Best Yeast Free Dog Foods : 6 Healthy Dog Food Recipes Without Yeast

Kate Barrington

Researched & Written by

Kate Barrington


At Pawster, we are committed to presenting the most accurate and up-to-date information to assist you in your pet care journey. When appropriate, we consult licensed and practicing veterinarians to fact-check our professionally written articles.

The ingredients in your dog’s food affect his body from the inside out.

Not only does the quality of his diet affect his digestion, but it can also affect his skin and coat health – particularly if you are feeding your dog a product made with starchy ingredients.

Many people assume that grains are the culprit when it comes to food allergies and skin problems in dogs. While grain allergies are fairly common in dogs, if your dog suffers from chronic skin issues such as redness, itching, and inflammation, it may be the grains that are to blame – it could be starch and Switching to an anti-yeast dog food could solve the problem.

Understanding Yeast Infections in Dogs

Dogs may not be obligate carnivores like cats, but the majority of their diet should still come from animal products like meat, poultry, and fish. Protein is the foundation of a healthy diet for dogs and it should be supplemented with healthy fats for energy. Dogs have no specific requirements for carbohydrates in their diet and, in fact, these ingredients should be limited because they are more difficult for your dog’s body to digest than animal products. Not only are carbohydrates more difficult for your dog’s body to digest, but they can cause other problems as well.

One particular group of carbohydrates that can be problematic for dogs is starch. Starches are a type of complex carbohydrate that your dog’s body breaks down into sugar. While these ingredients do provide your dog with energy, the sugar they produce provides food for something else as well – yeast.

Yeast is naturally present in your dog’s digestive tract as part of his natural gut flora. In low numbers, yeast is not harmful for your dog but, if they start to proliferate, it can cause an infection that will spread throughout the dog’s body causing all kinds of nasty side effects including red, inflamed, and itchy skin. If you don’t change your dog’s diet, the infection is only going to get worse and it can make your dog very uncomfortable.

What is Yeast Free Dog Food?

Judging by the name alone, you might assume that anti-yeast dog food is dog food that doesn’t contain yeast. In reality, however, it is simply dog food designed to prevent yeast infections. As you’ve already learned, yeast infections occur when the yeast in your dog’s digestive tract begins to proliferate – typically the result of an abundance of starch in the dog’s diet. Anti-yeast dog food, then, is dog food made with little to no starch.

The problem is that it is difficult to make dog food without starches to act as binding agents. High-starch foods like wheat, corn, rice, potatoes, peas, and sweet potatoes are all common ingredients in dog food. Even grain-free dog foods are not necessarily anti-yeast dog foods. The best anti-yeast dog food will be made from wholesome, natural ingredients including lean proteins and healthy animal-based fats. Look for low-starch veggies as a digestible source of fiber and carbohydrate energy with beneficial supplements like probiotics and digestive enzymes.

The Importance of Diet in Treating Yeast Infections

When it comes to treating yeast infections through diet, there are two factors to consider. First and foremost, the dog food should be very low in starch. Yeast cannot survive without sugar to feed on, so by limiting the amount of starch in your dog’s diet you’ll be limiting the amount of food available for yeast to feed on. Over time, the lack of starch will cause the yeast to starve and diet off.

The second factor to consider when treating yeast infections through diet is repairing the immune system. About 80% of your dog’s immune system is located in the gut, so when things become unbalanced in your dog’s digestive tract it can have a negative impact on his immunity. Switching to an anti-yeast dog food will help calm things down but you should also make sure it is rich in antioxidants for immune support as well as other healthy, natural ingredients.

The Key Components of a Yeast-Fighting Dog Food

When shopping for yeast-fighting dog food, you have to look for more than just a low-sugar recipe. Remember, the kind of sugar you’re used to cooking with isn’t usually the problem – it is high-starch foods that are broken down into sugar by the body that provide the food yeast need to grow. The key components to look for in a yeast-fighting dog food are as follows:

  • No highly processed ingredients
  • No sugar or high-fructose corn syrup
  • No starchy grains like corn, rice, and wheat
  • No starchy vegetables like sweet potatoes, potato, and peas
  • Wholesome, natural foods
  • Fresh fruits and low-starch vegetables
  • Lean sources of animal protein
  • Healthy animal-based fats
  • Dietary fiber
  • Digestive enzymes and probiotics
  • Natural sources of antioxidants

Now that you have a better understanding of what yeast-free dog food is, you’re ready to start shopping! Keep reading to find our top 6 picks for the best yeast-fighting dog food.

Breeds prone to Yeast Infections: Cocker Spaniels, Poodles, DachshundGerman Shepherds, and Basset Hounds

The Top 6 Yeast Free Dog Foods

Shopping for anti-yeast dog food isn’t quite so simple as just picking a grain-free recipe. While grains like corn and rice are very high in starch, there are also grain-free carbohydrates like sweet potatoes and peas which are very high in starch as well. To help you get started in shopping for anti-yeast dog food, here is our top pick:

Our 2024 Picks: Best Anti-Yeast Dog Food:
RankDog FoodPriceRating

Overall

Best

$9.30/lb
A+

#2

$3.22/lb
A+

#3

$2.59/lb
A+

#4

$2.27/lb
A+

#5

$2.48/lb
A

#6

$2.40/lb
A

The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Turkey Recipe

Overall Best Anti-Yeast Dog Food: If you want to feed your dog the best of the best in anti-yeast dog food, consider this The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Turkey Recipe. This formula features cage-free turkey as the main ingredient which is a lean source of protein for dogs. It also contains fresh fruits and vegetables to ensure balanced nutrition and healthy immunity. Unlike many grain-free recipes, this formula does not contain large quantities of starchy vegetables but it still provides plenty of fiber for healthy digestion. It also contains chelated minerals and vitamin supplements to ensure complete and balanced nutrition. Plus, it is dehydrated rather than cooked which means it retains more of its original nutritional integrity

  • Pros: Dehydrated not cooked, turkey as a lean source of protein, low in starchy vegetables, naturally grain-free, fresh fruits and vegetables, rich in protein and healthy fat, chelated minerals
  • Cons: No probiotic supplements, very expensive to feed as a staple diet

5 More Top-Rated Dog Foods for Yeast Problems

If the anti-yeast dog food reviewed above doesn’t seem like a good fit for your dog, don’t worry! There are plenty more to choose from, including these 5 top-rated dog foods for yeast problems:

Brothers Complete Turkey Meal & Egg Formula Advanced Allergy Care Recipe

Originally designed for dogs suffering from food allergies, this Brothers Complete Turkey Meal & Egg Formula Advanced Allergy Care Recipe is a great choice to prevent yeast infections. Not only is it grain-free, but it is made with low-glycemic, low-starch carbohydrates like cassava and pumpkin. This recipe features premium animal proteins like turkey meal, eggs, and chicken liver and provides a balance of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat. It is highly digestible with the help of digestive enzymes, prebiotic fibers, and probiotic supplements, plus it contains fresh fruits and vegetables as natural sources for key nutrients.

  • Pros: Designed for dogs with skin allergies, premium animal proteins, low-starch carbohydrates, rich in omega fatty acids, digestive enzymes, prebiotics and probiotics, fresh fruits and vegetables
  • Cons: Very expensive to feed as a staple diet

Farmina Natural & Delicious Lamb & Ancestral Low-Grain Formula Dry Food

For a dog food with limited starch but plenty of protein, try this Farmina Natural & Delicious Lamb & Ancestral Low-Grain Formula Dry Food. This recipe features fresh lamb and dehydrated lamb as rich sources of protein with low-glycemic whole-grain carbohydrates for fiber and energy. It contains natural sources of glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support as well as a blend of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat. You’ll find dehydrated fruits and vegetables which act as natural sources for key nutrients (including antioxidants) as well as chelated minerals for optimal nutrient absorption. All in all, it provides 28% protein and 18% fat with nearly 3% fiber.

  • Pros: Rich in protein, limited whole-grain carbohydrate content, supports joints and skin/coat, blend of omega fatty acids, chelated minerals, dried fruits and vegetables
  • Cons: Not a grain-free recipe, expensive to feed as a staple diet

I and Love and You Food Simply Sea Grain-Free Dry Food

If you’re looking for a premium-quality diet for your dog to prevent yeast infections, try this I and Love and You Nude Food Simply Sea Grain-Free Dry Food. This formula features real fish as the main ingredient with a limited number of ingredients, exclusive of poultry and grains. It contains superfood ingredients like flaxseeds for healthy fats, coconut oil and olive oil for healthy skin and coat, plus digestive enzymes and probiotics to support healthy digestion. You’ll also be glad to know that it is low-glycemic and highly digestible.

  • Pros: Real fish as the first ingredient, low-glycemic carbohydrates, rich in superfoods, healthy fats for skin and coat support, digestive enzymes and probiotics, chelated minerals
  • Cons: Main source of fat is plant-based (canola oil), expensive to feed as a staple diet.

Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Lamb & Chickpeas Recipe

If you’re looking for a high-quality dog food that will help your dog heal from a yeast infection, try this Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Lamb & Chickpeas Recipe. This grain-free recipe features low-glycemic ingredients including premium animal proteins and healthy fats. It contains fresh lamb, turkey meal, and salmon meal as the top three ingredients with chicken fat as a nutrient-rich source of essential fatty acids. This formula is rich in prebiotic fibers with dried fermentation products for digestive support as well as chelated minerals for optimal nutrient absorption.

  • Pros: Wholesome natural ingredients, made with 81% animal ingredients, low-glycemic, rich in essential fatty acids, dried fruits and vegetables, chelated minerals, probiotics
  • Cons: Expensive to feed as a staple diet

Zignature Zssential Multi-Protein Grain-Free Formula Dry Food

For a healthy, high-quality diet your dog will love, try this Zignature Zssential Multi-Protein Grain-Free Formula Dry Food. This recipe features several premium animal proteins like turkey, duck, and lamb for a high-protein, highly digestible recipe. It features low-glycemic carbohydrates like chickpeas and is completely free from grains. It is rich in omega fatty acids to support your dog’s skin and coat with blueberries and cranberries as rich sources of antioxidants. Plus, it contains chelated minerals and vitamin supplements to ensure complete and balanced nutrition.

  • Pros: Several sources of premium animal protein, low-glycemic carbohydrates, rich in omega fatty acids for skin support, chelated minerals, rich in antioxidants
  • Cons: Expensive to feed as a staple diet, main source of fat is plant-based (flaxseed)

Yeast Free Dog Food – RECAP

If your dog is suffering from a yeast infection, changing his diet is one of the most important aspects of treatment. Choose a low-starch recipe made with wholesome, natural ingredients in a recipe that will support your dog’s immune system as well as his digestion. Best of luck!

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