Customer hand-out, text developed with photos and formatting as brochure for in-store use and also as an email resource (attached in mails to customer’s with questions about dogs and yeast).

Battling Yeast Infections

Itchy ears full of dark waxy gunk, reddish brown stains between the toes, hot spots, stinky skin...sound familiar?

A yeast infection is a systemic problem, and all that stuff I just mentioned are only symptoms, not the real problem.

Yeast infections are easy enough to fix, but the process is long and things often get worse before they get better. Hang in there. It can take 6 months or more, depending upon the severity of the situation. We have to reconstruct your dog’s GI tract, and get the yeast under control, and that takes time.

Here is a good article about treating yeast infections, by Dr. Karen Becker. The article is a great place to do some more reading.

Here at Animal Nature. we start with a raw food diet, very low in carbs and sugars. Carbs metabolize into sugar, and sugar feeds yeast.

We use raw goat milk kefir to get on top of the overabundance of yeast. Kefir is a great yeast balancer.

We have a few options for anti-inflammatories: Golden Paste, Power of 3eas oil, or even Inflapotion. We’ll help you find the right one or combination of several depending upon your dog’s individual situation.

These are the things your dog should not have: treats (with the exception of organic freeze-dried meat, such as Asgard, or Primal treats). No rawhides, bully sticks, turkey feet, pig ears, or anything else that has been preserved and smoked. No grains. No squash, pumpkin, carrots, fruit, or other fresh food high in sugar content. No little special treats like pizza crusts or bread.

Hot spots ought to be shaved so that no fur is in the affected area, and then treated as many times a day as possible (seriously, like 5 or 6 times a day) as follows: first liberally douse the area with witch hazel, let it sit (a minute or more), then PAT dry and spray on Vetericyn. NEVER use Neosporin or another oil-based preparation on a hot spot. A special e-collar may be necessary to prevent licking and chewing.

As the condition improves, there are next steps to help the GI tract gain proper balance. Sunday Sundae pre-probiotic or raw goat milk should be given every day, and Feedsentials general supplement should be introduced to support all the systems, which have all undergone stress during the yeast onslaught.

Eventually, it is possible to move to a different high quality food if you want to do so. Choose grain-free. We recommend Orijen, Acana, or Farmina. Carna4 is another option, and don’t worry, sprouted grains are not the same thing as the plain “grains”.

Notice: the internet is a gift and a curse. There are only a handful of professional, reliable, educated sources for solid information about animal nutrition and wellness. Likewise, there is a range of veterinary competency about animal nutrition. Do not attempt to treat your animal for any condition, change diets due to a fad, or go crazy with supplements and remedies without a trusted resource to guide you. Herbs are not harmless. Holistic remedies can be overused, or used incorrectly. They can cause harm. Colleagues, neighbors, chat forums - they all mean well, but do not trust without verification by a professional.

Please be aware: we are not veterinarians.

We offer information and support based on independent research, selected coursework, experience, testing, and some dedicated veterinarians and researchers who have taken us under their wings. We do not prescribe anything, do not practice medicine, and are not licensed. We encourage you to enlist the advice and care of an integrated or holistic veterinarian. We can provide information on consulting veterinarians who will work with your current practitioner, if you wish.