Yeast infections are characterized by many symptoms, although they may not be quite so distinguishable from other health conditions since they are so similar.

In general though, yeast infections can cause your dog an undue amount of stress and discomfort, and they should therefore be addressed as early as possible. In addition, cases of yeast infection may escalate to certain potentially serious complications when left untreated.

If you notice any of the following symptoms in your pet, it would be a good idea to seek the services of a qualified veterinarian as soon as possible.

Here are the symptoms:

• Apathy, general weakness or lethargy
• Regular whining
• Ear rubbing or scratching
• Head shaking
• Rescued coordination and lack of balance
• Unpleasant odor from the ear canal
• Crusty buildup on the infected area of the skin
• Excessive oil buildup
• Unusual flaking or scaling of the skin
• Excessive itching
• Red or dry patches on the skin
• Abnormal discharge

A canine yeast infection isn’t really that serious in itself, although it could escalate into a number of more serious complications. The condition can become particularly risky if the dog is in a weakened state or if his immune system is compromised. In a dog with a weakened immune system for example, what would normally be a non-threatening condition may develop into a full-blown canine yeast infection.

The real problem begins with when the immune system of your dog is weakened to such a degree that a number of opportunistic infections may take over. The yeast that causes the infection for instance may multiply at an alarming rate, and produce an abundance of toxins that can cause further breakdown of the immune system and prevent it from functioning entirely.

This in itself can cause a number of serious health problems when the toxins overrun the digestive system, the nervous system, and the endocrine system as well as the immune system. Since all of these systems are interconnected, the spread of the toxins may cause a number of allergies, bladder infections, and skin conditions, in addition to a host of other illnesses.