Top 10 Best Dog Food for Yeast Infections
Dogs can suffer from yeast infections similar to humans. Dogs, regardless of their gender, breed, or age can develop a yeast infection at some point due to certain sensitivities, allergies, or a diet high in carbs or sugar. If your dog suffers from inflammation, irritation, or digestive issues, it may be more prone to yeast infections.
There are certain breeds that are more susceptible to this infection, such as German Shepherds, Shih Tzus, Cocker Spaniels, and Dachshunds. Diet plays a huge part in helping a dog that is suffering from a yeast infection.
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If your dog has a yeast infection, it’s best to feed it a diet that is low in carbohydrates, and sugar, and high in protein. Other ingredients including digestive prebiotics or probiotics, and omega fatty acids, can also be beneficial. It’s best to stay away from grain-heavy products, whether they are wet or dry meals.
The 10 Best Dog Food for Yeast Infections
Hill’s Prescription Diet Digestive Care Low Fat Chicken Flavor Dry Dog Food – Vet’s Choice
| Main ingredients: | Brewers Rice, Chicken Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken By-Product Meal |
| Protein content: | 26% |
Hill’s Prescription Diet Digestive Care dry food is formulated to provide your dog with an easily digestible protein source and a low-carb meal option. This meal is especially helpful for dogs suffering from yeast infections as well as digestive issues. It also contains ActivBiome+ technology which is shown to activate beneficial gut bacteria and provide a healthier microbiome balance.
The formula is full of prebiotics, which is useful for improving gastrointestinal health and promoting regularity in dogs. And it doesn’t stop there, this meal also has omega fatty acids and ginger for easy digestion and complete and anti-inflammatory benefits. The downside is that this food is a bit expensive and there are few flavor options for picky dogs.
Zignature Zssential Multi-Protein Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog Food– Best Value
| Main ingredients: | Turkey, Duck Meal, Salmon, Turkey Meal, Lamb Meal |
| Protein content: | 32% |
Zignature Zssential Multi-Protein Grain-Free dry food is the best dog food for yeast infections for the money. It’s a great formula that is nutritionally set up to support yeast infection issues and small and large dogs. This meal is grain-free and full of antioxidants and quality protein. It also has a healthy blend of vegetables and fruit that were specifically selected to help aid nutritional deficiencies and keep the sugar content low.
Low sugar content discourages the overgrowth of yeast and bad bacteria. The limited number of ingredients in this formula makes it a great option for solid nutrition with minimal stomach irritation. This meal also has amino acids to help aid in fast recovery and reduce inflammation. The only downside is that some users have mentioned some quality control issues with this food.
Nulo Freestyle Limited+ Grain-Free Salmon Recipe Dry Dog Food review – Best Overall
| Main ingredients: | Deboned Salmon, Chickpea Flour, Salmon Meal Chickpeas, Canola Oil |
| Protein content: | 30% |
Nulo Freestyle Limited dry food is the best overall dog food for yeast infections including a variety of proprietary supplements that help to provide the chest of health and strengthen your dog’s gut flora. Strong gut flora means a healthier immunity system. This dog food is low in carbohydrates, which is essential for dogs suffering from yeast infections. Also, it contains no tapioca, corn, eggs, wheat, tapioca, or artificial preservatives or flavors.
It’s a powerhouse source of protein and contains deboned salmon as well as salmon meal. It’s also full of healthy anti-inflammatory omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to give your dog more sources to help repair irritated and itchy skin. The downside is that it is more expensive, and the kibble sizes are large, so it may not be suitable for small dogs. Overall, this dog food can help your dog stay energized and prevent exacerbating yeast infection symptoms.
Solid Gold Wolf Cub Potato-Free Puppy Food– Best for Puppies
| Main ingredients: | Bison, Ocean Fish Meal, Oatmeal, Brown Rice, Peas |
| Protein content: | 26% |
This food is specially formulated for small puppies, as they are more prone to stomach sensitivities than their adult companions. These meals are made with holistic recipes and contain all-natural ingredients. They are also potato-free and the main ingredient is protein-packed bison.
These meals also contain omega fatty acids to help support healthy skin and coat. Solid Gold Wolf Cub Potato-Free Puppy food does have whole-grain carbohydrates but contains way more protein. It also has vegetables to provide much-needed vitamins and antioxidants. The downside is that this food is not completely grain-free, and while a grain-free diet isn’t necessary for all dogs, some dogs can benefit from it. Talk to your vet first about whether your puppy needs a grain-free diet.
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Hydrolyzed Protein Adult HP Dry Dog Food – Premium Choice
| Main ingredients: | Brewers Rice, Chicken Fat, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Beet Pulp |
| Protein content: | 19.5% |
Royal Canin is one of the most highly recommended dog brands by veterinarians. They aim to provide top-quality dog food. This meal not only helps with yeast infections, but it provides a soothing combination of ingredients for dogs with sensitive degenerative systems.
The meal is hypoallergenic and is free from preservatives and other chemicals that may cause stomach upset or irritation. It’s made to effectively reduce skin irritation and GI issues. It also includes a list of prebiotics and fiber to help support regularity. So, if your dog is suffering from sensitivities due to yeast infection or allergies, this meal may be ideal for a fast recovery. The downside is that this food is expensive and there aren’t many flavor options available if your dog is a picky eater.
Blue Buffalo Freedom Adult Beef Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Deboned Beef, Turkey Meal, Potato Starch, Chicken Fat, Peas |
| Protein content: | 24% |
This dry food by Blue Buffalo is for adult dogs and is a gluten and grain-free dry meal option. It can help dogs with a yeast infection by providing them with a nice blend of vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals to aid in faster recovery. It also contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids which are known to provide anti-inflammatory properties.
Overall, this meal is worth considering if you’re looking to provide your dog with a meal that can support its immune system. It helps to promote a healthy oxidative balance and is commonly used to treat dogs with ear infections. Though it does have carbohydrates, it has enough protein to balance it out and slow down their digestion. It’s also a bit on the expensive side, especially if you have a large dog.
Brothers Complete Turkey Meal & Egg Formula Advanced Allergy Care Dry Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Turkey Meal, Dried Pea Starch, Whole Eggs, Tapioca Peas, Cassava |
| Protein content: | 36% |
The Brothers Complete dog food brand is known for creating high-quality dog food meals that assist in addressing certain health issues. This meal is specially formulated to help dogs suffering from skin conditions due to food sensitivities, yeast overgrowth, and common allergies.
It contains eggs, which supply dogs with amino acids needed for quick body repair and gut health. It is also full of digestive enzymes to help strengthen your dog’s immunity system and encourage a healthy gut microbiome. This meal gives your dog all of the nutritional support that it needs to minimize irritation caused by a yeast infection and speed up recovery time. The downside is that this food is a bit pricey, and it also contains peas. There are ongoing studies about peas potentially being linked to heart disease in dogs.
Wysong Epigen 90 Canine Dry Food
| Main ingredients: | Chicken Meal, Organic Chicken, Meat Protein Isolate, Chicken Fat |
| Protein content: | 63% |
This dry food meal can help to minimize the effects and issues commonly caused by yeast infections. Not only is it low in carbs, but it has a considerable amount of protein and fat, making it especially satiating. All the ingredients are made for easy digestion and the lean protein is sourced from high-quality chicken.
This specific recipe also contains a good mix of probiotics to aid in improving your dog’s immunity system. Lastly, Wysong Epigen’s dry food also has prebiotic fiber to help your dog easily break down the food to minimize stomach and gut irritation. It does have preservatives in it, so this may not be the choice for you if you’re looking for all-natural dog food. There are also few flavors available.
TruDog Feed Me Crunchy Munchy Beef Bonanza Raw Freeze-Dried Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Beef, Beef Tripe, Beef Lung, Ground Beef, Bone Beef, Liver |
| Protein content: | 41% |
TruDog Feed Me Crunchy Munchy can also help dogs who are suffering from yeast infections. This formula has a limited amount of ingredients, is high in quality red meat, and contains premium cuts of organic beef and bone.
This recipe also has a herring oil added to its formula to support healthy skin and coats. You’ll be happy to find that this formula doesn’t contain gluten, wheat, corn, or soy. It’s also completely free of fillers, artificial colors, and antibiotics.
Hypoallergenic dogs will certainly appreciate this easily digestible freeze-dried dog food. So, if your dog has skin sensitivity or allergies related to yeast infections, this may be a good option to consider. This meal is high in protein, which may not be great for dogs with certain medical conditions, although most dogs will benefit from it. It’s also on the expensive side.
Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain Lamb & Blueberry Recipe Adult Mini Breed Dry Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Lamb, Dehydrated Lamb, Whole Spelt, Whole Oats, Dried Whole Eggs |
| Protein content: | 28% |
This dry food recipe by Farmina is full of nutrients and based on a low-carbohydrate, protein-optimized, recipe. It’s formulated to help dogs with skin conditions such as yeast issues, allergies, yeast problems, and food sensitivities.
This meal comes in low on the glycemic index, which makes the dog’s body a hostile environment for yeast. This diet contains no GMO foods. To promote skin and coat health, it’s full of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, which can help to calm an irritated stomach and GI tract.
Farmina is a recipe specifically created to treat the digestive problems of dogs with yeast problems. It’s a great food option for owners looking for the best dog food that will support yeast infections and dogs with sensitive stomachs. Like other options, this food is a bit pricey. It also isn’t grain-free if your dog needs a grain-free diet.
Buyer’s Guide: Picking the Best Dog Foods for Yeast Infections
After reading through our top five picks for the best dog food for yeast infections, you still may want more information or have a few questions. Many factors affect your dog’s tendency to develop uncomfortable yeast infections. In this buyer’s guide, we’ll explain the signs and symptoms of a yeast infection in dogs and provide you with tips for following an anti-yeast diet.
What Are the Common Symptoms?
Your dog’s actions will give away whether they are possibly suffering from a yeast infection. As it is most commonly situated in your dog’s ears, the infection will create discomfort that can cause your dog to excessively rub and tilt their head, as well walk in circles and possibly become off balance. Additionally, you may notice near the infected area(s) a foul odor, a yellowish discharge, redness, swelling, and/or a loss of fur.
If you see any of these symptoms, you’ll need to contact your veterinarian. If left untreated, yeast infections not only can be extremely painful for your dog, but if located in the ear, they can also cause deafness.
What Is a Yeast Infection in Dogs?
A yeast infection happens to be a somewhat common inflammatory skin or ear condition in dogs and other pets. It involves an overgrowth of the Malassezia species of yeast, which is naturally found on your dog’s skin, in your dog’s ears, and in other mucocutaneous areas.
For dogs with floppy ears, there’s a greater opportunity for a favorable environment for yeast to grow. Other factors that can lead to a yeast infection include hot, humid conditions, trapped water from bathing or swimming, and certain allergens, both airborne and what your dog ingests.
The Anti-yeast Diet
Fortunately, preventing and treating a yeast infection in your dog is relatively simple. Your veterinarian will likely prescribe medication and offer you a few recommendations. One way to prevent yeast infections in your dog is to make sure to keep your dog’s ears dry and clean. Also, you should avoid contact with certain allergens if the infection is afflicting your dog’s skin.
The second method involves changing your dog’s diet to help your dog recover quickly and avoid further infections. An anti-yeast diet involves giving your dog the ingredients they need while eliminating possible allergens that may contribute to the overgrowth of yeast.
Remove Sugar and Starch From Your Dog’s Diet
Sugar and starch feed the growth of yeast in your dog’s system. By eliminating your dog’s intake of these ingredients, you’ll essentially starve the yeast by reducing your dog’s blood glucose levels. Always be aware of the ingredients in your dog food. Even if it states that it’s grain free, your dog food may still contain potatoes, which are full of starch.
Other Ingredients to Avoid
In addition to potatoes, you should limit your dog’s consumption of rice, fruits high in sugar, peas, corn, wheat, and grains. Also, consider your dog treats, which could be highly processed, to make sure that they don’t contain starchy fillers or high fructose corn syrup.
What Your Dog Needs
- Look for dog foods that contain a limited amount of ingredients. Your dog will greatly benefit from dog food that contains lean animal proteins, probiotics and prebiotics, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, and low-glycemic carbohydrates like green vegetables.
- As you combat your dog’s yeast infection, remember to choose foods that will help booster their overall health and increase their immunity. Your dog food should offer plenty of vitamins and minerals, as well as natural sources of antioxidants, healthy animal-based fats, and dietary fiber.
Avoiding Other Potential Health Issues
- It’s important to consider any consequences of changing your dog’s food. As you work to solve one problem, your dog’s yeast infection, you may inadvertently create a new health concern. Always consult your veterinarian before changing your dog’s food. Certain factors, such as the age of your dog and other preexisting conditions, can affect how you choose your next dog food.
- When selecting a dog food that aligns with an anti-yeast diet, you’ll most likely select a grain-free variety that’s high in protein in order to avoid giving your dog harmful starches and sugars. Before you proceed, however, consider two possible health concerns.
High Protein Caution
If you own an older dog or one who has liver or kidney issues, a high-protein diet can aggravate or worsen their condition. These internal organs may become overtaxed by the high protein, which can potentially lead to serious health issues.
FDA Update on Grain Free
In July 2019, the FDA issued an report that possibly links grain-free dog food with the development of heart condition DCM, dilated cardiomyopathy. The FDA is actively investigating the cause, as well as possible other factors, such as the ingredients used to replace the grains in the dog foods. At this time, there is no direct evidence. However, if you own a dog breed that’s inclined to develop DCM or otherwise have a reason for concern, it’s always best to talk to your veterinarian before giving your dog grain-free dog food.
Tips for Changing your Dog’s Food
As you make changes to help your dog gain relief from their yeast infection symptoms, you’ll most likely purchase a new type of dog food. If you plan to change the brand and composition of your dog’s food, you’ll need to do it gradually in order to avoid causing your dog an upset stomach or diarrhea.
The Seven-Day Switch
The best method for a trouble-free transition involves slowly introducing the new food over a seven-day period. Each day, adjust the ratio of old food to new food. The first days will have a greater amount of old food, while the last days will have more of the new food until you’ve finally made the full transition.
Final Thoughts
So, in our reviews, the Nulo Freestyle Limited+ Grain-Free Salmon Recipe Dry Dog Food review comes in first as the best overall dog food for yeast infections. Zignature Zssential Multi-Protein Formula Grain-Free Dry Dog Food Is our top pick for the best value dog food that also aids in recovery.
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Hydrolyzed Protein Adult HP Dry Dog Food comes in close as third, providing a premium choice with a list of nutritional quality. And Solid Gold Wolf Cub Potato-Free Puppy Food comes in 4th and he is our best pick for puppy-centered recipes.
We ranked Hill’s Prescription Diet Digestive Care Low Fat Chicken Flavor Dry Dog Food as number 5 in our review and it’s one of the most highly recommended dog foods by veterinarians.
