Using the snowy season to help decipher your dog's allergies.

If you're struggling to figure out what your dog is allergic to, snowy weather is a good time to start tracking with a journal.

Why?

Because when the ground is covered in snow and it's going to be there for a while that means that the chance of grass and pollen reactions are incredibly low. If your dog's scratching and itching subsides or even goes away while the snow is on the ground this strongly indicates your dog's primary offender is likely the environment - not food.

On the other hand, if you see no changes then it's more likely the biggest culprit is a food intolerance. Also consider household triggers - detergents, cleaning supplies, carpets, dust, dryness (try a humidifier) etc.

Keep in mind it can take some time to see changes, as dogs can continue to react for awhile, even after the 'offender' is gone or reduced - particularly if the issues have been going on long term.

Most dogs have a combination of both environmental allergy and food intolerance. The key is identifying food culprits and working on keeping triggers under your dog's threshold.

• An elimination diet is the first step to identifying food triggers- ensuring it's balanced after the elimination is very important. Feeding one protein and carb will require additional supplementation.

• Gut health, a proper essential fatty acid ratio, and antioxidants are important as well.

So try to embrace the snow and start noting any changes in your dog's itching, scratching etc. Don't make any dietary changes and in your daily journal you can rate your dog's itching/scratching 1-5, to track improvements.