Brewer's Yeast with Garlic - Flea control for dogs?

    About a year after I first got Buddy he developed a skin rash on his chest and upper stomach area. These weren't the only areas affected, but the redness and irritation seemed to be worse there than it was in other places. He scratched himself constantly and this in turn only made his skin condition worsen. I had read somewhere about Brewer's Yeast with Garlic pills and how regular use helped maintain healthy skin and fur in both dogs and cats. Figuring it was worth a shot, I bought a small bottle and began giving them to him every morning. Within three weeks his itching and scratching had disappeared completely and his fur had taken on a sleek, glossy look that literally shined when the light hit him just the right way.

    Now I'm a Brewer's Yeast believer.

    More than one company makes Brewer's Yeast supplements. We've tried several but to sit here and say that one brand is better than another just isn't possible. The mineral and vitamin values are comparable in each regardless of which brand you choose. We initially started out with the Four Paws regular strength pills and I continued buying that same brand for over a year. Counting out 18 pills every morning gets a little old though, and when I found Excel's mega-tabs (image at left) it just made good sense to switch over to that brand (18 pills -vs- 3 pills). Again, there is no appreciable difference in either of these brands or their recommended daily dosages. The Excel mega-tabs are simply more concentrated.

    The greatest benefit we've gotten from the Brewer's Yeast tablets has been in keeping Buddy's skin from drying out and helping control Dixie's shedding. It doesn't eliminate shedding completely (that wouldn't be too healthy for your pet anyway), but it reduces it considerably. How, I have no idea. It does work though. I can clearly see a difference in the amount of hair Dixie shed's when she's taking the Brewer's yeast pills every day, as opposed to when she's not.

    Brewers yeast with Garlic has also been said to repel ticks and fleas from pets, and possibly mosquitoes as well. With West Nile Virus having been in the news as much as it has in recent years, mosquitoes have become more than just annoying pests, and while I wouldn't be willing to trust Brewer's Yeast as a sole source of flea and tick prevention, it's nice to know it helps.

    Another source of Omega 3 fatty acids can be found in Healthy Hide's Omega 3 daily chewable treats for dogs. I got these because Buddy won't always eat the Brewer's Yeast pills and I thought we'd have better luck with actual treats. We've had better luck, but only marginally. These chewable treats cost $4.97 for a 13-ounce bag and each treat contains thirty calories. Dixie loves them of course. I've been hard pressed to find anything Dixie doesn't love. Buddy will eat them, but only if I catch him at the right time. He's been known to refuse them outright.

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