Are there dog foods for shedding dogs? Can a certain dog food stop shedding?
There are certainly dog food brands which claim they can reduce dog shedding.
Because let's be honest...
Shedding is one of the more annoying parts of having a dog, especially when your dog is an extreme shedder.
You can sometimes find yourself endlessly vacuuming up fur, and still finding it dotted everywhere around the house, even in places where your dog hasn’t ever been.
There’s no need to worry if this is the case, all you need to do is change the food that you are feeding your dog.
So with no further ado, let’s take a look...
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OUR TOP PICK
Our favorite option on the market is the Diamond Naturals Skin and Coat dry food.
We’ve ranked this dog food the best on the market because it is not only incredibly yummy for your dog but it is also packed with features that will improve their skin and coat.
This dry food is available in both 15 and 30 pound bags and comes in a scrumptious salmon and potato flavor which is guaranteed to get your dog’s taste buds tingling.
We love this food because it is one of a few options which are suitable for dogs of all life stages, making it the perfect option if you own more than one dog.
It is rich in nutrients which make it easily digestible and also contains lots of probiotics that survive in the GI tract and improve digestion.
This food also contains an optimal amino acid profile which allows your dog to remain fit and lean while also providing strength to their muscles.
Finally, this food is packed with vitamins and minerals, as well as omega fatty acids to improve your dog’s skin and in turn the quality of their fur to help limit the amount that they shed.
Pros
- Dry food available in 15lb or 30lb bags
- Salmon and potato flavor for quality protein
- Designed for all life stages, puppy through to senior
- Optimal amino acid profile for lean and strong muscles
- Packed with vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids for skin and coat health
- Rich in nutrients and easily digestible so that probiotics survive in the GI tract
Cons
- No notable drawbacks
EDITORS CHOICE
We also love the Hill’s Science Sensitive Stomach and Skin dry food. Hill’s Science is without a doubt one of the leading companies when it comes to targeted dog food, and this recipe does not disappoint.
This recipe comes in a classic chicken flavor and is available in a variety of different bag sizes from 4lb up to 30lb allowing you to buy the size that is perfect for your dog.
Its kibble design comes packed with features that not only nourish your dog’s skin but also improve your dog’s digestion to improve their all-around health.
These features include a source of prebiotic fiber to support a balanced gut microbiome and allow your dog’s digestive system to operate effectively.
This kibble is also designed to be easy to digest, allowing for easy nutrient absorption which will not only allow your dog to access the goodness of the food but will also make picking up their stools an easier task for you.
Finally, this dog food comes packed with both vitamin E and Omega 6 fatty acids which have both been proven effective in improving the condition of a dog’s skin and coat.
All of these great features combined will prove highly effective in controlling the amount that your dog sheds.
Pros
- Choose between 4lb, 15.5lb, or 30lb bags of dry food
- Chicken flavor which promotes digestive health and nourishes skin
- Source of prebiotic fiber to support a balanced gut microbiome
- Designed to be easily digestible for optimal nutrient absorption
- Makes stool pick up easier than other foods
- Enhanced with Vitamin E and omega 6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat
Cons
- No notable drawbacks
BEST VALUE
Another excellent option is the Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach dry food.
Similar to the Hill’s Science formula, this dog food is also available in a variety of sizes from 5lb through to 41lb allowing you to try it with your dog before you invest in a bigger bag.
The recipe only comes in one flavor which is salmon and rice, however, it comes in an option for small breeds or medium-large breeds, allowing you to buy the one that is tailored to your dog.
It is made with natural ingredients and contains no added fillers or artificial ingredients so that your dog is only getting the best.
It is packed with high-quality natural protein from its main ingredient, real salmon, and also contains lots of prebiotic fiber to support your dog’s digestive health.
Finally, this dog food is supplemented with omega fatty acids which not only promote healthy skin and coat in your dog but also improve the health of your dog’s joints and mobility to ensure they live a happy and healthy life.
Pros
- Dry food available in 5lb, 16lb, 30lb, or 41lb bags
- Salmon and rice flavor available for small or medium-large breeds
- Uses real salmon as the first ingredient for real, high-quality protein
- Contains prebiotic fiber for digestive health to support your dog’s stomach
- Also contains omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat, joint health, and mobility
- No added corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
Cons
- Dog food smells really strong
RUNNER UP
You should also consider the Nature’s Recipe Healthy Skin Dry food. This dry food is only available in 30lb bags but it is guaranteed to be a hit with your canine.
It is made entirely of all-natural ingredients and is unique to the other recipes that we have looked at on this list as it comes in a vegetarian flavor.
The main flavor for vegetarian flavor comes from soybeans which are an excellent source of protein, ensuring your dog is not missing out on protein by not eating meat.
These natural ingredients are enhanced through the use of vitamins and minerals, including linoleic acid, copper, zinc, and omega 6 fatty acids to improve your dog’s skin and coat, ensuring that they will shed less fur throughout the year.
Pros
- Dry food available in 30lb bags
- All-natural dog food with vitamins, minerals, and nutrients
- Vegetarian flavor made with soybeans for high-quality protein
- Contains Omega 6 fatty acids, linoleic acid, copper, and zinc for healthy skin and shiny coat
- All the ingredients are chosen for a reason: they provide excellent nutrition
- Zero added corn, wheat, or artificial ingredients.
Cons
- Occasionally makes dogs gassy
RUNNER UP
Finally, let’s not forget about the Crave Grain Free High Protein Dry food.
This dog food is not specifically designed to improve the quality of your dog’s fur, however, it is full of ingredients that will improve their overall health which will include their skin and coat.
The recipe for this food is inspired by the diet of the wolf so it contains real ingredients that provide lots of protein and flavor.
It is designed to support a strong, lean body and contains 34% protein which is primarily sourced from the real salmon and whitefish used in the recipe.
With lots of grain-free carbohydrates to give your dog energy, and protein to support their skin and coat, this dog food is guaranteed to help reduce the amount of fur that your dog sheds.
Pros
- Dry food available in bags from 4lb through to 22lb
- Gets high-quality protein from salmon and whitefish
- Inspired by the diet of a wolf, containing real
ingredients with lots of protein and flavor - Supports a strong, lean body with 34% protein
- Lots of grain-free carbohydrates for excellent energy levels in your dog
- Zero added corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, preservatives, or colors
Cons
- Not specifically made for shedding but it still does the job
Best Dog Food for Shedding Dogs Buying Guide
Finding the perfect dog food for your canine can be a difficult task.
The products that we have looked at above are some of the best options available, but if you still aren’t sure, we’ve put together this buyer’s guide to help.
It’s packed with all the information you need to know about supplements that can help improve your dog’s coat.
Choose Natural Ingredients
The first thing that you should look for in dog food to help your dog’s coat is natural ingredients.
Sadly, not all companies have your dog’s best interests in mind when they design their formulas and because of this, they include artificial ingredients that could harm your dog.
To ensure that your dog’s skin and coat remains in excellent condition, you must choose a dog food that is designed with all-natural ingredients.
Natural ingredients will be packed full of nutrients that will help provide your dog with a balanced diet and improve their overall health.
To ensure that the food is made with natural ingredients, you should check the ingredients list to see if you can understand everything listed on it.
If you can, then the ingredients are probably all of natural origin.
High in Protein
Following on from natural ingredients, let’s take a look at the importance of protein in your dog’s food.
All dog foods will contain protein, and in the best dog foods, this protein will come with the natural ingredients used in the food.
For example, some of the better dog food brands will make it clear that they use real meat or fish in their food so that your dog gets the best quality diet possible.
Protein is essential for so many parts of your dog’s life, from energy to digestion to general health, it is absolutely critical that your dog gets a high amount of protein to remain happy and healthy.
As well as all these critical parts of your dog’s health, the high-quality protein will also help improve the quality of their skin and coat and limit the amount that they shed.
Vitamins and Omegas
Finally, the best food options for your dog’s skin and coat will include a variety of vitamins and omegas to enhance the natural ingredients of the food.
First, let’s take a look at the vitamins and minerals which you might find in food. In the majority of cases, the vitamins and minerals of dog food will come from real fruit and vegetables, or other things such as legumes.
These ingredients are packed with natural vitamins and minerals which can improve your dog’s overall health.
In particular, for an improvement in your dog’s fur, you should keep an eye out for Vitamin B. A lack of Vitamin B has been linked to hair loss in humans, so it stands to reason that the same thing applies to dogs.
So, to reduce the amount that your dog sheds you should ensure they have a lot of vitamin B in their diet.
Finally, you should also look for Omega fatty acids when selecting dog food to improve the condition of your dog’s fur.
In particular, you should look for Omega 3 and Omega 6 as these have been proven to make your dog’s skin healthier.
Healthy skin is essential for your dog’s coat to be strong and resistant which in turn limits the amount of shedding.
So as well as looking for vitamins to improve the quality of fur, you should also look for Omega fatty acids to improve the condition of your dog’s skin too.
Frequently Asked Questions
What months do dogs shed the most?
Pretty much every breed of dog will shed their fur at some point. A lot of dogs shed continually throughout the year, however, with some breeds you may notice increased shedding at certain times.
This is because certain breeds of dogs, such as Siberian huskies will shed their fur seasonally.
The breeds that shed seasonally are generally dogs that have undercoats as it is these undercuts which they are shedding during these set periods.
With dogs that shed seasonally, you will most likely notice the largest amount of shedding during the Spring and the Fall as they prepare for the more extreme weather types.
Can changing dog food help with shedding?
If you hadn’t already guessed by reading this article, changing dog food can help control your dog’s shedding.
While it is impossible to stop seasonal shedding, supplementing your dog’s diet can help control shedding throughout the year.
There are a variety of different dog foods available that are specifically designed to help your dog’s skin and coat, all of which are supplemented to be able to help.
As we have already mentioned, the majority of these dog foods will contain omega fatty acids or other vitamins which will help improve the quality of your dog’s skin and coat.
Additionally, these foods also work to improve your dog’s diet and provide them with more balance so that they are healthier which will be reflected in their coat.
What dog sheds least and most?
As we have established, pretty much every breed of dog will shed fur at some point.
Even breeds that have been genetically designed to be “hypo-allergenic” will still shed a certain amount of their fur throughout their lifetime.
In terms of the breeds which shed the most fur, these tend to be dogs that were originally bred to complete outdoor working tasks.
These breeds all have undercoats which means that they have more fur, allowing them to shed more.
The top shedding breed is a Siberian Husky which is closely followed by other household favorites such as the Labrador and German Shepherd dogs.
On the other end of the scale, the dogs that shed the least tend to are breeds such as the Bichon Frise, Afghan Hound, and unsurprisingly the American Hairless Terrier.
Best puppy food for shedding?
The brands listed above are more suitable to adult dogs who are shedding so may not be suitable for puppies, please check with the manufacturer before purchasing.
Last update on 2023-09-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API