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Ingredient file // Other

Brewers Dried Yeast

Useful yeast protein, with unproven health extras

Brewers dried yeast is inactive yeast recovered from beer fermentation, dried and ground. In dog food it is a modest protein source, and claims about taste, gut health, coat shine and flea control go further than the dog evidence.

Role in the food Supporting nutrient
What it is
Inactive brewing yeast that has been separated from beer, dried and ground for animal food.
Made from
Yeast left after beer fermentation
Main job
Concentrated yeast protein
Typical amount
Dog trials tested 3.5% to 15%
Watch for
Dogs that form urate stones
Not the same as
Live probiotic yeast

Straight answer

Is Brewers Dried Yeast safe for dogs?

Count it as protein, skip the promises

Ingredients are listed by weight, so yeast low on the list likely makes a small contribution. Near the top, count it as part of the protein mix and judge the complete food. Do not choose a bag for yeast's coat, gut or flea claims. Avoid it if your dog forms urate stones.

Why it is in the food
Concentrated yeast protein

Our read // In our catalog

In 1 of every 12 foods we track

Share of foods that list it

8%

263 of the 3,204 foods with an ingredient list on file, from 33 brands. 227 dry dog food, 36 wet dog food.

Each square is 1% of the catalog

Where it sits on the label

Median position 11. In the top five of 13 foods, so it is usually a minor ingredient.

Top five List position, heaviest first

Above the salt

63%

Listed before the salt in 63% of foods. In the rest it is under about 1% of the recipe.

Price per lb

Foods with it $2.81
All foods $3.25

Median of the cheapest bag price across 200 priced foods, 14% below the catalog. The price is the food's, not the ingredient's.

Who leans on it

29%

of the foods that list it are from NutriSource. 33 brands use it in total.

What it is

How it is made

Breweries remove excess yeast after it ferments beer. The wet yeast spoils quickly, so processors separate, wash, inactivate and dry it. Drying makes a storable feed ingredient but requires costly equipment and energy.6,9

  1. 01 // Source Brewing yeast Beer fermentation produces more yeast cells than a brewery needs to keep for brewing.
  2. 02 // Process Separated and washed A centrifuge removes yeast from the beer, and washing clears away remaining beer.
  3. 03 // Process Inactivated Heat or organic acids stop the yeast cells from fermenting during storage or feeding.
  4. 04 // Process Dried and ground Drum drying removes moisture; the dried yeast is then ground for use in feed.
  5. 05 // Output Dried yeast powder An inactive, dry ingredient arrives at the kibble plant ready to be weighed into a recipe.

What is in it

Composition, dry matter

49

% crude protein

The average in Feedipedia's dried yeast samples. It contributes protein, although the crude figure also counts nitrogen from RNA.

Crude protein 39.3-56.8%5
Crude fat 0-8.2%5
Ash 5.1-9.3%5
Crude fiber 0.1-4.4%5
Phosphorus 9.6-20 g/kg5

Protein, fat and fiber change with the brewing material and processing. Crude protein also counts RNA nitrogen, so it is not a direct measure of protein a dog can use.5,6

Why it is in the bag

A small protein add, not a proven taste fix

  1. Main nutrition
  2. Supporting nutrient
  3. Does a job
  4. Mostly filler

Brands add it as a protein source and a taste booster. The Pet Food Institute calls it tasty to dogs, but a 20-dog test at 3.5% of the diet found no preference. It is about 49% protein on a dry matter basis. Labels list ingredients by weight, so when it sits mid list or lower, it likely adds a small share of the food's protein. Higher up, count it as part of the protein mix.2,5,9,10

  1. 01

    Adds protein

    Dry yeast supplies concentrated crude protein. Controlled dog diets have used brewer's yeast as part of their protein mix, though its RNA nitrogen makes the crude protein figure imperfect.1,2,5,6

  2. 02

    Sold as a taste booster

    The Pet Food Institute, an industry trade group, says dogs find it tasty and calls palatability critical. A 20-dog test at 3.5% of the diet found no preference over the control.2,9

  3. 03

    Uses brewing excess

    Breweries have yeast left after fermentation. Selling the dried material creates a use for it, but drum drying needs expensive machinery and energy, limiting the economic advantage.6

How much Dog studies tested brewer's yeast at 3.5%, 10% and 15% of diets; these trial levels do not define a usual recipe amount.1,2,3

Our read // The claims

What the evidence supports

Strong: controlled studies in dogs agree. Some: small or mixed dog data. Thin: mechanism or lab work only. None: nothing, or the evidence points the other way.

  1. Brands say

    Adds usable protein to dog food

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    A 28-dog study fed 15% brewer's yeast and found its protein more digestible than protein from the tested sugarcane yeasts. It supplies protein, although RNA nitrogen makes crude protein an imperfect measure of the usable amount.1,5,6

  2. Brands say

    Improves a dog's gut health

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    In a controlled trial, 10 dogs with chronically poor stools received 10% brewer's yeast. Some fecal bacterial measures changed, but treatment did not improve stool scores. A microbiome change alone does not show better gut health.3

  3. Brands say

    Gives dogs a shinier coat

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    A supplier's household panel followed 28 dogs for 14 days and reported better owner ratings for coat shine. Owners knew what they were feeding, and there was no control group to separate a yeast effect from other changes.7

  4. Brands say

    Dogs find it tasty, so they eat better

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    The Pet Food Institute says dogs find it tasty. In a 20-dog preference test, food with 3.5% brewer's dried yeast drew no preference over the control. That test does not show yeast makes kibble more appealing.2,9

  5. Owners say

    Repels fleas naturally

    Outruns the evidence

    Evidence

    1. Strong
    2. Some
    3. Thin
    4. None

    A controlled trial gave active or inactive brewer's yeast at 14 g daily, with 20 dogs per group. Flea counts did not improve against untreated controls. Brewer's yeast is not flea prevention.4

Straight answers

What owners ask

  1. Q01

    Is it just filler?

    No

    It contributes concentrated protein, about 49% of dry matter, and dog feeding studies have used it in complete diets. Filler would have no job. Its list position shows whether that contribution is small or substantial.1,2,5,10

  2. Q02

    Can it cause yeast infections?

    Different yeast

    Brewers dried yeast is inactive brewing yeast. The yeast usually involved in canine skin dermatitis is Malassezia, a different organizm found on skin. That distinction alone cannot tell us whether eating brewer's yeast changes infection risk.9,11

  3. Q03

    Should I add more myself?

    Usually no

    Extra brewer's yeast has no demonstrated flea benefit, and the coat evidence comes from an uncontrolled supplier survey. Dogs managed for urate stones should avoid brewer's yeast because it is high in purines.4,7,8

Who uses it

Brands, best sellers and the company it keeps

Top brands, by foods that list it

  1. NutriSource 75 / 91
  2. Bil-Jac 23 / 32
  3. Natural Balance 21 / 48
  4. Victor 21 / 26
  5. Holistic Select 16 / 16
  6. Lotus 14 / 32
  7. Halo 10 / 41
  8. Health Extension 10 / 47
  9. Blackwood 7 / 7
  10. Nature's Logic 7 / 32

Foods that list it / all the brand's recipes we track.

Plus 23 more brands.

Amazon best sellers that list it

  1. #10 Iams Proactive Health MiniChunks Chicken & Whole Grains Dry Dog Food
  2. #32 Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food
  3. #42 Iams Adult Large Breed Dry Dog Food
  4. #73 Pedigree Puppy Chicken & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog Food
  5. #79 Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Lamb & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food

Rank on Amazon's dog food best seller list, checked October 2026.

Usually listed with, share of the foods that list it

  1. Mixed Tocopherols 46%
  2. Chicken Fat 43%
  3. Chicken 41%
  4. Brown Rice 35%
  5. Flaxseed 33%
  6. Chicken Meal 33%
  7. Natural Flavor 29%
  8. Oatmeal 26%
  9. Peas 24%
  10. Dried Plain Beet Pulp 22%
  11. Barley 21%
  12. Dried Beet Pulp 20%

On the shelf

Foods that list Brewers Dried Yeast

263 foods in our catalog list it. These 60 list it highest on the label.

Halo Adult Holistic Wild Salmon & Whitefish Recipe Dry Dog FoodHaloHalo Adult Holistic Wild Salmon & Whitefish Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 4 on the labelBlackwood Complete and Balanced Diet Chicken Meal with Ancient Grains & Corn Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlackwoodBlackwood Complete and Balanced Diet Chicken Meal with Ancient Grains & Corn Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelNatural Balance Limited Ingredient Beef & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance Limited Ingredient Beef & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelHalo Holistic Vegan Plant-Based with Kelp Recipe Adult Dry Dog FoodHaloHalo Holistic Vegan Plant-Based with Kelp Recipe Adult Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelEvanger’s EVX Restricted Diet: Weight Management Wet Dog FoodEvanger'sEvanger’s EVX Restricted Diet: Weight Management Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 5 on the labelBil-Jac Grain-Free Adult Dry Dog FoodBil-JacBil-Jac Grain-Free Adult Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Lamb & Brown Rice Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Lamb & Brown Rice Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelEdgard & Cooper Atlantic Salmon Adult Dog Dry Dog FoodEdgard & CooperEdgard & Cooper Atlantic Salmon Adult Dog Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelBlackwood Puppy & Performance Growing / Working Dogs Chicken Meal with Ancient Grains Recipe Dry Dog FoodBlackwoodBlackwood Puppy & Performance Growing / Working Dogs Chicken Meal with Ancient Grains Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelBil-Jac Sensitive Solutions Healthy Weight Support Dry Dog FoodBil-JacBil-Jac Sensitive Solutions Healthy Weight Support Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelEvanger’s Super Premium EVX Restricted Diet: Skin & Coat Wet Dog FoodEvanger'sEvanger’s Super Premium EVX Restricted Diet: Skin & Coat Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 6 on the labelNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Lamb & Brown Rice Small Breed Bites Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Lamb & Brown Rice Small Breed Bites Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the label
Show 48 more
Halo Holistic Cage-Free Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Puppy Dry Dog FoodHaloHalo Holistic Cage-Free Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Puppy Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelHalo Holistic Grain Free Cage-Free Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Adult Dry Dog FoodHaloHalo Holistic Grain Free Cage-Free Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Adult Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelHalo Holistic Grain Free Cage-Free Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Small Bree Dry Dog FoodHaloHalo Holistic Grain Free Cage-Free Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Small Bree Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelHalo Holistic Cage-Free Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Adult Dry Dog FoodHaloHalo Holistic Cage-Free Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Adult Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelHalo Holistic Grain Free Cage-Free Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Senior Dry Dog FoodHaloHalo Holistic Grain Free Cage-Free Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Senior Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelHalo Small Breed Adult Grain-Free Healthy Weight Holistic Wild Salmon & Whitefish Recipe Dry Dog FoodHaloHalo Small Breed Adult Grain-Free Healthy Weight Holistic Wild Salmon & Whitefish Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelHalo Small Breed Adult Holistic Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe Dry Dog FoodHaloHalo Small Breed Adult Holistic Chicken & Chicken Liver Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 5 on the labelHalo Holistic Healthy Weight Support Grain Free Cage-Free Turkey & Sweet Po Dry Dog FoodHaloHalo Holistic Healthy Weight Support Grain Free Cage-Free Turkey & Sweet Po Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelBil-Jac Senior Dry Dog FoodBil-JacBil-Jac Senior Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Lamb & Brown Rice Large Breed Bites Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Lamb & Brown Rice Large Breed Bites Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Duck & Potato Small Breed Bites Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Duck & Potato Small Breed Bites Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Duck & Potato Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Duck & Potato Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Sweet Potato & Venison Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Sweet Potato & Venison Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelBil-Jac Senior Select Formula Dry Dog FoodBil-JacBil-Jac Senior Select Formula Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelBil-Jac Reduced Fat Formula Dry Dog FoodBil-JacBil-Jac Reduced Fat Formula Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 6 on the labelNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 7 on the labelEdgard & Cooper Free-Run Chicken Adult Dog Dry Dog FoodEdgard & CooperEdgard & Cooper Free-Run Chicken Adult Dog Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 7 on the labelEdgard & Cooper Farm-Raised Lamb Adult Dog Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodEdgard & CooperEdgard & Cooper Farm-Raised Lamb Adult Dog Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 7 on the labelEvanger’s EVX Restricted Diet: Digestion Bland Diet Wet Dog FoodEvanger'sEvanger’s EVX Restricted Diet: Digestion Bland Diet Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 7 on the labelNature’s Logic Original Canine Can: Sardine Wet Dog FoodNature's LogicNature’s Logic Original Canine Can: Sardine Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 7 on the labelAuthority Digestive Support Adult Dog Dry Dog FoodAuthorityAuthority Digestive Support Adult Dog Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 7 on the labelWellness CORE+ Large Breed Chicken & Turkey Recipe Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness CORE+ Large Breed Chicken & Turkey Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 7 on the labelWellness Core+ Beef & Barley Recipe Dry Dog FoodWellnessWellness Core+ Beef & Barley Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 7 on the labelBil-Jac Large Breed Dry Dog FoodBil-JacBil-Jac Large Breed Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 7 on the labelNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Small Breed Bites Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Small Breed Bites Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 7 on the labelNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Chicken & Sweet Potato Small Breed Bites Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Chicken & Sweet Potato Small Breed Bites Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 7 on the labelNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Chicken & Sweet Potato Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Grain-Free Chicken & Sweet Potato Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 7 on the labelNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Chicken & Brown Rice Puppy Dry Dog FoodNatural BalanceNatural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Chicken & Brown Rice Puppy Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 7 on the labelEagle Pack Large & Giant Breed Puppy Dry Dog FoodEagle PackEagle Pack Large & Giant Breed Puppy Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 7 on the labelEagle Pack Original Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Formula Adult Dry Dog FoodEagle PackEagle Pack Original Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Formula Adult Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 7 on the labelBil-Jac Large Breed Adult Dry Dog FoodBil-JacBil-Jac Large Breed Adult Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 7 on the labelIams Proactive Health MiniChunks Chicken & Whole Grains Dry Dog FoodIamsIams Proactive Health MiniChunks Chicken & Whole Grains Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 8 on the labelJinx Grass-Fed Beef, Brown Rice, and Sweet Potato Dry Dog FoodJinxJinx Grass-Fed Beef, Brown Rice, and Sweet Potato Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 8 on the labelEdgard & Cooper Chicken & Salmon Dog Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodEdgard & CooperEdgard & Cooper Chicken & Salmon Dog Grain-Free Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 8 on the labelBil-Jac Picky No More Medium & Large Breed Dry Dog FoodBil-JacBil-Jac Picky No More Medium & Large Breed Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 8 on the labelNature’s Logic Original Canine Can: Turkey Wet Dog FoodNature's LogicNature’s Logic Original Canine Can: Turkey Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 8 on the labelNature’s Logic Original Canine Can: Venison Wet Dog FoodNature's LogicNature’s Logic Original Canine Can: Venison Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 8 on the labelNutriSource Woodlands Select Wet Dog FoodNutriSourceNutriSource Woodlands Select Wet Dog FoodWet // No. 8 on the labelHealth Extension Grain Free Venison & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodHealth ExtensionHealth Extension Grain Free Venison & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 8 on the labelHealth Extension Grain Free Little Bites Grain Free Venison & Sweet Potato Little Bites Recipe Dry Dog FoodHealth ExtensionHealth Extension Grain Free Little Bites Grain Free Venison & Sweet Potato Little Bites Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 8 on the labelAnnamaet The Best Adult Dry Dog FoodAnnamaetAnnamaet The Best Adult Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 8 on the labelAnnamaet Best Small Breed Dry Dog FoodAnnamaetAnnamaet Best Small Breed Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 8 on the labelAnnamaet Ultra High Protein Dry Dog FoodAnnamaetAnnamaet Ultra High Protein Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 8 on the labelBlackwood Small Breed Grain Free Turkey & Lentils Dry Dog FoodBlackwoodBlackwood Small Breed Grain Free Turkey & Lentils Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 8 on the labelPure Balance Pro+ Weight Management Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe Dry Dog FoodPure BalancePure Balance Pro+ Weight Management Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 8 on the labelBil-Jac Adult Dry Dog FoodBil-JacBil-Jac Adult Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 8 on the labelBil-Jac Puppy Dry Dog FoodBil-JacBil-Jac Puppy Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 8 on the labelBil-Jac Small Breed Dry Dog FoodBil-JacBil-Jac Small Breed Dry Dog FoodDry // No. 8 on the label

Sources

What we read

Checked October 1, 2026.

  1. 1 Brewer's yeast and sugarcane yeast as protein sources for dogs Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition, 2014 // Journal
  2. 2 Comparing the effects of corn fermented protein with traditional distillers dried grains fed to healthy adult dogs on stool quality, nutrient digestibility, and palatability Frontiers in Animal Science, 2023 // Journal
  3. 3 The effects of torula yeast as a protein source on apparent total tract digestibility, inflammatory markers, and fecal microbiota dysbiosis index in Labrador Retrievers with chronically poor stool quality Journal of Animal Science, 2024 // Journal
  4. 4 Failure of brewer's yeast as a repellent to fleas on dogs Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 1983 // Journal
  5. 5 Brewers yeast, dehydrated Feedipedia (INRAE, CIRAD, AFZ, FAO), 2016 // Database
  6. 6 Brewers yeast Feedipedia (INRAE, CIRAD, AFZ, FAO), 2018 // Database
  7. 7 Influence of pure dried Brewers’ Yeast on skin, coat, digestion and faeces in dogs and cats Leiber GmbH, 2021 // Industry
  8. 8 Are joint supplements "ok" for dogs and cats with uroliths? University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, 2025 // University
  9. 9 A to Z of Pet Food: Brewers Dried Yeast Pet Food Institute, 2017 // Industry
  10. 10 What’s in the Ingredients List? AAFCO, n.d. // Regulator
  11. 11 Biology, diagnosis and treatment of Malassezia dermatitis in dogs and cats: Clinical Consensus Guidelines of the World Association for Veterinary Dermatology Veterinary Dermatology, 2020 // Journal
An ingredient on its own tells you very little. What matters is how much of it there is and where it sits in the list. That is why we weigh the top five rather than reacting to any single name further down. Back to the wiki

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