Something keeps showing up in Australian veterinary data.
Year after year, dogs are being taken to the vet for many of the same problems: skin conditions, gastrointestinal issues and ear infections.
PetSure's 2024 Pet Health Monitor, based on 2023 claims data, ranked skin infection/allergy, gastrointestinal disease and ear infection as the top three health conditions in dogs across all ages. Its 2025 report again placed the same three categories at the top.
Insurance claims do not represent every dog in Australia, and they cannot tell us that one single cause sits behind every case. But when the same problems keep appearing in one of the country's largest pet-health datasets, we think owners should ask a bigger question:
What are dogs being exposed to every single day that may influence how well they cope?
What are the most common reasons dogs go to the vet in Australia?
According to recent PetSure claims data, three categories repeatedly stand out:
- Skin infections and allergies
- Gastrointestinal conditions
- Ear infections
There are many possible causes behind these conditions. But one factor deserves far more attention than it often receives:
food.
Not because food explains every case. It does not.
But because nutrition is one of the few health inputs a dog receives every day, often twice a day, for years.
PetSure Pet Health Monitor 2024 and PetSure Pet Health Monitor 2025 provide the underlying claims context.
Where does food fit into the picture?
Much more prominently than many owners realise.
A dog can avoid pollen for part of the year. It can avoid swimming for a week. It can go months without needing medication.
But it cannot avoid eating.
Food is a daily biological input. It supplies the raw materials used to build skin, hair, muscle, enzymes, hormones and immune-system components. It influences stool quality, body condition, energy intake and the nutrients available for normal repair and maintenance.
That is why we believe nutrition should be one of the first things owners examine when a dog repeatedly experiences skin, digestive or ear problems.
Not the only thing.
But certainly not the last thing.
You are what you eat applies to dogs too
The phrase may be simple, but the principle matters.
A dog is built from the nutrients it receives.
Protein supplies amino acids used throughout the body. Dietary fats provide energy and essential fatty acids. Vitamins and minerals support countless metabolic processes. Fibre influences the digestive environment. Total calories affect body condition and metabolic health.
When those nutrients are supplied in a formulation that suits the individual dog, owners often notice the result in very practical ways:
- better stools
- healthier-looking skin and coat
- less digestive upset
- better appetite
- more stable energy
- better body condition
That does not mean food is medicine. It means nutrition helps create the conditions in which the body has to function every day.
Why food matters so much to skin health
Skin and coat are not separate from nutrition.
Hair is largely made from protein, and normal skin function depends on adequate protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and overall energy intake.
Some dogs also react poorly to particular dietary proteins or ingredients. In those dogs, changing the dietary exposure can make a substantial difference.
Environmental allergy, parasites, infections and genetics can also cause itching, so not every skin problem is dietary.
But we think it is a mistake to discuss recurrent skin problems without seriously considering what the dog eats every day.
For owners trying to separate food allergy from intolerance, our Food Intolerances in Dogs: Allergy vs Intolerance guide explains the difference.
Digestive problems and food are directly connected
This is the category where the role of diet is hardest to ignore.
Food passes directly through the gastrointestinal system. Ingredient composition, fat level, fibre, digestibility, portion size, sudden food changes and individual tolerance can all affect stool quality and digestive comfort.
That does not mean every case of vomiting or diarrhoea is caused by food. Infection, parasites, inflammatory disease, stress and scavenging are among many other possibilities.
But when a dog has recurring soft stools, excessive gas, inconsistent bowel movements or repeated digestive upset, the food should be part of the investigation rather than treated as irrelevant background.
Our guide to dog food for sensitive stomachs goes into this in more detail.
What about recurring ear infections?
Ear infections can be influenced by moisture, ear anatomy, yeast, bacteria and environmental allergy.
But recurrent ear problems can also appear as part of a broader allergic picture, and food sensitivity may be one contributor in some dogs.
This is where looking at the whole dog matters.
If a dog has recurring ear trouble and itchy skin, paw licking, digestive upset or other signs that improve when the diet changes, it is reasonable to ask whether food may be part of the overall pattern.
That is not the same as claiming every ear infection is caused by diet.
It is recognising that the ears do not exist in isolation from the rest of the dog.
Why we think nutrition is often underestimated
Most published health information understandably focuses on identifying a condition and treating it once it appears.
That is important.
But owners also deserve to think about the everyday inputs that may influence long-term health.
Food is one of those inputs.
When a dog eats the same diet for months or years, that diet becomes part of the dog's biological environment.
So our position is simple:
if the same dog keeps experiencing the same types of problems, the food deserves a serious look.
What nearly three decades of working with dogs taught us
Before Pet Food Australia existed, our family spent around 27 years working hands-on with animals through rescue and pet care.
That experience changes the way you look at nutrition.
You stop judging a food only by its packaging, a review score or a handful of fashionable ingredients.
You watch the dog.
Is the dog maintaining a healthy body condition?
Are the stools consistent?
Is the coat healthy?
Is the dog comfortable?
Do they have good energy?
Do they eat willingly?
Those observations do not replace diagnosis when a dog is unwell. But they are powerful evidence of whether the overall diet appears to suit the individual animal.
What thousands of Pet Food Australia customers tell us
Since Pet Food Australia launched, we have heard from thousands of owners who tell us about changes they noticed after switching food.
The recurring themes are striking:
"My girl Border Collie is regrowing her hair and has stopped scratching."
"Less scratching and licking paws... huge difference."
"Dog's dry itchy skin condition improved a lot."
"No more problems with ears after switching."
"Skin looks healthier, less scratching."
These are individual customer experiences. They are not controlled clinical trials, and we do not pretend they prove that one ingredient caused the original problem or resolved it.
But when similar observations arrive repeatedly from different households, over years, we believe they matter.
Real dogs living in real homes are the final test of whether a food works for them.
The ingredient list is only the beginning
A pet food can look exceptional on paper and still not be the right food for the dog eating it.
Owners are often encouraged to judge foods by individual ingredients, marketing language or review scores.
Those things can be useful, but they are not the whole story.
The real questions are:
- Is the food complete and balanced?
- Does it provide substantial, appropriate protein?
- Are the fats and essential fatty acids appropriate?
- Does the dog digest it well?
- Does the dog maintain good body condition?
- What happens to the skin, coat, stools, appetite and energy over time?
The best-looking ingredient list in the world means very little if the dog eating it is not thriving.
Why the whole formulation matters more than one miracle ingredient
Healthy skin does not come from one oil.
Good digestion does not come from one fibre source.
A strong body does not come from protein alone.
Dogs need an overall formulation that supplies the right nutrients in appropriate amounts and that the individual dog tolerates well.
That is why Pet Food Australia focuses on complete formulations rather than one headline ingredient.
Protein, fats, essential fatty acids, fibre, vitamins, minerals and total energy all matter.
And even two foods that are both nutritionally complete can perform very differently in the same dog.
Can dog food help with itchy skin?
Yes, it can help some dogs.
If a dog has a genuine food allergy, intolerance or dietary sensitivity, changing the relevant dietary exposure may make a substantial difference. A well-formulated diet also supplies the nutrients required for normal skin and coat health.
Food will not eliminate pollen, fleas or every medical condition that causes itching. But it is too important a daily input to dismiss.
Our complete guide to dog food for itchy skin explains where diet can fit into the broader picture.
Can changing food improve recurring digestive problems?
Yes, in some dogs it can.
If the current food is poorly tolerated, too rich for the individual dog, changed too quickly or contains ingredients that do not suit them, a different formulation may improve stool quality and digestive comfort.
Repeated vomiting, persistent diarrhoea, blood in the stool or unexplained weight loss still deserve proper investigation. But food should remain part of that conversation.
Can diet affect recurring ear problems?
It can in some dogs, particularly where food sensitivity forms part of a broader allergic picture.
That does not make diet the explanation for every ear infection. But when recurrent ear problems appear alongside skin or digestive signs, changing the diet may be one of the variables worth assessing.
What can owners actually do?
There is no way to guarantee that a dog will never develop skin, gut or ear problems.
But owners can make nutrition a more deliberate part of health by:
- feeding a complete and balanced diet
- choosing a formulation that suits the individual dog rather than simply following a label or rating
- feeding appropriate portions
- changing foods gradually
- monitoring stool quality, coat, skin, appetite and energy
- keeping the dog at a healthy body condition
- paying attention when the same problem keeps returning
What the PetSure data can — and cannot — tell us
The claims data cannot prove that food is responsible for every skin, gastrointestinal or ear condition.
It represents insured pets, not every dog in Australia, and these conditions have many recognised causes.
But the data does show that these problems affect large numbers of Australian dogs year after year.
Our view is that when common health problems keep recurring, we should not overlook the one thing dogs consume every day.
The question we think matters most
When the same types of problems appear again and again, it is reasonable to ask whether we spend too much time looking at symptoms and not enough time looking at daily inputs.
For us, nutrition belongs near the centre of that conversation.
Not because food explains everything.
Because food affects everything the body has to work with.
You are what you eat is not just a saying for humans.
It applies to dogs too.
Frequently asked questions
What are the top health problems in Australian dogs?
Recent PetSure claims data has consistently placed skin infections/allergies, gastrointestinal conditions and ear infections among the leading reasons insured dogs require veterinary care.
Can food contribute to itchy skin?
Yes. Food allergy, intolerance or sensitivity can contribute in some dogs, while the overall diet also supplies nutrients needed for normal skin and coat health. Environmental triggers, parasites and other conditions can also cause itching.
Can dog food affect ear infections?
Food can be relevant in some dogs where dietary sensitivity is part of a broader allergic condition. It is not the cause of every ear infection.
Can food cause gastrointestinal problems?
Yes. Ingredient tolerance, fat level, fibre, portion size, sudden dietary change and other dietary factors can affect digestion. Gastrointestinal signs can also have non-dietary causes.
Should I change my dog's food if the same problems keep returning?
It may be worth assessing the current diet as one of the variables, particularly if skin, digestive or ear problems are recurrent. A structured change is more useful than repeatedly switching foods at random.
How do I know if a food suits my dog?
Look at the whole dog over time: stool consistency, body condition, coat, skin, appetite, energy and general comfort. A label tells you what is in the bag. The dog tells you how well that formulation is working in real life.
The bottom line
Skin problems, gastrointestinal issues and ear infections continue to affect large numbers of Australian dogs.
There are many possible causes.
But one influence is present every single day:
nutrition.
We believe food deserves to be treated as a major part of the health conversation rather than an afterthought.
Because when the formulation genuinely suits the dog, the difference can show up in the places owners notice most: the skin, coat, stools, appetite, energy and overall quality of life.
Look at the science. Look at the formulation. Then look at the dog in front of you.
