What Are the Pros and Cons of Brewer's Yeast for Fleas?

Having a pet consume more vitamins and possibly liking the yeast tablet are some pros of using brewer’s yeast for fleas. Brewer’s yeast tablets rarely contain just yeast; dozens of vitamins and herbs are sometimes included to benefit the pet’s coat or help with flea prevention. In addition, some pets love the taste of the tablets, so treating a pet for fleas is no longer a problem. Brewer’s yeast has some downsides, however, such as not being proven to repel fleas and the possibility of causing gas.

Brewer’s yeast for fleas often comes in a tablet form fortified with other vitamins. Even if the flea treatment is ineffective, the dog may benefit from the other vitamins it consumed. In addition, unlike most other flea prevention methods, brewer’s yeast is not known to cause a reaction in dogs. Therefore, dogs with allergies and sensitivities may benefit from using yeast instead of potentially harmful chemicals found in some flea medications.

Using brewer’s yeast for fleas can be less of a hassle because some dogs and cats like to eat brewer’s yeast tablets. They see them as a treat, unlike getting liquid applied directly to their skin. In addition, dogs can be trained to know that a treat follows brewer’s yeast, even if they do not like the yeast. Cats are a bit difficult to train, but not impossible.

Studies show that using brewer’s yeast for fleas is ineffective when given to dogs in tablet form. One study fed brewer’s yeast to 40 dogs and unleashed and observed unfed fleas on the dogs over the course of seven weeks. The researchers saw no indication that brewer’s yeast could repel fleas. It could be another ingredient in most brewer’s yeast tablets that repels fleas, or dog owners could be experiencing a placebo effect.

Bloat in dogs can be a fatal condition; in fact, it is estimated that up to 60 percent of dogs die from the condition, even with treatment. It is caused by an excessive amount of gas building up in the stomach. Some foods and habits can cause gas and increase a dog’s risk of developing bloat. In general, experts advise against giving brewer’s yeast to a dog who is already at risk of bloat. It is important to talk to a veterinarian about the dog’s diet and how else to avoid bloat, especially if one or more of the dog’s relatives have died of the condition.