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Yeast Infection of the Skin

Yeast infections which can also be referred to as Malassezia dermatitis or Yeast Dermatitis normally occur in a dog's ears, folds of their skin, or between their paw pads.

Yeast is a fungus that also lives in your dog’s intestines in small numbers. It’s a normal inhabitant of your dog’s digestive tract and it helps him digest his food. But when yeast is allowed to overgrow, your dog will start to suffer from what’s essentially a fungal infection which causes inflammation within the gut.

This condition can cause the affected area to feel irritated, itchy, and red. If yeast infections in a dog's ear are left too long without treatment it could also cause deafness.

Signs of Yeast Infections

What to look for?

Chewing or licking the feet
Dark rusty-red hair between the toes
Black skin (often with hair loss)
Bad smell and greasy hair (seborrhea)
Ear infections or head shaking
Speckles on the underbelly
Hair loss on the tail and upper back
Grayish or rust color around the genitals
Diarrhea
Seasonal allergies
Secondary bacterial infection
Head tilting and shaking (ear yeast infection)

What Causes A Yeast Infection?

It is natural for yeast and other bacteria and fungi to occur on your dog's skin.y, Yeast usually doesn't cause any problems unless something causes a change in your dog's skin condition or makes their immune system less effective. This can result in an infection.

Here are some factors that may increase your dog's chances of developing an infection.

Heat and humidity
Swimming (ear yeast infections)
Frequent bathing (ear yeast infections)
Trapped moisture in skin folds, ears, or paw pads
Foods high in sugar and carbs
Poor hygiene
Certain ear drops (ear yeast infection)
Allergens (smoke, mold, dust, dander, cleaning products, etc.)
Trapped object in the ear, ear wax, or discharge (ear yeast infections)
An under active or overreactive immune system

Prevention

While it is important to consult your veterinarian if you suspect a yeast infection in your dog, there are some steps you can take to decrease your pup's chances of developing one.:

Practice regular hygiene routine to clear away dead skin and dirt with daily brushing.
Regularly clean your dog's ears with a clean cloth or cotton ball to get rid of dirt or debris.
Make sure to completely dry your pup' s fur, ears, & paws (This can help to prevent other irritants from developing such as "hot spots")
Provide them with a healthy diet full of protein and proper nutrients (decrease starches & sugars in your pet's diet)

As yeast start to die overtime, your dog could experience nausea, diarrhea, joint pain or just a general sickness as your dog detoxifies from the heavy metals the yeast releases. This is known as Herxheimer Reaction.

The symptoms of yeast die-off can include:

Diarrhea
Worsening of symptoms
Discharge from eyes, nose, skin and ears.
Joint soreness

These symptoms should only last a few days to a few weeks, leaving your dog feeling & looking much better..

If your dog experiences a Herxheimer reaction, you can help by

supplementing them with digestive enzymes to help quickly digest and eliminate dead yeast cells. You can also give humic/fulvic acid, bentonite clay and chlorella to help bind to heavy metals.

How Probiotics & Digestive Enzymes can HELP.

Probiotics & digestive enzymes are a natural way to help boost your dog's immune system, promote more efficient digestion & promote a healthy gut. Yeast and Paw licking can be held at bay in your dog's digestive tract with a healthy flora of "good bacteria."

Probiotics compete with yeast for binding sites within the gut & promote efficient nutrient absorption. Digestive Enzymes help to break down toxins that yeast may release in the gut.

Not all probiotics will fight yeast, but these strains have good research behind them. and they’re common to find in your dog’s gut. 4 of which we have in our formula of probiotics & digestive enzymes:

Lactobacillus acidophilus (included in our formula)
Lactobacillus casei
Lactobacillus plantarum (included in our formula)
Lactobacillus reuteri
Lactobacillus rhamnosus
Bifidobacterium bifidum (included in our formula)
Bifidobacterium longum (included in our formula)

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Probiotics & Digestive Enzymes (For Dogs & Cats)