Cat Yeast Infections
The malassezia yeast is typically not found on healthy cats, and infections are rare. A cat is more likely to develop this infection if his or her immune system has been weakened by an illness or allergy.
Yeast Infection Symptoms in Cats
The main symptom a cat will present with when he or she has a yeast infection is hair loss. Other symptoms include:
- Dandruff
- Flaking skin
- Acne or blackheads
- Redness of the skin
A cat may also have a peculiar smell of yeast if infected.
These symptoms can also present themselves in other cat disorders, and a pet owner should consult a veterinarian for a proper yeast infection diagnosis.
Diagnosing a Yeast Infection in Cats
A veterinarian will diagnose a yeast infection in a cat by collecting a sample from the affected area. A vet will do this by scraping some of the flaking skin off the cat, using a cotton swap to collect a sample, or using clear adhesive tape.
A sample can be looked at under a microscope for the presence of yeast. A vet may also do a culture of the yeast to confirm the growth of malassezia. Since the symptoms can be caused by another illness or disorder, or mistaken as an allergic reaction, the final confirmation that a cat has a yeast infection depends a lot on how she responds to treatment of the infection.
Miconazole
Miconazole is an antifungal medicine that is applied topically to the skin or fur. This medication is used to treat yeast infections and ringworm.
The use of Miconazole may lead to drug interactions, so make sure the vet is aware of all the medications a cat is taking.
Treating with Miconazole
There are many different ways a vet may suggest to treat a cat yeast infection. A popular treatment among pet owners and vets, but not cats, is a shampoo therapy. Shampoos medicated with Miconazole, like Malaseb shampoo, have anti-fungal and disinfecting agents that will normalize the amount of yeast that resides on a cat. Other brands of shampoos to treat cat yeast infections include Vétoquinol, Dermazole and Virbac.
Other items that contain Miconazole may be prescribed instead of or in addition to a shampoo therapy. A doctor may recommend the use of a cream for the infection of a small area of skin on a cat, especially if she doesn't tolerate shampoo treatments well.
A cat yeast infection can be difficult to diagnose and easy to misdiagnose. Any abnormalities on a cat's skin or fur should always be examined by a vet for a professional diagnosis.