Malassezia In Dogs - Contagion, Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

As we've already mentioned, malassezia in dogs is a genus of fungi, part of the normal skin flora. This fungi is beneficial because it inhibits the presence of other organisms that would, if not for the malassezia, be more pathogenic. Skin imbalances that can increase humidity, heat, sebum, or immunity can cause malassezia to proliferate, worsening and/or complicating the case at hand. These malassezia causes include:

• Allergies.
• Dermatitis.
• Otitis.
• Hormonal disease, like hypothyroidism.
• Parasites.
• Prolonged use of corticosteroids or antibiotics.

Canine malassezia symptoms include:

• Folliculitis.
• Inflammation.
• Itching.
• Crusty scaly skin.
• Skin thickening.
• Hyperpigmentation.
• Seborrhea (dog dandruff), with an increase in the production of sebum, which gives the dog a characteristic musty rancid smell.

It should be noted that maintaining a clean and dry skin environment can help prevent the overgrowth of malassezia. For more, we recommend reading our article about home remedies for seborrhea in dogs.

Dermatitis in dogs is a cutaneous inflammation that can be caused by different factors. Dermatitis in dogs caused by malassezia pachydermatis is more frequent in adult dogs. This is often secondary to another pathology.

Malassezia dermatitis in dogs symptoms include:

• Pruritus (itching).
• Absence of hair.
• Erythema (redness).
• Desquamation (skin peeling).
• Thickening of the skin.
• Darkened skin areas.
• Scabs.
• Seborrhea, with its characteristic rancid smell.

Malassezia dermatitis in dogs is more common in breeds such as Westies, Poodles, Pekingese, Cocker Spaniels, German Shepherds, and/or Shar-Peis. In addition, Malassezia dermatitis thrives in the warmer months when there are more parasites, allergens, or environmental humidity.

Malassezia dermatitis: additional symptoms

Pododermatitis (paw inflammation) can also occur due to malassezia. Canine pododermatitis is characterized by an apparent erythema between the fingers and, if the nails become infected, you may also notice a visible brown discoloration.

Atopic dermatitis caused by hypersensitivity to different allergens, such as pollen or dust, can also be linked to canine malassezia. For more, we recommend reading our article about atopic dermatitis in dogs.

Malassezia dermatitis: treatment

When it comes to malassezia dermatitis treatment, degreasing and antifungal shampoos should be prescribed. If the affected area is small, treatment may be limited to a simple application of ointment. Furthermore, maintaining proper hygiene and reducing moisture on the dog's skin can significantly aid the treatment process. If you notice any of the above symptoms on your dog’s skin, we recommend going to the veterinarian as soon as possible for a correct diagnosis, which can only be done with the use of a microscope.

Malassezia in dogs can also affect the inside of a dog’s ears. Otitis in dogs refers to an inflammation of the ear canal. When this inflammation is accompanied by an infection, it becomes a favorable habitat for the proliferation of yeast, i.e., malassezia.

Malassezia otitis symptoms include:

• Ear secretion.
• Red-brown peeling.
• Itching.
• Head shaking.
• Ear rubbing against legs and objects.

Malassezia otitis in dogs usually affects both ears. If you notice any of these above symptoms, we recommend visiting a veterinarian as soon as possible to prescribe the most appropriate treatment. It should be noted that early intervention can prevent the condition from worsening. In this case, you should never apply treatment of your own without consulting a professional, as it may worsen the infection.

Malassezia otitis in dogs: treatment

In the case of malassezia otitis in dogs, medications to fight against the fungus malassezia should be prescribed. This treatment should also include anti-inflammatories and antibiotics. Treatment should be administered after cleaning the ear canal, as recommended by a veterinarian. However, in order to treat this infection correctly, the primary malassezia cause needs to be identified and treated accordingly. Additionally, regular ear cleaning and monitoring can help manage and prevent future occurrences of otitis in dogs.

Malassezia in dogs, in general, is not contagious. There are several species of malassezia, and, in principle, the one found in dogs cannot infect humans.

This possible zoonosis is, however, currently under review. This is because there have been a couple of cases of malassezia pachydermatis infecting people of vulnerability, such as premature infants or immunosuppressed adults^[1]. While these occurrences are rare, it highlights the importance of good hygiene practices when handling pets, especially for individuals with compromised immune systems.

As we've already mentioned, a veterinarian should be the ONLY person who can prescribe products specifically formulated to treat malassezia in dogs.

As maintenance, however, apart from this treatment, one must always focus on providing their dog with a balanced diet in order to improve general skin health. This diet should be adapted in the case of dogs suffering from allergies. Keep in mind that when bathing your dog, you must make sure to use products made specifically for dogs. In addition, do not over-bathe your dog, as excessive bathing can disrupt the natural oils on their skin.

Ensuring your dog has a stress-free environment and regular physical activity also contributes to their overall health and can help prevent skin issues. For more about dog skin health and malassezia in dogs, we recommend reading our following articles:

• How often do dogs need baths?
• Skin diseases in dogs.
• Why does my dog have black skin?

This article is purely informative. AnimalWised does not have the authority to prescribe any veterinary treatment or create a diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian if they are suffering from any condition or pain.

If you want to read similar articles to Malassezia In Dogs - Contagion, Symptoms, Causes and Treatment, we recommend you visit our Skin problems category.