Top 10 Best Dog Foods for Shedding
It can be frustrating when your dog leaves behind a mountain of hair on the sofa or in its bed. Shedding is natural and can’t be stopped completely but improving skin and coat condition can help reduce shedding. Shedding or moulting is especially problematic in the summer and fall months, and some dogs are just more prone to shedding year round, such as the Golden Retriever or German Shepherd. However, a medical condition can also be the cause of excessive shedding. Excessive shedding should be investigated if this is a new problem for your pet, particularly if there are bald patches or other signs of skin disease or illness.
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Stress, skin problems, thyroid disease, or allergies are some of the possible suspects, and going through the process of elimination can be challenging. Luckily, plenty of foods on the market are tailored to skin and coat problems that cause shedding. If your pet has genuine food allergies rather than just intolerance they will likely need a prescription food from your vet.
Whatever the reason, we’re here to help guide you through the top 10 reviews of the best dog food for shedding so that you have the best information possible.
The 10 Best Dog Foods for Shedding
Purina Pro Plan Puppy Sensitive Skin & Stomach Dry Dog Food – Best for Puppies
| Calories: | 428 kcal/cup |
| Crude protein: | 28% |
| Crude fat: | 18% |
| Crude fiber: | 3% |
Purina Pro Plan Puppy Sensitive Skin & Stomach Lamb & Oatmeal Dry Dog Food is a good option if you have a puppy in your life. This formula is designed specifically for puppies to aid in their first year of life. It is 100% complete and balanced, with lamb as the main ingredient. It added oatmeal for smooth digestion on your puppy’s little tummy, along with prebiotics and probiotics for enhanced digestibility. The omega-6 fatty acids in this recipe ensure your pup’s skin and coat stays healthy during development, and DHA derived from fish oil promotes brain and vision development.
The kibble is small and may not work for large puppies, and it is pricey. It comes in a 4-pound bag, 16-pound bag, or a 24-pound bag.
Crave High Protein Dry Dog Food – Best Value
| Calories: | 422 kcal/cup |
| Crude protein: | 34% |
| Crude fat: | 17% |
| Crude fiber: | 5% |
If you’re looking for a good value, Crave High Protein White Fish & Salmon Adult Grain-Free Dry Dog Food could be a good option. Crave uses a grain-free formula with white fish as the main ingredient, which provides 34% crude protein for your dog. It’s free from by-products, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives, as well as corn, wheat, or soy. It does contain a high proportion of proteins from legumes and these are still under investigation for their contribution to heart disease.
The top-quality ingredients help keep your dog’s coat shiny and healthy, and it aids in keeping shedding down to a minimum. It also provides the nutrients your doggo needs for overall health. It’ll give your dog energy, too, and most dogs love the taste.
This food may not be suitable for large dogs because the kibble is small in size, and chicken meal is listed as the second ingredient. You’ll want to avoid this food if your dog has a chicken allergy. However, this food is not as expensive as others in its class, and you can purchase a 4-pound bag, 12-pound bag, or a 22-pound bag, making this food the best dog food for shedding for the money.
Purina Pro Plan Adult Dry Dog Food – Best Overall
| Calories: | 467 kcal/cup |
| Crude protein: | 26% |
| Crude fat: | 16% |
| Crude fiber: | 4% |
Purina Pro Plan Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food is a protein-dense food with salmon as the main ingredient. It contains sunflower oil and vitamin A that provides plenty of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, and it also has oatmeal for easy digestion. It’s perfect for dogs with corn allergies because it is corn, wheat, and soy-free.
Not only does it help with shedding, but it also contains prebiotics and probiotics for overall digestive and immune health. It is a little pricey, but the high-quality ingredients justify the cost if you want a premium dog food that minimizes shedding, all while supporting your canine kiddo’s overall health. It also helps dogs with sensitive stomachs.
It’s available in a 5-pound bag, 16-pound bag, 30-pound bag, or a 41-pound bag. We feel this product is the best overall dog food for shedding with the top-notch, healthy ingredients and its ability to minimize shedding.
Nom Nom’s Beef Mash Fresh Dog Food – Premium Choice
| Calories: | 182 kcal/cup |
| Crude protein: | 8 |
| Crude fat: | 4% |
| Crude fiber: | 1% |
If you’re looking for a premium option, then Nom Nom’s Beef Mash Recipe could be a good match to suit your needs. Food delivery services are a thing of normalcy these days, and with Nom Nom, dog food is part of that normalcy.
Nom Nom is unique in that they have two of the estimated 100 board-certified veterinary nutritionists in the United States that develop their recipes. This company adheres to the Association of American Feed Control Officials’ (AAFCO) nutrition levels that help prevent chronic diseases in our pets. The delivered food is fresh and contains only quality, human-grade ingredients. This particular recipe includes sunflower oil and fish oil, which hydrates your dog’s fur and helps minimize shedding. It also contains eggs, carrots, and peas that help condition the skin and coat, and it can help doggies with skin allergies.
Using Nom Nom can be pricey, but they do offer 50% off and free shipping on your first order, which is a great deal if you’re looking to give it a try. Many success stories from this product make it enticing, as many consumers claim this food has helped minimize their dog’s shedding tremendously.
Merrick Grain Free with Real Meat + Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food
| Calories: | 379 kcal/cup |
| Crude protein: | 32% |
| Crude fat: | 14% |
| Crude fiber: | 5% |
Merrick Grain Free with Real Meat + Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food is a grain-free formula with real deboned salmon as the main ingredient. It’s made from real whole foods with plenty of omega fatty acids to aid in healthy skin and coat, as well as glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy hips and joints. It excludes corn, wheat, soy, or gluten and helps your dog stay at an ideal weight. The food is crafted and cooked in the U.S.A., and you have the choice of salmon, duck, lamb, chicken, Texas beef, or beef and bison.
It’s available in a 4-pound bag, 10-pound bag, or a 22-pound bag. As a note, it is expensive and the bag is not resealable.
Hill’s Prescription Skin/Food Sensitivities Dry Dog Food
| Calories: | 3% |
| Crude protein: | 354 kcal/cup |
| Crude fat: | 1% |
| Crude fiber: | 4% |
Hill’s Prescription Diet z/d Original Skin/Food Sensitivities Dry Dog Food focuses on skin allergies and other skin and coat conditions. It is specifically formulated with essential fatty acids that nourish the skin and coat, therefore, cutting down on shedding. This food has an S+Ox Shield Seal of Confidence, which means the formula supports a healthy urinary tract. If your dog has tummy issues, this food will help with that, too.
Hill’s is a trusted brand within the dog food industry, and nutritionists and veterinarians craft the formulas to target specific health issues. Unfortunately, this food requires a prescription from your vet, and it is expensive. This is a clinical food for dogs with food allergies rather than intolerances. The protein is hydrolyzed so it can’t produce allergic reactions and there is a single source of carbohydrate to reduce reactions to these.
Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat Formula Dry Dog Food
| Calories: | 408 kcal/cup |
| Crude protein: | 25% |
| Crude fat: | 14% |
| Crude fiber: | 5% |
Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat Formula All Life Stages Dry Dog Food has plenty of healthy ingredients at a more affordable price compared to other dog food on our list. This food helps with shedding because it includes flaxseed, chia seed, and coconut, all of which promote healthy skin and coats. Salmon is the main ingredient, it’s made in the U.S.A., and the manufacturers are family-owned and only use the finest ingredients from around the globe.
This food contains plenty of fruits and vegetables, such as blueberries, lentils, pumpkin, and papaya, to boost nutrition. Prebiotics and probiotics round out the healthy ingredients in this nutritious superfood for your canine kiddo.
Some consumers state that the food made their dogs have diarrhea, so it’s important to monitor your dog after feeding to make sure no digestive issues arise. It comes in a 15 or 30-pound bag. You can also purchase a 30-pound bundle of two. It is also high in legume protein which is a controversial source of protein.
Hill’s Science Sensitive Skin and Stomach Adult Entree
| Calories: | 379 kcal/can |
| Crude protein: | 4% |
| Crude fat: | 3% |
| Crude fiber: | 1% |
Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Skin and Stomach Salmon and Vegetable uses chicken broth and salmon as the main ingredients. It is recommended by veterinarians to support skin and digestive health. This canned food can be used as a complete meal or as a topper to encourage dogs to eat dry kibble. It is rich in omega 6 fatty acids and vitamin E too, which helps keep excessive shedding down by improving skin health.
Made with natural ingredients and free from grains it contains natural fibers and vegetables to encourage digestion and easy stool pick up.
This food is one of the more affordable options for specially-formulated dog food for healthy skin and coat, and it comes in a 12 pack of 12.8 ounce cans.
Royal Canin Sensitive Skin Care Adult Medium Breed Dry Dog Food
| Calories: | 372 kcal/cup |
| Crude protein: | 22% |
| Crude fat: | 15% |
| Crude fiber: | 2% |
Royal Canin Medium Sensitive Skin Care Adult Medium Breed Dry Dog Food targets skin issues with omega fatty acids. It doesn’t have animal protein; however, veterinarians specially formulated this food to keep shedding down to a minimum while promoting healthy skin and coat.
Royal Canin has been in business since 1968 and uses a team of experts to craft formulas specific to certain health conditions, and we felt this formula was worthy of inclusion in our list.
It is not made for large breed dogs, and if your dog has corn allergies, you’ll want to avoid this food, as it contains corn gluten. The food may also have a strong, fishy smell.
Go! Solutions Skin + Coat Care Lamb Meal Recipe Dry Dog Food
| Calories: | 451 kcal/cup |
| Crude protein: | 22% |
| Crude fat: | 14% |
| Crude fiber: | 3% |
Go! Solutions Skin + Coat Care Lamb Meal Recipe Dry Dog Food specialty formulated dog foods to suit your doggie’s individual needs, and skin and coat problems are one of them. This food contains salmon oil and whole ground flaxseed to provide omega fatty acids for a luxurious coat, and it helps with shedding. It has no corn, wheat, or soy, and it’s pea-free for those who prefer to avoid this source of protein.
It’s a little pricey, but not as much as some of the foods included in our list, and it comes in three bag sizes: 3.5-pound, 12-pound, or 25-pound bags. It’s also not grain-free, making it unsuitable for dogs with grain allergies.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Select the Best Dog Food for Shedding
Now that we’ve listed our top 10 reviews of the best dog food for shedding, let’s break it down even further on what to look for.
Ingredients
Knowing what’s in your dog’s food is essential in providing the appropriate nutrients for the shedding problem. You’ll want to look for dog food that has omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These usually come in the form of flaxseeds, chia seeds, sunflower oil, vitamin A, and salmon. Biotin is another excellent component for keeping shedding down and promoting healthy skin and coats.
Determine The Cause
As we’ve mentioned, some dogs simply shed more than others, and there’s no cause for alarm. However, it’s a good idea to have your vet examine your dog to ensure no medical issues are causing the problem. Once that’s cleared, you can move on to finding a dog food that tailors to eliminating excessive shedding.
Transition New Food Slowly
When you find the perfect dog food to try, it’s vital to make the transition slowly to the new food. Otherwise, starting your dog on the new food right away will almost certainly cause tummy upset. We recommend starting by feeding 75% of the old food with 25% of the new food for 3 days. Then, mix 50% of the new food with 50% of the old food for 3 more days. Next, mix 75% of the new food with 25% of the old food for 2 to 3 days. After that, your dog should be ready to eat the new food exclusively.
How much shedding is normal?
- The amount of shedding that is normal can vary from one breed to another. Keep in mind that every breed, aside from American Hairless Terriers, will shed at least a little, so seeing hair on your floors, furniture, or clothes is a fact of life when you own a pup. If you just see these hairs on items around your house throughout the year, but don’t see lots of excess fur on your dog’s body, it isn’t a sign of concern.
- Some breeds also go through a shedding season or two. During these shedding seasons, typically in the spring and/or fall, dogs may shed more than normal. If your dog is going through a shedding season, it is typical to see more hair coming off.
- What is not normal, however, is seeing patches or splotches of missing hair on your dog’s body. If you notice any bald spots of your Husky, Pitbull, or other breeds, it may indicate a larger issue that needs to be addressed, and you should schedule an appointment with your dog’s vet. They may recommend a diet change.
What to feed your dog to stop shedding?
- The right food to help your dog stop shedding can vary based on the underlying cause of their shedding. If your dog has overall good health, switching to a food that is rich in antioxidants and Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids can help.
- Sometimes a Husky, Pitbull, Bichon, Golden Retriever, Boxer or other dog breeds may shed due to allergies or food sensitivities. In these cases, switching to a grain-free food or limited ingredient diet may be what is needed to reduce the overall amount of shedding.
Can changing dog food help with shedding?
Yes, changing your dog’s diet may have a huge impact on their shedding. If the food your dog is currently eating doesn’t have the right nutrients, changing to a food formulated for your dog’s needs can drastically reduce the amount they’re shedding. Some dogs also have food sensitives or allergies, which may contribute to their shedding. Changing to a food formulated with antioxidants or a grain-free wet or dry food may help ensure healthy skin and reduce shedding. Fortunately, there are many suitable options, including a number of very affordable foods that can help puppies, adults, seniors, small breeds, and large breeds.
Final Thoughts
For the best overall dog food for shedding, we recommend Purina Pro Plan Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice because it combines salmon, sunflower oil, and vitamin A to combat shedding. Crave High Protein White Fish & Salmon Adult Grain-Free Dry Dog Food provides white fish and other top-quality ingredients that reduce excessive shedding for the best value.
We hope this guide helps you make the best decision for you and your canine pal’s needs. If this guide indeed helps, please share it with other dog parents so they too can feed a dog food that cuts down on shedding.
