Fungal infections are very common in dogs and not to worry they are very treatable as well! It can be worrying when our pets get sick, we never want them to feel uncomfortable or to be in pain. Luckily with fungal infections, your dog is usually not at any serious risk. Fungal infections can be pretty easy to recognize, which means if you catch them early on you can get them treated through antibiotics or other methods determined by your vet.
If you catch a fungal infection early on in your dog then there can be few to no long-term negative health effects on your pet. We at Fauna Care want to be here to help you and your pet on the road to healing and this article can help you to do just that!
You can find all the following information on how to handle fungal infections in dogs in this article:
- What are the most common fungal infections that your dog is likely to have?
- What treatments are there for these common fungal infections?
- When should you take your pup to the vet and when can you care for them at home?
What are the most common fungal infections that your dog is likely to have?
Among the most common fungal infections in dogs, some of the easiest to recognize and treat include Blastomycosis, Cryptococcosis, and Nasal Aspergillosis. Below you can find information on the symptoms of and typical treatments for these fungal infections.
Blastomycosis usually includes several of the following symptoms:
- Fever
- Cough
- Eye inflammation
- Skin lesions
- Weight loss
If you notice your pet exhibiting any of these symptoms you should take them to the vet as soon as possible. Blastomycosis can be treated through the proper use of anti-fungal drugs prescribed to your pet by a veterinarian.
If your pet has contracted Cryptococcosis they will likely exhibit a number of the following symptoms:
- Decreased appetite
- Eye irritation
- Lethargy
- Trouble walking/wobbly walking
- Raspy breath sounds
- Sniffles or sneezing
- Weight loss
Cryptococcosis can be treated with medication but will usually affect dogs who are already experiencing health problems or are older (and have compromised immune systems). Because of this, it means that it is usually more difficult for dogs to recover from this type of infection. If you notice symptoms in your dog be sure to get them to the vet as soon as possible.
Similar to Cryptococcosis, Nasal Aspergillosis usually affects dogs that already have a compromised immune system or other health problems. Nasal Aspergillosis usually has a much higher recovery rate though and dogs recover from it more quickly as well. Symptoms include:
- Nasal discharge
- Nose bleeds
- Sneezing
- Decreased appetite
- Swollen nose
What treatments are there for these common fungal infections?
In the case of all of these infections (and others not mentioned directly in this article) in order to begin treating the infection, you will need to take your pet to a veterinarian. After going to see a veterinarian and receiving a diagnosis for your pet in terms of what kind of fungal infection you are dealing with, they will prescribe some kind of an anti-fungal drug to eradicate whatever fungus is in your pet’s system.
In the case of Blastomycosis, which is a type of fungal infection that dogs usually contract through fungi in dirt or mud, you will most likely receive an oral medication to give to your pet. Usually, they will be prescribed Ketoconazole, Itraconazole, or Fluconazole.
With Cryptococcosis your pet will likely be prescribed a similar kind of oral anti-fungal medication in order to remove the fungus from their system.
Again, with Nasal Aspergillosis your pet will likely have a similar oral medication (or maybe some kind of nasal spray/medication) in order to help get the fungus out of their system. All of these anti-fungal treatments are usually not too expensive and will help to make your pet feel better very quickly.
When should you take your pup to the vet and when can you care for them at home?
In general, it is a good idea to take your pet to see a veterinarian if they are not behaving like they normally do or seem to be exhibiting symptoms of an illness. Trips to the vet can be expensive and sometimes don’t feel worth the bill you end up with. This article is here to help you determine if your pet really has a fungal infection. If you’ve read through and don’t recognize any of the symptoms mentioned in your pet then there may be no need to worry. However, if you do think your pet has a fungal infection based on the information in this article and have the means to take them to see a veterinarian, then that will give your pet the best chances of a fast and full recovery from whatever illness they are facing.
Most fungal infections will not have detrimental effects on your pet’s health. Here at Fauna Care, we want to make sure that you and your pup have many happy and healthy years together. We hope this article helps you to get your pet on the road to recovery if they do have a fungal infection.
