Malassezia dermatitis is a skin disease caused by yeast fungi, which often manifests itself in dogs as an outer ear infection but can also affect the entire body.
The pathogens that cause this skin inflammation are called Malassezia and belong to the yeast family. They are also part of the normal skin flora in healthy dogs. Only when the delicate balance of the skin flora is disturbed can the pathogens multiply rapidly and lead to inflammatory skin changes. This imbalance usually occurs when the skin's defense mechanisms are weakened by other diseases or predisposing factors. Triggering diseases include hormonal disorders, allergies, and congenital or acquired skin diseases. The disease is also promoted by severe skin folds, heat, high skin moisture, prolonged antibiotic treatment, or other medications that impair the immune system.
At the onset of the disease, only very unspecific symptoms such as itching and reddening of the skin usually occur, but these can worsen considerably as the disease progresses. The most characteristic features of the disease are a rancid skin odor, a greasy, oily skin surface, and increased flaking. However, there are also many cases in which these typical symptoms are absent and only severe itching is present, for example. Due to the often severe itching, scratching and licking lead to abrasions and open skin wounds, which can easily become infected with bacteria and lead to purulent skin inflammation.
Due to the sometimes very unspecific symptoms, diagnosis is not always easy for the veterinarian. After a general clinical examination, the veterinarian will be able to make an initial diagnosis, but further tests are necessary to confirm Malassezia dermatitis.
To confirm the diagnosis and rule out other causes, skin scrapings (tissue samples) or ear swabs are taken and examined under a microscope, depending on the location of the inflammation. This allows the pathogen to be identified with certainty.
The treatment of Malassezia dermatitis depends primarily on the underlying disease or other cause of the imbalance in the skin flora. If possible, this disease should be treated to prevent the skin inflammation from recurring.
At the same time, and if the cause is unknown, the inflammatory skin changes must be treated locally with antifungal agents. Appropriate shampoos or creams are suitable for this purpose, and ear drops are recommended for ear infections. In many cases, additional treatment with a malassezia-effective preparation for several weeks is necessary. Your veterinarian will inform you about the exact treatment plan and how to use the prescribed medication in your individual case. If the disease is already advanced or the underlying disease is unknown or cannot be treated, lifelong Malassezia therapy may be necessary.
If the underlying disease or triggering factor of Malassezia dermatitis is identified and treated early on, the prognosis for controlling the skin inflammation is good. If the disease is diagnosed at an advanced stage or if the primary disease cannot be identified or treated, the prognosis worsens.
As this condition is a secondary disease, the best way to prevent it is to identify and treat any underlying conditions in good time. Although Malassezia fungi also occur in humans, transmission from animals to humans is rare and only poses a risk to people with severely weakened immune systems. However, transmission can be effectively prevented with normal hygiene measures.
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