Top 7 Best Anti-Yeast Dog Foods That Actually Work for Yeast Infections

Anti-Yeast dog food is a specialized food intended to help reduce yeast production in dogs with Yeast Dermatitis. This unique diet is different than a grain-free diet, but are often mistaken for the same thing. Anti-yeast diets focus on ingredients lower in starch, which goes beyond grains.

Anti-yeast diets are gaining in popularity as cases of dogs with skin irritations continue to increase. For a while, it was assumed dogs with skin irritation suffered from allergies. Though allergies are a big part of this, veterinarians are finding that it goes beyond allergies. Even after dogs went to grain-free food, dogs were still suffering from yeast infections.

Yeast dermatitis is only one of the common yeast conditions. Other yeast infections plague dogs, both externally and internally. The type of yeast infection is dependent on which strain of yeast is growing in or on your dog. Yeast is a form of fungus. Most living beings have fungus in and on them. However, when there is an overgrowth of fungus, that is when it becomes a problem.

Dog food labels do not state “Anti-Yeast,” so it is essential to know what ingredients to look for on the ingredient list. There are several starchy foods to avoid. In addition to the foods to avoid, there are also several ingredients you will want to be sure are included in your dog’s diet.

For more food ideas that are focused on dogs with sensitive dietary needs, due to allergies, consider trying a chicken free dog food.

What is Yeast Dermatitis?

Yeast Dermatitis, also known as Malassezia dermatitis, is one of the most common types of yeast infections. It is a skin condition regularly found in dogs suffering from skin irritations. It is a condition in which yeast has flourished, causing your dog’s skin to become inflamed and itchy. It can even lead to sores from where your dog has been scratching.

Symptoms of Yeast Dermatitis:

• Itchy Skin
• Musty smell
• Skin inflammation
• The skin appears scaly and flaky
• Thickened skin
• Change in pigmentation, the skin will appear darker
• Frequent ear infections

If you suspect your dog suffers from Yeast Dermatitis, you will want to seek confirmation from your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will take a specimen of the suspected areas of the skin for testing.

If your veterinarian verifies that your dog has Yeast Dermatitis, they will likely recommend you purchase medicated shampoos, medicated mousse, antibiotics if there is an infection from scratching, and possibly a change in your dog’s diet.

Other Common Yeast Infections

Yeast infections can be found on the inside and outside of your dog. Ear infections are a common form of a yeast infection.

Candidiasis is another yeast infection commonly seen in dogs. Candidiasis can manifest as urinary infection, ear infection, GI infection, or even in the mouth and nose.

Symptoms of Candidiasis:

• Itching or biting
• Pawing at their ears
• Shaking their heads
• Redness and inflammation
• Unpleasant odors
• Fever
• Skin irritation or sores

Importance of an Anti-Yeast Diet

The purpose of an anti-yeast diet is to starve the overabundance of yeast growth. Yeast requires sugar to survive, and without it, yeast will die. Foods high in starch or sugar increase the blood glucose levels, aiding the survival of fungus.

Mistakenly, people feed their dogs grain free diets assuming it will aid in reducing the yeast production. Unfortunately, many of the grain-free diets contain other ingredients with high starch or sugar content like potatoes. Starchy foods like potatoes are perfect for feeding the unwanted yeast that is infecting our beloved canines.

What is an Anti-Yeast Diet?

An anti-yeast diet is low in sugar and starches. It should include lean proteins, fruits, and low starch vegetables. Carbohydrates are an excellent source for energy, but in anti-yeast diets, carbs need to be lower on the glycemic index level.

Worst Ingredients for Dogs with Yeast Infections

• Rice
• Fruits high in sugar
• Potatoes
• Processed food
• Peas
• Corn
• High fructose corn syrup
• Wheat and Grains
• Starchy binding ingredients

The Best Ingredients for Dogs with Yeast Dermatitis

• Lean animal protein
• Greens like spinach, kale, and seaweed
• Zucchini
• Broccoli
• Foods rich in Omega 3s& 6s
• Low sugar fruits
• Probiotics and prebiotics

Top 7 Best Yeast Free Dog Foods | Reviews in 2019

Note – Most anti-yeast dog foods will still have carbohydrates, but at minimal levels.

1. Stella & Chewy’s Stella’s Solutions Skin & Coat Boost Dinner Morsels Dog Food

Stella’s Solutions Skin & Coat Boost is a protein-rich formula designed to reduce inflammation and provide relief from itchy skin. Though it has pineapple, a fruit high in sugar, it is also an excellent natural anti-inflammatory.

This formula is grain-free and potato free, it uses coconut flour as a binding agent instead of the traditional wheat flour. This food also contains superfoods like fenugreek seed, flaxseed, and kelp. Also, it includes lean proteins like salmon, which is rich in essential fatty acids. Also, the food has been enriched with probiotics to aid in a healthy GI system.

2. Instinct Original Grain-Free Dry Dog Food – Real Salmon Recipe

Instinct Original Grain-Free Recipe’s first two ingredients are animal protein. This formula is free from artificial colors, preservatives, grains, corn, soy, and potatoes. However, this food is rich in vita vitamins and nutrients and has added probiotics to promote strong digestive health. Instinct Original Grain-Free food is a lean protein forward food that is enhanced with probiotics. Also, Instinct Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Salmon has a high level of critical fatty acids.

3. Honest Kitchen Limited Ingredient Dog Food – Fish Recipe

The Honest Kitchen produces dehydrated dog food that only needs water to make it a complete meal. A 10-pound bag of food will make 40 pounds of food once rehydrated. This formula is rich in superfoods like coconut, spinach, and pumpkin.

The ingredients used in this food are all human-grade quality. Honest Kitchen – Limited Ingredient Fish Recipe contains only six main components, not including the added minerals and vitamins. The leading ingredient in this food is fish. Also, this limited ingredient recipe is free of grains, corn, wheat, potatoes, artificial colors and preservatives

4. Farmina Dog Food – Lamb and Blueberry Recipe

Farmina is an Italian based company that has higher than average manufacturing standards. The lamb and blueberry formula is free from grains, potato, and soy. Also, this recipe has several superfoods like spinach, blueberries, and pumpkin rich in antioxidants, which helps to boost the immune system.

As a bonus, this formula has been enhanced with glucosamine and chondroitin, which aid in ensuring healthy joints. The Lamb and Blueberry recipe includes a lot of dried ingredients which helps retain the nutritional integrity of the food. Because lamb is considered a unique protein source this is a good food for dogs with food sensitivities.

5. Earthborn Holistic Venture Dry Dog Food

This unique formula is free from grains and potatoes. It contains minimal ingredients and is rich in vitamins and minerals. The food has been enhanced with probiotics to promote good gut health. Squid is considered a unique protein, making this a great recipe for dogs with food sensitivities.

Because of the use of squid and lack of high allergen foods like eggs, dairy, and grains, this would be the perfect formula for dogs with allergies.

6. Zignature Goat Limited Ingredient Formula High Protein Dry Dog Food

Zignature is a grain-free dog food that has an abundance of unique proteins. Goat is not only unique, but it is also very lean. This food is not only grain-free but also free of potatoes, eggs, and soy making it an excellent choice for dogs with food allergies.

Though this food contains limited ingredients, it is still abundant in protein and vital nutrients. The goat formula contains superfoods like flaxseed and alfalfa. Goat is not a common protein, making this a great recipe for dogs with food sensitivities.

7. Acana Single Limited Ingredient Diet Dog Food – Turkey and Greens Formula

Acana is a high-quality protein-rich food. The Turkey and Greens formula is a limited ingredient formula with a single animal protein and is free from potatoes, grains, and soy.

The Turkey and Greens recipe is rich in superfoods like turnip greens, mustard greens, and kelp.

Acana Turkey has also been enhanced with probiotics to promote a healthy digestive system. It also contains essential fatty acids and has only a maximum of 2% of sugar. Unlike many of the other anti-yeast foods this food can be found more easily at retail stores.

Final Thoughts

As pet parents, we only want the very best for our dogs, and sometimes that means changing their diet to anti-yeast dog food. Though the anti-yeast dog foods are more expensive than non-specialty foods, it is cheaper in the long run.

Vet bills and medications add up quickly when battling yeast infections. Plus, if a yeast infection is left unattended, it can lead to more severe health issues for your dog. Additionally, yeast infections are very uncomfortable for our pooches and will impact their quality of life.

Changing your dog’s food over to an anti-yeast diet may not eliminate all yeast infections, but it will at least reduce the number of infections significantly. We all want what is best for our pups, and sometimes that means we need to change our dog’s food to a specialized dog food formula.