Yeast infection between paw pads?

[Felidae]

My older Japanese Chin, Dru, started limping very suddenly yesterday evening, favoring her right forepaw.

I checked for splinter type objects and found none. I flexed the paw gently and it popped a little (but like my knees pop when I crouch, nothing more) but moved easily. I was more concerned that it was an impact injury due to jumping from the arms of the couch to the hardwood floor.

I kept her in my bedroom last night and swapped the cats annual for her medical visit for today, as this morning her foot seemed worse, and was a little swollen. I also noticed that the area between her pads was inflamed.

Well, the vets office called a couple of hours ago and said that she's fine, it's a yeast infection between the pads in both of her front paws! They told me that they wrapped the feet and were sending home an ointment to dress her paws with.

Dru's been with us, in the same house, for five years now! The only new conditions are: 1. We got another Chin puppy, Pumpkin, to keep her company among other things. Oh yeah, and 2. The vet's new groomer "groomed" her about a month ago. I just couldn't cope with the mats in her mane and took her in. This resulted in one of her ears being cut into with the clippers when the groomer was working on her, and one of her toes being nicked when her nails were being clipped. One toe that I know of, anyway...

Oh yeah, and the nail cutting job wasn't finished!

Now, because of the ear injury the groomer didn't charge me, but she didn't call to tell me about any of this either. A tech told me when I went in to pick the dogs up.

So my question is this. Could the shoddy grooming job have introduced the fungus into Dru's feet, or do I just need to use the Simple Solution on the rug more thoroughly?

I just want to know who I need to smack here, myself or the "groomer"?

[halfwaynowhere]

i have never heard of a yeast infection in dog's paws... every so often my lab mix will limp, and frequently licks between her toes, like its itchy or something, but she won't let anybody look at it. i'm wondering if that might be the problem... i'm sorry i can't be of any help, it could have come from the groomer if their tools weren't sterile, but i don't know a lot about this, so i can't say... i hope your baby feels better soon, though!

[Felidae]

i have never heard of a yeast infection in dog's paws... every so often my lab mix will limp, and frequently licks between her toes, like its itchy or something, but she won't let anybody look at it. i'm wondering if that might be the problem...

It could be. Dru hates us to touch her paws, in fact, I sometimes tease her a little by just touching a toe with the tip of my finger...

Anyway, when she held her paw up to me last night I knew it must be really hurting her.

i'm sorry i can't be of any help, it could have come from the groomer if their tools weren't sterile, but i don't know a lot about this, so i can't say... i hope your baby feels better soon, though!

Thank you! I feel so bad, seeing Dru limp like that.

And I suspect with all the little accidents on the job the groomer may have forgotten to sterilize the cut toe. I just have a feeling she panicked and forgot.

[HetHert]

She very well could have picked up the fungus at the groomers. Think of it this way. A yeast infection is nothing more than the yeasty fungus that causes anything from a yeast infection to athletes foot to jock itch...its all the same fungus. So if there had been another dog there with a yeast infection and they use the same bathing tubs, scrubs, and brushes and weren't aware of that other dog with the infection its quite possible that she picked it up there.

I suggest you call the groomers and let them know that she contracted a yeast infection "somehow", without being accusatory. You really can't say for sure this is how she got it. Any way, do this so they can go about thoroughly sanitizing their establishment and tools to prevent further spread to other animals.

I'd also disinfect all areas and hard floors that come in contact with the other dog and water. A litte Lysol or other disinfecting solution like bleach water on the floors.

Also talk to your vet about what kinds of conditions would cause this infection. Perhaps going outside or having damp toes or other such conditions helped this otherwise dormant fungus to proliferate in her toe region...just like human athletes foot.

[Felidae]

That sounds like a great solution, all the way around!

I have been slacking a bit on the mopping for the past couple of weeks, so I'll have to claim fault in that department... I havn't been able to find the Pledge Wood Floor cleaner that I like on the grocer's shelf for a bit, and have used that as a half-hearted excuse.

And that's a great way to approach the groomer. They're connected with our vet and I really like the vet, so I don't want to cause friction in that relationship.

Thank you Hethert!

[Sun Sprite]

Wouldn't hurt to check yourself, or anyone else who runs barefoot for athelete's foot either. Yeast overgrowth is actaully common in many people, and treated so many ways. Hoe the cleaning solutionworks good for you. I use a peroxide bath for the affected area whenever I get an overgrowth.

[Felidae]

Wouldn't hurt to check yourself, or anyone else who runs barefoot for athelete's foot either. Yeast overgrowth is actaully common in many people, and treated so many ways. Hoe the cleaning solutionworks good for you. I use a peroxide bath for the affected area whenever I get an overgrowth.

Oh gosh I didn't even think of that :yikes:

Thanks for the heads up!

[Agaliha]

My dog Coco has many skin problems, one of them yeast. She's had it nearly all her life.

She's not a breed with folds either, but she is a little overweight.
Sometimes she has to wear an Elizabethan-Collar when she can't stop biting herself from the itching. But that's not all the time, she usually manages pretty well. With all the heat where I live lately, she's been getting really itchy.

Sometimes you can actually see the yeast on her like on her paws and ears-- it's pink!-- like in dirty showers.

We put Monostat where she has problems with the yeast- armpits, thigh creases, stomach, neck, ears.
We also have a whole bunch of anti-itch and anti-bacterial sprays.
We also give her low doses of Benadryal if she's really bad.

There's might help:

Malassezia (Yeast) Infections in Dogs (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geutSCO.JEWakAZrxXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE2NmJubjExBGNvbG8DZQRsA1dTMQRwb3MDMQRzZWMDc3IEdnRpZANpMDIyX zQ4/SIG=12umqkm9n/EXP=1155763458/**http%3a//www.peteducation.com/article.cfm%3fcls=2%26cat=1557%26articleid=321)
Why do dogs get Malassezia infections?
Any hereditary or infectious disease that weakens the skin's immune system can allow a Malassezia infection to begin. Animals that have an underlying condition such as a bacterial infection, allergy, or seborrhea can have irritated skin that is then susceptible to becoming infected with Malassezia. Some animals, particularly of those breeds listed above, may have a weakened immune system, specifically with a type of cell called the T lymphocyte. These are the cells which help control Malassezia.

Yeast skin infections in dogs (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geutSCO.JEWakAarxXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE2NGc5czVuBGNvbG8DZQRsA1dTMQRwb3MDMgRzZWMDc3IEdnRpZANpMDIyX zQ4/SIG=11moi5h43/EXP=1155763458/**http%3a//www.vetinfo.com/dyeast.html)
Yeast Infections In Dogs (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geutSCO.JEWakAbrxXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE2dm0xZDNkBGNvbG8DZQRsA1dTMQRwb3MDMwRzZWMDc3IEdnRpZANpMDIyX zQ4/SIG=120nlvrgq/EXP=1155763458/**http%3a//www.jeanesholistics.com/ArtYeast.html)
Yeast Infections in Dogs (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geutSCO.JEWakAcrxXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE2aWZpMnR2BGNvbG8DZQRsA1dTMQRwb3MDNARzZWMDc3IEdnRpZANpMDIyX zQ4/SIG=12h2afbto/EXP=1155763458/**http%3a//www.thepetprofessor.com/articles/article.aspx%3fid=215)
Yeast infection, yeast infection symptom (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geutSCO.JEWakAerxXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE2ZXMxZjI4BGNvbG8DZQRsA1dTMQRwb3MDNgRzZWMDc3IEdnRpZANpMDIyX zQ4/SIG=12r202nf8/EXP=1155763458/**http%3a//www.doggiesparadise.com/dog-skin-disorders-yeast-infection.shtml)
Dog Skin Infection - Fungal and Yeast Infections in Dogs (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geutSCO.JEWakAgrxXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE2bm9qZ3NwBGNvbG8DZQRsA1dTMQRwb3MDOARzZWMDc3IEdnRpZANpMDIyX zQ4/SIG=12eb6ed96/EXP=1155763458/**http%3a//www.pet-supplies-review.com/dog-skin-infection.html)
Yeast Infections of the Skin in Pets (http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geutORPOJEho0AqutXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE3MnJsNjE3BGNvbG8DZQRsA1dTMQRwb3MDMTMEc2VjA3NyBHZ0aWQDaTAyM l80OA--/SIG=12tq03tbm/EXP=1155763729/**http%3a//www.bestfriendspetcare.com/pet_health/yeastinfectionsoftheskin.cfm)

Plus just search those tearms and you can find more.

Oh and as far as I know, it's not contageous. None of our cats have got what Coco has and none of us humans have either.
I guess it depends of what type of infection it is, if you dog is like mine with some immune/heredity problem or if it's a superficial problem.

[Felidae]

I guess it depends of what type of infection it is, if you dog is like mine with some immune/heredity problem or if it's a superficial problem.

Thank you so much for the info and links! The vet told me that I would have to take some special measures with Dru, as it seems she will be be prone to this now.

I think it is her breed. Chins were bred to be very small and catlike, they were even kept in bird cages and fed Saki in the East. So you can imagine that they arn't the toughest of breeds out there. Add to that the fact that Dru has an especially short muzzle as one of her great grandfathers had a head shape that was exemplary for the breed.

http://www.chinoftouche.com/images/chin/pic6.jpg

So yeah, lots of potential for some immune problems there. But what surprised me that the yeast didn't show up in her ears (which I watch), or in the folds of her muzzle (which I'd like to watch but she doesn't like it too much), but in her feet, of all things! The only way I can figure that it's shown up there is because she likes to cup her front paws across her muzzle and lap at them before she goes to sleep. She's always done this. I think it's one of those catlike characteristics.

Anyway, the Tech suggested that after her seven day treatment with the Miconozole lotion we start washing her feet off with a little white vinegar every couple of days, and to continue to monitor her ears and face, as the folds are prone to the fungus in her breed.

Nonetheless, I'm saving your wonderful links so that I'll be prepared for the stuff that pops up in the future.

:)

[Bryony]

It is more likely that improper drying at the groomer's caused the yeast to grow in between the toes. Yeast and fungi of all sorts are in the dirt, and some animals are more prone than others (I'm including humans in this statement) to develop an infection of a particular type. Damp paws could have just provided a perfect enviroment for dormant yeast already there.

[Felidae]

It is more likely that improper drying at the groomer's caused the yeast to grow in between the toes. Yeast and fungi of all sorts are in the dirt, and some animals are more prone than others (I'm including humans in this statement) to develop an infection of a particular type. Damp paws could have just provided a perfect enviroment for dormant yeast already there.

Well, I've decided that no matter how much she hates it. No matter how much she tries to climb out of the bathtub. No matter how much I have to chase her with the brush and comb, I will be grooming Miss Dru myself from here on out. Even if I have to hire a team to hold her down (which I may until she gives up the battle).

Except for clipping her nails. I'll just have to let the vet handle that. :hehehehe:

Edited to add a picture of Dru after one of her hard fought battles