Yeast is a single-celled organism that occurs naturally on every living thing, but yeast toxins can play an important role in infections, allergies and other health problems. These yeast toxins are destroyed by a healthy dog, but a compromised or weak immune system will not be able to fight off the yeast allergy or infection. Diet can play an important role in fighting yeast allergies by starving the yeast.
-
Symptoms
-
The symptoms of yeast infections and yeast allergies include a white-coated tongue, constipation, brittle nails, hives, skin eruptions, food sensitivities and dizziness. Dogs with yeast allergies may also experience asthma, chronic infections, flatulence and bloating, insomnia and diarrhea. Dogs may also experience chronic ear infections. Yeast also often appears as reddening in the ears, scratching in the ears, discharge from the ears and nose or a foul odor coming from these areas.
Commercial Foods and Yeast
-
Most commercially available dog kibble products are primarily grain-based. By using grains as a primary ingredient, manufacturers cut down on production costs because grains are inexpensive to grow and use. If there are not also probiotics available in these food products to counteract the excess production of yeast through grain-based dog foods, then an overgrowth of yeast, yeast allergies and yeast infections can occur as a result.
Anti-Yeast Dog Diet
-
Anti-yeast feeding relies on meat, vegetables and dairy to provide a well-rounded diet in place of potentially harmful fillers. A grain-free diet like this will starve the yeast, improving the healing process and eliminating the yeast allergies. Diet alone is not enough to correct yeast allergies, but it can play a vital role in improving health and cutting down on the control the yeast has over the dog&'s health.
Safe Foods
-
Safe meats allowed in a yeast-free diet include beef, chicken, duck, fish, turkey, rabbit, lamb and Cornish hen. Safe vegetables include spinach, lettuce, collard greens, kale, cucumbers, yellow beans, green beans, celery, Brussels sprouts, squash, eggplant, parsley, cauliflower, broccoli and asparagus. Plain yogurt can also be used, and the recommended type of yogurt is Stoneyfield Farm yogurt because it offers all natural ingredients and a number of probiotics.
Forbidden Foods
-
Certain foods need to be avoided as part of a yeast-free dog food diet. These ingredients include cheese, cereals, crackers, flour, peanuts, breads, sausage, corned beef, lunch meat, smoked turkey and ham and potato. You should keep all grains out of the dog&'s diet, including brown rice, white rice, barley, oats and wheat. Sweet supplements should also be eliminated from the diet, including sugar and honey. You should avoid any dry dog foods containing meat by-products, poultry by-products, rice flour, corn gluten, wheat gluten and sugar.
-