Potatoes and ear infections?

[Debbie and Belle]

Belle has been having repeated ear infections and I had heard that potatoes could contribute to this problem in some dogs. She has been eating Acana Grasslands which does contain potato. Should I change to a potato free diet? Belle has had sensitivities to chicken, grains and cheese, so I stay away from food with these ingredients.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I never heard of this connection and I doubt it has any merit based on medical facts.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I have never heard that potatoes could cause ear infections, or read any fact-based literature about that, and it doesn't really make sense to me from a physiological standpoint either. I suspect that information didn't come from a scientifically based website, lol. Did the source say explain how potatoes could cause an infection in the ears?

 Despite what you may read on "holistic" websites, ear infections are rarely caused by food. (Food actually gets blamed for all kinds of health issues way more than it should).  Poodles and non-shedding breeds with floppy ears are notorious for having chronic ear infections. Some dogs have more trouble with ear infections than others, due to the structure of their ear canals. Some have even had to have the ear canals removed surgically. But all dogs with non-shedding or poodle-y coats require regular weekly ear cleaning and maintenance. The ear canals need to be kept free of hair and dry. 

I personally wouldn't change Belle's food for this reason, as I really doubt the potatoes have anything to do with the ears. But if you want to see for yourself, you could try switching her to Orijen's Regional Red or Six Fish, neither of which contain potatoes, grains, chicken or cheese. There are other good foods on our recommended brands list that also meet this criteria, but i hate to see anyone switch from a Champion product to some other brand without a really good reason.

[Adina P]

It is probably a combo of fear of carbs plus the fact ear infections are often 'yeast' and the idea that yeast feeds off 'sugar'.  I can see how this kind of idea might be passed around.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That's what I was afraid of; it makes me so sad that the science education in this country is so lacking. 

[Debbie and Belle]

I can't remember where I first heard this, but my local boutique pet store suggested this as well. If it's just a myth maybe she is just going to be prone to developing the ear infections. I use the ear cleaner I purchased from the vet weekly and keep her ears clean and dry inside. It seems as though soon after finishing the prescribed ear drops for the infection, she gets another infection.

I would prefer not to switch food since Belle has been doing well otherwise on the Acana. She had earlier problems with vomiting, but feeding her 4 or 5 small meals has really helped. If you feel potato is not an issue, I should probably keep her on the Acana Grasslands.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I really think potatoes are not the issue.

Have the ear infections been bacterial or yeast infections?

[Debbie and Belle]

They have been yeast.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Acidifying the ear with a good cleanser should keep yeast at bay. You need to be sure to get the liquid all the way into the ear canal and massage the base of the ear so you hear the squishing. Then just gently dry. The yeast are all over and just need the right conditions to grow, warm and moist just like an ear canal. Keep the "cheek"hair short too to give air more chance to circulate.

[Deborah Brown]

I've never heard this either BUT I did discover that my Charlie is sensitive to potato and he hasn't had an ear infection since going potato free.  Coincidence?  Maybe.

We used to feed the Natural Balance line but Charlie would have problems with the potato formulas.  It took me awhile to figure out it was the potato.  Sometimes you just label your dog a fussy eater without realizing that there is a true problem.

He also used to have regular - once or twice a year - ear infections.  We keep it under control by cleaning his ears regularly.  But now that you mention this, I can't remember the last time he had an ear infection.  Of course, this is clearly just anecdotal.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think that there may be other changes that caused the improvement other than eliminating the potatoes. You also switched to Orijen if I'm not mistaken. That greatly increased his protein intake and at the same time greatly decreased his carbohydrate intake. If there is any basis to the "sugars in diet = yeast infections", it would apply to all carbohydrates, not just potatoes, since all carbohydrate is metabolized as sugar in  the body. You also switched to a food with the highest Omega 3 content and the lowest Omega 6:3 ratio in existence. Omega 3 fatty acids have been shown to help with all kinds of health issues, including inflammation and skin issues. 

So I don't think we can attribute the resolution of the ear issues solely to the elimination of potatoes. :)

When I first consulted JD's dermatologist for his allergies, she recommended Orijen. That confused me, because she had already told me that his allergies were not caused by his food. But the reason she wanted him on Orijen was because of these things I mentioned above: Omega 3 fatty acid content, and higher protein/lower carbs. The macronutrient balance of the food and not just ingredients in the food are often what makes the difference. 

[Deborah Brown]

We eliminated potato before switching to Orijen but I agree with your analysis.  :)  And if I had a dog with chronic ear infections, I'd try a change of diet too.  I'd do anything that might help the situation.  You can't go wrong switching to a better food.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Amen to that. :)