Goodbye dog skin allergies: I am so stoked to report that my friend Laura finally took a leap of faith and started feeding her Golden Retriever Lucy raw dog food!
We’ve been friends for a few years now and have a lot in common. However, one thing that we didn’t see eye to eye on for the longest time was raw feeding.
It gave her the creeps and her favorite emoji in relation to the raw feeding topic was the one with the face mask over its mouth…
So while my pups Missy & Buzz got raw dog food, Lucy ate kibble.
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Dog Skin Allergies & Raw Diet: Why Is My Golden Retriever So Itchy?
Lucy’s 7 years old now and she’s been super itchy these last few months.
The itchiness caused her to chew on her paws to the point that they were sore and angry-red.
It got really bad at night time, so she ended up having to wear a cone of shame to keep her from chewing on her paws.
I had a feeling that Lucy’s diet was the main culprit, although she also has a mild case of separation anxiety.
I remembered that my pup Buzz used to be bothered by ear infections several times per year.
That was back in our kibble feeding days, and then they magically disappeared once he started eating raw dog food.
That’s why I kept nagging and nagging and nagging to give raw a try, just for a few weeks to see if it made any sort of difference.
I was SO excited when Laura finally agreed to give it a shot and didn’t cancel our friendship instead…you rock, girl…I’m super proud of you!!
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Long story short – the raw diet worked after just 2 weeks (!) as you can see in the picture below. All the redness and soreness has completely vanished:
The Easiest Way To Start Feeding Raw Is With Pre-Made Raw Meals
I know from my very own experience that raw feeding can be overwhelming at first.
That’s why I gave Laura the advice I give everyone who’s looking to make the switch from kibble to raw:
Start with a pre-made, raw diet such as Petco’s Instinct raw dog food to ease yourself into the new concept of feeding.
Once you’re comfortable with it, you can graduate to putting your own raw meals together yourself.
It’s exactly what I did, too, except that I started feeding Missy & Buzz pre-made raw dog food from Darwin’s.
It really doesn’t matter too much though which brand you start with, as long as you’re making a change in your dog’s nutrition.
You can check out my favorite raw dog food brands in the US here!
I will admit that I wasn’t able to keep feeding Missy & Buzz Darwin’s on a regular basis because the cost of it did end up.
That’s mainly what caused me to look around at other raw dog food brands.
For example, Raw Paws Pet Food and Raw Feeding Miami.
I also learned how to make my own raw dog food, and those two combined has allowed me to keep the cost down.
Laura ended up following my advice and is currently in stage 1 of feeding Lucy a raw diet.
She’s been purchasing Instinct’s raw beef recipe at Petco and will be feeding it for a few more weeks before putting her own raw meals together.
Dog Skin Allergies & Raw Diet: Bottom Line
Dog skin allergies that cause itchiness in kibble-fed dogs are a serious problem and can lead to a decreased quality of life in our best furry friends.
Buzz was just as uncomfortable as Golden Retriever Lucy was when he had his recurring ear infections.
I also remember how exhausting it was on my part to treat them and worry about his poor ears.
If your dog suffers from similar pains as Buzz and Lucy did, consider giving a balanced, raw diet a try.
After all, what do you have to lose?
Content Related to Dog Skin Allergies
- Quick Raw Dog Food Start Guide
- 3 Best Raw Dog Food Brands In The US
- How To Do An Elimination Diet For Dogs
- How I Got Rid of My Foster’s Dog Skin Allergies
Barbara Rivers is the founder of K9sOverCoffee and a raw feeding educator with over a decade of hands-on experience.
She has fed raw in the US and Europe since 2015, after her Boxer mix Missy’s cancer diagnosis led her to move away from processed kibble and commit to species-appropriate nutrition.
As a former professional dog walker, she developed deep insight into canine behavior, conditioning, and the essential link between proper exercise and long-term health.
Barbara completed online training with veterinarian Dr. Marion Smart and Labrador breeder Dana Scott and works for one of Germany’s leading raw dog food brands, BARFER’S.
In 2026–2027, she is completing a year-long raw nutrition certification for dogs and cats at THP School, founded by raw feeding pioneer Swanie Simon.
Through her blog and weekly newsletter, she provides clear, experience-based guidance to help dog owners feed raw safely and confidently.