What's the best way to treat dog ear and skin yeast infection at home?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Russell Terrier | Female | spayed | 12 years old
My dog has a yeast infection on her skin & ears. What's the best way to treat this, preferably without a vet visit? Brand of shampoo? OTC medication?
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on January 3rd, 2016
Yeast infections are especially itchy, crusty, and smelly. Often a dog starts with a rash or with simple itching but the skin thickens to an “elephant” skin appearance. The itch is extreme and the odor can be especially troublesome. Parts of the body or the entire body can be affected. Malassezia overgrowth is particularly problematic where there are skin folds ("armpits," eyelids, facial folds, lip folds, throat latch, and especially between the toes). Treatment can be topical, oral, or both. Topical treatment is best used for localized spots of infection while oral medication would be better applied to larger infected areas. If the yeast infection is recurrent or if one wishes to supplement oral medication, topical and oral treatment can be combined. Oral medications are available through your vet. Shampoos such as Chlorhexiderm Max® or Malaseb® shampoo both strip skin oil and kill yeast; however, other anti-yeast products include Selsun Blue®, Miconazole® shampoo, Nizoral® shampoo, Douxo® shampoo and more. The pet must be bathed twice a week to start and the shampoo requires a 15 minute contact time (meaning do not rinse the lather for 15 minutes). It is important to realize that yeast overgrowth occurs in response to a primary problem be it allergy, seborrhea or something else. If the underlying problem is not controlled, yeast dermatitis is likely to periodically recur. It is common for allergic dogs to require some kind of periodic if not on-going anti-yeast therapy.
22Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on June 16th, 2017
Dayton looks like he has a wound on the inside of his ear, likely from self trauma. Yeast infections in the ears are very itchy, so sometimes dogs will scratch their ears and cause additional trauma. I would keep the area clean with a mild soap and you can apply a topical triple antibiotic to the area. However if the area is not improving or especially if it is getting worse despite keeping it clean and him not scratching, I would recheck with your veterinarian to see if anything further needs to be done.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Hello doctor, My dog has yeast infection and the skin at the joint of her legs became very black and it is so wierd.I am getting worried plz suggest me one good shampoo to treat it 'cuz my dog doesn't take any medicine.Anticipating for an early rep
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