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Could my dog's itching be caused by too much protein in his food?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Male | unneutered | 72 lbs

Hi,so I noticed that me dog has been scratching and biting at some spots for a little bit now.I have not change food or treats in a couple of months.He has current vaccines,and flea and tick prevention(bravecto)I have switch to the topical from the tab.doesnt scratch when doing something such as playing or on a walk.Could this be that hes getting too much protein.He eats blue buffalo wilderness which has more protein.And he gets chicken added to food.And sometimes gets milk as treat. Thank You

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

Veterinarian

Published on October 9th, 2019

It's not likely that a high amount of protein is causing the itching. It's possible the itching is related to drier skin, environmental allergy or food allergy. At home you can try giving him an omega 3 fatty acid supplement for pets but it may not correct the underlying cause. This can however improve over all skin health. There are two brands of food, Royal Canin and Nutro, which are aimed at skin health and they may help as well but again, they may not affect the underlying problem. If the itching continues, have Rocky checked by the veterinarian.
Also, just so you know, most vets do not recommend to feed a grain free diet due to the potential link with heart disease. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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