Best Dog Food for Yeast Infections — Restore and Maintain Normal Flora

Yeast infections are not uncommon in dogs. You might assume that your dog is meant to have a stinky smell, but she may have a yeast infection.

The most common canine yeast infections are those of the ears and skin caused by Malassezia (an organism that lives in your dog’s skin).

When this organism grows out of control, the result is a yeast infection.

You can help regulate the growth of this organism by feeding your dog an anti-yeast diet.

But the choice of anti-yeast foods is huge and you need to research to find the most ideal option.

In my top nine sections of the best dog food for yeast infections, I took into account all the important nutritional factors.

The Brothers Complete Ultra Premium Grain-Free Dry Dog Food is the most recommended anti-yeast diet for dogs and the bestseller. This formula doesn’t contain food items that promote yeast growth. Instead, it is fortified with encapsulated probiotics, low glycemic carbs, and high-quality protein.

The Best Dog Foods For Yeast Infections Are:

ProductDetails
1. Brothers Complete Ultra Premium Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

  • Real turkey is the first ingredient
  • Contains low glycemic carbs
  • Enriched with digestive enzymes
  • Encapsulated probiotics
  • Preserved naturally without ethoxyquin, BHT, or BHA
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2. Stella & Chewy’s Skin & Coat Boost Dinner Morsels Dog Food

  • Contains raw naturally raised beef
  • Supplemented with organic fruits and veggies
  • Enriched with linoleic acid, vitamin E, and biotin
  • Features functional ingredients, such as coconut flour and salmon oil
  • No artificial colors or preservatives
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3. Zignature Zssential Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

  • Limited-ingredient grain-free dog food
  • Features real turkey as the first ingredient
  • Multivitamin and multimineral nutrition
  • Fiber-rich and contains low glycemic carbs
  • High in omega fatty acids
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4. Nature’s Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

  • The first ingredient is real salmon
  • Grain-free carbohydrate sources
  • Enriched with quality vitamins and minerals
  • High in omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids
  • Doesn’t contain any form of yeast
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5. Castor & Pollux Organix Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

  • The first ingredient is organic chicken
  • Enriched with pre and probiotics fiber
  • Extra nutrition from coconut oil, blueberries, and flaxseed
  • Bite-sized kibbles for small breeds
  • USDA organic formula
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6. Wellness Core Grain-Free Original Deboned Turkey Dry Dog Food

  • Contains high-quality proteins
  • Controlled levels of fat and carbs
  • Enriched with immune-boosting antioxidants
  • Guaranteed levels of live probiotics
  • High levels of omega fatty acids
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7. Rachael Ray Nutrish Super Premium Dry Dog Food

  • Farm-raised chicken is the first ingredient
  • Enriched with wholesome fiber
  • Features superior sources of vitamins and minerals
  • High in omega fatty acids
  • Enriched with ascorbic acid and vitamin E
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8. The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Chicken Recipe Dehydrated Dog Food

  • Free-range chicken is the first ingredient
  • Dehydrated whole foods
  • Enriched with organic flaxseed
  • Highly concentrated and easily digestible
  • High in high-quality fiber
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9. Instinct Original Grain-Free Recipe Dried Raw Coated Dry Dog Food

  • The first ingredient is wild-caught salmon
  • Enriched with nutritious oils
  • Sufficient levels of live/natural probiotics
  • Has high levels of antioxidants and natural omegas
  • No allergy triggers, such as grain, corn, or potato
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1. Brothers Complete Ultra Premium Grain-Free Dry Dog Food — Best Dry Dog Food for Yeast Infections

Brothers Complete is dedicated to nourishing your furred friend with this complete and balanced grain-free dry dog food.

Specs

  • Dry kibble
  • Puppy formula
  • Small-sized Kibbles
  • Contains both EPA and DHA fatty acids

This allergy care dry food was cooked at low temperatures, which helps to minimize damage to the more fragile amino acids that play a vital role in fighting infections.

The Brothers Complete diet is enriched with high-quality protein, which is great because it is packed with essential amino acids for muscle growth and recovery.

The encapsulated probiotics in the food are packed with healthy bacteria that help improve and treat symptoms for a canine that already has a yeast infection.

Another good thing about this food is that it is made up of low glycemic carbs that will not spike blood sugar, making them safe for dogs with fungal infections.

But it is possible to receive a bag with very dry kibbles that some dogs may dislike.

Pros

  • Cooked at low temperatures to maintain nutrients
  • Packed with essential amino acids for muscle growth and recovery
  • Probiotics play a vital role in treating symptoms of yeast infections
  • Low glycemic carbs are suitable for dogs with infections
  • No yeast of any kind in the diet that may worsen the condition

Cons

  • May come with very dry kibbles
  • Could be better with a ziplock bag

Verdict

The crunchy and nutrient-packed kibbles of the Brothers Complete diet are great for sensitive dogs and those with yeast infections.

Overall Rating – 4.8

Brothers Complete Dog Food and Treats | Chewy

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2. Stella & Chewy’s Skin & Coat Boost Dinner Morsels Dog Food

This is a savory, one hundred percent complete and balanced nutrition that is guaranteed to help your furry friend overcome yeast and fungal infections.

Specs

  • Contains raw naturally raised beef
  • Supplemented with organic fruits and veggies
  • Enriched with linoleic acid, vitamin E, and biotin
  • Features functional ingredients, such as coconut flour and salmon oil
  • No artificial colors or preservatives

This canine food is freeze-dried raw, complete, and balanced, which is great because it provides optimum raw nutrition with active ingredients to improve body function.

It is enriched with high-quality antioxidants, such as linoleic acid, vitamin E, and biotin, which help support immune function and fight infections.

Coconut flour in the diet helps treat symptoms of yeast infection, makes the coat shiny, relieves itchy skin, improves digestion, and increases energy levels. 

I also appreciate the fact that this diet is free of allergy triggers, such as artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, soy, corn, gluten, grain, or wheat.

But here is the thing, the bag size is pretty small for such a high price tag.

Pros

  • Optimum raw nutrition is nutrient-packed
  • Coconut flour helps treat symptoms of yeast infection
  • High-quality antioxidants boost immune health
  • Supports vibrant skin and coat
  • Improve teeth and gum health

Cons

  • Available bag size appears small for the money
  • Possible to receive a damaged bag

Verdict

This amazing nutrition from Stella & Chewy’s is a great choice for treat yeast and fungal infections in canines and a proven solution for picky eaters.

Overall Rating – 4.7

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3. Zignature Zssential Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

This is a multi-protein formula that doesn’t contain genetically modified ingredients. So, this recipe is a great choice for dogs with infections and food sensitivities.

Specs

  • Limited-ingredient grain-free dog food
  • Features real turkey as the first ingredient
  • Multivitamin and multimineral nutrition
  • Fiber-rich and contains low glycemic carbs
  • High in omega fatty acids

Zignature is a high protein low glycemic diet that supplies your pooch with lots of essential amino acids to help build muscles and fight infections.

This diet features only a handful of carefully selected ingredients, which is great because it doesn’t contain food items that can cause allergies in sensitive dogs.

This nutrition is low in saturated fat and contains heart-healthy omega fatty acids that help reduce inflammation, improve cognitive function, and fight serious infections.

Another good thing about this diet is that it is a multivitamin and multimineral diet, which makes it the best for boosting immune function in the fight against yeast infection.

But it is possible to receive a bag or bags with quality issues, such as having large chunks of food.

Pros

  • It is completely free of the common allergy triggers
  • Enriched with a variety of essential amino acids for optimum performance
  • High-quality omega fatty acids help fight fungal infections
  • Multivitamin nutrition supports immune health
  • Kibbles are palatable and digestible

Cons

  • Possible to receive a bag with large chunks
  • Could be better with live probiotics

Verdict

If you want a diet that will give your pooch a taste of the wild and help her fight yeast infections, the Zignature Zssential fits the description.

Overall Rating – 4.7 

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4. Nature’s Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

If you are looking for a recipe that is super easy to digest and has all the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals for fighting yeast infections, don’t look beyond this food from Nature’s Recipe.

Specs

  • The first ingredient is real salmon
  • Grain-free carbohydrate sources
  • Enriched with quality vitamins and minerals
  • High in omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids
  • Doesn’t contain any form of yeast

Real salmon is a natural source of omega 3 fatty acids, which is great because they support healthy immune function, helping the canine body fight yeast infections.

This diet is rich in ascorbic acid, a great source of vitamin C that has antimicrobial properties to help the canine body defend itself against yeast infections.

The nutrition is enriched with low glycemic, nutrient-rich carbohydrates that will help supply your furred friend with energy without spiking up the sugar levels.

I appreciate the absence of genetically modified ingredients and common allergy triggers, such as soy, wheat, corn, and artificial colors or preservatives.

My only concern is the texture of the kibbles, which may not be the most favorite for some picky eaters.

Pros

  • High levels of omega 3 improve the body’s ability to fight infections
  • Antimicrobial properties of vitamin C boost immune function
  • Low glycemic carbs will not worsen your dog’s condition
  • No allergy triggers are present in the diet
  • A great choice for small, medium, and large breeds

Cons

  • Picky eaters may dislike the texture of the kibbles
  • Some quality issues from one bag to another

Verdict

This nutrition is well-equipped with high-quality protein, low glycemic carbs, high fiber content, vitamins, and antioxidants that will help your pooch fight infections.

Overall Rating – 4.7

Nature’s Recipe Dog Food | Chewy

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5. Castor & Pollux Organix Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

If you are looking for a clean, organic, nutrient-packed diet to satisfy your canine’s cravings and help her fight common causes of skin disease and ear infection, then this food is your best bet.

Specs

  • The first ingredient is organic chicken
  • Enriched with pre and probiotics fiber
  • Extra nutrition from coconut oil, blueberries, and flaxseed
  • Bite-sized kibbles for small breeds
  • USDA organic formula

This recipe is made with 95 percent USDA certified organic ingredients, which is great because it provides your dog with the best chance of fighting allergies and yeast infections.

The free-range organic chicken provides a boost of highly digestible protein as well as essential nutrition from amino acids, fatty acids, and minerals.

This recipe is enriched with coconut oil, a powerful superfood that does not only fight yeast infections but also helps improve skin, coat, and digestion health.

I appreciate the presence of organic flaxseeds, which are a great source of omega 3 fatty acids for fighting skin and ear infections.

Another big advantage for dogs struggling with yeast infections is the presence of pre and probiotics, which feed the good gut bacteria and improve digestive health.

What I don’t like; however, is the fact that this diet is mainly suitable for small-breed dogs due to the bite-sized kibbles.

Pros

  • Organic ingredients are great for fighting yeast infections
  • Contains highly digestible proteins with good amounts of amino acids
  • Coconut oil improves skin, coat, and digestive health
  • Omega 3 fatty acids fight skin and ear infections
  • Probiotics and prebiotics feed the good gut bacteria

Cons

  • Bite-sized kibbles aren’t suitable for large-breed dogs
  • Might be rejected by picky eaters

Verdict

This is just the perfect nutrition for your small-breed dog suffering from yeast infections. It is well-equipped for the fight.

Overall Rating – 4.7

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6. Wellness Core Grain-Free Original Deboned Turkey Dry Dog Food

This is a high-protein, grain-free natural nutrition with nutritious and therapeutic ingredients, making it a great choice for treating and preventing canine yeast infections.

Specs

  • Contains high-quality proteins
  • Controlled levels of fat and carbs
  • Enriched with immune-boosting antioxidants
  • Guaranteed levels of live probiotics
  • High levels of omega fatty acids

This diet is high in protein, near average with fat, and below-average, making it the ideal choice for fighting canine yeast infections.

The kibbles are coated with probiotics, which is great because they help support digestive tract health and prevent candida and other bacteria from increasing.

The high levels of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids present a good natural treatment for symptoms of yeast infection, such as skin and ear infection.

This nutrition also features naturally occurring glucosamine and chondroitin, two important nutrients that support bone, hip, and joint health.

But the thing is, the chicken meal in the food might trigger allergic reactions in sensitive dogs.

Pros

  • Grain-free recipe with lots of high-quality protein
  • Probiotics coated kibbles help fight yeast infections
  • Highly enriched with vitamin C for improved immune health
  • Omega 3 fatty acids improve skin and coat health
  • Suitable nutrition for all dog ages

Cons

  • Sensitive dogs may be allergic to chicken meal
  • Quality control may be inconsistent from one bag to another

Verdict

This is 100 percent grain-free, natural anti-yeast-infection complete and balanced everyday nutrition that your furry friend will appreciate.

Overall Rating – 4.7

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7. Rachael Ray Nutrish Super Premium Dry Dog Food

Rachael Ray Nutrish Super Premium Dry Dog Food features nutrient-dense ingredients that will not only help to fight infections but also support your dog’s overall wellbeing.

Specs

  • Farm-raised chicken is the first ingredient
  • Enriched with wholesome fiber
  • Features superior sources of vitamins and minerals
  • High in omega fatty acids
  • Enriched with ascorbic acid and vitamin E

This food includes farm-raised chicken as the first for strong lean muscles combined with wholesome veggies that support overall health.

Rachael Ray Nutrish is made with natural probiotics, which is good because they yield short-chain fatty acids for inhibiting the growth as well as the activity of harmful bacteria.

Ascorbic acid ensures that your dog’s immune system is running smoothly to help fend off yeast infections.

What I don’t like about this nutrition; however, is the presence of corn gluten meal, soybean meal, and dried peas, which may be allergy triggers for sensitive dogs.

Pros

  • Real meat is a great source of high-quality protein
  • Prebiotics and probiotics reduce the growth of bad bacteria
  • Super nutrients such as vitamin C help fight yeast infections
  • Omega fatty acids improve skin and coat health
  • Highly palatable and digestible kibbles

Cons

  • Some ingredients may be allergic to sensitive dogs
  • Could be better with coconut oil

Verdict

This is a healthy homemade meal that will help your dog fight yeast infections and maintain a healthy lifestyle. But it may not be the best for allergic dogs.

Overall Rating – 4.6

Rachael Ray Nutrish Dog Food

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8. The Honest Kitchen Grain-Free Chicken Recipe Dehydrated Dog Food

This complete and balanced recipe from the Honest Kitchen does the impossible for dogs with yeast infections.

Specs

  • Free-range chicken is the first ingredient
  • Dehydrated whole foods
  • Enriched with organic flaxseed
  • Highly concentrated and easily digestible
  • High in high-quality fiber

The Honest Kitchen uses a dehydration technique that helps retain more of the natural vitamins that are vital to your dog’s immune health.

This amazing dehydrated recipe is made with non-GMO grains like quinoa, barley, and oats, which are packed with nutrients that help fight chronic infections.

The diet is enriched with organic flaxseeds (natural sources of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids) that have antifungal properties for fighting infections.

This food is also highly concentrated and easily digestible, which is great for a dog suffering from chronic infections.

But here is the thing, some picky eaters may refuse to eat the food due to the vegetable-like smell.

Pros

  • Nutrient-packed and easily digestible
  • Multivitamin nutrition boost immune function
  • Help prevent recurrent yeast infections in canines
  • Antifungal properties of organic flaxseeds help fight infections
  • Free of allergy triggers, such as soy, corn, or wheat

Cons

  • The vegetable-like smell may not be appealing for some picky eaters
  • Quality control may not be consistent

Verdict

This multivitamin dehydrated formula is just what you need to help your furred friend overcome yeast infections.

Overall Rating – 4.5

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9. Instinct Original Grain-Free Recipe Dried Raw Coated Dry Dog Food

This therapeutic diet is guided by the power of raw ingredients, which helps your dog overcome yeast infections and fuels her with the ability to thrive.

Specs

  • The first ingredient is wild-caught salmon
  • Enriched with nutritious oils
  • Sufficient levels of live/natural probiotics
  • Has high levels of antioxidants and natural omegas
  • No allergy triggers, such as grain, corn, or potato

The main protein source in this natural diet is wild-caught salmon, which is great because it contains high levels of omega fatty acids that help reduce yeast infections.

Natural probiotics are included as part of the optimal nutrition to support digestive health, immune health, and help fight and prevent canine yeast infections.

This nutrition is supplemented with optimum levels of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) that is very effective in helping the canine body heal itself even when invaded by yeast infections.

Another good thing about this food is that it does not contain food items that may trigger allergic reactions, such as by-product meal, soy, wheat, corn, potato, or grain.

My major concern regarding this nutrition is the smell of the kibbles, which might be too strong for picky eaters.

Pros

  • A great diet for dogs of all ages, including puppies
  • Rich in omega fatty acids for fighting skin and ear infections
  • Probiotics fight and prevent yeast infections in your dog
  • Optimum levels of ascorbic acid help the body heal
  • Doesn’t contain allergy triggers, such as grain, corn or potato

Cons

  • The smell may be too strong for picky eaters
  • Kibble size may be too small for larger breeds

Verdict

With the Instinct Original Grain-Free Recipe, your furry friend will be able to fight yeast infections and get lean muscles, good digestive health, and healthy skin and coat.

Overall Rating – 4.5

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Buying Guide: Things To Consider When Looking For Dog Food For Yeast Infections

dog lying down on a chair during daytime

If you have a dog who is prone to yeast infections, seeing a veterinarian is always important.

In my experience as a dog parent, I have found out that diet can help manage canine diabetes.

But there are a few things that you need to consider when searching for the best dog food for yeast infections.

Anti-Yeast Diet

This is a phrase that most dog parents come to learn about when their pooches exhibit the following symptoms: itching, redness, flaky skin, musty odor, thickened skin, ear infection, or darkly pigmented skin.

This is a strict diet that doesn’t contain sugars, gluten, or dairy products. Yeast needs sugar to thrive and carbohydrates always break down into sugar.

A veterinarian will always recommend that you eliminate sugar from your dog’s food if she’s showing symptoms of yeast infections.

This doesn’t just refer to the conventional white sugar, but also the sugar that is found in dog food bags and treats.

The food you choose should have no fructose, syrup, corn, or potatoes (white or sweet). You should even settle for a completely sugar-free diet if your dog has chronic yeast infections.

This simply means that all the carbohydrates need to disappear from your dog’s next meal. That’s an anti-yeast canine diet in a nutshell.

Low Glycemic Carbohydrates

The best dog food for yeast infections should be high in protein and fat and low in carbs. Your furred friend doesn’t have a compelling nutritional need for carbs.

Besides adding more bulk to your dog’s stool and stressing her digestive system, the sugars found in carbs directly affect the blood sugar in your canine’s body.

Your dog is designed to make glucose from protein, which helps to regulate blood sugar levels. High glycemic foods, such as starches or grains can cause blood sugar levels to spike, which can worsen yeast infections.

So, the solution lies with low glycemic carbohydrates, such as lentils, beans, peas, millet, oats, and barley. These foods slow down digestion and the absorption process, preventing blood glucose levels from spiking.

Probiotics

A healthy gut line plays an important role in your dog’s digestion and immune health.

Supporting and nourishing the good bacteria in your pooch’s gut helps improve digestion, nutrient absorption, and immune health.

Supporting the gastrointestinal health of your furred friend is a key factor in helping your dog overcome yeast infections.

The food you choose; however, should contain the most powerful strains of beneficial bacteria for supporting optimal gastrointestinal health. 

Coconut Oil

This oil contains a mixture of polyunsaturated, monounsaturated, and saturated fats. As a combined unit, these fats contain a list of healthy fatty acids that your dog needs to fight yeast infections.

Coconut oil can improve your dog’s health by strengthening her immune health and promoting the healthy function of major organs, including the skin, helping treat skin infections.

It is okay to directly feed your pooch coconut oil, but too much is not advisable. But, commercial foods will always have optimal levels of coconut oil. 

Avoid Foods With Heavy Metals

You might not believe this, but most commercial foods may have some traces of heavy metals like mercury, lead, and chromium.

While heavy metals may not directly cause yeast infections, they tend to provide a favorable environment for such infections to thrive.

There are new concerns about commercial dog foods. Kidney failure and skin conditions have been associated with traces of heavy metals in dog treats.

Research and credible findings suggest that pet foods have led to pet deaths over the years. So, be aware of these claims and try not to ignore them.

Key Vitamins To Consider

Commercial dog foods; whether dry or wet are marketed by the producers as complete and balanced.

But, it is always wise to confirm with the ingredients list whether or not that’s the case.

In my opinion, a complete and balanced diet must have all the necessary vitamins and minerals your dog needs to boost her immune health and fight yeast infections.

B Vitamins

The B vitamins include B12, folic acid, biotin, B6, niacin, riboflavin, and thiamine. All these vitamins play an important role in boosting the immune system and treating yeast infections.

Vitamin B12 prevents B12 deficiencies, including yeast infections, lack of energy, reduced interest in play, weakness, weight loss, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and lack of muscle mass.

Thiamine regulates the metabolism of carbohydrates. The main sources of vitamin B in dog foods are nuts, green veggies, beans, peas, and brewers yeast.

Vitamin C

Also referred to as ascorbic acid, vitamin C is an essential micronutrient for your dog. It is an essential antioxidant and an important cofactor for many enzymes in your pooch’s body.

It is considered to be one of the most powerful immune system boosters. As an antioxidant, ascorbic acid does a great job of fighting free radicals.

This helps to prevent many diseases, including yeast infections and promotes healthy aging in senior dogs.

Can Long-Term Antibiotic Treatment Affect My Dog’s Immune System?

Antibiotics don’t cause fungal or yeast infections. However, continuing the use of antibiotics may destroy the normal flora (good bacteria) that plays a vital role in keeping yeast levels under control.

Not to mention that the medication can adversely affect the immune health of your dog, allowing yeast infections to proliferate.

What Else Can I Do Apart From Feeding My Dog An Anti-Yeast Diet?

Apart from feeding your dog an anti-yeast diet to help maintain healthy normal flora, the next measure you need to take is to consider adding antifungal food items (garlic or oregano) to your dog’s diet.

Then, you need to disinfect the infected or yeasty parts of your pooch’s body.

So, if your dog’s ears are yeasty, then you have to disinfect her ears daily. Other damp wet parts of your dog that can be yeasty and may require disinfecting are vulva, anus, between the pads, in the armpits, and the groin creases.

A dog with yeasty feet needs to have her feet disinfected, especially the paws. But in the event of an overgrowth skin yeast infection, an anti-yeast bath may be necessary.

In this case, you can consider using an antifungal (made from a natural herbal blend or tea tree) or natural shampoo and avoid oatmeal shampoos.

Final Thoughts

The overall winner of this roundup is the Brothers Complete Ultra Premium Grain-Free Dry Dog Food. A complete and balanced diet that is best suited for a dog with yeast infections.

What makes this food standout is the fact that it doesn’t contain yeast of any kind, and it is packed with all the essential vitamins and minerals for boosting your dog’s immune health.

This is a premium low glycemic diet that contains low glycemic carbohydrates that will not spike blood sugar levels. It is enriched with encapsulated probiotics that promote the growth of good bacteria.

There is also no evidence to suggest that this food has any traces of heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, or chromium.

About the author

Sarah Andrews

Hi I'm Sarah, dog lover and blogger. I was born into a dog-loving family and have been a proud doggy mommy ever since I can remember. I love sharing my dog knowledge and love being an active part of the dog-loving community.