Candida is a type of yeast that lives in a dog's digestive system. It thrives on a diet of sugar and grains, which are found in many commercial dog foods. When it multiplies out of control, it can compromise his immune system and cause infections of the skin, ears, bladder and intestines. Candida can be a lifelong problem for your dog, but you can help keep these harmful microorganisms under control through proper diet and maintenance.
Things You'll Need
- Grain-free dog food
- Plain yogurt with no added sugar
- Dog shampoo with miconazole and chlorhexidine gluconate
- Apple cider vinegar
Instructions
Feed your dog a high-quality, grain-free diet. Grains can make the candida worse by providing it with nourishment and helping it grow. Processed foods contain sugar, which feeds the candida.
Add 1 tbsp. of plain yogurt to your dog's food. It contains active cultures that will help kill bad bacteria in your dog's gut and restore his immune system.
Bathe your dog with a shampoo that contains miconazole and chlorhexidine gluconate to help kill yeast and fungi on his skin. Allow the shampoo to stay in contact with his skin for 10 minutes before rinsing.
Clean your dog's ears regularly with a mixture of half water and half apple cider vinegar. The warm, moist environment of the ear canal is an ideal place for candida to grow. This solution will help restore the proper pH balance in your dog's body.