Yeast Infections in Dogs – Causes & Home Remedies

It can be difficult to treat yeast dermatitis in dogs. Itchy skin can be frustrating to treat, but there are remedies at home that can alleviate it. This post will highlight the causes and home remedies for yeast infections in dogs.

These veterinary-formulated products are scientifically and synergistically designed to kill yeast.

Yeast Infections in Dogs

Yeast is a common part of your dog’s digestive tract, and it helps him digest his foods. If yeast grows too much, it can cause a fungal infection. Candida albicans and Malassezia are two examples of yeast that could cause severe problems in your dog.

Friendly bacteria in the dog’s stomach normally keep yeast in check. They compete with Candida to find food and attachment spots…which help keep the yeast numbers down. However, yeast can grow out of control and cause inflammation to your dog’s intestinal cells.

These cells normally have tight junctions. This prevents bacteria, viruses, or yeast from reaching the bloodstream through the intestines. Overgrowth of yeast can lead to inflammation, which causes the spaces between the cells in your dog’s intestines.

When yeast and toxic byproducts enter the dog’s body, it can cause inflammation. This is called leaky stomach.

A yeast infection can be complicated by a leaky gut. Some symptoms may resemble some other infections. However, yeast infection is characterized by a few key signs.

What Are the Signs of Yeast Infections in Dogs?

The longer your dog has a yeast infection, the more difficult it will be to treat.

It might be time for your dog to get yeast treatment if they have more than one sign. These are the steps to stop yeast overgrowth in dogs.

There are several signs that help you identify if your dog has allergies, a leaky stomach, or yeast infection. Changeability is one of the most important signs. Temperature and pH shifts can affect yeast.

Here are some signs you need to watch out for:

• Seborrhea: Bad smell and greasy locks
• Head shaking and ear infections
• Seasonal allergies
• Speckles under the belly
• Dark, rusty red hair between the toes
• Hair loss at the tail and on the upper back
• The genitals are grayish-rusty in color
• Diarrhea
• Secondary bacterial infections
• Black skin often with hair loss

Many cases of yeast can be treated at home. All it takes is a simple lifestyle change and a change in your diet. You only need to follow four simple steps:

Step 1: Crowd the Yeast.

Switching to a raw diet
for your dog will help you eliminate Candida and other harmful yeasts. Now you can take some supplements to kill the yeast.

However, yeast infections are difficult… it can be hard to limit heavy Metals and there will always remain food for Candida to eat. It is important to ensure that yeast doesn’t thrive in your gut. There are a few things you can do to keep your pet in good health.

Add Probiotics

You have now made your microbiome a better place for beneficial bacteria to thrive. Now, it’s time you add probiotics to your dog’s food. Although not all probiotics can fight yeast, these strains have solid research. Probiotics are regular inhabitants of your dog’s intestinal tract:

• Lactobacillus acidophilus
• Lactobacillus casei
• Lactobacillus plantarum
• Lactobacillus reuteri
• Lactobacillus rhamnosus
• Bifidobacterium bifidum
• Bifidobacterium longum

Dogs with Yeast Infections: The Best Probiotics

SBOs are a class of probiotics that is based on soil. Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and most bacteria are fragile. They can easily be destroyed by the acidic environment of your dog’s stomach.

SBOs, however, are spore-forming. They can create a protective coating that makes them immune to acid, heat, and antibiotics. This makes them more likely than other probiotic strains to survive the large intestinal tract.

These soil-based probiotics can be used to combat yeast overgrowth:

• Bacillus coagulans
• Bacillus subtilus

Pediococcus acidsilactici is another helpful probiotic. It keeps undigested food from accumulating in your gut, which can attract unwanted yeast and bacteria. Another study concluded that it protects the gut from harmful organisms.

Avoid Gut Harming Chemicals

If your dog’s stomach is full of healthy bacteria, yeast won’t grow unchecked. You must stop doing things that result in the loss of real estate for your neighbors if you want yeast population to be eliminated. These are all common things that can damage your dog’s gut bacteria, including sugar.

Antibiotics: These are used to kill both bad bacteria and good bacteria. Without competition, yeast could take over and grow uncontrollably.

Toxins: There are toxic chemicals in dog’s food, water, and environment that could cause damage to beneficial bacteria that keeps yeast under control. Here are some things to avoid:

• Unnecessary shots
• Drugs and chemical substances
• Preventatives for tick and flea infestation
• Cleaning products
• Glyphosate-rich foods
• Cortisone medications
• Thyroid medications
• Stress

These can all lead to unwanted changes in the dog’s digestive system. A clean environment and a clean diet will ensure that you don’t harm any friendly bacteria. Once you have made the neighborhood “probiotic friendly”, it is time to encourage them to return in.

Don’t Give Fermented Foods.

Many foods are high in probiotics such as yogurt (kefir), kimchi, and kombucha. It might be tempting to think that these foods will help out your dog’s yeast. However, you should not allow your dog to eat fermented foods until his yeast is under control.

This may seem counter intuitive, as your dog will need probiotics. However, fermentation is when sugars and carbohydrates in food are digested by bacteria or yeast. It is best to keep your dog from eating fermented food until the yeast infection has resolved.

If you want to increase the bacteria count in your dog’s stomach, then feed them with fiber. Prebiotics can do more than just probiotics.

Get Rid of Heavy Metals

You must also get rid of any heavy metals from dead yeast that have accumulated in the dog’s blood. Fiber is already able to do this well… but there’s food that can help.

Chlorella (This is a green algae that has been shown in mice to reduce mercury absorption.

Foods Rich in Sulphur can bind heavy metals and reduce oxidative damage to organs. These include garlic, broccoli, and others. These supplements also have the ability to chelate to heavy metals.

• Glutathione
• Citrus pectin is made from brown seaweed.
• Sulfur-containing amino acids (like taurine, methionine)
• Selenium
• Bentonite clay
• Humic and Fulvic acid

Step 2: Remove the Yeast Biofilm.

A protective shell is a layer of multiple layers that protects yeast cells. This protective shell called “biofilm” gives protection to the yeast. After the protective biofilm is removed, yeast has no protection against the immune system.

Digestive enzymes help dogs digest their food. They are also the enemy of yeast because they can digest yeast biofilm. While yeast can develop immunity to antifungal medication, they are always vulnerable to enzymes.

The biofilm is mainly composed of fiber, but also fats or proteins. Therefore, it’s important that you use digestive enzymes that can break down all three substances. Cellulase, which is a plant-based enzyme, is an important addition.

It works by breaking down the fiber found in yeast’s shell. Other digestive enzymes are available to help break down fats, proteins, and biofilm.

Your dog should be given digestive enzymes every other meal. Dogs that are given enzymes with their meals will be able to digest the food you prepare. Enzymes can also make your dog’s stomach more acidic, which will make it less susceptible to yeast and other harmful bacteria.

The other benefit of digestive enzymes is their ability to reduce symptoms associated with yeast die-off. If your dog becomes uncomfortable, you can increase digestive enzymes or reduce anti-fungal foods.

Step 3: Add Antifungal Foods: These Foods can Work against Yeast.

Once you have removed all yeast from your dog’s system and broken down the biofilm, you can add antifungal foods or supplements to his diet. Here are some top-performing antifungal foods:

• Caprylic Acid

This is medium chain triglyceride (MCT), which can be found in coconut oil or palm oil. It is important to remember that caprylic acids are not made from palm oil. Research has shown that caprylic acid is capable of treating some yeast infections.

You can use caprylic acid to destroy Candida cells by destroying their cell membrane. MCT oil would be ideal for your dog’s caprylic Acid. The coconut oil used in research on the health benefits of coconut oil was not the same as the coconut oil found at your local grocery store. They were made using MCTs.

Due to its high level of lauric acids, coconut oil is a poor option for treating yeast infections. This acid can inflame the digestive tract. This is a major cause of leaky intestinal tract.

MCT oil may contain more caprylic acids than coconut oil. It has been shown to help dogs with seizures. Too much MCT oil can cause diarrhea for your dog.

You should start slowly and gradually increase the amount. Start with a quarter teaspoon for medium and large dogs.

• Olive Leaf

Olive leaf, just like caprylic acids, is believed to help break down Candida cell membranes. Oleuropein, which is its active antifungal compound, is what gives olive oil its bitter taste. In multiple studies, olive leaf was shown to be able to manage yeast.

For your dog, you can use the powdered form. Dosage is:

• Small Dog: 1/2 teaspoon daily
• Medium Dog: 1/2 teaspoon daily
• Large Dog: 1 teaspoon daily

You can gradually increase the dose (up to 500mg twice daily if you have large dogs), but be careful to not cause the Herxheimer reaction.

• Pau D’Arco

This antifungal has been proven in the South American rain forests. Pau d’arco has naphthoquinones that can kill fungi, parasites, viruses, and more. Lapachol, a substance that kills yeast, is also found in Pau d’arco. Be aware that pregnant dogs shouldn’t be given lapachol.

Pau d’arco can be purchased in supplement form but it’s best to get one of a superior quality. Because the amount of lapachol in each tree is different, it must be consistent. Pau d’arco is better administered dry.

• 100 mg for small dogs
• 200 mg for small dog
• 300 mg for medium-sized dogs
• 400 mg for large dogs
• 500 mg for extra large dogs
• Goldenseal

Goldenseal is rich in berberine, a compound. This alkaloid aids the plant to fight off fungus, bacteria, and other harmful agents. This antifungal has been proven to be effective against yeast in research.

Goldenseal should be avoided in hypoglycemic or pregnant dogs. Use goldenseal in these quantities once or twice daily.

• Dry powder: Use 1 teaspoon for every 20 pounds.
• Tincture: administer not more than 10 drops for up to 20 pounds.

These are four proven yeast killing agents you should use. You’ve now completed the first step: stop feeding yeast.

Step 4: Stop Feeding the Yeast.

The yeast can take two forms, which makes it a dimorphic species. It can be affected by the environment in which it lives. If yeast is benign, it is a single-celled organism that can coexist peacefully with bacteria.

This yeast is benign and doesn’t pose any danger to your dog. Sometimes there may not be enough bacteria in the gut to control the yeast and check its increase. Antibiotics can cause this, but other causes are possible.

It becomes super yeast when yeast doesn’t have other organisms competing for resources. It goes from one cell structure to a more complex, multi-cellular fungus. The yeast then needs more food and eats all the rest.

These toxins cause intestinal irritation and leaky gut. The yeast could then travel to your dog’s internal organs via the holes in his digestive tract.

To stop yeast infections, you must stop feeding it. You can feed yeast unknowingly in two ways.

Yeast Loves Sugar and Starch

Yeast loves sugar, and it has a secret weapon: Sugar is its favorite food! If you cut out sugar and carbs in your dog’s diet, it can be starved. Carbohydrates are converted by the body into sugars, which feed yeast.

For half a minute, take a slice (which is primarily carbohydrate), and then chew one. This is because amylase in saliva is breaking down the starch into sugar. The same happens in your dog’s gut. Then the yeast will benefit from the sugar.

The starch content of wild food, including the human ancestors’ foods, was only 4%. Most commercial pet foods contain more than ten times the amount. Even pet foods that are not grain-free contain potatoes, sweet potatoes, or tapioca. These foods also have as much starch and starch as other kibbles. These are some of the sources of sugars and carbs in pet food:

• Rice
• Millet
• Sweet potatoes and potatoes
• Wheat and corn
• Oats
• Peas

Dogs with yeast infections should eat a raw diet. It doesn’t contain the same amount of carbohydrate found in commercial foods. You will need to switch your dog to a raw diet, or to a cooked diet without grains. You should limit the amount of fruit your dog eats.

Heavy Metals are what Yeast loves

You may not be aware, but yeast has a special affinity with heavy metals. Certain metals, such as iron and zinc, have vital functions in the human body. However, dogs can become toxic if they consume large amounts arsenic and cadmium.

Heavy metals produce harmful free radicals that can cause damage to cell membranes and other serious health problems. It can also cause Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and even cancer.

It is also known as oxidative damage and builds up in the body much like rust. Heavy metals are toxic and can alter your dog’s protein and DNA. Your dog’s immune systems are not able to remove heavy metals. The result is that heavy metals remain in your dog’s system, build up, and cause health problems.

There are many ways heavy metals can enter your dog’s body:

• Vaccinations
• Industrial waste
• Pesticides
• Low quality water
• Fish
• Pet foods

Research shows that heavy metal detox can prevent kidney disease, heart disease, and neurological diseases. These are all compelling reasons for you to remove heavy metals from your dog. However, a yeast infection in your dog can be a serious problem.

Researchers are now looking at yeast to absorb heavy metals from the environment. Although yeast can bind to heavy elements, this is good news in the environment for both your dog and for the environment.

Researchers are currently studying the interaction of yeast with heavy metals within the intestines. Candida, along with other yeasts, binds to heavy metals in the intestinal intestines. It is good news that yeast can grab heavy metals in the intestines and prevent them from entering the body.

Heavy metals are harmful to beneficial bacteria, which also lives in the gut. Mercury and other heavy metals can kill competing bacteria and yeast can grow out of control.

To kill yeast in dogs, reduce heavy metals. Here are some tips to help you:

• Avoid all vaccinations
• Do not give fluoridated water to your dog
• Avoid feeding fish and use high-quality fish oil

A Note on Yeast Die-Off

When yeast dies, it can release toxic substances called Acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is a byproduct from alcohol digestion and is believed to be the cause of hangovers. A yeast toxin called “gliotoxin” can cause die-off symptoms in your dog’s eyes, which could cause hangover-like symptoms.

Your dog can become toxic from the heavy metals contained in yeast. The yeast must be killed as soon as possible to prevent the heavy metals from getting into his bloodstream. This can be mistakenly thought to be yeast die-off, which can cause similar flu-like symptoms for your dog.

Your dog may experience nausea, diarrhea, joint pain, or other symptoms as it detoxifies from the heavy-metal yeast. This is the Herxheimer Reaction, and can last anywhere from a few hours to several weeks.

You may experience symptoms such as:

• Diarrhea
• Worsening of symptoms
• Eliminate eye, nose, skin, and ears.
• Joint soreness

These symptoms should last from a few days up to a couple of weeks. After that, your dog will feel better. You can do two things if you suspect your dog is suffering from the Herxheimer reaction.

• You can use digestive enzymes to quickly digest yeast cells and remove them from the body.
• Give humic/fulvic acids, bentonite or chlorella: These can help to bind heavy metals.

Conclusion

Listed above are the four steps to help your dog with yeast infections. Take it slow if your dog is really suffering. These are the changes that last a lifetime. Slow and steady wins the battle against yeast.

Did you find this article useful? Feel free to share your thoughts. We would be happy to hear from you!

Stay tuned for more posts on dog care and much more!

“May Your Home Be Filled With Love And Dog Hair”

Any/all links on this site may be affiliate links, and if you make a purchase through one of them, I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read the full affiliate disclosure here.

“As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.”

Mark

Founder of Our Dogs World 101