Itchy Skin and Chewing Paws: Where Nutrition Can Help Your Dog

Almost every day, I speak with someone worried about an itchy dog.

Sometimes the complaint is constant scratching. Sometimes it is chewing paws, licking a red belly, rubbing at the face, or waking everyone in the house because the itching never seems to stop.

The question is usually the same: “Do I need to change their food?”

It is a reasonable question. Watching your dog struggle is frustrating. You want to help, and food is something you can control.

Nutrition can support skin health and, in some cases, play an important role in managing the problem. But not every itchy dog has a nutritional problem. Changing foods without a plan can waste time while the cause of the discomfort goes unaddressed.

Understanding where nutrition fits is a useful first step.

Healthy skin depends on adequate nutrition

Your dog’s skin is a living barrier that helps retain moisture, regulate body temperature, and protect against the outside world. Maintaining that barrier requires a steady supply of nutrients.

My classes at Southern Illinois University reinforced how closely nutrition and skin health are connected. Protein, essential fatty acids, zinc, and vitamins A and E all contribute to normal skin and coat function.

But knowing a nutrient matters is not the same as knowing a dog needs more of it.

Serious nutritional deficiencies are uncommon in dogs eating an appropriate, complete and balanced diet. An unbalanced diet or an underlying medical problem that interferes with nutrient absorption can change that picture. Itching alone, however, does not identify a deficiency.

A more useful starting point is understanding what the dog already receives.

Look at the entire feeding routine

The main food is only part of the picture. Treats, chews, table scraps, toppers, oils, supplements, and those small “just this once” extras all contribute to the overall diet.

A complete and balanced food provides a nutritional foundation. When a substantial portion is replaced with additions that are not nutritionally balanced, the overall diet can become less balanced too.

The same principle applies to homemade feeding. Carefully chosen ingredients matter, but ingredients alone do not guarantee nutritional adequacy. The right nutrients must be present in the right amounts.

Before making a change, write down everything your dog eats during a typical week. Include the snacks given by other family members, the chew offered before bedtime, and anything used to hide a pill.

That record can make a conversation with your veterinarian or a qualified nutrition professional much more productive.

Protein supports skin and coat

Protein supplies the amino acids dogs use to build and maintain tissues. Skin renewal and coat growth both depend on an adequate supply.

That connection does not mean a higher protein percentage will automatically produce healthier skin. Protein digestibility, amino acid balance, food intake, and the dog’s health all matter. A percentage printed on a label cannot tell the entire nutritional story.

Meeting the dog’s needs is the goal. Simply adding extra meat or selecting a higher protein food does not address the cause of unexplained itching.

Essential fatty acids play an important role

Fats do more than provide calories. Certain fatty acids help support the skin’s protective barrier and influence inflammatory processes.

Linoleic acid, an essential omega-6 fatty acid, contributes to normal skin-barrier function. Omega-3 fatty acids, particularly EPA and DHA, may help support the management of inflammatory skin conditions as part of a broader care plan. Both have important roles.

The source of omega-3s matters as well. Flaxseed provides ALA, which dogs convert only to a limited extent into the longer-chain omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. Flaxseed should therefore not be assumed to provide the same contribution as a source that supplies EPA and DHA directly.

For some dogs, fatty acid supplementation may be helpful. However, it is not immediate itch relief. Benefits can take weeks, responses vary, and supplementation generally supports other care rather than resolving the entire problem on its own.

Before adding an oil, review what the food already provides and what the product actually contains. The types and amounts of fatty acids matter more than a “skin and coat” claim on the packaging. Your veterinarian can help determine whether supplementation is appropriate and how much to use.

More supplements do not necessarily mean better support

Zinc and vitamins A and E contribute to skin health, and certain skin disorders can respond to targeted nutritional treatment. Those conditions need to be properly identified.

Dry skin, flaking, redness, or a dull coat do not automatically mean a dog needs more zinc or additional vitamins. Similar signs can develop for different reasons.

Adding several products at once also makes the response difficult to evaluate. If the dog improves, which change helped? If the problem worsens, what should be reconsidered?

Every addition should have a clear purpose. A careful review of the existing diet may be more useful than another supplement.

Food storage deserves attention

Nutrition does not stop once the food reaches your home.

Fats can deteriorate through oxidation, and improper storage can affect food quality. High temperatures and prolonged storage can contribute to deterioration and the loss of essential fatty acids.

If the food has deteriorated, adding a supplement will not correct the underlying problem.

Follow the manufacturer’s storage instructions, check expiration dates, and note when a package was opened. Choose quantities that can be used within the recommended period after opening. Storage instructions vary with the type of food, so check the guidance for the product you actually feed.

These details are easy to overlook, but they are part of maintaining the quality of your dog’s diet.

Chewing paws does not automatically mean the food is wrong

Food-related reactions can cause itchy skin. Environmental allergies, fleas and other parasites, and bacterial or yeast infections can also contribute to itching. More than one problem can affect the same dog.

The location of the itching does not tell us which ingredient, if any, is responsible.

This matters because an owner can spend months switching foods while their dog continues to scratch. A new food may change the diet without addressing why the dog is uncomfortable.

Repeated scratching and chewing can also damage the skin, while secondary infections can add to the irritation. At that point, the dog may need several parts of the problem addressed together.

As a Certified Canine and Feline Nutritionist, I believe understanding those limits is part of providing responsible guidance. Nutrition professionals can help evaluate feeding practices. Veterinarians diagnose and treat medical conditions. An itchy dog may benefit from both.

Make the next step useful

Start by gathering information. Record the food, amount fed, treats, chews, supplements, medications, and other treatments.

Note when the itching started, which areas are affected, and whether it changes with the seasons. Pay attention to the effect on daily life. Is your dog sleeping comfortably? Chewing less? Developing new irritated areas?

A few dated photographs and brief notes can make those changes easier to describe. They are often more useful than trying to remember whether things looked better several weeks ago.

Avoid changing multiple foods and supplements at the same time unless your veterinarian recommends a specific plan. Consistency makes the response easier to follow.

Persistent or recurring itching deserves veterinary attention. Early care can help interrupt the cycle of scratching, skin damage, and secondary infection.

Contact your veterinarian promptly if you notice raw or bleeding skin, swelling, discharge, painful ears, limping, or chewing severe enough to cause injury. A dog that cannot rest comfortably should not have to wait for a dietary change to take effect.

A thoughtful plan is better than another guess

The goal is to relieve your dog’s discomfort while understanding and addressing what is causing it.

Start with a sound nutritional foundation. Pay attention to the entire feeding routine, have persistent skin problems evaluated, and make changes for a reason.

Sometimes nutrition is a major part of the answer. Sometimes it provides support while another condition is treated. Either way, the recommendations should fit the individual dog.

You do not need to feel guilty because your dog is itchy, and you do not need to buy every product that promises healthier skin. You deserve clear explanations and realistic expectations.

Helping your dog starts with good questions, careful observation, and a plan you understand.

Sources and further reading

• Case LP, Daristotle L, Hayek MG, Raasch MF. Canine and Feline Nutrition: A Resource for Companion Animal Professionals. Third edition. Mosby Elsevier, 2011. “Nutritionally Responsive Dermatoses.”
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Atopic Dermatitis in Dogs. Covers causes, skin-barrier involvement, secondary infections, and the supportive role of fatty acids.
• Merck Veterinary Manual: Whole-body Disorders That Affect the Skin in Dogs. Addresses nutritional and other underlying conditions that can affect the skin.
• Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: Canine Allergies. Discusses itching, the importance of a detailed history, and early veterinary care.