Yogurt?

[nynewbie]

Nash just came back from the vet. She has a yeast infection beginning in her right ear. We learned how to clean her ears and got meds to use. Anyways, I know that yogurt is good to help prevent yeast infections in humans in other anatomy areas. Do you think it would help to prevent another one for Nash? Is it ok to give to her? Thanks, as always, for all your great input!

[lblax]

what you feeding i have been fighting simular probs for a year i switched from canidae to california natural and in 1st 5 lbs of food it has cleared up and his coat is so much shinier i cant believe it

[rottnkidd]

Hi Darlene - I agree with Iblax that the reoccuring ear infections may be the result of what you're feeding. Most chronic ear infections are the result of yeast overgrowth. So in order to eliminate the problem, you need to look at her diet.
Even cleaning the ears on a regular basis will not stop the cycle of infection. Foods high in grain, yeast, or starchy/sugary foods; like most fruit can exacerbate this problem. Cal Natural is a very good food, with few ingredients, but what works for one dog may not for another! Good luck to you!
kathy

[Aegis]

Mine get a good size spoonful of yogurt (plain, unflavored only ) about 3 times a week. No yeast infections since. (BTW, mine are on the BARF diet, also.)

A word to the wise...don't use the flavored yogurts at all. Because of the sugars they'll defeat your purpose.

[Carina43]

Also organic yoghurt has a wider range of cultures, I think. Food can be a big factor...my dogs also eat raw. When I started (over 2 years ago) I had a spaniel mix who had chronic ear infections - they cleared up after going to a grain-free diet. (I was feeding Canidae before that.)

Also I've heard that a 50/50 mix of apple cider vinegar (the kind from the health food store with "the mother") and tepid water is a good ear-rinse for yeasty ears. Get it all the way down into the ear canal, massage it a little & let the dog shake her head.

[ladawn]

We buy the plain yogurt and everyone gets a tablespoon or so everyday. I'm not sure about the healing property in yeast infections in ears, but it perfectly safe for the dog and mine LOVE it.

[RottiMomCT]

I give all the dogs a good sized dollop of yogurt (Stonyfield Organic Plain LowFat) with each morning meal.

Not only is it helping with an ear infection problem, it REALLY helps with flatulence issues :D . Double duty yogurt!!

I feed Royal Canin Senible Choice Natural Blend to all the dogs.

[austin]

Make sure the yogurt you buy has live active cultures!

[WIRott]

Ok what is LIVE ACTIVE CULTURES?? Sorry but never heard of it before

[austin]

The ingredient label of the yogurt should state that it has live active cultures. They are probiotics, the "good" bacteria that naturally reside your digestive tract (with very long names, usualy ending in -ophilus:o). They help intestinal function and digestive health. Also great for getting rid of smelly gas in dogs.:D

[ladawn]

I don't know if it's the yogurt, or the canidae or if I have an extra polite dog who leaves the room but in the year and half that Daisy has been with us I have NEVER (no exaggeration) smelled or heard flatulence on her part (hubby is a totally different story!). She's been on canidae and yogurt since day 3 with me when she was a puppy.

[nynewbie]

Nash is on Pro Plan Chicken & Rice. I don't have alot of choices around here. I have seen Iams, Nutro and then downhill from there. I changed her from the Pro Plan beef because of the higher amount of corn in the beef than the chicken & rice. Her gas output has dramatically decreased since she started on the chicken & rice, but now we have a yeast infection. The vet said he didn't think it was the food switch, that dogs just get them, but I figure there has to be something that caused it now, since we have had her since 12/1 and he said the infection was just starting. That we caught it early. She was already on the Pro Plan beef when we got her. The kids have been real careful with table scraps, but she does eat carrots and ritz crackers with my little guy every chance she gets! I will try the Stonyfield yogurt. We have that at the local store. Should I switch her back to the Pro Plan beef, try the Nutro or keep her on the chicken & rice with the yogurt? Too many choices!

[RottiMomCT]

Originally posted by austin
The ingredient label of the yogurt should state that it has live active cultures. They are probiotics, the "good" bacteria that naturally reside your digestive tract (with very long names, usualy ending in -ophilus:o). They help intestinal function and digestive health. Also great for getting rid of smelly gas in dogs.:D

Lactobaccillus and acidophilos are the ones you'll find. Stonyfield Organic Yogurt contains that stuff.

[rott&pitincali]

When I got Sadie fixed (nah she wasn't broken, I mean spayed) :D I had them check her ears because she kept scratching at them. She infact had a yeast infection in one, they cleaned it out gave me some stuff and sent me home. They said to watch out when I give her a bath that water doesn't get in there. She hasn't had one since, but I did change her to Canidae since, so that may of helped.

[My3Rotties]

I agree that food has alot to do with skin problems and ear infections. My 2 yr. old male has had a bad skin problem along with real bad ear infections that even my friend who is a vet can't figure out what's wrong...first time it happened he was put on antibiotics for a bacterial skin infection this was when he was only 6 months old, he did get somewhat better then this past summer he got really bad again...got back on allergy meds. etc...well, he got worse as to loosing hair on his sides, around his eyes, the bridge of the nose and scratching, chewing etc. I did some investigative work...read about dog foods and all that good stuff. needless to say i switched his food to Wellness Fish & Sweet Potatoe, Brewer's Yeast, Fish oil caps, Flaxseed oil caps, Vit. E tabs....once a week he and the other 2 pups get 1 tin of mackarel. And boy, what a change in his coat...his hair has grown in alot, he is actually turning to be a very handsome fella...he did look so nasty that i didn't want to even touch him..he was very dry, flaky...he didn't feel good:( . His coat is much better and his ears are also much better now. I just also started given them yogurt in their food. So, look into changing foods.