I found this and thought it's an interesting article regarding yeast and grain free diets. It's from the Animal Dermatology Clinic that treated our Frenchy Mickey.
There is an urban myth running rampant in the pet
world regarding pet food and grain. Many on-line
sources by self appointed experts advise people to
have their pets with skin problems begin a “grain-free”
diet as a cure for what ails them and that feeding foods
high in carbohydrates will cause yeast on the skin.
Guess what? Those cases often end up at Animal
Dermatology Clinic, in order to determine the real
triggers for the pets’ skin or allergy problems.
Food has become entrenched among laypeople as
a very common cause of skin disease and while it can
be an allergic trigger it is a far less common trigger
than generally considered by those same individuals.
Celiac disease has become a well-known ailment in
people, where sufferers cannot eat grain. And it is
true that a pet can be allergic to grain, but it is usually
the protein that is the culprit. Still, a true food allergic
pet is not as common as is believed.
One of the key fallacies of these self-appointed
experts is the advocating of grain restriction of a pet
with yeast.
The most common yeast on the skin of dogs and
cats is Malassezia pachydermatis and there are a
number of reasons for a pet to develop overgrowth
and in almost all cases it is usually a SECONDARY
symptom. A very common underlying primary cause
are allergies which lead to defects and changes in the
skin that allow for favorable microclimates for the
yeasts to grow and create complicating factors for a
patient.
The rumor that pets ingesting grain or any
carbohydrate will lead to yeast growth on the skin of the
pet is not true. There is no scientific evidence that
exists to support this as fact but it is commonly
proposed by some pet food and supplement sellers in
their marketing efforts.
Fact: A nutritious balanced diet is required for a
pet. No one disagrees with this statement, except the
anti-grain groups which strongly believe that grain
negatively impacts a pet’s immune system, thereby
causing yeast growth.
Excluding the rare dog with a true allergy, there is no
evidence to support claims that grains cause health
problems. (Central Veterinary Conference, 2011)
Myth: Dogs are carnivorous, therefore their
digestive systems are not suited to grain.
It is frequently claimed, based primarily on the
fallacious logic of “evolutionary nutrition,” that dogs are
incapable of digesting grains or that these make poor
nutrient sources in dog foods. Extensive evidence from
laboratory research and feeding trials illustrates this is
false and that cooked grains are excellent energy
sources and can also provide protein and other
important nutrients to dogs.
Fact: When baking bread or making beer,
the driving ingredient for yeast growth is sugar.
Many food items containing yeast require the
trigger of sugar to “grow” that yeast. And through
the popularity of human dieting trends, most people
know that the consumption of grains and
carbohydrates are energy foods that metabolize
into sugar in the body.
This is not the same physiological process that
feeds Malassezia in an affected pet. Consumption
of grains and carbohydrates do not encourage
yeast growth.
A person with athlete’s foot (a fungal infection
on the foot and remember, yeasts are a form of
fungus) does not exacerbate the condition by
eating a slice of toasted bread!
If your pet has an odorous smell and greasy
coat, it may be evidence of a yeast infection. Ask
your veterinarian for guidance. Remember, yeast
is a secondary condition and identifying the
underlying cause is the goal.
Source: Rusty Muse, DVM, ACVD, Don Fruta,
Marketing Director, Animal Dermatology Clinic
There is an urban myth running rampant in the pet
world regarding pet food and grain. Many on-line
sources by self appointed experts advise people to
have their pets with skin problems begin a “grain-free”
diet as a cure for what ails them and that feeding foods
high in carbohydrates will cause yeast on the skin.
Guess what? Those cases often end up at Animal
Dermatology Clinic, in order to determine the real
triggers for the pets’ skin or allergy problems.
Food has become entrenched among laypeople as
a very common cause of skin disease and while it can
be an allergic trigger it is a far less common trigger
than generally considered by those same individuals.
Celiac disease has become a well-known ailment in
people, where sufferers cannot eat grain. And it is
true that a pet can be allergic to grain, but it is usually
the protein that is the culprit. Still, a true food allergic
pet is not as common as is believed.
One of the key fallacies of these self-appointed
experts is the advocating of grain restriction of a pet
with yeast.
The most common yeast on the skin of dogs and
cats is Malassezia pachydermatis and there are a
number of reasons for a pet to develop overgrowth
and in almost all cases it is usually a SECONDARY
symptom. A very common underlying primary cause
are allergies which lead to defects and changes in the
skin that allow for favorable microclimates for the
yeasts to grow and create complicating factors for a
patient.
The rumor that pets ingesting grain or any
carbohydrate will lead to yeast growth on the skin of the
pet is not true. There is no scientific evidence that
exists to support this as fact but it is commonly
proposed by some pet food and supplement sellers in
their marketing efforts.
Fact: A nutritious balanced diet is required for a
pet. No one disagrees with this statement, except the
anti-grain groups which strongly believe that grain
negatively impacts a pet’s immune system, thereby
causing yeast growth.
Excluding the rare dog with a true allergy, there is no
evidence to support claims that grains cause health
problems. (Central Veterinary Conference, 2011)
Myth: Dogs are carnivorous, therefore their
digestive systems are not suited to grain.
It is frequently claimed, based primarily on the
fallacious logic of “evolutionary nutrition,” that dogs are
incapable of digesting grains or that these make poor
nutrient sources in dog foods. Extensive evidence from
laboratory research and feeding trials illustrates this is
false and that cooked grains are excellent energy
sources and can also provide protein and other
important nutrients to dogs.
Fact: When baking bread or making beer,
the driving ingredient for yeast growth is sugar.
Many food items containing yeast require the
trigger of sugar to “grow” that yeast. And through
the popularity of human dieting trends, most people
know that the consumption of grains and
carbohydrates are energy foods that metabolize
into sugar in the body.
This is not the same physiological process that
feeds Malassezia in an affected pet. Consumption
of grains and carbohydrates do not encourage
yeast growth.
A person with athlete’s foot (a fungal infection
on the foot and remember, yeasts are a form of
fungus) does not exacerbate the condition by
eating a slice of toasted bread!
If your pet has an odorous smell and greasy
coat, it may be evidence of a yeast infection. Ask
your veterinarian for guidance. Remember, yeast
is a secondary condition and identifying the
underlying cause is the goal.
Source: Rusty Muse, DVM, ACVD, Don Fruta,
Marketing Director, Animal Dermatology Clinic