Brewer’s yeast is one of the most popular natural supplements for dogs on the market today, with proven health benefits. Before you begin using brewer’s yeast for your dogs, however, it is important you understand the intricacies involved, from the health benefits to the side effects, and most importantly, the correct dosage. Read on to learn more.
What is Brewer’s Yeast?
Brewer’s yeast is a fungus made up of spherical, unicellular yeast fungi. This is a type of bacterium that reproduces by sprouting.
Brewer’s yeast is a byproduct of the beer production process. It floats on the beer after fermentation as beer sludge. Most types of beer are now filtered to remove the brewer’s yeast. The yeast particles formed during fermentation cloud the beer and reduce its durability.
What Does the Brewer’s Yeast Contain?
Brewer’s yeast is a completely natural product with no chemical ingredients. The following are the key ingredient categories:
- B Vitamins
- The amino acids
- Minerals
- Antioxidants
B vitamins are essential for numerous bodily functions, including metabolism and cell structure. However, the dog’s body does not store vitamins adequately, therefore they must be consumed on a regular basis through food or supplements.
Amino acids, the body’s building blocks, are essential for metabolism, muscle development, and cell growth. The body is unable to produce the so-called group of essential amino acids. They, like B vitamins, enter the body through food.
Brewer’s yeast includes numerous important minerals that are responsible for a number of bodily activities. There are two types of minerals: trace elements and quantity elements. The body requires far more of the latter than it does of the trace elements.
Iron, zinc, and selenium are trace elements found in yeast. Sodium, calcium, magnesium, and potassium are among the quantity elements. Yeast contains antioxidants such as Vitamin E, which protects cells from free radicals.
Benefits Of Brewer’s Yeast For Dogs
Brewer’s yeast provides a surprising number of benefits for both dogs and people. Here are some of the benefits for dogs:
#1. Skin Care
Brewer’s yeast contains a high concentration of B vitamins, notably B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, and B9. These nutrients are critical for maintaining the skin’s barrier function. If your dog doesn’t get enough of them, he or she may get dry, flaky skin, alopecia, anorexia, and pruritus.
#2. Quality of Coat
Brewer’s yeast contains a plethora of antioxidants, including the essential omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These help your dog’s coat look sleek and lustrous, and the B vitamins keep his hair healthy and less prone to breaking or falling off.
#3. The health of the Eyes
These same antioxidants protect your dog’s eyes from harm, aiding in the prevention of cataracts, retinal disorders, and glaucoma. As a result, brewer’s yeast is especially beneficial for elderly dogs, but for optimal results, give it to your pup before their eyesight begins to deteriorate.
#4. Liver Function
Scientists are experimenting with utilizing B vitamins to improve liver function and disease management. Because brewer’s yeast is high in B vitamins, it may be useful in minimizing free radical cell damage, correcting nutritional depletion, and boosting vitamin absorption.
#5. Anxiety Relief
B vitamins are required for the production of serotonin, a “feel-good” neurochemical that can make your dog happier and calmer. However, brewer’s yeast can interact with certain anti-anxiety medications, so if you’re already treating your dog for this problem, you should check with your doctor before feeding him brewer’s yeast.
#6. Diabetes Management
This one is a little contentious. In humans, the chromium in brewer’s yeast has been found to improve glucose tolerance and insulin usage, but no trials in dogs have been conducted. However, anecdotal research suggests that it may assist dogs in efficiently maintaining their blood sugar levels.
However, it may interfere with diabetes drugs, producing a severe drop in insulin levels, so consult your veterinarian before adding brewer’s yeast to your dog’s diet.
#7. Cellular Function
Brewer’s yeast contains B vitamins, which assist your dog’s cells to convert food into energy, giving your dog more energy and causing their cells to perform more efficiently. The antioxidants in yeast also protect cells from oxidation and other free radical damage, which can have a wide range of biological benefits.
#8. Enhance Digestion
Brewer’s yeast contains probiotics, which are good bacteria that line the intestinal track and aid with digestion, nutritional absorption, and illness prevention. This makes it a perfect choice for dogs with sensitive stomachs, as well as those who suffer from diarrhea or other digestive issues.
#9. Increases lean muscle mass.
Protein accounts for 52% of the mass of brewer’s yeast, making it an excellent source of lean muscle for your dog. Protein should also keep your dog fuller for longer, which can aid with weight loss.
#10. Preventing Parasites
Brewer’s yeast added to your dog’s diet may help repel fleas and ticks. How does it function? We don’t sure, but it appears to be more effective when combined with omega-3 oils, so use it with fish oil or a comparable supplement. Regardless, you should consider parasite protection a bonus rather than your only option for parasite prevention.
Also, look at the ingredients list of any brewer’s yeast supplement sold expressly for flea and tick management. Many of these combine yeast with garlic to increase effectiveness, but garlic is harmful to dogs.
What Are The Side Effects Of Brewer’s Yeast For Dogs?
While brewer’s yeast offers a long list of benefits for dogs, it is not without its drawbacks. Let’s have a look at some of the possible adverse effects of this supplement.
#1. Stomach Discomfort
While brewer’s yeast can be used to ease upset tummies, it is not well tolerated by all dogs. For some, the supplement may actually create stomach issues, which negates the purpose entirely.
You should keep an eye on your dog for a few days after you start giving them brewer’s yeast to make sure they aren’t vomiting, having diarrhea, or showing other signs of gastrointestinal distress.
#2. Yeast Infection
Although it may appear obvious, brewer’s yeast is, in reality, yeast. That isn’t a problem for most dogs, but if your pup is immunocompromised, prone to yeast infections, or allergic to yeast, brewer’s yeast should be avoided.
If you’re unsure how your dog will respond to yeast, keep a close eye on them after you give them the supplement to ensure they don’t break out in rashes or develop dry, itchy skin. If they do, stop using the brewer’s yeast right away and call your veterinarian.
#3. Weight gain
Brewer’s yeast is a high-calorie meal, so if you feed it to your dog on a regular basis, you’ll need to trim calories elsewhere if you don’t want them to gain weight. You can also try to raise their level of exercise to compensate for their higher caloric intake.
#4. Interference with Medications
If your dog is taking any prescription medications, talk to your vet before starting him on brewer’s yeast. It has been shown to interact negatively with certain drugs, most notably anti-anxiety medications and diabetes treatments.
#5. Bloating
Bloat is a potentially catastrophic illness that occurs when your dog’s stomach fills with gas, food, or liquid and twists. Brewer’s yeast can cause your dog’s stomach to fill with gas, raising the risk of bloat.
Bloat is more common in broad-chested breeds like Great Danes and Mastiffs, but it can affect any dog. Start with modest amounts of yeast and progressively increase the amount if you’re satisfied your dog can tolerate it well.
Can Brewer’s Yeast Cause Itching In Dogs?
Allergy to brewer’s yeast can cause skin reactions leading to itching, irritation, scratching, and constant chewing of paws.
When Should You Give Your Dog brewer’s Yeast?
Brewer’s yeast provides numerous benefits for dogs, but it also has certain negatives that should be carefully addressed before administering it to your pet. It is also critical that you consult with your veterinarian before starting your dog on a new supplement regimen.
Adding brewer’s yeast to your dog’s diet may be just what the doctor ordered, and if you’re a fan of adopting natural remedies to address common problems, it may be the answer you’ve been looking for.
How Much Brewer’s Yeast Should I Give My Dog?
In general, the manufacturer’s dose recommendations should be followed. The quantity is determined by your protégé’s weight.
You might start with fewer tablets or powders and gradually increase the amount over the next few days. Some dogs experience moderate farts, but it goes away as the body adjusts to the yeast.
Directions for administration:
- Small dogs weighing 5-10 kg: 1 g per day
- Medium dogs weighing 11-20 kg: 1.5 g per day
- Large dogs weighing 21-40 kg: 2 g per day
- Large dogs weighing more than 41 kg: from 3 g per day
If the yeast is used during a coat change or as a tick cure, the dosage can be slightly increased for the desired length.
Does Brewer’s Yeast Repel Fleas On Dogs?
The quick answer is yes. The longer answer is that scientific information more recent than USDA pamphlets from the 1950s is scarce. Brewer’s yeast has been coupled with garlic or oils in recent research, with inconsistent outcomes. The garlic content in commercially available formulations is safe for pets. The main ingredient appears to be brewer’s yeast, but the formulation is critical to its success in repelling fleas and ticks. Scientists have attempted to identify the component of brewer’s yeast that gives it this repelling ability. Because none of the vitamins or minerals in brewer’s yeast repel ticks and fleas on their own, it’s possible that numerous components are at work.
Recently, the effectiveness of dog treats containing brewer’s yeast with and without garlic was examined, and there was no difference. The treat was delayed in reaching the market due to negative effects observed in the study’s large dogs. Brewer’s yeast combined with omega-3 oils may be more repelling.
It will most likely take a few days before you see any flea-repellant effect from brewer’s yeast, and this benefit will not be available to all dogs. As a result, it is best given in conjunction with a flea-killing topical or chewable medication, so your dog is protected in two ways.
In Conclusion,
Brewer’s yeast is very useful as a food supplement as well as for coat and skin care. As an additive in the feed takes effect from within. Although it has its flaws, the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages associated with it.
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