A yeast infection is a problematic health issue for both humans and animals. The causes of yeast infections are similar in both cases, and one of the main causes of yeast infections is diet. Dog food is a common source of canine yeast infections, and a major contributor to this problem is grain.
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Grain and Yeast
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Grain has been used for thousands of years to produce yeast. One of the most common yeast byproducts of grain use is found in bread-making. Yeast helps to make bread dough rise, so it is an important ingredient in this regard. Beer-making is also dependent on yeast. The process for deriving yeast from grain involves the metabolism of the sugars in grain. Yeast needs these sugars to reproduce, which is why dog food made with grain can be problematic in yeast infections.
How Grain Is Used in Dog Food
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Many brands of dog food are primarily grain-based. One reason many manufacturers of dog food products use grain as the primary ingredient is the lower cost of production. Yet this approach can lead to yeast infections in dogs, especially if no other probiotic element is present in the dog's diet to balance the excess of yeast from grain sugar metabolism.
Healthy Use of Grain in Dog Food
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Grain can be used in dog food in a healthy way. According to the website greatdanelady.com, the best approach to this in the manufacturing process is to use non-fractionated (whole) grain as a supportive ingredient. Grain can provide certain beneficial elements for a healthful diet in dog food, and its presence is not necessarily unhealthy, as long as another ingredient, such as meat, is the primary element.
Unhealthy Use of Grain in Dog Food
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Using grain as a primary ingredient in dog food can lead to more incidences of yeast infections. This is especially true when the chosen grain has an excess of carbohydrates, which is not a necessary part of a dog's diet if they get enough meat and protein. According to the petcenter.com, corn is a high producer of carbohydrates, yet it is one of the most-used grain products in dog food because of its relatively low bulk cost.
Evidence of Yeast Infections in Dogs
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Yeast infections more often appear in the ears and the skin of dogs, according to thewholedog.org. This produces skin lesions on the dog, either intermittently or in large patches. These lesions will become red and will be accompanied by hair loss, flaking of the skin and increased pigmentation in the infected areas.
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