Dogs are generally susceptible to yeast infection inside their ears and in between their paws. This infection spreads rapidly to all other areas where a dog licks after licking the affected part. So, if there is indeed a yeast infection in your pet take urgent measures before it spreads like wild fire all over the body.

Just as in case of human beings, a yeast infection needs to be attacked on two fronts - there has to be a change in diet together with some local skin applications.

The most preferred medicine to fight yeast infection is Miconosol 1% lotion. This needs to be applied to all the affected areas and is also safe to apply inside the ears which happen to be the most vulnerable zone for dogs. You may also try out age old grandmother's remedy of applying diluted apple cider vinegar all over your pet's body and especially within the ears - at times it works wonders. The other layman's remedy is to bathe your dog with a mild anti-dandruff shampoo. The yeast infection may just vanish without a trace and your pet will no longer scratch itself continuously.

If your dog has floppy ears it becomes even more susceptible to yeast infection inside them. The droopy ears tend to block off air flow and as it is usually warm and moist inside the ears it becomes an ideal environment where yeast can multiply at an alarming rate. So take special care to inspect the insides of its ears if your dog has ears that droop. Also make it a point to snip excess hair growth in and around ears to prevent yeast from setting up a colony and start multiplying. Just in passing I would like to inform cats do not suffer from yeast infection inside their ears since their ears are always upright pointing heavenwards.

Now let's turn our attention to the diet aspect.

The best menu would be one which includes yogurt with active cultures. In case the pet refuses to accept it, just make it a little more tasty by generously sprinkling it with tuna water. But this might sound too austere for some and they may go for lamb and boiled rice as another option. This is also good and you may also try out cooked chicken and vegetables with maybe one or two boiled potatoes and a couple of chunky pieces of fish thrown in. Decide on which menu you would serve your pet and if it is followed strictly, a week's time will be more than enough to cure it of all the irritations posed by yeast infection.

In case these home remedies do not seem to have any effect, consult a vet because a professionally qualified person will always be better than amateurs like us. But here is a word of caution. If the vet confirms your pet is indeed suffering from yeast infection, keep it away from young children till it does not recover fully.