threatening. If you suspect that your dog might have a fungal infection, make an appointment at your vet immediately.