Dry, itchy skin is just one of the many symptoms that may indicate your dog is experiencing a bigger problem brought on by environmental sensitivities. In rare cases, these may also be signs of food sensitivities in dogs. These signs can be long-term, recurring, and should be noted to your vet.
Managing a dog’s sensitivities can be a challenging process, and your first step should be visiting your veterinarian. They will help you find the right combination of nutrition, medication, and/or topicals for your dog.
You’ll want to ask your vet about a few things when it comes to the suitable dog food for food or environmental sensitivities. For food sensitivities, ask about clinical dog food with a single novel protein or hydrolysed protein that is unlikely to cause a reaction. For environmental sensitivities ask about nutrition that can nourish and help protect from environmental irritants.
[1] Muller, et al. Food Hypersensitivity. In:Dyson, J., Ed. Small Animal Dermatology. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company (1989), 470–474.
[1] Muller, et al. Food Hypersensitivity. In:Dyson, J., Ed. Small Animal Dermatology. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company (1989), 470–474.