Dog Community

Meat diet causes yeasty ears?

Posted : 12/15/2006 4:05:51 PM

Right after Bear came home, I noticed that his ears were a bit funky. An exam by the vet determined it to be a yeast infection. Today I went back for a re-check and while I was waiting, one of the ladies who volunteers at the shelter a lot came in. She immediately recognized Bear, asked how he was, what I had him in for. When I said yeasty ears, she said "oh, I know all about that. My own dogs had a lot of trouble with that until we took them off meat. Now all they get is lamb & rice food and everything is fine."

To be honest, I wanted to ask her other questions, like what kind of dogs she has, and how she determined meat was the problem. What kind of meat? Because all I could think was that she should come to this forum and read the info. She was busy and on her cell phone, so I only spoke to her for a minute at most.

I am no expert, but how on earth could "meat" be a direct cause of yeasty ears? Don't dogs need to eat meat?

micksmom

Posted : 12/15/2006 4:14:00 PM

...I am no expert, but how on earth could "meat" be a direct cause of yeasty ears? Don't dogs need to eat meat?

I have no idea either, but I have news for that woman- lamb is meat. Maybe she was confused about the kind of ear infection, tho. Non yeast ear infections can be a sign of a food allergy.

cakana

Posted : 12/15/2006 4:22:31 PM

I have no idea either, but I have news for that woman- lamb is meat.

I was thinking the same thing, but I'd assume she meant beef. I don't know about her theory though. I had Sassy on Lamb & Rice or Chicken & Rice, from the time we rescued her. She had a yeast infection when we first brought her home and had them chronically for a couple years after that until I switched to Natural Balance Potato and Duck. She's not needed to be treated for an ear infection from the time I made the change and that was 2 years ago.

sharismom

Posted : 12/15/2006 4:47:09 PM

but I have news for that woman- lamb is meat

Yep, she said they don't get meat except for the lamb that's in the food.

Kara

Posted : 12/15/2006 5:03:51 PM

Isn't yeast from grains, too?

Daniel Davis

Posted : 12/15/2006 6:55:34 PM

ORIGINAL: sharismom
Don't dogs need to eat meat?

No, they don't. I highly reccomend it, but they can live well without too. You could try a vegetarian+food supplement diet for a few weeks - just contact a vet to ensure the diet you plan to use is safe.