Diflucan is a powerful synthetic anti-fungal medication that’s used by vets for treating stubborn yeast infections. So this drug can be given to a pet dog, for a case of Candida, as a way to deliver a knockout punch.
Fluconazole is administered orally or intravenously and is typically prescribed for infections of the vagina, bloodstream and mouth. Dogs with internal or external fungal outbreaks are candidates for Diflucan.
There are, however, good reasons to consult with a professional before providing Diflucan to your dog. Misuse of this prescription med can come with side effects. Don’t go it alone. Its misuse can be dangerous.
Can I Give My Dog Diflucan? Answer: Yes, as prescribed by a vet
Fluconazole, the generic name, works for pets but it’s usually considered only after other treatments are unsuccessful.
Diflucan isn’t FDA-approved for dogs, though it’s used by vets for eliminating fungal infections as well as ringworm. Whereas Monistat is applied topically, Diflucan is provided to pets as an oral medication. Never give your dog Fluconazole if they are pregnant, nursing or suffer from kidney or liver-related problems. Diflucan can negatively interact with other drugs, such as NSAIDs, and even certain supplements.
You really must speak with your vet before giving your dog this treatment.
K9 Central Nervous System
Diflucan is sometimes a lifesaver for dogs. Fungal infections of the central nervous system (CNS) can be serious. For such cases, this medication works best. It also has less side effects compared to similar anti-fungals.
An offender’s cell membranes, whether it be yeast or some other fungal infection, need to be aggressively attacked and Diflucan is known to get the job done.
Dosing Diflucan for Dogs
Never provide your dog with a leftover supply to Diflucan. Get a vet’s prescription and their dosing instructions. Different infections require different strengths. For reference, 10mg per pound of body weight is the most common Fluconazole dose for dogs.
Diflucan is administered once or twice daily. The dose as well as the duration is dependent on the infection and other factors relevant to your dog’s situation. Follow a vet’s directions and don’t stop treatment unless negative side effects develop.
If you forget to give your dog a dose, provide it to them as soon as possible but never double it.
Fluconazole’s Side Effects
Your dog may be allergic to Diflucan which would obviously mean discontinuing its use. Decreased appetite, skin rash, tiredness and vomiting are common side effects. It’s recommended that you speak to a vet if these symptoms develop after Fido takes Fluconazole.
Any swelling or difficulty breathing are severe signs of a Diflucan allergy. These would require getting your dog immediate medical assistance. Equally concerning is the potential for kidney failure. Too high a Diflucan dose, or misuse, can lead to serious complications.
You really need to have your precious pet dog under the care of a veterinary professional when this drug is required. Besides, you’ll need their prescription anyway.
More About Diflucan Usage
Fluconazole doesn’t need to be given with food. You can administer it to your dog any time of the day but consistency is important for maximum effectiveness.
Be patient and don’t expect immediate results from Diflucan. Dogs on this fungal medication may need to take it for awhile. You may see improvement after two weeks of treatment.
Conclusion on Diflucan
Diflucan is used for certain canine fungal infections, but vets don’t typically prescribe it as a first choice. It’s appropriate for dogs with stubborn internal (particularly of the nervous system) and external yeast infections. Fluconazole works for dogs dealing with fungal outbreaks including Thrust and Candida. But Diflucan can be misused and has the potential for worrisome side effects. Get a vet’s help with this drug.
It seems to be Spring weeds that are affecting our dogs. I have an Akita and noticed that the vets only want to make money.
Anyway, dandelion butter cup and daisy flower will lower a dog’s immune system along with carbs that break down as sugar and feed Yeast. Raw chicken top to bottom, white fish, fish oils, duck, goose and rabbit are what dogs would be eating in the wild along with apples, pears and some berries.
I am at my wits end! My Shepard mix has had a lifetime of awful problems, one ear and her paws. We paid a fortune to the vet and it just comes right back. I am cleaning her ears out every other day. I am going to try yogurt, as was recommended here, but I’ll use Diflucan if that doesn’t work. It is horrible!
Wolf diet! Also raw chicken goose duck, white fish but not salmon as it hosts parasites harmful to dogs. Apples, pears, Brussels sprouts and carrots…..
My schnauzer is five years old. He licks his paws and his nails come off. The skin turns white around his nail beds. I had him on Diflucan for 3 weeks but he started having side effects. My vet wanted him to stay on the meds. He displayed signs of anorexia, lethargy and loose stools. I took him to another vet who put him on fish oil. I would appreciate any help with this. I can’t stand to see my dog sick.
Consider going to a raw diet. This has to be done with the right mix of supplements and vegetables. It’s difficult to find a vet that will support this. You also have to be careful of the food supplier.
After reading more on the topic it appears that Fluconazole 5mg for every 10 pounds of dog may be a more appropriate daily dosage.
I am not a vet, nor do I have any medical training. Also note my dog is a 100 pound German Shepherd.
In Canada, oral Fluconazole is sold without a prescription for treating human yeast infections. However, I am attempting to treat my dog as follows:
1) I changed my dog food to avoid all: wheat, corn, other grains, chicken and eggs (these are the potential triggers that I deduced through trial and error)
2) I administered 75mg doses of Fluconazole twice a day for three days.
3) I have added 2 tsp of virgin coconut oil to his diet everyday ongoing (this is supposed to act as a natural anti-fungal.
4) After administering the Fluconazole I began adding pro-biotic capsules to his diet everyday. (I will continue this for five days).
5) For various skin sores I have begun using anti-dandruff shampoo to wash him once a week to kill any yeast on his skin.
6) I have also began administering the coconut oil to his sores.
7) I am researching the benefits of a hydrocortizone spray for his skin sores. I am not sure if one can even purchase this in Canada without a prescription.
Otherwise my dog is doing well, he is happy, energetic and eating. I will give this treatment two weeks to work. If there are no signs of improving, I will take my doggy to the vet and subject myself to their overpriced and short term advice.
Note: Fluconazole is expensive in Canada, each dose costs about $7.00
We have got to do something and Diflucan is our last ditch effort. Our vet has given Prednisone and K-flex for 4 years now without any other explanation. She is a German Shepherd and her ears are constantly a problem. They are sore and we have to clean her ears daily.
I know the Prednisone probably made the yeast infection worse. I’m not a vet but I’ve studied enough animal science to know better than that when a dog has a yeast infection. We will administer this very carefully and a low dose a first to see how she does. Then increase this dose until we see improvement.
I’m so sick of vets taking our money and knowing we will be bringing her back. This dog does not have allergies, she has all the symptoms of a yeast infection. Somebody give me an office and a degree.
My German Shepherd is in the same boat and I can’t stand to hear her cry anymore. I have some leftover Diflucan pills from being on antibiotics. I have to do something for my dog, she is miserable! Did the Diflucan work on your pup?
Atopica or generic Cyclosporine works wonder for my dog. It’s not allergies, it an auto-immune problem. My dog is only 25 pounds and Cyclosporine costs approximately $80 a month at her dosage. A GSD could cost over $100 a month, but this drug is amazing.
It takes a month to 6 weeks to start working but the results are a normal dog, no scratching, no infected ears, no teary eyes, no belly/groin rash, no yeasty smell, any lost fur grows right back, and best of all zero side effects.
I had my dog blood tested the first 2-3 years on this stuff and all good. She is now 6 and we only need to use it about 5-6 months out of the year, so something is causing her autoimmune system to over load during warm and summer months (and it’s not flea bites).
I had my dog allergy tested but that didn’t point to anything in particular. If you have the means to try Atopica, you might want to ask your vet, mine allows me to buy online to save some money. Good Luck!
I have a 130 pound Blood Hound that had the same symptoms. I took him to the vet and paid dearly for antibiotics and steroids. Yep, it cleared up. The steroids mask the symptoms. The problem was back after the steroids ended. After reading for days, I found that some people use yogurt for pets with yeast issues. I feed my dog 4 tablespoons in his food every day or every other day. He has no issues now. Only use the plain yogurt and it’s a cheap cure. The dog loves it. Adjust the yogurt to your pet’s size and see how they tolerate it. It worked for me.
Hi Lisa. I have also read that plain yogurt works. My question is how long did it take to start seeing results? I have a 70 pound Border Collie and he’s miserable which breaks my heart. I’ve tried apple cider vinegar/water and it did seem to work, but trying to spray him down every 2-3 days is quite a task and a smelly one at that! He’s an inside dog so I’m going to try the yogurt and pray it works and hopefully fast.
I’ve changed his food and added coconut oil daily. Also, the new food has probiotics in it but he’s still loosing hair, itching and has sores on his feet and legs. I’ll try anything to help him. My vet said 20mg once a day of Fluconazole but he may have an allergic reaction so it isn’t worth it. He’s very sensitive in more ways than one. I hope the yogurt is the answer I’m looking for. Thanks!