German Spitz itchy skin in winter — food advice

A German Spitz with itching that peaks in winter is interesting — that seasonal pattern often points toward environmental triggers like central heating drying the skin, but food intolerances can absolutely compound it, and at two years old it's a common time for sensitivities to surface. True food allergies in dogs are less common than intolerances, and the most reliable way to untangle food from environment is an elimination diet using a novel or hydrolysed protein — something your dog has never eaten before. To point you in the right direction: what symptoms are you seeing beyond the itching — any paw chewing, ear infections, or digestive issues? And have you already tried changing his food or spoken to a vet about it?

Paw chewing alongside generalised skin itching is a classic combo for food intolerance, and chicken is one of the most common culprits simply because it's in so many foods and dogs get exposed to it repeatedly over time. The winter timing could mean central heating is aggravating already-sensitive skin — rented flats tend to run warm and dry — but if he's been on chicken his whole life, that's absolutely worth eliminating first. Has he ever eaten turkey, duck, or fish as a main protein? Knowing what he hasn't had helps me suggest the right novel protein food.

Perfect — that actually gives you a really clean slate for an elimination diet. At 8kg with no prior exposure to turkey, I'd point you toward Canagan Grain Free Turkey for Dogs. It's a high-meat, grain-free dry food with turkey as the single main protein, no chicken, no common allergens like wheat or soy, and the omega-3 content from salmon oil genuinely helps with skin condition — which matters when you're also dealing with dry indoor air in winter. The small kibble size suits a German Spitz well too. Run it strictly for 8 weeks: no other food, no chicken-based treats — that's the part people often slip up on. If the itching improves noticeably, chicken intolerance is almost certainly your answer. If there's no change at all after 8 weeks, that's when I'd push for a vet visit to rule out environmental allergies properly.

Slow transition is better for his digestion — over about 7 to 10 days, gradually swap out the old food and introduce the Canagan. Start with roughly 25% new food mixed in, increase every few days. Some people doing elimination diets worry that mixing foods defeats the purpose, but this short transition window is fine — it's the sustained 8-week period on the new food alone that gives you the diagnostic result. Keep a simple diary of his scratching and paw chewing so you have something concrete to report back to a vet if needed. The Canagan Turkey is on Amazon UK — straightforward to order and comes in a 2kg bag to trial before committing to a larger size.

You're in a good position — a young dog, one consistent protein in his history, and a clear seasonal pattern to track against. Canagan Turkey is a solid elimination food and you'll know within 8 weeks whether food is driving it. If the skin improves but doesn't fully clear, adding a fish oil supplement like YuMEGA Itchy Dog alongside can help with the dry-air component. Good luck with it — it's genuinely one of those things where methodical testing gives you a real answer.