It’s natural for dogs to shed their coat as the season’s change. This process allows your dog to stay cool during hot weather and warm during cold weather. However, domesticated dogs that spend many hours indoors don’t need to shed as frequently. If your dog sheds excessively all year long it’s a possibility it’s related to a poor diet or not enough nutrition. Changing your dog’s diet could significantly reduce shedding if done correctly. It’s important that you buy dog food for shedding that is rich in Omega-3s, Omega-6s, antioxidants, and amino acids.
Some dog foods contain fillers, grains, and corn which are ingredients that are difficult to digest. Gut health is essential to overall good health in dogs and if this system is stalled or interrupted it can produce symptoms such as excessive shedding. This is why we created a list of the Best Dog Food for Shedding that helps give you some outstanding options to choose from.
In a Hurry? Here Are Our Top 3 Picks:
How did we choose the best dog food for shedding?
We’ve sorted through hundreds of different dog foods to help find the best dog food for shedding. Typically, excessive dog shedding can be related to nutritional deficiency which affects the skin and coat. We specifically targetted dog foods for sensitive coats that are rich in vitamins, minerals, and Omega-3/6s. We also excluded dog foods that contain an excessive amount of filler foods such as wheat, soy, or corn.
- Pros
- Helps a dog skin and stomach
- Salmon provides Omega 3s
- No corn, wheat or soy that are filler ingredients
- No artificial colors or flavors
- Cons
- None, this is our top pick for best dog food for shedding.
Purina Pro Plan dry dog food features real salmon as the #1 ingredient and prebiotic fiber that promotes digestive health. The formula includes antioxidants that help maintain a strong and healthy immune system which helps prevent excessive shedding. In addition, this dog food formula is extremely digestible with will also help promote a healthy gastrointestinal tract.
Salmon is one of the best proteins that your dog can eat because it naturally contains fish oil which is rich in Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids which helps reduce shedding of your dog as well support healthy joints, skin, and a softer coat.
This dog food for shedding does not contain common allergens such as poultry by-product meal, artificial flavors, artificial colors, soy, corn, or wheat. This means that it’s very unlikely your dog has an allergic reaction when you switch them to this food. The Purina Pro Plan is available in a variety of sizes and flavors that will be suitable for your dog. It’s honestly one of the best dog food’s for shedding that we could find.
Nutritional Values:
- Crude Protein: 26%
- Crude Fat: 16%
- Crude Fiber: 4%
- Moisture: 12%
- Glucosamine 350ppm
- Omega-3: 0.8%
- Omega-6: 1.6%
- Pros
- Tailored for adult dogs
- Reinforces skin with essential nutrients that help reduce shedding
- Supports healthy digestion and normalizes stools
- Completed and balanced nutrition with no fillers
- Cons
- None, great for dogs that shed.
Royal Canin sensitive skincare dry dog food is specially tailored for dogs with sensitive skin and dry coats. This is also a top candidate for the best dog food for shedding because it contains a balanced nutrition of high-quality ingredients. The ingredients contain exclusive complex amino acids and nutrients that nourish the coat and prevent excessive shedding in your dog. This dry dog food is enriched with omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, and nutrients that help protect sensitive skin from shedding.
The highly digestible proteins and exclusive kibble size and texture benefit the digestive system and support overall good health. This dog food is available in a variety of size bags. A fun fact from Royal Canin is that 91% of dog owners are happy after 2 months and see improvements in their dogs’ skin health. This is great news if you’re looking for fast results in a dog food for shedding.
Nutritional Values:
- Crude Protein: 23%
- Crude Fat: 15%
- Crude Fiber: 3.4%
- Moisture: 10%
- Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA): 0.15%
- Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA): 0.09%
- Omega-6 fatty acids: 2.6%
- Omega-3 fatty acids: 0.7%
- Pros
- Promotes digestive health and nourished skin
- Vitamin E & Omega-6 fatty acids help to support your dogs coat and reduce shedding.
- Made in the USA with his quality ingredients
- Many veterinarians will recommend this dog food to reduce shedding.
- Cons
- You have to gradually switch this food over for your dog or they might have loose stools.
Hill’s Science dry dog food is created for dogs with sensitive skin, shedding problems, and sensitive stomachs. It is specially formulated to promote digestive health while at the same time nourishing the skin and preventing excessive shedding.
The ingredients include added vitamin E and Omega-6 fatty acids which are responsible for healthy skin and a lustrous coat. This dog food for shedding is veterinarian recommended and is available in a wide range of sizes. It’s made in the USA with all-natural ingredients. The only read downside to this dog food is that you will have to gradually work in to your dogs diet over a period of at least 5 days.
Nutritional Values:
- Crude Protein: 25.9%
- Crude Fat: 16%
- Crude Fiber: 1.3%
- Omega-3: 0.51%
- Omega-6: 4.71%
- Tons of vitamins and minerals: calcium, phosphorous, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C, etc.
- Pros
- Premium dog food made with California avocados
- Promotes a nonshedding coat and healthy skin
- Protein rich dog food that has a great taste
- All natural ingredients with absolutely no fillers
- Cons
- Slowly work it into your dogs diet or there is a risk of diarrhea or vomiting
AvoDerm dry dog food is made with natural ingredients to support overall good dog health, but especially skin and coat health. The ingredients include California Avocados that provide natural oils and vitamins to help keep your dog’s skin healthy and prevent excessive shedding. Avocados are a great natural ingredients because they are extremely rich in Omega’s which will help reduce shedding in your dog. Avocados also are rich in vitamins and are easily digestible.
This tasty dog food does not contain soy, corn, wheat, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. It comes in a flavor dogs love and it’s available in a variety of size bags. AvoDerm has been creating dog food for over 30 years and has a satisfaction guarantee if your dog really doesn’t show any improvements.
Nutritional Values:
- Crude Protein: 23%
- Crude Fat: 13%
- Crude Fiber: 4%
- Omega-3: 2.49%
- Omega-6: 0.78%
- Lots of vitamins and minerals
- Pros
- All natural dog food that is grain free
- High in protein with multiple protein sources
- Premium ingredients that support dogs that shed
- No artificial flavors or filler items
- Cons
- Some dogs don't like the taste.
The Whole Earth Farms natural dry dog food is grain-free and filled with minerals, vitamins, and protein. This dog food is suitable for all life stages and supports overall good health. What’s great about this dog food does not contain ingredients known to cause allergies such as soy, wheat, corn, poultry by-products, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. It is also one of the highest protein values on our list because it contains multiple sources of meat from pork, beef, and lamb.
If your dog hasn’t been getting enough nutrition from their old dog food, switching them to a recipe like Whole Earth Farms will provide them with an adequate amount of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. This would be one of the best dog foods for shedding if your dog has a poor diet.
Nutritional Values:
- Crude Protein: 26%
- Crude Fat: 14%
- Crude Fiber: 3.5%
- Omega-3: 0.4%
- Omega-6: 2.3%
- Pros
- High-quality protein from salmon
- Antioxidants and fatty acids for a dogs skin and coat
- Naturally digestible with probiotics that help with gastrointestinal issues.
- Grain Free dog food with natural ingredients
- Cons
- None.
Diamond Naturals real meat dry dog food is specially formulated for skin and coat health. This dog food will also help with shedding as it features wild-caught salmon that provide essential fatty acids and oils. Also, salmon is the #1 ingredient in this dog food which means that it will also be extremely rich in protein.
The ingredients include superfoods that provide an optimal amino acid profile for strong and lean muscles. The ingredients are easy to digest and feature probiotics that help the GI tract thrive. This has tons of reviews on Amazon and is made in the USA with quality ingredients. If you’re looking for one of the best dog foods for shedding, this should definitely be considered.
Nutritional Values:
- Crude Protein: 25.0%
- Crude Fat: 14.0%
- Crude Fiber: 4.5%
- Moisture: 10.0%
- Omega-6 Fatty Acids: 2.5%
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: 0.4%
- Includes Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Taurine, Zinc, Selenium, etc.
- Pros
- Protein is from salmon and other ocean fish
- Extremely high protein content at 34% minimum per bag.
- Made of all quality ingredients.
- Contains all the nutrients your dog needs to prevent shedding.
- Cons
- Some dogs may not like the taste.
Crave dry dog food is grain-free and contains the highest amount of high protein on our best dog food for shedding list. The ingredients include real salmon and other ocean which is also the number #1 ingredients on the bag. The formula is inspired by the natural diet of wolfs which is the ancestor to all dogs. If you’re looking for a protein-rich diet for your dog, this is going to be your top choice. A protein-rich diet helps to keep your dog lean as well as give them the energy to run around.
This dog food does not contain chicken by-product meal, wheat, corn, soy protein, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. There’s no grains in this dog food and is only crafted with high-quality ingredients including real animal protein. It’s available in a variety of sizes.
Nutritional Values:
- Crude Protein: 34%
- Crude Fat: 17%
- Crude Fiber: 3.5%
- Moisture: 10.0%
- Omega-6 Fatty Acids: 2.0%
- Includes other vitamins and minerals
- Pros
- Made from protein rich soybean meal
- Omega-6 fatty acids, linoleic acid, and zinc help reduce shedding
- No added corn, wheat, and artificial colors or flavors
- Healthy coats and less hair everywhere from this dog food!
- Cons
- Has a mild odor to this dog food.
Nature’s Recipe dry dog food for healthy skin contains vegetarian ingredients such as protein-rich soybean meal. It also contains added minerals, nutrients, and vitamins to support overall skin health and prevent excessive shedding. If your dog is allergic to various proteins or you believe that a vegetarian diet provides your dog with more energy than this is a great choice of dog food to reduce shedding because it contains fatty acids and minerals. Another great aspect of this dog food is that it will help your dog maintain their weight and prevent them from getting overweight. Eating vegetarian dog food is also considered more digestible than a protein-rich diet — you’ll find a lot more fiber in this dog food.
This dog food does not contain wheat, corn, artificial flavors, or colors. It’s available in a 30-pound bag and is suitable for dogs that can’t digest animal protein. The added supplements in this dog food are great for shedding.
Nutritional Values:
- Crude Protein: 22%
- Crude Fat: 8%
- Crude Fiber: 4.4%
- Moisture: 10.0%
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: 0.6%
- Omega-6 Fatty Acids: 1.9%
- Includes zinc, copper, magnesium, iron, etc.
- Pros
- Flaxseed and salmon provide essential fatty acids to reduce shedding.
- Optimal amounts of protein, prebiotics, and probiotics to make this food easily digestible.
- Made in the USA with only premium ingredients
- Created and tested by nutritionists and veterinarians
- Cons
- None
Holistic Select Natural dry dog food features optimal levels of protein that derive from salmon, sardines, and anchovies. The ingredients also include flaxseed and Omega-3 fatty acids that support healthy skin and helps prevent excessive shedding. Having a natural source of fish oil from the ocean is also great and easily digestible as a form of dry dog food.
This dog food supports whole-body health and is heart-healthy. It does not contain GMO ingredients. This tasty dog food is available in a variety of size bags. It’s also made in the USA and tested by several veterinarians and nutritionists.
Nutritional Values:
- Crude Protein: 25%
- Crude Fat: 13%
- Crude Fiber: 4.5%
- Moisture: 10.0%
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: 2.7%
- Omega-6 Fatty Acids: 1.8%
- Glucosamin, vitamins, and minerals
- Pros
- Specializes in skin care dog food
- Contains real salmon as well ingredients like peas that support a dogs coat
- Grain free dog food with antioxidants
- Guaranteed all the necessary nutrients for a dog
- Cons
- Smaller company than some of the others on this list
4Health dry dog food has limited ingredients and is specially formulated for dogs with sensitive skin and shedding issues. The narrow selection of ingredients is carefully chosen to provide complete and balanced nutrition for your pet. The top protein in this food is going to be salmon which is enriched with fatty acids that will reduce shedding. In addition, they include ingredients like peas that are high-quality carbohydrates to replace the typical grains that you see in other dog foods.
This product does not contain common allergens such as soy, wheat, corn, or grain. This dog food is available in 8-pound bags and suitable for dogs with sensitive skin and digestive systems. Although it’s quite expensive if you’re judging by the weight, this is one of the best dog food for shedding dogs.
Nutritional Values:
- Crude Protein: 22%
- Crude Fat: 12%
- Crude Fiber: 4.5%
- Moisture: 10.0%
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: 0.8%
- Omega-6 Fatty Acids: 2.5%
- Vitamins and minerals
How much is too much dog shedding?
As mentioned earlier, it’s natural for dogs to shed their coat. It’s similar to how humans shed their skin, but it’s just not as noticeable. Your dog will naturally shed their coat during specific times of the year related to weather. Most dogs shed all year long to some degree but there’s only a problem if the shedding is excessive.
If your dog is continuously shedding excessive amounts and patches of hair are missing, this is considered to be abnormal. Also, if your dog has skin showing or experiences red hot spots or other skin ailments that cause shedding it’s something you need to look into further.
Some dogs experience skin abnormalities such as hot spots, rashes, itching, dry skin, and other issues due to food allergies. If you think your dog has food allergies it’s wise to change their diet that includes a limited ingredient dry dog food.
Another common reason why dogs shed a lot is that they aren’t getting the proper amount of nutrition. Choosing from our list of the best dog food for shedding will address all the nutrient and diet issues. This should help reduce the amount of shedding that your dog is experiencing.
When to See a Veterinarian for Dog Shedding
If you have changed your dog’s food and they continue to show signs of excessive shedding or skin ailments you need to visit the veterinarian for further assistance.
At the appointment, the veterinarian will conduct an exam and discuss your pet’s diet and lifestyle. The exam might include blood analysis and other tests to help determine the cause of your dog’s excessive shedding.
Generally, the loss of hair is related to specific illnesses that are treated with medication and a specific protocol that is created by the veterinarian. If you think your dog is excessively shedding, you should definitely take them to see a veterinarian.
How to Choose the Right Dog Food Shedding
If your dog just sheds a bit more than you expect and has overall good health, you can help prevent excessive shedding by changing their dog food to include fatty acids like Omega-3 and Omega-6.
Dog foods that contain fish such as salmon, sardines, and anchovies contain natural sources of omega vitamins that help maintain healthy skin and coats.
Healthy skin is essential when trying to prevent excessive dog shedding. Skin that maintains pH balance and remains healthy produces natural oils that rise to the surface of the skin creating a luxurious healthy coat that doesn’t shed excessively.
When choosing dog food for shedding, consider your dog’s current health status. If they have any health issues make sure you consult with a veterinarian before changing their diet. It’s also important to note if your dog is allergic to any type of food before choosing a new one.
It’s also wise to bring a few dog food options that you would like to give your dog to the attention of the veterinarian. Generally, the veterinarian will tell you if the change in dog food will help your dog’s specific health issues as well as their shedding problem.
If your dog is in good health, make sure you consider their flavor preferences. If your dog doesn’t like the taste of fish you need to choose another flavor such as chicken.
While there are several salmon and fish options on the list there are also other flavor options that your dog will enjoy.
Sometimes dogs with sensitive digestive systems lack nutrition which causes excessive shedding. Most of the dog food options on the list are suitable for dogs with sensitive digestive systems. These healthy options provide a complete and balanced diet for your dog.
These digestion-friendly dog foods for shedding also feature bite-size kibble and the perfect texture that make them easy to chew and digest. You just need to choose the option that you think your dog will like the best.
Most of the dog food for shedding offers small bag portions if you need to allow your dog to taste test for flavor purposes. It’s also an excellent way to find out your dog’s flavor preference and is especially helpful if you have more than one dog.
You can prevent excessive shedding in your dog by simply choosing one of the dog foods from the list above! Make a difference in your pet’s life today!
Ingredients to have in Dog Food for Shedding
The following are top 3 ingredients that you should look for in dog food to prevent shedding:
- Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids: These are essential fatty acids that are necessary in dog food for shedding. Dog’s can’t naturally produce their own fatty acids to they have to digest it, typically in the form of fish like salmon. Dog foods that contain no fatty acids will cause your canine to shed more and cause a variety of health issues.
- Vitamins, Minerals, and Antioxidants: Dog’s that have a poor diet without vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants will shed more than dogs with proper nutrition. These supplements will help to ensure that your dog’s body is functioning properly.
- Protein: A majority source of all high-quality dog foods is going to be protein. Protein is essential because all dogs need to build muscle and protein is the building blocks for your dog’s body. A dog that doesn’t digest any protein can often times have dry or even irritated skin that sheds.
Conclusion for Best Dog Food for Shedding
There are so many choices when it comes to picking a dog food. If you’re specifically looking for the best dog food for shedding, you can’t go wrong picking from our top 10 list. We’ve helped to significantly narrow down the results and our list only contains high-quality dog foods that provide the proper amount of nutrition.