Read This Before Putting Your Dog on Diflucan!

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Diflucan is a synthetic anti-fungal medication that vets do use for stubborn yeast infections and even blastomycosis.

Can I Give My Dog Diflucan?So, yes, this drug (generic name Fluconazole) is given to dogs.

It delivers a knockout punch — particularly for Candida. But before we get down to details the following must be made clear:

You must consult with a professional before using Diflucan on your precious pet dog.

Misuse can result in some worrisome side effects. Do not go it alone. Too risky!

Dogs Can Be Prescribed Diflucan

Fluconazole works for pets too.

The drug is primarily administered orally with 50, 100, 150 and 200mg tablets. This contrasts with Monistat which is applied topically.

Diflucan is typically prescribed for infections of the vagina, bloodstream and mouth. Likewise, dogs with fungal outbreaks are candidates.

Though not FDA-approved for animals, it is a relatively common treatment option for fungal infections and ringworm.

We like that Diflucan is known for having less side effects compared to many other antifungal agents.

A Few Important Precautions

Never give a pregnant dog Fluconazole and the same goes for nursing animals or those with kidney or liver-related problems.

Make no mistake about it:

Despite a good reputation, Diflucan may negatively interact with other drugs (such as NSAIDs) and even supplements.

Again, it is essential that you speak with your vet before putting your dog on this treatment.

K9 Central Nervous System

On the plus side, Diflucan can be a lifesaver for some dogs!

Fungal infections of the central nervous system (CNS) can be quite serious and this medication works very well.

An offender’s cell membranes, whether it be yeast or some other fungal infection, need to be aggressively attacked. Diflucan gets the job done!

Dosing Diflucan For Dogs

Providing your dog with a leftover supply of Diflucan is fraught with risks.

Get a prescription and dosing instructions. Different infections require different strengths.

For reference only:

10mg per pound of body weight is a typical Fluconazole dose for dogs administered once or twice daily.

However, the Diflucan dose as well as the duration is highly dependent on the infection and other important factors relevant to your dog’s particular situation.

Closely follow your vet’s directions and do not stop the treatment unless negative side effects develop.

FYI: 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, nausea, vomiting, skin rash, and tiredness are side effects.

It is 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.

A potential for kidney failure is also a concern. Too high a Diflucan dose, or misuse, can lead to serious complications.

More on Diflucan Use

Fluconazole does not need to be given with food.

You can administer it to your dog any time of the day, but consistency is key for maximum effectiveness.

Be patient. Do not expect immediate results from Diflucan. Dogs on this fungal medication may need to take it for awhile — though you may start to see improvement after two weeks of treatment.

The Bottom Line

Diflucan is used for canine fungal infections.

It is an option for dogs with stubborn internal and external yeast infections. Fluconazole works for fungal outbreaks including Thrust and Candida.

Diflucan can have side effects, but that is just the nature of pharmaceuticals.

Do not give your dog this medication without involving your vet.

What Do You Think? Have Your Say Below…

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15 thoughts on “Read This Before Putting Your Dog on Diflucan!”

  1. I have a 95 pound German Shepherd with a vaginal yeast infection. My vet prescribed antibiotics and creams that can’t be used because she licks constantly. Will this help without hurting her?

  2. My dog has a yeast-only infection on the entire length of his tail. This is not new. My last pup lost all his hair on his tail. These are 60-90 pound dogs.

    I notice a change after I switched his food from Science Diet to Wild something. I am going back to his regular diet. His sister has yeast between her paws and was raised on Wild Something food. I’m also removing the chews that I started giving him. He was healthy prior to this, unlike his sister.

    I just need to cure this and want to feel safe about giving him Diflucan and plain yogurt. Has anyone dealt with a bloody raw tail?

  3. 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.

  4. 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!

    1. 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…..

  5. 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.

    1. 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.

  6. After reading more on the topic it appears that Fluconazole 5mg for every 10 pounds of dog may be a more appropriate daily dosage.

  7. 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

    1. I agree with everything you are doing, but would also use apple cider vinegar on the infected area as well as an antifungal shampoo designed for dogs.

  8. 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.

    1. 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?

    2. Mr. Smith says:

      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!

    3. 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.

      1. 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!

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