Does itchy skin = food allergy?
You may have read about food allergies in dogs and how they often manifest in itchy skin. This is different to food allergies in humans, which usually present as gastrointestinal upset (or anaphylaxis, if you are highly allergic!). However, don't fall into the trap of assuming your dog's itchy skin must be caused by a food allergy. If you consult 'Dr Google', you are likely to read a lot about how food allergies, particularly grain allergies, are a major cause of itchy skin in dogs.
The truth is, true food allergies are not all that common in dogs - only about 5% of dogs harbour a true food allergy. It's actually much more common for your dog to be allergic to environmental allergens such as plants, pollens, insects, and dust mites. And when a true allergy does exist, the most common allergies are to meat proteins including chicken, beef, or pork, rather than grains.
But regardless of whether your dog truly has a food allergy, or is simply suffering from allergy to plants, nutrition will always help.