YEAST INFECTIONS IN DOGS

 
Yeasts are single cell organisms, which are found on the surfaces of all living things, including your pet's body. Yeasts normally live on the mucous membranes of the digestive tract. Unfriendly bacteria, viruses, allergens and other enemies also find their way into other membrane-lined passageways and cavities. Also existing in the body are billions of friendly germs.

One family of yeasts called, Candida albicans, live in your pet's body, and consume substances such as sugar and fats in order to survive. Yeast toxins affect your pet's immune system, nervous system, and their endocrine system. Since these systems are all connected, yeast toxins play a major role in causing allergies, vaginal and bladder infections, skin disorders and many other health problems.

When a pet's immune system is healthy, the body is able to destroy the yeast. However, when the immune system is weak, the yeast may produce in mass amounts causing toxinanti yeast diets for dogs that disable the immune system and prevent it from functioning properly. In this case, the immune system cannot destroy the yeast. At this point, the system becomes altered causing a host of health problems.

Many pet owners have visited several veterinarians, and have spent hundreds of dollars without any positive results. In a large percentage of cases, a vet has ruled out a yeast infection. However, when the owner began treatment for a yeast infection, the pet responded positively.

Signs and Symptoms of a Yeast Infection

  • Food Allergies

  • Nearly Every Type of Allergic Reaction

  • Food Sensitivities

  • Hypoglycaemia Reaction

  • Diabetes

  • Constipation

  • Digestive Disturbances

  • Ongoing Ear Mite Problem

  • Depression

  • Muscle and Joint Pain (Stiff Joints/Arthritis)

  • Dizziness

  • White-Coated Tongue

  • Brittle Nails

  • Hives and other Skin Eruptions

  • Rectal Itching

  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome

  • Asthma

  • Chronic Infections

  • Infertility

  • Mucus in the Stool

  • Clogged Sinuses

  • Environmental Sensitivity

  • Bloating

  • Flatulence

  • Diarrhoea

  • Insomnia

  • Severe Itching & Skin Rashes

  • Persistent Cough

  • Fatigue

  • Chronic Ear Infections

  • Greasy Skin

  • Cloudy Eyes

  • Foul Odour from the Body or Ears

  • Discharge from the Eyes, Ears or Nose

  • Scratching in or under the Ears

  • Reddened area inside the Ears

  • Hypothyroidism

  • Cancer

  • Immune Disorders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The symptoms listed above may be due to other health issues, therefore, before concluding that your pet's health problem is yeast related you should have your pet checked by a veterinarian to rule out anaemia, diabetes, cancer or other diseases. If these problems are ruled out, it is likely your pet may be suffering from a yeast infection.

Treating A Yeast Infection Naturally -- How To Get Started
The program outlined suggests general guidelines to follow. Since your pet has it's own individual needs, we highly recommend a consultation before beginning the program.

Many different types of traditional treatments are being used to treat yeast and other skin problems. Although drugs are very effective, in most cases they do not eliminate the cause of the symptom. To get at the cause, you need to look at the whole picture. Once the cause is found, a PREVENTION PLAN can be initiated.

A prevention plan is a simple method of enhancing the level of nutrition and making lifestyle changes. It is an attempt to address any special needs your pet may have.



Prevention Plan

  1. Change the Diet -- You Must Feed an Anti-Yeast Diet

An anti-yeast diet is one that includes meats, most vegetables and some diary. An anti-yeast diet will starve the yeast and aid in the healing process. However, diet alone will not control the problem, it is only the first step. Keep in mind a restricted diet does not have to last forever. Once your pet's health improves, you will be able to expand on what you feed.

Foods that are allowed:

  • Vegetables:
    asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, parsley, squash, brussel sprouts, celery, green beans, yellow beans, cucumbers, collard, kale, lettuce, spinach.

  • Meats:
    Beef, duck, chicken, fish, rabbit, turkey, Cornish hen, lamb.

  • Dairy:
    Plain yoghurt.
    Cultured pasteurised non-fat milk, naturally milled sugar, natural vanilla flavour, pectin, turmeric, made with multiple organisms: S. Thermophilus, L. Bulgaricus, L. Acidophilus, bifidus, L. Casei and L. Reuteri live active cultures. Purchase the French Vanilla.

  • Beverages:
    Water

  • Forbidden Foods:
    Buttermilk
    Cheeses
    Packaged cereal
    Cottage cheese
    Crackers
    Flour enriched with vitamins from yeast
    Mushrooms Packaged & processed foods
    Peanuts
    Pretzels
    Sorbital
    Sweet Potatoes and yams
    Vitamin/minerals from yeast source
    Breads
    Sausage
    Potatoes
    Bacon
    Corn beef
    Lunchmeats
    Smoked turkey
    Ham
    Sauces, gravies
    ALL grains -- white rice, brown rice, wheat, oats, barley
    Anything sweet -- sugar, honey, molasses, maple syrup, corn syrup, dextrose

  • Avoid Dry Dog/Cat foods containing:
    Poultry-by-product meal
    Meat-by-products
    Corn syrup
    Caramel colouring
    Rice flour
    Wheat gluten
    Corn gluten
    Sugar

Recommended Anti-Yeast Diets



  Chicken n' Veggies

  • 1 package of chicken thighs with skin (family pack)

  • Remove chicken skin on half of the pieces and discard.

  • 2 chicken bouillon cubes

  • 2 cloves garlic

  • 1½ cups water

  • 1 bag frozen vegetables (use one vegetable)

In crock-pot place chicken, garlic and 1½ cups water. Cook on LOW for 6 hours or until the chicken is completely cooked. Add vegetables. Stir. Meal is complete.

Before serving, carefully remove the bones. Serve at room temperature. Refrigerator for 6 days -- then discard.

  Chicken n' Beans

  • 1 package of chicken thighs with skin (family pack)
    Remove skin on half of the pieces and discard.

  • 1 can kidney beans drained (10 oz. can)

  • 2 cloves garlic

  • 1½ cups water

  • 1 bag frozen vegetables or 2 cups fresh vegetables

In crock-pot place chicken, garlic and 1½ cups water. Cook on LOW for 6 hours or until the chicken is completely cooked. Add 1 bag frozen/fresh vegetables and kidney beans. Stir. Meal is complete.

Before serving, carefully remove the bones. Serve at room temperature. Refrigerator for 6 days -- then discard.

  Beef Melody

  • 2 lbs. medium fat ground meat or cubed steak

  • 2 cloves garlic

  • 1½ cups water

  • 1 bag frozen vegetables or 2 cups fresh vegetables

In crock-pot place beef, garlic and 1½ cups water. Cook on LOW for 6 hours or until the beef is completely cooked. Turn crock-pot off. Add 1 bag frozen/fresh vegetables. Stir. Meal is complete.

Serve at room temperature. Refrigerator for 6 days -- then discard.

The crock-pot is suggested for ease of cooking, but any method can be used. You can also feed a raw diet, however, it is the position of Purely Pets that BARF feeding has certain dangers. While we are not against it, we do not recommend it because it takes a certain amount of knowledge to feed it risk-free.

Cooking, or feeding raw is not convenient for everyone, and you should not feel guilty or feel that you will never get the problem under control. You can still feed a high quality dry or canned food. However, it will take a little longer to get the yeast problem under control.

We suggest feeding your pet several small meals a day. Pets should be fed as we do -- breakfast, lunch, dinner and a light snack before bedtime. A feeding schedule is outlined below which you can adjust to your lifestyle.

  • 07:00 a.m. or when you get up: Dry food or homemade diet.

  • 11:00 a.m. Light snack: Vegetable, meat or yoghurt. 

  • 03:00 p.m. Light snack: Vegetable, meat or yoghurt.

  • 07:00 p.m. Dinner: Dry food or homemade diet.

  • Before bed: Light snack: Vegetable or yoghurt.

2. Supplementing is a Must When Treating Skin Disorders

Antibiotics, especially if you give them repeatedly destroy the friendly bacteria. Since antibiotics do not harm yeast, they spread out and raise large families that thrive in moist, dark, warm places, such as the mouth, intestines, ears, and nose. When yeasts multiply, they put out toxins, which circulate through your pet's body and make them sick.

However, I do not recommend discontinuing traditional medicine cold turkey or discontinuing at all. This is YOUR decision based on how the following program works. I highly recommend you work closely with someone knowledgeable in nutrition, such as a holistic vet or pet nutritionist. Many traditional vets may not agree with the program.

Conclusion:
Pets may show a response to treatment within a month, however some take several months, even a year. The length of treatment seems proportional to the cooperation of the owner. In other words, if the owner gives the remedies once a day, administers antibiotics during the treatment program, and feeds a low quality diet, the treatment will take longer. Treatment will be more effective if the owner remains persistent with the required regimen.

A yeast infection is very frustrating and an ailment that takes commitment on the part of the owner. The program is not easy, however, when the yeast is under control, owners report significant improvement and a new positive lifestyle for the pet.

A consultation is highly recommended before any treatment is started. A consultation will include a personalized diet and holistic program suggestions, all custom-tailored to your pet's personal needs. While Purely Pets continues to provide and even add educational articles on the website, these are just general in nature. We therefore encourage you to tailor a program specifically for your pet's needs. This is particularly imperative in pets with complicated health issues, or if you have done outside reading and have conflicting information.

 Article submitted by: © Darleen Rudnick (Biography & Additional Information)

 
YEAST ISSUES



Many pets have sensitivities to yeast of any kind. Brewer's yeast, nutritional yeast, tortula yeast are a few of the types of yeast found in various pet supplements and pet foods. Yeast is becoming a growing concern for many pet owners.

The primary yeast used by the pet food industry is Saccharomyces cerevisiae. You will find that nutritional yeast, brewer's yeast, tortula yeast are all derived from S. Cerevisiae. It is up to the manufacturer to name the yeast. Two manufacturers may produce brewer's yeast using two different ingredients i.e. sugar beets or hops. Yeast is Yeast. Brewer's yeast is the most abundant form and originated in pet food as a by-product of the brewing industry.

Yeast tends to overpopulate quickly within the digestive tract. If populations in the gut exceed normal growth then yeast will spill out into the bloodstream. Once this occurs pets will experience foot licking, heavy black and thick ear discharge, discomfort, urinary infections and perhaps diarrhea. If left untreated yeast can start to interfere with organs and body function. Yeast will thrive in a simple carbohydrate diet such as grains and sugars. Therefore, sometimes all it takes is a small amount of yeast given the correct conditions to overpopulate.

Prevention can occur by two methods. Firstly, you can make sure your pet doesn't consume any products containing yeast. Secondly, the addition of probiotics into the digestive system will help to achieve balance in the gut. Probiotics are "good" bacteria such as lactobacillus acidophilus, bifidobacterium bifidus, Streptococcus faecium, or lactobacillus salivarius. FOS, Fructooligosacchrides, is a natural carbohydrate that increases the population of the "good" bacteria. Make sure you purchase a probiotic with FOS.

You can purchase probiotics at a health food store or live-culture yogurt will contain "good" bacteria. You may need to give more probiotics than the recommended amount to achieve results.

My thinking is why put a "contaminant" like yeast into the body just to cause havoc? Many dogs and cats health problems are contributed to yeast. However, it is undiagnosed or misdiagnosed frequently. The nutritional properties in yeast can be found in too many other ingredients. Yeast is a cheap ingredient and hence why it is used more often than the more expensive ingredients. At what price are you willing to pay for your pet's health? Our priority should be health rather than money. You will find the pet foods and supplements containing NO YEAST are more expensive but the end result will be cheaper. Not only on your pocket book but your pet's quality of life.

It is very important to read the label of each product you purchase. If you find an ingredient you are unsure of please ask the manufacturer or do not purchase the product. If you see any type of yeast on the label make sure you leave the product on the shelf. YEAST IS YEAST.

This article written by T. Nowak, (c) copyright 2002, all rights reserved.

  ANTI-FUNGAL / ANIT-YEAST TREATMENT POWDER

  • 2 tablespoons boric acid

  •  1 cups cornstarch 

Place in a large salt shaker. Shake on any area with a fungal rash. Some skin rashes are severe enough to take two weeks to heal. 

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