Dr. Karen Becker, veterinarian and author of Real Food for Healthy Dogs and Cats, helps dog owners effectively treat yeast infections with a multi-faceted approach. “As with people, dogs have a normal amount of healthy levels of yeast that naturally occur on their body,” says Dr. Karen Becker. “That balance of healthy flora is kept in check by a healthy and balanced immune system.”
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If you believe that your dog has a yeast infection, Dr. Karen Becker advises you to change her diet. Increase the amount of protein in your dog’s diet by eating foods high in protein, such as chicken or beef, and add anti-fungal items like oregano and garlic to her menu.
I’m a veterinarian who sees yeast infections on a daily basis. I spend a lot of time researching the finest dog food for these issues in order to suggest them to my patients’ owners.
This article will explain or discuss:
- The Best Dog Foods for a Yeast Infection.
- Signs your dog may have a yeast infection.
- What to look for when buying food for a dog suffering from a yeast infection.
- The differences between diets and how they aim to help solve the problem.
- How some ingredients in these diets can help.
Let’s get started.
12 Best Dog Foods for Dogs with Yeast Infections Reviewed
Whether you go dry or wet food, one of the easiest ways for you to determine good dog food is by reading the label and looking out for the AAFCO Statement.
All of the dog foods on this list are in accordance with the AAFCO nutrient profile recommendations for dogs.
Best Hypoallergenic Dog Food for Yeast Infection
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Hydrolyzed Protein Adult HP Dry Dpg Food
- First 5 ingredients: Brewers Rice, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Chicken Fat, Natural Flavors, Dried Plain Beet Pulp
- Type of product: Veterinary diet
- Life stage: Adult
- Best for: Life-long management of patients suffering from allergies
This Royal Canin veterinary dog food would be ideal for those dogs suffering from secondary yeast infections caused by a food allergy.
Hydrolyzed soy protein is handled better by the digestive system and has a lower chance of triggering an allergic reaction than in its unhydrolyzed form.
Brewers rice is the first ingredient which is not ideal since it makes this diet high in carbohydrates which can sustain an existing yeast infection.
The diet contains fructooligosaccharides, a prebiotic sugar that promotes healthy intestinal bacterial growth that in turn supports a healthy body microbiome including that present on the skin.
The presence of Vitamin C precursors, Vitamin B12, and Vitamin E ensure the removal of free radicals and the maintenance of healthy skin.
The diet is also supplemented with essential fatty acids (especially Omega 3 fatty acids) that help modulate the inflammatory response, particularly that of the skin during a yeast infection.
This diet is available in wet form.
Best Food Sensitive Dog Food for Yeast Infection
Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet NP Novel Protein Alligator Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned Alligator, Peas, Pea Starch, Alligator meal, Pea Protein
- Type of product: Veterinary diet
- Life stage: All life stages (including growth of large dogs)
- Best for: Life-long management of food sensitivities
Alligator is the only animal protein source present in this Blue Buffalo dog food. Alligator is a unique protein source that is very unlikely to cause allergy-related yeast infections in dogs.
This dog food claims to be grain-free, using peas, tapioca, and potato as its main energy sources.
This diet is rich in essential omega fatty acids that are instrumental in keeping the inflammatory processes associated with allergy and yeast infection under control.
It also contains dried chicory root that acts as a prebiotic to help restore the gut microbial population and consequently the body’s microbiome including that of the skin.
This diet contains a number of dried bacterial extracts intended to work as a probiotic. Research shows that most dog foods claiming to contain these extracts only have insignificant probiotic potential.
The diet is marketed as a grain-free dog food but is not supplemented with taurine and therefore requires some level of caution and regular veterinary health checks when feeding your dog on this diet.
This diet is available in wet form.
Best sensitive Stomach Dog Food for Yeast Infection
Purina Pro Plan Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food
- First 5 ingredients: Salmon, Barley, Rice, Oat Meal, Canola Meal
- Type of product: Commercial diet
- Life stage: Adult
- Best for: Life-long management of food sensitivities
Purina Pro Plan dog food is a good diet for those dogs suffering from a yeast infection stemming from a food allergy. It does not need a veterinary prescription to buy.
The diet’s first ingredient, Salmon, is a fish protein source. Fish protein is highly unlikely to be the cause of an allergic reaction. Salmon is also a rich source of essential fatty acids (Omega 3s and Omega 6s) that have good inflammation-modulating properties.
These are essential in controlling the inflammatory response of the body and help control inflammation caused by the infection.
The diet contains several carefully chosen carbohydrate sources; barley and oatmeal both having a low glycemic index and therefore avoiding high blood sugar concentration levels that could make a yeast infection worse.
Purina guarantees that this dog food contains no corn, wheat, or soy.
It also guarantees that this diet contains live probiotics. This is a very bold statement given the findings in certain studies and therefore needs to be taken with a level of skepticism. [1]
Best High Protein Dog Food for Yeast Infection
Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- First 5 ingredients: Salmon, Ocean Fish Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, Peas
- Type of product: Grain-Free, Chicken-Free, High Protein
- Life stage: Adult
- Best for: Growth and Digestive Support
Formulated with novel proteins including real smoked salmon, this grain-free recipe includes peas and sweet potatoes that deliver the highly digestible energy your active pup needs, along with natural antioxidant support from real fruits and vegetables and dried chicory root for prebiotic support and healthy digestion.
Essential minerals are chelated with amino acids to optimize their absorption and ensure maximum benefit, for complete and balanced nutrition.
Nutritional Profile Includes:
- REAL FISH is the #1 ingredient with a high protein content of 32% to help support bones, joints and LEAN, STRONG MUSCLES
- Nutrient-rich and provides the energy to thrive; vitamins and minerals from FRUITS and SUPERFOODS; omega fatty acids for healthy SKIN and COAT
- Each serving includes species-specific K9 Strain PROPRIETARY PROBIOTICS — plus antioxidants and prebiotics — to help support healthy digestion, IMMUNE system and overall health and wellness
- Formulated without grain, corn, wheat, artificial flavors or artificial colors
Best Single Protein Dog Food for Yeast Infection
Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Formula Lamb & Potato Recipe Adult Dry Dog Food
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned Lamb, Potatoes, Pea Starch, Peas, Lamb Meal
- Type of product: Sensitive Digestion, Limited Ingredient Diet, Grain-Free, No Corn No Wheat No Soy
- Life stage: Adult
- Best for:
This recipe contains a single animal protein source with real lamb first and includes pumpkin and easily digested carbohydrates like potatoes and peas.
It’s also crafted with BLUE’s exclusive LifeSource Bits—a combination of selected antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins picked by veterinarians and animal nutritionists to support your dog’s overall health and wellness.
Nutritional Profile Includes:
- STARTS WITH REAL LAMB: This grain free small breed dog food features a single animal protein source along with potatoes, peas and pumpkin to support gentle digestion, making it a good option for dogs with a sensitive stomach
- LIMITED INGREDIENT DOG FOOD: BLUE Basics doesn’t contain any chicken, beef, corn, wheat, soy, dairy or eggs making it a good option for dogs with food sensitivities; It’s small bite kibble and balance of carbohydrates and protein meet small breed’s needs
- ANTIOXIDANT-RICH LIFESOURCE BITS: A precise blend of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals carefully selected by holistic veterinarians and animal nutritionists to support immune system health, life stage needs and a healthy oxidative balance
- A NATURAL DOG FOOD: BLUE dry dog food is made with the finest natural ingredients enhanced with vitamins and minerals; BLUE contains NO chicken (or poultry) by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors or preservatives.
Best Yeast Dog Food for Allergies
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, Brewers Rice, Chicken Meal, Yellow Peas, Cracked Pearled Barley,
- Type of product: Commercial diet (Veterinarian Recommended)
- Life stage: Adult
- Best for: Life-long management of food sensitivities.
This Hill’s diet can benefit a dog with a yeast infection in 3 ways. The prebiotic elements in the diet help keep a healthy gut flora that can affect the balance of the whole microbiome of the body (Yes, even that on your dog’s skin!).
The antioxidant effect of Vitamins C & E helps mops up the free radicals produced by the yeast infection. Vitamin C will also help maintain the structure of the skin, resulting in less damage caused by the infection.
The diet is also supplemented with essential fatty acids (Omega 3s and Omega 6s).
This dog food contains significant amounts of carbohydrate-rich ingredients and would therefore be more suited to prevent yeast infections from reoccurring rather than to help manage an ongoing one.
This diet also comes as canned food.
Best Hypoallergenic Dog Food for Yeast Infection
Blackwood 5000 Catfish Meal & Pearled Barley Sensitive Skin & Stomach Formula Dry Dog Food
- First 5 ingredients: Catfish Meal, Pearled Barley, Oat Groats, Millet, Ground Grain Sorghum
- Type of product: Commercial diet
- Life stage: All life stages
- Best for: Life-long management of food sensitivities
This dog food produced by Blackwood would be ideal for those yeast infection cases stemming from allergic reactions.
Catfish is a novel protein that is highly unlikely to cause an allergic reaction in your dog.
The food also contains pearled barley, oat groats, millet, and ground grain sorghum; all low glycemic index carbohydrate sources that help control yeast infection flare-ups. This dog food is free from wheat, soy, and corn.
The diet is also rich in omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids which helps with modulating the inflammatory response associated with such infections.
This dog food is supplemented with prebiotics and a number of dried bacterial extracts. Blackwood does not guarantee that the bacterial population is alive which casts some doubts that the diet has probiotic effects.
Best Freeze Dried Dog Food for Yeast Infection
Purpose Fish & Veggie Grain Freeze-Dried Dog Food
- First 5 ingredients: Whitefish, Salmon, Organic Broccoli, Organic Carrots, Organic Squash
- Type of product: Commercial diet
- Life stage: All life stages (Even large dog breeds)
- Best for: Life-long management of food sensitivities
Purpose is out on a mission to make pet food differently. They source the ingredients they use in their dog foods from farms using organic and humane farming practices.
However, the way they process their dog foods depends on the use of a large amount of plastic packaging, negatively impacting the environment from a different angle. Ethics aside, their food contains a limited number of freeze-dried ingredients.
Freeze-drying allows for these ingredients to retain more of their nutritional properties than when using the more conventionally used extrusion method. It also makes the food safer than when giving your pet a standard raw food diet.
However, the process does nothing to increase the dog food’s shelf life once opened and this food needs to be discarded a few hours after being open. This high-protein dog food adheres to the AAFCO standards for a complete diet.
This diet’s limited ingredient and low carbohydrate formula make it a very suitable candidate for dogs suffering from yeast infections. The whitefish and salmon in the formula also imbibe this dog food with the necessary essential fatty acids to keep inflammatory processes caused by yeast infections under check.
Despite meeting AAFCO standards, I am of the opinion that this food is too high in protein to be fed for an extended period of time.
The high protein content in this limited ingredient diet is way more than what is needed by most dogs and can be of great detriment to those dogs suffering from liver and kidney issues.
Having said that, this dog food would be a good alternative meal when dealing with yeast infections in healthy, active dogs.
Best Digestive Care Dog Food for Yeast Infection
Go! SENSITIVES Limited Ingredient Turkey Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- First 5 ingredients: De-Boned Turkey, Turkey Meal, Tapioca, Peas, Lentils
- Type of product: Commercial diet
- Life stage: Adult
- Best for: Life-long management of food sensitivities
This Canadian brand uses free-range turkey as their only animal protein source to make this limited ingredient diet.
It also uses alternative carbohydrate sources such as tapioca, peas, and lentils.
Both these measures reduce the chance of your dog developing an allergic reaction when fed this dog food.
This diet also contains dried chicory root powder; an ingredient known for its prebiotic properties.
This limited ingredient, grain-free dog food does not contain potato, wheat, corn, soy. It also contains no by-product meals and states that it contains no gluten.
The salmon oil used in the diet is a rich source of essential fatty acids.
This diet also has a wet food alternative.
Best Grain Free Dog Food for Yeast Infection
Diamond Care Sensitive Formula Adult Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- First 5 ingredients: Peas, Pea Flour, Hydrolyzed Salmon, Sunflower Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Flaxseed
- Type of product: Commercial diet
- Life stage: Adult
- Best for: Life-long management of food sensitivities
Diamond Care Sensitive Skin Formula uses a limited number of ingredients to formulate this high-quality product.
A smaller pool of ingredients means a smaller chance of having an allergic reaction to one of the ingredients in this grain-free dog food.
The protein in this limited ingredient diet is hydrolyzed making it both easy on the digestive system and safer for those dogs suffering from allergies.
The diet also contains no grains or potatoes, deriving all the necessary energy from peas. It contains a blend of antioxidants and essential fatty acids to keep inflammatory processes under control.
The mixture of soluble and insoluble fiber content in the diet ensures the maintenance of gastrointestinal microbial health which in turn benefits that of the skin
Grain Free Dog Food for Yeast Infection
CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Real Salmon & Sweet Potatoe Recipe
- First 5 ingredients: Salmon, Salmon Meal, Menhaden Fish Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Peas
- Type of product: Commercial diet
- Life stage: Adult
- Best for: Life-long management of food sensitivities.
This Canidae dog food starts off with fish protein sources making up its first three ingredients.
While there are dogs that are allergic to fish protein these are less common than chicken and beef protein allergies.
Fish is also a good source of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids that help with keeping the body’s inflammatory response under control.
This diet is a grain free diet, with sweet potatoes, peas and potatoes being the main carbohydrate sources of this diet.
The diet is also relatively rich in glucosamine and chondroitin making it a good diet for those elderly dogs that need some much needed dietary TLC for their achy joints.
This diet also comes as a wet food.
Weight Control Dog Food for Yeast Infection
Brothers Complete Goat Meal & Egg Formula Advanced Allergy Care Weight Control Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
- First 5 ingredients: Goat Meal, Whole Eggs Dried, Turkey Meal, Cassava/Tapioca, Peas
- Type of product: Commercial diet
- Life stage: All Life Stages (including growth of large dogs)
- Best for: Life-long management of food sensitivities and weight control
This Brothers Complete dog food mostly contains alternative protein sources such as goat, eggs, and turkey.
Eggs are also a high-quality protein source due to their high bioavailability. The diet also contains chicken in the form of the liver.
These numerous animal protein sources can reduce the diet’s effectiveness at controlling food-related allergic reactions that commonly lead to yeast infections.
This dog food focuses more on using unconventional carbohydrate sources like cassava and peas to reach its goals.
It is rich in essential fatty acid-containing ingredients and prebiotics that both respectively help control inflammation and prevent yeast infections in dogs prone to such conditions.
Signs Your Dog May Have a Yeast Infection
A yeast infection in dogs may be identified in a variety of ways. The most typical symptoms to look for include persistent, severe itching and inflammation. Other signs can include:
- Skin redness or itching
- Sticky or yellow/green discharge
- Sores
- Greasy coat
- Hair loss
- Smelly skin
- Thickening skin
- Crusty, flaky skin
- Recurring ear infections
What is hypoallergenic dog food?
One of the most effective methods to deal with yeast infection concerns in dogs is to provide an adequate diet. A food allergy or sensitivity, for example, may be present in the background of a yeast infection, particularly one that recurs.
This is where limited protein sources or hydrolyzed protein diets might be of assistance, or in the case of corn or other components causing sensitivity, removing it from the diet.
Reducing the amount of starch (a carbohydrate) in the diet is another approach. Starch is mostly found in grains and potatoes, and an overabundance of it can cause the natural yeasts to become imbalanced.
Lastly, the diet should include skin-friendly nutrients, such as:
- Omega 3 fatty acids: these reduce inflammation, which will ease itchiness and help the skin to heal.
- Probiotics: these are known as “good bacteria”, and will restore the natural balance of the gut microbiome and consequently that of the body.
- Prebiotics: these are food for the probiotics and for the already present healthy microbes.
When you think your dog has a yeast infection, it’s always crucial to visit the veterinarian; yeast infections can be tough to distinguish from other skin conditions, and an expert’s view is required to determine what’s medically wrong with your dog.
What to look for when buying dog food for a yeast infection?
The ideal food will depend on the cause of the yeast infection and any other concerns your dog may be experiencing at the same time.
Look for foods that mention sensitive skin and immunity-boosting nutrients like omega-3’s and probiotics. Some dogs will benefit from a low-starch, one-protein diet or a hydrolyzed protein diet.
How important is the diet for dogs with a yeast infection?
It’s somewhat significant! The yeast species Malassesia pachydermatis is naturally occurring on the skin and becomes a problem only when it grows to excess and overwhelms the immune system.
Changing your dog’s food will not cure a yeast infection; medical treatment from your veterinarian will be required.
It is generally treated with topical or oral medications. In some situations, it would necessitate the use of a combination of both.
When they are connected to malnutrition and food allergies, a change in diet may assist with the source of the problem.
What can you feed your dog to prevent yeast infections?
It’s important to identify any food allergies your dog may have. There are various allergy tests that your veterinarian can perform on your pet.
Some are invasive, while others are as easy as obtaining a blood sample and sending it to a laboratory. Some laboratories that perform these tests also use immunotherapy to treat the dog’s allergy.
Dogs that are prone to yeast infections should feed their dogs diets that are high in essential fatty acids and antioxidants while being low in carbohydrates. Prebiotics can also assist.
What ingredients to avoid and which ones are good?
Dog food with high glycemic index carbohydrate sources(corn, sugar, tapioca or potato starch), in its first five ingredients should be avoided.
Keep an eye open for dog meals that include fish or flaxseed, which are excellent Omega 3 fatty acid sources.
Dog food containing fructooligosaccharides and other prebiotics also stands to benefit your dog.
Best dog food for Yeast Infections - The bottom line!
Concerning almost all of the instances I’ve handled, yeast infections are caused by poor grooming, certain breed characteristics, or allergic reactions.
It’s critical to identify the allergen that’s causing your dog’s allergy, remove it from his diet and environment, and administer the needed medication to treat it in cases like these. Switching your dog’s food can assist you in different ways.
Grains present in commercial dog foods, however, can cause allergic reactions in some dogs. In such circumstances, grain-free diets may help.
The above diets can, in fact, assist your dog in dealing with an overgrowth of yeast. However, I and my colleagues always recommend that you follow your veterinarian’s recommendations for the best food for your pet.
Best Probiotic for Dogs
Did you know that a dog’s gut health has a significant influence on its overall health? A recent scientific study reports that 70% to 80% of all illness begins in the gastrointestinal tract! discover why this supplement is vital for your dog’s immune system and overall health – read our blog on: The Best Probiotics for Dogs.
Reference:
- https://www.petmd.com/dog/centers/nutrition/dog-food-label-lessons-what-is-an-aafco-statement
- https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/complete-and-balanced-pet-food
- Dr Karen Becker
- ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
