Does your dog have itchy skin, gastrointestinal problems (diarrhea, loose stools, gas, bad breath), or a paw-licking habit?

It's not uncommon to see these symptoms occur in dogs but it's not normal. Any or all of these reactions could be dog food allergy symptoms or sensitivities.

The Dogly Nutrition Advocates & certified clinical canine nutritionists are here to help you get to the root of your dog's possible dog food allergies with answers and specific actions you can take to help your dog in three step-by-step guides in the Allergies Channel.

Here's an overview of each guide below - you can jump into any of them from here if you want to get started right away:

Guide 1: How to know if your dog has a food allergy

Guide 2: How to assess your dog's allergy symptoms

Guide 3: How to choose the best dog food for food allergies

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Food Allergies in Dogs Guide 1: How to know if your dog has a food allergy

The first step in helping your dog feel better is figuring out what's causing your pup's allergic reactions. Are you dealing with a food allergy or is it something else? In this guide, you'll learn how to help your dog overcome dog food allergies with the questions, answers, and action steps you need to know.

First question: is it a food allergy or a food intolerance/sensitivity or something else?

If your dog has food allergies or food sensitivities, you want to catch and address them early. In dogs, food sensitivities and food allergies first show up as an upset stomach.

In this guide, Alex helps you decode dog food allergy symptoms, then figure out a plan that supports your dog to get on top of food allergies.

What you'll learn:

1) Common symptoms of food allergies/sensitivities and what to watch for in your dog

2) Ingredient watch-outs when fighting dog food allergies

3) A little myth-busting - food allergies/sensitivities aren't necessarily lifelong

4) Conventional vs. holistic approaches when treating food allergies

5) The good news about food and dealing with allergic reactions

Nutrition is your best tool for setting up your dog to live long and live well. What you feed your dog is completely in your control - unlike environmental or seasonal allergies, for example, that are largely generated from the world around you beyond your total influence.

That's why learning what you can do with clean, nutritious food naturally is invaluable to your dog's wellness - for strengthening the immune system for fighting allergies and building overall health!

Now for ways to read your dog's food allergy symptoms...

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Food Allergies in Dogs Guide 2: How to assess your dog's food allergy symptoms

If your dog is itching and scratching incessantly or licking and chewing his or her paws, has itchy ears, orange-stained legs/paws, a blotchy tummy or other mysterious skin issues, you are not alone.

Questions about itchy skin and dogs are among the most frequent canine nutritionist and Dogly Nutrition Advocate Alex Eaton gets from dog owners.

In this guide, Alex takes you through a range of allergy symptoms, whether they're likely to be the result of food allergies/sensitivities or seasonal or environmental allergies. Most important, you'll learn what you can do about dog allergies to help your uncomfortable, itchy dog feel and actually be better!

What you'll learn:

1) 5 most common environmental allergens to be aware of

Find out what you need to know about dust mites, seasonal allergies (pollens), other seasonal airborne allergies (your neighbor's lawn chemicals), storage mites (like dust mites but in your food cupboard/ dry dog food - ugh), and FLEAS. Including what to do to reduce the presence of all in your dog's life (and yours!).

2) 5 common canine food allergens to watch for

What you need to know about the big 5 common allergens likely to trigger a sensitivity/allergy to dog food and cause adverse food reactions:

• Chicken
• Wheat & corn
• Other grains
• Legumes
• Beef

Including how to clear your dog's system of any of these food allergies/sensitivities - and how to cycle them back into your dog's diet when appropriate.

3) 10 early allergy symptoms to act on early

You're your dog's best observer to catch allergies early before they become more ingrained in your dog's system. You'll learn 10 food allergy signs and behaviors to watch for - from licking legs/paws to scooting - to get a jump on addressing what's happening with your dog.

4) What's actually happening biochemically in your dog's body with an allergic reaction

Alex takes you through what's really happening in your dog's immune system when an allergic reaction is triggered. For anyone who likes understanding how things actually work, it also helps in thinking about holistic and conventional allergy solutions and the benefits of addressing the cause of your dog's allergies beyond just suppressing symptoms.

5) What to do (or not do) to help your dog's allergies/symptoms

You'll learn about conventional vs holistic food allergy solutions - how they work, what they do for your dog (or not), the benefits of addressing root cause rather than just outward symptoms.

6) 5 things to add to your dog's bowl to reduce inflammation

Five simple things you can add to your dog's bowl that naturally reduce inflammation - and have proved to help dogs live longer and healthier (sneak peek - one is green tea).

7) Bonus pro tip: why keeping your dog at ideal weight reduces allergy symptoms

Inflammation is stored in fat, so the more fat a dog has, the longer it takes to get rid of inflammation (as well as disease). One of many reasons keeping your dog at ideal weight is one of the best things you can do for your pup.

Lots of learning and action steps in this guide for you to help your dog overcome allergies and be well!

Next up - choosing the best food for your dog's food allergies...

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Food Allergies in Dogs Guide 3: How to choose the best dog food for food allergies

Choosing which dog foods are best for your pup is hard enough, but when you're navigating food allergies, it can get exponentially confusing.

Not to worry - certified canine nutritionist and Dogly Advocate Alex Eaton takes you through the nutritional facts and reasons behind how to make dog food decisions along with her recommendations on the best dog food in this guide.

What you'll learn:

1) How to spot undesirable ingredients on dog food labels

Alex shares the seven things you want to keep in mind in sizing up ingredients on dog food, including the ingredients you DO NOT WANT in your dog's food.

2) Brown rice and boiled chicken for a sensitive stomach - yay or nay?

Includes the five things you should know when considering a rice/chicken diet for your dog. Plus the recipe for cooking the chicken if you do decide to use this short-term diet.

3) When to do an elimination diet or food trial to find the right dog food for your dog

An elimination diet is the type of dog food allergy testing that can be great but hard to pull off in real life. Alex explains it all for you as you weigh whether your individual dog's potential allergies warrant a food elimination diet.

4) The best dog food for dogs with sensitive stomachs or food allergies

The best solution for a food allergy or sensitive stomach is real food.

That means whole, fresh or minimally processed foods from a good source.

Included are...

• A five-part, detailed list of must-have ingredient groups to look for in natural food that aid digestion and support your dog's immune system.
• Three types of commercial dog food - freeze-dried dog food (or air-dried), wet dog food, prepared homemade diets - with what to look for in each.
• Tips on your own homemade dog food
• 5 immune-boosting toppers to enhance your dog's food

Check out the Allergies Channel on Dogly

Food allergies and sensitivities are just one aspect of the allergy information and guidance in the Allergies Channel, where you'll find how to manage everything from environmental allergies to seasonal allergies to everything itchy in between.

Continue on in the Allergies Channel to all the step-by-step guides from our canine nutritionists/herbalists for more on how to understand and treat allergies in dogs - and keep your dog happy and well.

If you have any questions about allergies, you can also ask them in the Allergies Channel in the Community discussion. Or, if you ever need more personalized help, we would be happy to help you find the right Dogly Nutrition or Wellness Advocate to help you and your dog.