Beat Pet Yeast Infections: Raw Diet & Natural Remedies
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I have a 9 y/o blue heeler dog with chronic systemic yeast. When I read the posted comments from other dog owners, it would appear that many of the problems others are dealing with are mild in comparison to what I am going through. Buster's problems were similar to the milder systems I've read about in the early years of his condition and were thought to have been allergies to food at first, and later fleas. Each time I upgraded to a better quality food or tried some other recommendation, there was improvement for a while, but the symptoms always returned, and always worse each time. It wasn't until his ears became terribly infected with yeast (the ears were easy to take care of using the solution recommended by the Great Dane Lady) that I was able to connect all the dots and figure out what he was suffering from thanks to the Great Dane Lady's web site. I ordered the recommended Yeast Removal Kit and followed all the instructions to the letter, including ordering the recommended shampoo and buying the #1 recommended variety of food for the problem. This was over a year ago. With the feeding recommendations and enzyme supplements, there was great improvement and I had hopes of a recovery for him, but he has setbacks and each time the yeast is worst than ever. He looks so bad that I am embarrassed to take him to the vet and use a mobile vet instead. He suspects that Buster suffers from allergies as well as yeast and of course offered Prednisone, which I declined. He also said that dogs like this are often never cured and it is all you can do to just control their symptoms and keep them comfortable. I know that the root of the problem is probably based on a compromised immune system, because after all the work, he still looks and feels just as terrible as he did. I'm glad to have found this web site and plan to start him on the yogurt and vinegar suggestions this week. There seems to be some conflict on amounts. I am writing to see if anyone has experience with a dog who has an exceptionally bad yeast infection - stubborn and deeply rooted that keeps recurring. If there is someone out there who can offer any specific ideas for my dog, I would greatly appreciate it. I have been able to link his flare-ups to warm weather and heat. He flared up in the fall when we turned our a/c off for the year (even though it was not hot) and he flared up again come spring when the weather warmed. He has to be kept inside, he can't tolerate heat, even if it is mild to us. Rather a sad life for a blue heeler. He can only go outside at night during the summer months. I have considered a raw diet for him, but he does not like raw chicken at all and will only eat raw beef or venison. For the past year, he has been on a holistic dog food only with only meat based treats. There seems to be also some different suggestions concerning dog food. A pet shop owner recently recommended I try a grain free food for him so that is the only time we have strayed from the brand recommended. His yeast seems worse and I am not sure whether to keep trying it or go back to the other brand. I don't know how long to wait before giving up on it. Is grain free really okay when it has potato or sweet potato content? Obviously, I am conflicted about what is best for him at this point and all of these ideas and suggestions are wonderful but it's hard to figure out what is best for an individual dog. I am open to suggestions. Thank you!
The grain free is good but even more important is to get her off anything with starches such as potatoes, rice, rice flour etc. This turns to sugar as soon as they eat it and yeast feeds on sugar.
Also check into using the grapefruit seed extract and the colodial silver.
Yeast Infection in dogs: Our 20 lb. jack russell terrier was suffering from "beef" allergies so the vet said after a $200 visit in which they put her on prednisone and an antibiotic. She was fine for two weeks after the medication was finished, and then she seemed to be worse. She was on a salmon based dog food (Purina Pro Plan) and her skin became inflamed after eating anything. She was constantly licking, chewing and scratching herself. We bought her a collar so she could no longer lick or chew her skin--then she started to develop crud under her front arms and she was "sweaty" in her groin area and her skin was inflamed and bleeding from where she scratched and she stunk like yeast. I immediately went on the internet and found info about yeast infections in dog and the condition her skin was in was like that described on many differnet sites--hair loss, red, welty, blackened in spots. I immediately put her on 3 benadryl tablets a day to help with the itching, two tablespoons of organice plain yogurt, and 2 acidophilus pills a day. She was already eating chicken and rice and cooked veggies, but I cut back the rice and now only give her chicken, yogurt, and have switched the food to Merrick--a high protein dog food (1/4 cup dry w/a tablespoon of wet, a little chicken and the yogurt for her two meals daily. I have also added a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to her water dish daily. After 2 days the acidophilus tablets cut the smell. We wiped her skin daily with vinegar and water (50/50) and just gave her a bath yesterday--we had just bathed her 2 days before we bought the collar. She does not smell after the bath except slightly under her front arms--but not noticible unless you rub your hand on her skin. I also cut back on the benadryl as she started to itch less and now she is not taking any at all after 1 week. Her hair is growing back on the hot spot and no inflamation on the skin at all during the treatment.
Posted by Laura (Oroville, CA, USA) on 03/24/2009 ★☆☆☆☆
YEASTY BULLDOG: We are a family full of dogs. 3 engilish bulldogs 1 rescue boxer 1 yorshire terrier. I recently aquired a 2 year old male english bulldog. Geesh does he smell. I knew of yeast problems with these dogs due to poor breeding. He is a mess. I started him on yogurt when we brought him home. Also switched him to the Nutro brand dog food my others are on. Nutro for sensitive digestive systems (bullies are gassey dogs) I have not noticed a change in Mr. Stinky. I am going to bath him with the 50/50 mix of apple cider vinegar and add acidophilus tablets to his food. He was really skinny when I got him. He is just in bad shape. My goal is to get him fattened back up and minimize the yeast problems. We are putting monostate 7 in his ears daily. Thanks so much for this website. I am also a mother of a juvenile diabetic and am huge into holistic remedies. I will update with the progress of my stinky boy.
Posted by Chrissy (Roslyn, New York) on 02/19/2009 ★★★★★
Hi, My little Shih Tzu suffers terribly from yeast, however, I've been spraying him down with white vinegar and Aloe Vera Juice (The organic kind made to drink). The Aloe seems to be healing up the scabby skin. Even the Vet remarked that he looked better. I am also trying the probiotics and keeping him away from all grains and veggies, just meat and fish (some raw organic meat as well.) I've seen some improvement with this protocol, and hope to have him cured or at least have this stuff under control with the acidophilolus - I added yogurt today (although he doesn't like it).
Thanks for this site, it helps me to see what other people are trying. Best, Chrissy
Posted by Laurie (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) on 01/03/2009 ★★★★★
Yogurt and Acidophilus works! I had a pittbull X that was on Steroids for 6 years, eventually passing away at 8 years of Liver Cancer - and she had a yeast problem till the day she died. The steroids and dandruff shampoo made it only tolerable. Now my 2 year old pitti is developing the same problem - and does she stink. I read this site and gave her about 1/4 cup yogurt with 1 capsule of acidophilus in it. Next day, almost no smell, and a lot less scratching. Three days later, it's 95% gone. If only we had known this with our other dog. Please Please try to stay away from Steroids.
Thank goodness for this site. I wish we had had this info in 2001
My little lahso apso has had itchy skin for her whole 3 year old life. She is allergic to fleas. I thought it was yeast or allergies. She has a little yeast in her ears that cleared up with epi optic solution from the vet. But it was hard for me to believe it but yes she is allergic to fleas. I have to use flea drops every 2 1/2 weeks religiously. I use mycodex to spray for fleas in my house often. She is so much better and all that itchy skin and rashes is all gone.
Posted by Gretchen (Cuenca, Ecuador) on 04/07/2011 ★★★★★
The research is overwhelming of the benefits of Neem oil for every skin condition. It is antifungal antibacterial and anti parasitic. Neem capsules inserted in a bit of cheese or peanut butter in addition to the external application of the oil would be the most effective. Do your research and see.
Posted by Keri (Kalispell, Montana) on 03/31/2008 ★★★★★
After a year of constant yeast infections and allergies in my lab/aussie mix, someone told me to check the label on her dog food. Come to find out, Brewer's yeast was one of the number 1 ingredients. It seemed that the added yeast was making the problem worse. I switched dog foods to a product that did not list Brewer's yeast and have not had a yeast infection since. I don't know if this will work for everyone, but for anyone with animals prone to yeast infections, it's worth looking into.
Posted by Maribel (Harlingen, Texas) on 03/20/2008 ★★★★★
I want to thank Ted, Claudia, Judy, Susan and Anna for your advise. I started our five year old English Bulldog, Brutus, on ACV and plain yogurt once a day. I'm also using white vinegar and distilled water to clean the affected areas on his skin. I am so happy and proud to say that the results are amaizing. In less than a week the yeast is almost all gone. I checked him last night and the redness is all gone. He's not itching and the faul smell is gone too. The only reason I know he has a yeast problem is because the dermatologist scraped his neck, legs, paws and armpits and he was full of yeast. Brutus has been taking antibiotics, but the yeast comes back as soon as he finishes the meds. That's aside from taking his allergy shots once a week. Brutus has had skin allergies since he was a few months old. I just cannot believe it worked so fast. I will continue the ACV and yogurt and will keep you posted. Thanks a million!!!
Posted by Clinton (Fairhaven, Ma) on 10/06/2008 ★★★★★
I just recently tried a 50/50 mixture of Apple Cider Vinegar and water to help with my 9 month old Weimaraner, Brody, to help what I beleive is a yeast infection. He has all the common symptoms, rash, very oily coat, and a horrible smell. I sprayed him down and brushed the mixture into his fur. The smell has gone away instantly, and oddly he doesnt smell like vinegar. I also gave him 1/2 a cup of plain yogurt, and he ate it right up. I hope this helps, if not we will be seeing the vet.
Posted by Lance (Westville , Nova Scotia/Canada) on 01/07/2009 ★★★★☆
My dog a rottie has a bad yeast infection. the vet had him on meds and he was fine while he was on them but then it returned along with the itch. i used a formula of 1-500ml bottle of hrdrogen peroxide 3% and 2-500ml bottles of water with 3 Tbsp of borax for a wash using this every day for 4 days spraying it on and letting it dry.
I also added 1/8 tsp borax and1/4 tsp baking soda to 1 litre of his drinking water for 3 days. His skin seems better but he is scratching constantly and now is waking up in the middle of the night to scratch. What else can I do? I having a hard time finding copper chloride but am not quite sure of the solution you provided. I find it hard to understand when you use % instead of a measurement and do you mix the copper and zinc and vinegar with water for a spray or is it a paste. But what would be a good alternative? his itch is very bad. Look forward to feedback soon.
Today was the first day my Labrador dog, Winston, got chlorella. I've been looking for something easy and not terribly expensive to improve his diet. It was mixed with some warm water and stirred it into his dry food. He's never been so excited about his food and even licked around the bowl to get every bit of it.
He has a yeast infection on his belly and the vet said there isn't anything that can be done for it, but I'm not giving up. The chlorella can't hurt. If the infection improves, I'll certainly report back.
Posted by Brandy (Louisiana ) on 10/24/2022 1 posts ★★★★★
WORKED TEMPORARILY
Hi,
I am so grateful to have found this website! Thank you to everyone who post such helpful information.
I have a 3 year old Shih Tzu who is suffering from yeast. I have stopped taking him to the vet to avoid all the steroids and commercial foods they try to force on me. I have stopped dog food & treats. He gets Stoneyfield Organic Probiotic Yogurt before his meals twice a day. I have been giving cooked ground beef with white rice, carrots & green beans, but will be starting him (in the next 2 days as soon as the supplements arrive) on a yeast starvation diet that I found on another very helpful website, www.homemadedogfood.com. It consist of raw organic grass-fed ground beef, hard boiled eggs including the shells, Supromega omega 3 supplement, and Dinovite supplement. I have also started putting 1/4 tsp Borax in 1 liter purified water for him to drink. However, I find him not drinking as much water as he used to. Maybe because it isn't cold water from the fridge anymore but the borax wouldn't dissolve in cold water so I switched to room temp water.
I bathe him with PetHonesty Chlorhexidine shampoo for yeast and have tried wiping his skin with the 50/50 Braggs ACV with “mother”. He doesn't like to be sprayed and will just run which is why I tried using cotton balls to wipe the mixture on him. I then found Ted's Borax for Mange bath rinse and saw someone posted they used it for yeast. I have done that now twice within the past 5 days. I have also been using the Borax in with my laundry detergent (which is the All Free & Clear brand with no fragrance) to wash his bedding and anything he lays on.
He is still scratching himself raw if I'm not with him and constantly telling him to stop scratching, which works for about 5 seconds until I turn my head. He's starting to get red raw spots from so much scratching and I know he's absolutely miserable.
My questions: Can I use the 50/50 ACV mix in between the borax rinses? Should I stop the borax rinses and just rinse him in the 50/50 ACV mix? Should I try ACV in his water instead of the Borax since he doesn't seem to be drinking as much and if so how much ACV? I feel like he wouldn't drink that because of the strong smell but I would be willing to try if that would help.
I don't want to bring him back to the vet but I find myself questioning if I'm doing the right thing when I see him scratching so much his skin is almost bleeding. He does get relief after the Borax rinse or ACV wipe downs but it's very temporary. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Posted by Julie A. (Australia) on 02/09/2020 ★★★★★
There is a product called Immune-rite. They are available on line, and are a specific chinese mushroom combination along with a couple of other things. They MODULATE the immune system, and therefore are good for an underactive OR overactive immune system, such as allergies.
This is what I used when my pointer had an ongoing reaction after a vacc. which my normal means failed to address. He had been always on a very clean and natural diet with supplements etc. for general health. But nothing helped until I discovered these caps. Used the half adult dosage capsuled opened onto the meal, and mixed into a teas. butter in the morning into his mouth as a ‘TREAT”. After about 3-4 days I did the adult dose, split into 2 as before. The caps. MUST be opened as they cannot digest the celulose very well. After about 2-3 weeks the allergy dissapeared and never came back. Read up on this product, it is so good, and no sideffects only health giving in many ways, not just allergies,
Also Never do combo, vaccines, and also no flea tick etc. meds at the same time. Deadly stuff.
Posted by M. Johnson (Washington State) on 09/14/2019 ★★★★★
I had a dog who would lick his feet until they were red, raw and swollen, I think from yeast.
This always worked. Fold a grocery store baggie in half. In the middle of it place a gauze square. Put a heaping tablespoon of cottage cheese on that straight from the fridge. Place the dog's foot on the cottage cheese, gather the baggie up around his leg and hold it all in place for about 30-45 minutes with Vetwrap (the bandage that only sticks to itself) getting it snug, but allowing for good blood circulation.
Then rinse the foot with plain water and towel dry. The friend who told me about the cottage cheese said it worked because the germs would rather live in the cottage cheese than in you. I've used it to cure infections on myself too.
Caution:
Don't put cottage cheese anywhere it can't be rinsed off well (never in dog's ears) because the germs multiply in it rapidly and it will make the infection worse if it's not rinsed away.
Yeast Infections: All this natural remedies are better than the over use of antibiotic's and other nasty drugs, You have to start healing from the inside, good wholesome fresh foods is medicine. Dogs and cats can not thrive on processed foods. Once you start feeding a healthy nutritious diet, be it raw or cooked, you will start to see amazing results and a healthy dog.
Posted by Sandra (Necedah, Wisconsin) on 10/24/2018
Hi I have a black lab. He is a mess. He has chronic yeast infections in his ears. I have tried cleaning his ears but the scratching & the smell is enough to drive you crazy. I talked to the vet & she said I need to find out what he is allergic too & the test is way too expensive.
I have to take him in at least every month to have ears treated. Is there a home remedy to stop this I feed him 1 cup of dry Pedigree & 1/2 can of Pedigree chicken wet & mix together he loves it on top of that he has a thyroid condition & I give him a low dose of aspirin as he was hit by a car & his leg is messed up. I also give him a fish oil tablet for dry skin the poor dog is in misery he is only 7 yrs old & I can't keep taking him to the vet. Each time I go its at least $200.00 as I have 5 other pets any advise please I read ur article will try to find the yogurt & buy some blue buffalo
Hello Sandra, I am no expert, but yeast infections are usually cured with white vinegar and water. Use a 50/50 solution with cotton balls. Gently get into the ears, any residual will be okay and they will shake their head to get the rest out. Do so for a couple of days twice a day. As far as his leg, I don't know what to say, not knowing the severity. There is so much info on this site, look up skin conditions for pets, I will bet ACV is involved.
Posted by SacredCowBBQ (Nevada) on 09/02/2023 ★★★★★
My mini-Aussie came into my life unexpectedly. I asked a friend what she fed her dog. Taste of the Wild. So I started giving him the beef and bison formula. He started scratching and biting at himself like crazy. A pet food store in Colorado recommended taking him off Taste of the Wild and putting him on a salmon-based kibble. Within 4 days his scratching and biting stopped. I now give him half raw beef/ half kibble. When I can afford it- I'll give him all raw meat.
I gave our dog brewer's yeast and his coat came back so pretty and he healed quickly. My son was so pleased that he offered to pay me for the whole bottle.
My dog has a bad rash, from her stomach to her tail, I have taken her to the vet several times for this, they say she has a yeast infection and give her antibiotics and steroids. I take her home and give her her meds, and she will heal up, but within a few weeks it's back, I've tried apple cider vinegar and it doesn't seem to work, I bath her in medicated selsum blue, and give her plain yogurt, nothing seems to help, her ears are fine but she looks so bad, I don't know what to do! She is a 3yr old white bull terrier, plz help!!!
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
What diet are you feeding? The wrong food will cause skin problems. Check the ingredient panel on your food and if you see grain or corn you might consider switching to a grain free diet. You might also consider alkalizing her drinking water and also Ted's Borax protocol for dogs.
Posted by Kery (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma ) on 08/26/2017 ★★★★★
My dog has been suffering from a yeast infection for about a year now. We aren't 100% rid of it yet, but we are finally seeing progress! He was stinky and lost his fur on his belly, tail area, under his legs and around his eyes. Now his fur is growing back, the smell is gone and he is scratching less. What worked for him were baths of borax/hydrogen peroxide/water without rinsing or towel drying. His diet was changed to Nutri Source food -seafood select...no grains. I also give him probiotics every morning. It's getting better everyday!
Thanks very much, I have a 31/2 year old G S that I love very much soon after all his shot and boosters he started itching like he was eat up with fleas, but you can not find one flea I have had him to three vets, Apoqul the newest allergy medication does help but it's a mask, I have tried everything nothing really helps that much, if vaccines is the cause no what can I do? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
-----------------------------
How To Show Theresa Your Appreciation
If you would like to thank Theresa for her helpful posts, she asks if you would please consider making a donation to one of her favorite local rescue organizations, or by making a donation to help the genius contributor, Ted from Bangkok, recover from his stroke.
Just want to make sure I understand your post timeline. You got a GS puppy and after he got all his puppy shots and boosters, he then experienced itching and now after 3 years and three vets you have found this site? Is that how things unfolded? While it is certainly possible vaccinosis is the root of his problems, the first thing is to look at his diet and to rule out food allergies and issues caused by a grain based diet. What do you feed him? Take a look at the ingredient panel on the current bag of kibble, and if you see grains then your first step would be to upgrade the groceries to a grain free diet. Once you have upgraded the chow, you can address the resultant systemic yeast from the vaccines. This can be done with the aid of a holistic vet skilled in vaccine repair, or you can try remedies on EC that may help such as alkalizing the drinking water, Ted's Borax protocol for dogs, and others.
If I give anyone a picture of my dog could they take it to their veterinarian and ask if this looks like a cushings syndrome condition. A few years ago when Veterinarian said that he thought she had cushings disease and I didn't follow up with that her coat was beautiful shiny and healthy. About four years ago she got stressed when her daddy left and we split up and we were driving back-and-forth to a friends house where she had to lay on the floor instead of the bed and had two other dogs to compete with. It began with yeast infections all over her body and I treated them accordingly she still has very bad yeast infections in her ears and I treat them with what the veterinarian gives me and they seem to clear up for a while but that is not my concern Last month I got a Diflucan pill and gave her one and her yeast infections on her body cleared up but she had already lost all this hair and if you notice she carries her weight very much under her stomach. I will try to get a picture if I can. Not sure if it will let me do it here.
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