Malassezia dermatitis is a yeasty skin infection common in canines. Dogs suffering from this condition can present thickened skin, darkened greasy skin, a foul odor, crusty skin, inflammation and itching. Medicated shampoos play a crucial part in the treatment of malassezia dermatitis.
Shampoo Therapy
Degreasing shampoos with benzoyl peroxide or selenium sulfide serve to remove excess skin oils that provide a buffet for growing yeast. Once the dog’s clean, veterinarians recommend bathing with anti-fungal shampoos like Malaseb. These anti-fungal shampoos contain yeast-killing agents; they must remain in contact with your dog’s skin for at least 10 minutes to be effective.
Additional Treatment
For severe, chronic and persistent cases of yeast dermatitis, topical treatment is not enough to fully eradicate the infection. In these cases veterinarians prescribe oral antifungal medications such as ketoconazole to be used in conjunction with antifungal shampoos.
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Writer Bio
Christina Stephens is a writer from Portland, Ore. whose main areas of focus are pets and animals, travel and literature. A veterinary assistant, she taught English in South Korea and holds a BA in English with cum laude honors from Portland State University.