Yeast infections and flare-ups are all too common in dogs and reaching out for conventional drugs can be dangerous in the long term. Learn how to use essential oils for yeast in dogs.
Yeast In Dogs
Is your dog itchy? Smelly, too? Perhaps he’s scratching his ears a lot and clawing at his paws.
It could be yeast.
Yeast in dogs, also known as yeast dermatitis, is very common in pets, especially dogs. It is caused by a yeast variety called Malassezia, which is normally found on the skin, in small numbers. But when this yeast overgrows, it can cause infection and inflammation that can get itchy, uncomfortable and painful for dogs.
You may find your dog getting yeast flare-ups especially when the climate gets hot and humid. This is because yeast thrive in hot and humid climates.
Yeast overgrowth mostly occurs in your dog’s:
- Ear area
- Skin folds
- Paws
- Mucocutaneous areas
Considering that yeast is very common in dogs and yeast flare-ups can occur quite frequently, you may be concerned about treating your precious pet with conventional medication that is known to have adverse side effects.
Not only can frequent trips to the vet get costly, but the synthetic compounds found in pet drugs can be harmful in the long run causing organ damage, kidney failure and even cancer.
The good news is, it is absolutely possible to use natural remedies, dietary changes and essential oils for yeast in dogs.
Why Use Essential Oils for Yeast in Dogs
To put it simply, essential oils are potent extracts derived from pressing or distilling large quantities of herbal plant material. These extracts are oily and concentrated in nature and are rich in plant compounds that offer great healing and medicinal properties.
Here is why you should use essential oil for yeast in dogs:
1. Immunity Boosting – Essential oils can help boost the immune system of your dog. When your dog has a weak immune system, he can be more susceptible to yeast attacks. By using essential oils, you can empower your dog’s immune system to naturally defend itself against yeast.
2. Anti-Fungal – Essential oils are actually rich in anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, anti-septic, anti-viral and anti-fungal properties. Unlike conventional drugs, bacteria and fungi cannot become resistible to the anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties in essential oils, making them safer in the long term.
3. Anti-Inflammatory – Since they contain anti-inflammatory properties, essential oils can help heal your dog’s yeast infection by soothing swelling, calming inflammation and reducing general discomfort for your furry friend.
4. Analgesic – Yeast patches can get very itchy, painful and bloody when scratched. The natural analgesic compounds in essential oils will help alleviate pain, numb the scratchy sensations and distract from the infestation.
5. Stimulant – Essential oils are stimulatory in nature and can therefore encourage blood circulation to the yeast affected areas. This blood can carry precious nutrients, oxygen and fighter cells that can help kill yeast and heal the skin.
Now let’s find out what essential oils you can use safely for treating your dog’s yeast infection. But before that, we need to go over the safety and caution aspects when using essential oils for dogs.
Caution When Using Essential Oils for Yeast in Dogs
Essential oils are very powerful. And with great power, comes great responsibility. When you use essential oils carefully, you can reap their miraculous benefits. But if you use them recklessly, you can end up causing unwanted damage.
Here are some basic guidelines to follow when using essential oils for your pets:
» Never feed your dog essential oils. Especially by dropping it in water. This is a bad idea. Essential oils, being insoluble in water, cannot mix with water and will remain floating on the top of it. This can directly reach your dog’s sensitive nose or mouth and cause burning and irritation.
» You may feed a dog larger than 15kgs 1 drop of dietary safe essential oils, but only if diluted in a fatty medium like coconut oil. Never water because oils and water don’t mix and can cause burns in the intestinal walls.
» Always dilute essential oils at a 1 – 2 % dilution rate. This means only 1 – 2 drops in 1 teaspoon of carrier oil, never more.
» Keep essential oils away from your dog’s eyes, mouth and mucous membranes.
» Important: Not all essential oils are safe for dogs! Only use essential oils that are confirmed to be safe for use on dogs.
Top 7 Safe Essential Oils for Yeast in Dogs
1. Tea tree (where to get it)
2. Lavender (where to get it)
3. Oregano (where to get it)
4. Basil (where to get it)
5. Frankincense (where to get it)
6. Geranium (where to get it)
7. Eucalyptus (where to get it)
How to Use Essential Oils for Yeast in Dogs
» Yeast Fighting Syrup : Once a day feed your dog with 1 tablespoon of coconut oil (a natural anti-fungal oil) and 1 drop of food grade oregano oil.
» For yeast overgrowth on the skin : Bathe your dogs regularly with a sulfate free shampoo, to which you should add 1 – 2 drops of tea tree oil.
» Anti-fungal paw soak : For yeast on the paws, soak your dogs paws in a tub full of a solution containing 2 cups of apple cider vinegar and 2 cups of warm water. You may add a drop or two of oregano oil for further anti-yeast activity.
» For yeast in the ears : Make a dog ear spray to fight yeast on the ears. All you need is to fill up a 4 oz spray bottle with 7 drops of lavender, 7 drops of basil and 5 drops of geranium. Fill up the rest of the bottle with fractionated coconut oil. Now spray this around your dog’s ears where there is yeast. Do this 2 -4 times a day until the yeast subsides.
What natural remedies do you use to treat your dogs? Share your favorite recipes containing essential oils for yeast in dogs!