Most people are told their dog’s itching or skin flare-ups come from one thing!

Yep usually chicken, beef, or grains. But the truth runs deeper than that. It’s not always the ingredient you see on the label. It’s what’s behind it.

Here’s the truth:

• It’s rarely the meat your dog can’t handle — it’s what the animal ate before it became your dog’s food.

• Even “grain-free” or “hypoallergenic” packaging doesn’t mean the chicken, cow, or lamb used wasn’t fed grains, soy, or fillers.

• So even if you buy “no grain” food, your dog may still be reacting to grain-fed animals.

• Most dogs can tolerate all types of meat — beef, chicken, lamb, goat, pork — when the source is clean.

• Choose human-grade, organic, grass-fed where possible. It’s not hype — it’s protection.

 Bio-Individuality & The 80% Rule

• Dogs are built to eat around 80% protein, but every dog’s digestive system is unique.

• Too much protein for some can cause inflammation, while too little weakens immunity.

• True nutrition is bio-individual — it’s about learning what your dog thrives on, not what the label says.

• Finding that balance takes time and patience — it’s called the elimination diet.

• You remove one variable at a time, observe, and rebuild from clean, whole, traceable foods.

 The Energetics of Food

Not all foods feel the same inside your dog’s body. Just like people, dogs have an energetic temperature — some run hot, some cold.

• Hot dogs (itchy skin, panting, red ears, restless):

→ Thrive on cooling foods like turkey, white fish, cucumber, spinach, or celery.

• Cold dogs (dry skin, sluggish, always seeking warmth):

→ Need warming foods like lamb, oats, ginger, or chicken.

• Neutral foods like beef, pumpkin, or carrots can balance either side, depending on the dog and season.

And yes — some dogs develop sensitivities to odd ingredients like red pepper or sweet potato. It’s not random; it’s energetic. Red pepper is a warming food, so it can easily overheat an already “hot” dog, leading to itching, redness, and irritation.

 Lifestyle, Environment & Stress

Food is only one part of the equation.

• A dog living in a hot apartment in Miami experiences very different stress and heat than one running through snow in the mountains.

• Urban dogs often carry higher anxiety and inflammation from confined living, artificial air, and overstimulation.

• Cold-climate dogs often burn more calories and need richer, warming meals.

Your dog’s skin, digestion, and energy are mirrors of their whole lifestyle — environment, stress, food, and temperature all connect.

 The Nak’d Dog Way

At Nak’d Dog, we believe feeding your dog shouldn’t be guesswork — and it shouldn’t be greenwashed.

• “Hypoallergenic,” “breed-specific,” and “veterinary-formulated” are often marketing buzzwords — not science.

• Real healing starts when you strip it all back to the bare basics: clean ingredients, transparency, and respect for bio-individuality.

• Because your dog isn’t a label. They’re a living being with energy, emotion, and unique needs.

It’s not the chicken. It’s what the chicken ate.

And once you learn to balance your dog’s food, energy, and environment — everything changes.