If your pet has developed a fungal infection of some kind, you'll need to make use of the many drugs for dogs that are designed to kill these fungi. Fungal infections can come about for a number of reasons; fungus spores exist all throughout the atmosphere, and if your pet inhales the spores and the conditions in his system are right for the spores to take hold and promulgate, he may develop a fungal infection. Left without treatment, such an infection can be devastating to his health and may even be fatal.
Types of Antifungal Drugs
There are a number of different types of antifungal drugs that exist in veterinary medicine. These drugs are grouped according to their potency and the types of infections that they're designed to deal with. The most basic type of antifungal drugs, called antimicrobials, is created to eliminate skin-based fungus infections like ringworm, as well as systemic fungal infections inside of the body.
Some of the most popular brand names and types of antifungal drugs that exist on the market today include itraconazole, amphotericin B and ketoconazole. All three of these drugs are synthetically produced, and they will all be effective at treating the basic fungal infections as outlined above.
Benefits of Antifungal Drugs
Antifungal drugs can stop the progression of different fungal infections. Many of these infections start on the skin or in a particular organ of the body, but can quickly spread to other body parts if left untreated. It's not uncommon for fungus to infect the lungs, the lymph nodes and the heart, among other organs as well. The key to treating these conditions without putting your pet at risk is to provide him with a proper dosage of these antifungal drugs as early on into the infection as you are able to.
Antifungal drugs work by causing the spores and the cells of the fungus itself to become weak. The cell walls break down and the cells themselves die off as a result of the drug. Antifungal drugs are often combined with other types of medicines to help provide your pet with the best treatment possible; speak with your veterinarian about the potential for different treatment plans to be included along with the antifungal drug, which will be given via a prescription only.
Side Effects of Antifungal Drugs for Dogs
Antifungal drugs do have a few different side effects. These include the following:
- Nausea
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Liver damage
Additionally, it's important to avoid giving antifungal drugs to any dog that is pregnant or may become pregnant shortly in the future. Antifungal drugs have been shown to cause certain birth defects and may cause your dog to miscarry as well.
For more information about antifungal drugs and their use in veterinary medicine in order to eliminate the threat of a fungal infection from your pet's body, speak with your veterinarian with any additional questions you may have.