Some of you wrote in and asked us about fungal infections for pets, Dr. Rukshin Master has some advice.
One of the most common complaints we encounter for our pets is skin disorders. Be it itching, hair fall, skin discoloration, eczema or fungal infections.
Yeast dermatitis is a common inflammatory skin condition in pets. The condition is caused by overgrowth of the Malassezia species of yeast. Yeast infections are particularly common in hot, humid environments and therefore our Indian cities are a breeding ground for them. Malassezia dermatitis mostly affects poodles, basset hounds, cocker spaniels, and dachshunds.
Visible signs and symptoms are:
- Irritation of skin
- Loss of hair
- Greasiness
- Scaly skin
- Redness of affected areas
- Malodorous discharge from lesions
- Patches of skin becoming darker (hyper-pigmentation)
- Epidermal thickening
CAUSES
The exact reasons behind this disease are not yet known, but it has been linked to allergy, seborrhea, and hormonal factors. Hot and Humid climate may increase the chances of infection. Congenital factors play important role in species who are predisposed to infection.
TREATMENT USUALLY GIVEN
Allergies is a sign of an overactive immune system for which the doctor will typically prescribe steroid therapy to shut off the immune response. This only improves the symptoms but does not fix the underlying cause of the allergies and hence should always be avoided as far as possible. When your pet’s immune system is turned off with drugs, it cannot do its job of regulating and balancing normal flora levels, so your pet ends up with yeast blooms. When conventional vets see cats and dogs with allergies and possibly secondary skin infections, often they prescribe antibiotics. Antibiotics are well-known to destroy all good bacteria along with the bad, wiping out healthy yeast levels in the process, so these drugs often make a bad situation worse.
Some Homoeopathic treatments which will help treat yeast or other fungal infections:
HYDROCOTYLE
- Dry eruptions
- Great thickening of epidermoid layer
- Exfoliation of scales.
- Psoriasis on trunk, extremities, palms and soles.
- Circular spots, with scaly edges.
PSORINUM
- Dirty, dingy look
- Dry, lustreless, rough hair
- Intolerable itching
- Herpetic eruptions on scalp and bends of joints with itching worse from warmth of bed
- Enlarged glands
- Sebaceous glands secrete excessively; oily skin
- Eczema behind ears
- Crusty eruptions all over
- Urticaria after every exertion.
SKOOKUM CHUCK AQUA
- Has strong affinity for skin and mucous membranes
- Profuse, ichorous, cadaverously smelling discharge.
- Ear affections
- Urticaria
- Eczema, scalds, burns
CALCAREA SULPHURICA
- Unhealthy, discharging pus
- Yellow, purulent crusts or discharge.
- Purulent exudations in or upon the skin.
- Skin affections with yellowish scabs.
- Many little pimples under the hair which bleed when scratched.
- Dry eczema
As always, please consult with your vet, you know your animals health and body better than we do! These are suggestions and advice.
