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If your dog has been scratching nonstop, licking their paws, or dealing with red, irritated skin… same. My dog Todd has struggled with itchy skin for a long time, and for months I felt like I was playing guessing games trying to figure out what was wrong.

We tried new shampoos.
We tried supplements.
We tried switching foods.
Nothing made a real difference.

At a certain point, I just knew something was off. So today, I’m sharing Todd’s full food intolerance journey, the surprising results we got back, and how we started an elimination diet to finally help his skin heal. If your dog is dealing with chronic itching, this might help you too!

What Made Me Realize Something Was Wrong

From the day we brought Todd home, I started noticing clues that his skin wasn’t as healthy as it should be. Even as a happy, active pup, the signs were already there.

• Constant scratching
• Licking his paws excessively
• Redness on his belly and nose
• Rubbing his face on the carpet

I kept thinking it was seasonal allergies at first, but the symptoms weren’t going away with the seasons. And as a dog mom, you just know when your pup is uncomfortable.

That’s when I started looking into food intolerances, because itchy skin is one of the biggest indicators.

Why We Did a Food Intolerance Test

We actually got the chance to do a UGC job with the brand 5Strands, and I was so excited, because I had already been wanting to do a food intolerance test for Todd for months. It felt like perfect timing, almost like the universe saying, “okay, here are some answers.”

This type of test checks how your dog’s body reacts to a wide list of common ingredients: proteins, grains, vegetables, additives, dairy, etc. It’s not a medical allergy test, but it is super helpful for identifying foods that may be causing chronic inflammation.

For an itchy dog like Todd, it made total sense.

What I loved:

• It was easy
• Results came quickly
• It gave a full breakdown of what he should avoid and what’s safe

And let me tell you… I was not expecting what we found.

Todd’s Results

When the results came back, my jaw dropped. Todd was intolerant to so many ingredients, including several he was already eating daily.

Some examples (just to paint a picture):

• Certain proteins
• Common grains
• Some fruits/veggies
• Ingredients hidden in treats & supplements

It honestly made everything click. Of course he was itchy — his body was constantly reacting to ingredients he couldn’t tolerate. At the time, he was eating the Cod & Salmon recipe from Spot & Tango, which truly is a great food for a lot of dogs. But we learned that Todd is actually highly intolerant to cod, so his food was a major factor in his itchiness.

That’s why I always remind dog owners: even if a dog food is considered “high quality,” it doesn’t mean it’s the right fit for your dog.

Starting Todd’s Elimination Diet

Once we had his list of intolerances, we immediately switched to an elimination diet, which basically means:

• Feeding a simple diet with as few ingredients as possible
• Avoiding everything on his “red” list
• Slowly reintroducing foods later
• Tracking symptoms each week

Right now, Todd is eating a food that avoids all of his high-reactive ingredients. We’re keeping his meals simple, limiting unnecessary treats, and checking labels like crazy people.

The biggest rules for an elimination diet:

• Stick to the same food consistently
• Don’t give random treats with mystery ingredients
• Be patient — skin takes time to heal
• Keep notes on any changes

How Todd Is Doing So Far

We’re still early in the process, but I can already see a difference:

• Less scratching
• Less redness
• He seems more comfortable overall

It typically takes 4–8 weeks to see major improvements, but the small changes already make me feel like we’re finally on the right track.

What I Wish I Knew Sooner

If you’re a dog parent dealing with itchy skin or constant paw licking, here’s what I wish someone had told me:

• Food intolerances are so common
• Many dogs react to ingredients they’ve been eating for years
• Symptoms can look like environmental allergies
• Switching foods randomly doesn’t help unless you know what they’re reacting to
• Trust your gut — you know your dog best

I’m so relieved we finally have answers for Todd.

Helpful Products We’re Using

Just a reminder that every dog is different! These are just things that are working specifically for Todd.

• A limited-ingredient food that avoids all his reactive ingredients
• Gentle dog shampoo to help repair his skin
• A probiotic for gut support
• Limited ingredient treats

I’ll update this list as we continue our journey!

Final Thoughts: You’re Not Alone in This

If your dog won’t stop scratching, you are not a bad dog parent — you’re doing your best. It can be overwhelming, stressful, and honestly emotional watching your pup be uncomfortable.

But getting answers is worth it.

Todd’s food intolerance test and elimination diet have already given us so much clarity, and I’ll keep sharing updates as we go. If this helped you, or if your dog is dealing with something similar, feel free to reach out!

Our dog’s comfort is everything — and with the right steps, healing really is possible.