For an owner, a yeast infection is never a pleasant thing. For a start, there is the strange, off sort-of smell, and the need for giving constant baths with nasty shampoos.
For your dog, it is much worse. Imagine being itchy all over, all the time, particularly in your big, soft ears.
Yeast infections on the skin can lead to nasty sores and hair loss, but worst of all, they can lead to permanent hearing loss for your dog.
Believe it or not, all the excess yeast on your dog's outside is coming from deep inside the intestines. By the time you see a yeast infection on your dog's skin there is a serious yeast imbalance in the gut.
Some vets will recommend a course of antibiotics, however this can further destroy important gut-flora that is already overwhelmed, and add damage to the intestinal wall.
For those that are interested, there are natural ways to target a yeast infection.
ON THE OUTSIDE...
After giving your dog a good bath with the recommended shampoo, add a solution of equal parts Apple Cider Vinegar and water to the problem areas, including paws. Don't rinse it off, just leave it to dry. If your dog licks at it, even better, as it will do as much good on the inside as the outside. DO NOT use Apple Cider Vinegar on ears that are swollen or badly infected, as you can do major neurological damage to your dog if the eardrum is ruptured in any way, and the solution penetrates the eardrum.
When your dog is dry, add coconut oil to the infected and itchy patches of skin. The coconut oil will both soothe the skin, and kill the yeast.
Make sure your dog's sleeping area and blankets are regularly cleaned.
ON THE INSIDE...
This is where you really need to focus your efforts to beat a yeast infection in your dog.
There are many steps you can take using natural remedies, however you need to be consistent with treatment in order to get anywhere.
The diet. This is the most important change you will need to make in order to see an impact on the infection. You need to remove all carbohydrates and sugars from your dog's daily meals. No treats, even vegetables and fruits - for a while your dog will need a diet consisting almost entirely of meat. If you can find them, fresh dandelion greens through your dog's meat will be helpful.
FRESH GARLIC...
Make sure it is always a fresh clove of garlic you use, never garlic from a jar or powdered garlic. Mince it up finely, and leave it to sit for 12 minutes before feeding it to your dog. Try mixing it through your dog's meat & dandelion green meals.
Garlic is recommended for your dog at a dosage of approximately 0.3g per kilo. Make sure you do not exceed this dose.
COCONUT OIL...
You don't just want the coconut oil on your dog's skin, you want it through the intestine as well. Coconut Oil contains three different types of acid, which target and kill yeast blooms. It tastes rather good, so you may as well throw it in with the other ingredients for your dog's new meals.
Coconut oil is recommended for your dog at a dosage of approximately 1 ml per kilo.
BARBERRY...
One of the most potent anti-fungal (anti-viral, antibacterial and antimicrobial) herbs available, Barberry will kill yeast infections in the gut, as well as on the skin if applied topically. Barberry is toxic to dogs in high doses, so be sure to administer the correct dose in proportion to your dog's weight. Barberry should never be administered for prolonged periods, always under fourteen days, preferably less. After that time, it will begin to impact the good bacteria in the gut as well as the bad. Barberry should not be given to pregnant dogs.
Stay consistent with your treatment, particularly with the diet, and you should see solid results for your dog within weeks.
