At the heart of every yeast infection are single cell organisms that live in virtually every living creature. In dogs, the organism that causes yeast infection is normally found in the digestive tract’s mucous membranes.

The Candida Albicans is particularly harmful in this regard, and it lives on the various fats and sugars in your dog’s digestive system. These organisms don’t normally cause any problems when the host dog is in a healthy condition, but once the immune system weakens, these opportunistic parasites reproduce in large numbers and produce an abundance of toxins that can further weaken the immune system and prevent it from performing its typical functions. This in turn results in a number of health issues, among them yeast infections.

The real problem begins when this condition spirals out of control and begins to affect the nervous system and the endocrine system. Since all of these systems are inter-connected, a wide range of conditions may erupt, including allergies, infections of the bladder and the skin disorders, in addition to many others.

Signs of yeast infections in dogs are commonly seen on the skin and the ears. Scientists have identified the primary agent as Malasezzia Pachydermatis, which was linked to the condition as far back as 10 years ago. Scientists now believe that the organism may have been around a lot longer than that, although it doesn’t necessarily cause harm in otherwise healthy animals.

The organism has also been pinpointed as a secondary pathogen when present in the ears, but a primary agent in the skin, where a range of underlying conditions can cause it to serve as a trigger for a yeast infection.

Many dogs that suffer from yeast infections will exhibit some form of skin lesions or sores. These cases may only be manifested as a single lesion, or they may exist in patches all over the body. Lesions are often reddish in hue, and they may be characterized by abnormal pigmentation, hair loss, and scaling. In some cases, the affected area may also take on a greasy look.

While yeast infections can occur all over the body, they are usually found on the neck, the belly, and between the toes of the feet.