Raw food for Basenjis with yeast infections

Chronic yeast infections are genuinely miserable for a dog — and you're right to look at diet. Yeast thrives on carbohydrates, and most kibbles are 30–50% starch, which creates exactly the environment yeast loves. Switching to a low-carb raw diet removes that fuel source, and many Basenjis with recurrent skin yeast do see real improvement. That said, raw feeding done well can be excellent — done badly it creates nutritional gaps that cause real harm over time, and the difference is balance and sourcing. To point you in the right direction: has your Basenji been tested for underlying food intolerances alongside the yeast, and are you looking for a complete ready-made raw option or thinking about preparing it yourself?

Good call starting with a complete ready-made — getting the nutritional balance wrong while also trying to manage a health condition is too much risk. For a 10kg Basenji with a yeast issue, the key things you want in a raw food are: nutritionally complete, single or limited protein to help you spot any food triggers, and critically low in any added carbohydrate fillers. What protein is he currently eating on kibble? Chicken, beef, something else? That matters because if he's been on chicken for years, it could be a contributing trigger and you'd want to start raw on a novel protein instead.

Then I'd steer you away from chicken to start, at least until the yeast is under control and you've had a chance to see how he responds. Long-term exposure to the same protein is a common driver of sensitivity, and chicken is one of the most frequent culprits. For a Basenji in your situation I'd recommend Natural Instinct Pure Duck — it's a complete raw food, single-protein duck, no added carbs or fillers, and duck is genuinely novel for a chicken-fed dog. It comes in 1kg frozen blocks that you defrost as needed, which is practical for a 10kg dog. Feed around 200–250g per day split into two meals. The limited ingredient list also means if he does react to something, you actually know what it was.

Honest answer: it's one important piece, not a guaranteed cure. Removing dietary carbs takes away the primary fuel source for yeast overgrowth, and many owners report significant improvement within 8–12 weeks of switching. But yeast on the skin also has environmental triggers — pollens, dust mites, damp ears — and sometimes an underlying immune or thyroid issue. Basenjis as a breed are actually prone to a condition called Fanconi syndrome and some autoimmune sensitivities, so if the yeast doesn't meaningfully improve after 10–12 weeks on a clean raw diet, it's worth pushing your vet for allergy panel testing rather than just repeat antifungal treatment. Diet change is the right first move and costs you nothing to try properly.

Natural Instinct Pure Duck is available on Amazon UK — search 'Natural Instinct Pure Duck' and look for the 1kg or 2kg frozen packs. It ships with freezer packaging and is generally reliable for delivery. Buy a couple of kilos to start rather than a large bulk order until you've confirmed he tolerates duck well. Give it at least four weeks before judging — the first week or two can involve a digestive adjustment period, which is normal when switching from kibble to raw. If you see loose stools in week one, don't panic; if it's still happening at week three, that's worth investigating.