Efficacy of Antifungal Therapy in Dogs
Fungal infections are not uncommon in dogs and are usually successfully treated. If infections are left until severe skin problems and secondary infections occur, antifungal therapy can prove more challenging, and additional intervention may be required, such as antibiotics. If immune system compromise or allergies is a contributing factor, and is not addressed, recurrence of fungal infections may occur.
Your dog may experience side effects from antifungal medications including nausea, diarrhea, and loss of appetite during treatment. Supporting your dog by ensuring they stay hydrated and have appropriate food that will not further aggravate gastrointestinal symptoms is required. You will need to administer medication for several days or weeks to address yeast infection. Oral medication should be given as directed and may be given with food if appropriate to address gastric symptoms. Antifungal creams should be applied as directed to skin and gloves should be worn to prevent contamination if ringworm or other contagious fungal infection is present. If contagious conditions are present, take steps to protect other pets in the home. Care may need to be taken to ensure your dog does not lick antifungal cream off after application and an E-collar or bandage may be required.
Ear infections from yeasts require intensive cleaning and aggressive treatment with antifungal creams, and the more care provided by pet owners to remove debris and hair and to ensure medication is received, the more effective antifungal therapy will be in resolving the condition. Cleaning to remove dead candida and fungus organisms after treatment is important to prevent reinfection.
Cost of Antifungal Therapy in Dogs
The cost of antifungal therapy depends on the type of therapy required and consultation fees from your veterinarian. Systemic oral medications range from $0.40 to $11.00 per day and may be required for several days or weeks and on an ongoing basis where chronic recurrence of infection is present. Topical preparations and baths range from $5 to $50 depending on the product and may require multiple treatments to address candida infection.
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Besides gastrointestinal symptoms, toxicity and liver compromise can occur with antifungal medication, especially if administered long term. Many medications are not appropriate for pregnant or lactating dogs and your veterinarian should be informed if this is a factor.
Natural antifungal medications and diet can be administered to your dog on an ongoing basis to prevent fungal infections from taking hold in your dog. Diets that support the immune system may prevent imbalance and disorder that allow naturally occurring flora to proliferate. In addition, making sure that your dog is not exposed to damp, dirty conditions by changing bedding and bathing them when required will reduce the incidence of yeast infections. If your dog has floppy ears or hair in their ears, regular cleaning, removal of hair, and natural antifungal preparations can be used to help prevent infections in the ears. Ringworm can be avoided by limiting your dogs exposure to other pets who exhibit infection or when parasitic status is unknown.
What are the side effects:
Side effects of clotrimazole may include redness and swelling, stinging, blistering, peeling, itching, hives and general skin irritation.