Irish Setter coat worsened after food switch

A coat change after switching foods is one of the clearest signs a dog isn't getting what they need from their diet — and Irish Setters are particularly sensitive to this. Skin allergies are genuinely one of the most frustrating things to manage: they're chronic, hard to pin down, and often need a multi-pronged approach. Before we get into what to do, it helps to know a bit more. You mentioned your Setter is five — are they showing anything beyond the coat? Itching, flaky skin, redness around the paws or ears? And has the change been gradual since the switch, or did it happen fairly quickly?

Your instinct is almost certainly right. Three months of gradual coat dulling alongside increased scratching, starting shortly after a food switch — that's a pretty clear pattern. Irish Setters are a breed that genuinely thrives on high-quality protein and healthy fats, and mid-range foods often cut corners on both. A lot of them use lower-grade protein sources, add more cereal fillers, and reduce the omega fatty acid content that keeps the skin barrier healthy. That combination is exactly what drives dull coats and itchy skin. Worth a vet check at some point to rule out a secondary skin infection from the scratching, but the dietary link here is hard to ignore. Can I ask — what food did you move away from, and what are you feeding him now? That'll help me understand the gap.

That is quite a jump, yes — but an understandable one, Orijen is seriously expensive. The issue is that many own-brand grain-free foods replace the grains with cheap starches like potato or tapioca, and the protein quality drops significantly. You end up with a food that looks good on the packet but doesn't deliver the same nutritional density. For a five-year-old Irish Setter with a coat that's already struggling, you don't necessarily need to go back to Orijen pricing, but you do need something meaningfully better than where you are now. My recommendation would be Forthglade Cold Pressed Dog Food — the turkey or salmon variety. Cold pressing preserves more nutrients than high-temperature extrusion, the ingredient quality is solid, and crucially it has a good omega-3 and omega-6 profile that directly supports skin and coat health. It's mid-tier on price but punches well above that in what it actually delivers. A bag on Amazon UK typically runs around £30–35 for 6kg, which is a lot more manageable than Orijen.

Realistically, four to six weeks before you see meaningful coat improvement — skin and coat changes are slow because they reflect what's happening at a cellular level. You might notice the scratching easing a bit sooner if the dietary irritation settles down. Do the switch gradually over about ten days to avoid any digestive upset, and if you're not seeing any improvement in the coat after eight weeks, that's the point to get the vet involved to check whether there's something else going on alongside the diet. But given the timing and the breed, I'd be surprised if a proper food upgrade doesn't make a clear difference.

That's exactly the right approach — sort the diet first, get eyes on the skin professionally, and you'll have a much clearer picture if anything else needs addressing. Irish Setters are gorgeous dogs and that coat is worth the investment. Good luck with him.