Yeast are tiny, single-celled organisms that naturally live on your pet's body, especially in the digestive tract, on the skin, and in other moist areas. In a healthy pet, yeast normally exist in small numbers and usually don't cause any problems. Your pet's body also contains billions of beneficial bacteria that help keep yeast under control.

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 toxins 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 some cases, a vet has ruled out a yeast infection. However, when the owner began treatment for a yeast infection, the pet responded positively.

The symptoms listed below 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 other health problems.

Signs and Symptoms of a Yeast Infection

• Food Allergies
• Food Sensitivities
• Constipation
• Digestive Problems
• Muscle and Joint Pain (Stiff Joints/Arthritis)
• White Coating on the Tongue
• Brittle Nails
• Hives and other Skin Eruptions
• Rectal Itching
• Mucus in the Stool
• Clogged Sinuses
• Flatulence
• Diarrhea
• Severe Itching & Skin Rashes
• Chronic Ear Infections
• Greasy Skin
• Foul Odor from the Body or Ears
• Discharge from the Eyes, Ears or Nose
• Scratching in or under the Ears
• Reddened area inside the Ears

Treating A Yeast Infection Naturally

The program outlined suggests general guidelines to follow. Since your pet has its 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 medications 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

Change the Diet
I recommend a grain free, potato free, yeast free diet
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If you are feeding dry or canned food it is important avoid these ingredients:

• Poultry-by-product meal
• Meat-by-products
• Corn syrup
• Caramel coloring
• Rice flour
• Wheat gluten
• Corn gluten
• Yeast
• Potatoes (sweet and white)
• All grains
• Sugar

If you plan on feeding a homemade diet, an anti-yeast diet 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 I Recommend:

Vegetables:

Asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, eggplant, parsley, brussel sprouts, celery, green beans, yellow beans, cucumbers, collard, kale, lettuce, spinach.

Meats:

Beef, duck, chicken, fish, rabbit, turkey, Cornish hen, lamb.

Dairy:

Plain organic yogurt is recommended.

Supplements

Supplementing is recommended when treating skin disorders. Antibiotics, especially if you give them repeatedly may destroy the friendly bacteria.

Final Thoughts

For Pet Health does not recommend discontinuing traditional medicine cold turkey or discontinuing at all. If you are interested in learning how to treat yeast naturally, 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 For Pet Health 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.