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How long until my itchy dog feels better on a grain-free diet?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | American Cocker Spaniel | Female | spayed | 24 lbs

I just switched my 'itchy' dog to a grain-free diet. How long before she gets some relief?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

Veterinarian

Published on September 5th, 2019

One important fact to remember is that grains are very rarely the cause of any allergies in pets. Additionally, grain free diets have been linked to heart disease though it is not fully understood at this time. If Stella does respond, it will be 12-16 weeks before you will know if it helped or not. Additionally, she cannot have any other treats/foods/flavored supplements during this trial period. The best way to rule out a food allergy is with a hydrolyzed protein diet. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

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