What we feed our dogs has a big impact on their overall health and wellbeing. Proper nutrition is important for all dogs — especially dogs who struggle with skin problems like yeast infections. Recurrent yeast infections in dogs have multiple causes. These include things such as skin allergies, seborrhea, hormonal imbalances, or anatomical challenges like skin folds that can lead to an overgrowth of yeast on the skin.
But how does a dog’s diet and nutrition impact yeast overgrowth and symptoms of a yeast infection? If you’re wondering what to feed a dog with a yeast infection, look no further.
We’ll explain more about what causes dog yeast infections, discuss whether some foods are better or worse for managing symptoms, and provide some general guidance for dietary considerations to make when a dog has a yeast infection.
Yeast Infections in Dogs: Causes and Symptoms
It is normal for healthy dogs to have low numbers of yeast living on their skin. The main type of yeast that is found on dogs is Malassezia pachydermatis. It lives on the skin around the lips, feet, anus and vulva, and in the ears. These organisms typically don’t cause any issues for our canine companions.
Yeast causes problems when it overgrows in diseased areas of the skin, causing a yeast infection called Malassezia dermatitis. It can also overgrow in a dog’s ears, causing an ear infection. Ear infections due to yeast are usually caused by swimming, bathing, or skin allergies. In general, all yeast infections — regardless of where they occur in dogs — are secondary to another underlying cause.
Yeast infections cause red skin, odor, hair loss, itching, excessive scratching, skin greasiness, and smelly ears with dark brown ear debris. If the yeast infection is chronic and long lasting, it causes thickened, rough, black hairless skin.
It is important to remember that if your dog has problems with yeast, then they have some sort of underlying disorder that needs to be addressed. Your best option is to talk to a veterinarian.
The Link Between Yeast Overgrowth and Diet in Dogs
There are several conditions that cause yeast infections in dogs, including skin allergies. Dogs can be allergic to many things, including flea bites, pollen, mold, and dust mites. Some dogs can also be allergic or hypersensitive to certain ingredients in food.
Dogs can develop an ingredient hypersensitivity when their immune system is exposed to and becomes hypersensitive to certain proteins. Food allergies are likely genetic in nature and inherited.
The most common food allergies in dogs are to commonly used proteins, including chicken, beef, pork, dairy, and soy. Allergies to grains or other ingredients are much more rare. Dogs that have skin food allergies often also have gastrointestinal signs as well like excessive gas, loose stool, or picky appetite.
If your veterinarian thinks that your dog’s yeast infections are due to a food allergy, then they will talk to you about how to manage it. There is no specific blood or skin test that can diagnose a food allergy in dogs. The only way to truly diagnose a food allergy is with a food elimination diet trial. This is an individualized test that your veterinarian will set up for your dog to determine if they have a food allergy.
Worst Dog Foods for Yeast Infections
Unless a dog has a food allergy, food itself isn’t a cause of yeast infections in dogs. However, yeast feeds on and thrives in a high sugar, high carbohydrate environment.
If your dog struggles with yeast infections, then your dog may benefit from avoiding dog foods that have corn or soy as the first ingredient. In addition, avoid foods that contain corn syrup.
To avoid blood sugar spikes, do not give your dog people food or snacks that contain sugar. You should also avoid fruit or other high-glycemic carbohydrates including starchy vegetables.
What to Feed When a Dog Has a Yeast Infection: Best Options
Unless your dog has a diagnosed food allergy or your veterinarian suspects your dog has a food allergy, it is usually fine to continue with your regular dog food if your dog has a yeast infection.
However, if you are interested in improving your dog’s overall health by improving their diet, there are several things to consider in your dog’s food and treats that will improve overall health:
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
Present in fish oil, omega 3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory in nature and benefit the health of many organs in the body, including the skin. Look for foods that contain omega three fatty acids, like salmon,
Foods With Natural Probiotics and Prebiotics
Skin and gut health are tied together, and having a healthy microbiome is critical to overall health. You can benefit your dog’s gut and skin health by feeding foods that contain natural probiotics for dogs. These include things like cottage cheese, kefir, pickles, and fermented carrots or broccoli. Natural probiotics may help balance the gut biome with ‘good’ bacteria that outcompetes ‘bad’ bacteria and yeast overgrowth.
Dehydrated Meats
Dehydrated, high quality lean animal protein has a high bioavailability, meaning that dogs can easily absorb all the key nutrients from dehydrated meat. Choose foods that have recognized proteins in the ingredient list, and bonus points if the food uses dehydrated meat in its formulation.
Home Cooked and Raw Diets
Fresh foods are a component of good health, and if your dog is predisposed to recurrent yeast infections you may be interested in cooking for your dog or feeding raw. If that is the case, be sure to work with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist to ensure your recipes are complete and balanced.
If you are going to switch your dog’s diet, be sure to do it slowly over the course of a week. Start with mixing small amounts of the new food into the old food, and gradually increase the amount of new food vs. old food in the mixture. As long as your dog does well and doesn’t experience any sort of stomach upset or loose stool, you should be able to transition fully to the new food in 5-7 days.
Treating Dog Yeast Infections: A Wholistic Approach
Remember that yeast infections in dogs are not a primary skin or ear problem — they are always secondary to something else.
Dietary changes alone likely will not treat or cure yeast infections in dogs, but good nutrition that includes high quality lean protein can benefit your dog’s health.
If your dog struggles with yeast infections, it is always important to work with a veterinarian to determine and treat the underlying cause as well as support your dog’s nutritional needs.
Remember that gut health and skin health are tied together. Feeding an appropriately balanced and healthy diet to your dog can help support their overall quality of life.
