| Best for | Product |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | Purina Pro Plan Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach |
| Best for Affordability | Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat Formula All Life Stages |
| Best for Puppies | Farmina Natural & Delicious Chicken & Ancestral Low-Grain Puppy Formula |
| Best for Seniors | Lucy Pet Products Formulas for Life – Sensitive Stomach & Skin Dry Dog Food |
A certain level of shedding is natural in dogs. Shedding levels vary among breeds, with the golden retriever being notorious for excessive shedding. This usually occurs during the summer months as dogs get rid of hair to reduce their temperature. There are a lot of factors that can determine the frequency your dog sheds, like their breed, age, diet, and overall health.
Shedding can also be caused by allergies and other skin and coat complaints. While it is natural for your dog to shed, proper nutrition can safely help to minimize the hair they leave behind. In fact, some food food recipes have been formulated to ensure skin and coat health and minimize shedding.
To help you make an educated decision about choosing the best dog food for shedding, we have researched and come up with a list of the best dog foods for shedding. We have also included a section on what to look for when buying dog food for shedding. Read on to see our top picks.
Check Chewy Check Amazon- Salmon is its primary ingredient
- High in protein
- Enriched with omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids
- Solid dietary protein and fiber source
Check Chewy Check Amazon- Grain-free recipe
- Affordable price
- Contains flaxseed and chia seeds
- Loaded with healthy ingredients
Check Amazon- Features small, bite-sized, specialty kibble designed for puppies
- It's appropriate for all life stages: puppy, adult, senior.
- This recipe is free from gluten, peas, lentils, and pea protein.
- The first ingredient is deboned chicken.
- Salmon and herring oil support heart, skin, coat, and joint health
Check Amazon- This duck, pumpkin, and quinoa recipe is formulated for all breeds regardless of their life stage: puppy, adult, or senior.
- Formulated for gut and digestive health and sensitive stomachs
- Duck is an excellent source of protein for healthy muscles, skin, coat, and proper body function
- Veterinarian approved
- Based on 40 years of research by Dr. George C. Fahey, the leading expert in gut health
A-Z-Animals’ Top Picks: The Best Dog Food for Shedding
#1 Best Overall: Purina Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Skin
The best dog food for shedding is Purina Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Skin Dry Dog Food.
This high-protein dog food includes salmon, which is rich in protein, as its first ingredient. The amino acids in protein contribute to healthy skin and coat, muscle development, and tissue repair. Sunflower oil, which packed with omega-6 fatty acids, further nourishes your dog’s skin and coat.
The recipe also contains oat meal, which is easy and gentle on your dog’s digestive system. Guaranteed live probiotics support digestive and immune health, while natural prebiotic fiber nourishes specific intestinal bacteria for digestive health.
This formula includes antioxidants to support your dog’s immune system and omega-3 fatty acids for joint health and mobility.
It’s free from corn, wheat, soy, poultry by-product meal, artificial colors, and artificial flavors.
Although this product is quite expensive, it is made primarily from high-grade ingredients. This makes it our top pick for the best overall dog food for shedding.
Pros and Cons of Purina Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Skin
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Salmon, which is rich in protein, is the first ingredient in this food. | It is quite expensive, so it may not fit some budgets. |
| The amino acids in protein support dogs’ skin and coat health, muscle developments, and tissue repair. | |
| Sunflower oil, which includes omega-6 fatty acids, further nourishes skin and coat. | |
| Live probiotics support digestive and immune health and prebiotic fiber supports digestive health. | |
| Antioxidants support your dog’s immune system. | |
| Omega-3 fatty acid supports joint health and mobility. | |
| This dog food contains no corn, wheat, soy, poultry by-product meal, artificial colors, or artificial flavors. |
- Salmon is its primary ingredient
- High in protein
- Enriched with omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids
- Solid dietary protein and fiber source
2. Best for Affordability: Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat Grain-Free Dog Food
Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat Grain-Free Dog Food is an affordably priced, grain-free recipe that’s loaded with healthy ingredients and is free from harmful or potentially dangerous ingredients. The first ingredient in this recipe is wild-caught salmon for lean, strong muscles. Other premium ingredients include vegetables and superfoods such as flaxseeds, chia seeds, and blueberries for their antioxidant properties.
The recipes also includes fatty acids to nourish your dog’s skin and coat. It’s supplemented with vitamins, minerals, and the manufacturer’s proprietary probiotics that survive and thrive in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
Diamond Naturals is a family-owned-and-run business and its products are made in the US from trusted, sustainable, globally sourced ingredients. This recipe includes no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.
A few reviewers reported that their dogs’ itching worsened after eating this food. Some said that their dogs didn’t like it.
Pros and Cons of Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat Grain-Free Dog Food
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The first ingredient is salmon. | Some reviewers said that their dogs’ itching got worse after eating this food. |
| The recipe also includes vegetables and superfoods for their antioxidant properties. | Some dogs didn’t like it. |
| Fatty acids are included to nourish your dog’s skin and coat. | |
| It’s fortified with vitamins, minerals, and a proprietary blend of probiotics that survive and thrive in the GI tract. | |
| The company is family owned and run and the products are made in the US from globally sourced ingredients. | |
| The recipe is free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. |
- Grain-free recipe
- Affordable price
- Contains flaxseed and chia seeds
- Loaded with healthy ingredients
3. Best for Puppies: Farmina Natural & Delicious Chicken & Ancestral Low-Grain Puppy Formula
Farmina Natural & Delicious Chicken & Ancestral Low-Grain Puppy Formula is appropriate for all life stages — puppy, adult, and senior — but the kibble is specially sized for a puppy’s smaller mouth. The first ingredient is deboned chicken, a protein that contributes to skin and coat health and muscle development. Herring and salmon oil support heart, skin, coat, and joint health.
This recipe is free from gluten, peas, lentils, and pea protein. This is noteworthy because peas and lentils have been linked to canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a serious, potentially fatal heart condition in dogs.
Reviews for this product were overwhelmingly positive. A sole reviewer reported that their dog didn’t like this product.
Pros and Cons of Farmina Natural & Delicious Chicken & Ancestral Low-Grain Puppy Formula
| This puppy food is appropriate for adults and seniors, too. | One reviewer said that their dog didn’t like this product. |
| The kibble is designed to fit puppies’ mouths. | |
| The first ingredient is deboned chicken for skin and coat health and muscle development. | |
| Herring and salmon oil support heart, skin, coat, and joint health. | |
| This formula does not contain gluten, peas, lentils, or pea protein. This is important because legumes have been linked to canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a serious, potentially fatal heart condition in dogs. |
- Features small, bite-sized, specialty kibble designed for puppies
- It's appropriate for all life stages: puppy, adult, senior.
- This recipe is free from gluten, peas, lentils, and pea protein.
- The first ingredient is deboned chicken.
- Salmon and herring oil support heart, skin, coat, and joint health
4. Best for Seniors: Lucy Pet Products Formulas for Life – Sensitive Stomach & Skin Dry Dog Food
Lucy Pet Products Formulas for Life – Sensitive Stomach & Skin Dry Dog Food is appropriate for all breeds regardless of their stage of life: puppy, adult, or senior. This duck, pumpkin and quinoa recipe is formulated for gut and digestive health and for sensitive stomachs.
Real duck, sourced from the US and France, is the first ingredient, and it’s an excellent source of protein for healthy muscles, skin, coat, and proper body function. The recipe also includes a unique blend of fiber sources, including quinoa and flaxseed, for gut health.
A complex blend of ingredients and antioxidant nutrients will support your aging dog’s healthy immune system.
Most reviews for this food were positive, but a few pet parents reported that their dogs didn’t like it.
Pros and Cons of Lucy Pet Products Formulas for Life – Sensitive Stomach & Skin Dry Dog Food
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This duck, pumpkin, and quinoa recipe is appropriate for puppies, adults, and seniors. | Some dogs don’t like it. |
| It’s formulated for gut and digestive health and for sensitive stomachs. | |
| Real duck provides protein for healthy muscles, skin, coat, and body function. | |
| A blend of fiber sources, including quinoa and flaxseed, supports gut health. | |
| Antioxidant nutrients and other ingredients provide immune system support. |
- This duck, pumpkin, and quinoa recipe is formulated for all breeds regardless of their life stage: puppy, adult, or senior.
- Formulated for gut and digestive health and sensitive stomachs
- Duck is an excellent source of protein for healthy muscles, skin, coat, and proper body function
- Veterinarian approved
- Based on 40 years of research by Dr. George C. Fahey, the leading expert in gut health
Choosing the Best Dog Food For Shedding: What to Look For
When choosing the best dog food for shedding, there are three factors you need to consider: price, ingredients, and reviews. Here is how to consider the best dog food across each factor.
Price
Before shopping for food for your dog, it is recommended that you set a budget. This is because there are a lot of foods on the market and the price rang varies widely. We recommend that you purchase the highest-quality dog food available within your budget.
Ingredients
When selecting dog food for shedding, there are certain ingredients that you can look for that could help reduce the amount your dog sheds. These ingredients include omega fatty acids, zinc, and biotin. Apart from reducing shedding, these ingredients will also support your dog’s immune function.
Reviews
Listening to what others have to say about a particular product can give you an insight into which dog food is best for shedding. You can also seek out online reviews to help yourself make an educated decision.
Up Next
- Excessive Dog Shedding: When To Be Worried, and How To Help — Our expertly researched article explains why dogs shed, when it’s “too much,” and what you can do to make it stop.
- The Best Shedding Brushes for Dogs: Reviewed — Brushing your dog with one of these brushes will remove shed hair before it ends up on your couch.
- The Best Dog Bowls: Reviewed for You — If your pup needs a new food or water bowl, one of these is sure to be exactly what you’re looking for.
| Best for | Product |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | Purina Pro Plan Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach |
| Best for Affordability | Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat Formula All Life Stages |
| Best for Puppies | Farmina Natural & Delicious Chicken & Ancestral Low-Grain Puppy Formula |
| Best for Seniors | Lucy Pet Products Formulas for Life – Sensitive Stomach & Skin Dry Dog Food |
The Best Dog Food for Shedding FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
How do I find out if my dog’s food has been recalled?
As of January 11, 2023, none of the food featured here has been recalled according to the US Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) Recalls & Withdrawals site.
What causes dogs to shed excessively?
The most common underlying health problems that could cause your dog to have excessive hair loss are parasites, fungal infections, and even sunburn. Hormonal imbalance and allergies could also lead to inflamed skin and brittle hair. If you believe that your dog is experiencing excessive shedding, consult your veterinarian for advice.
Do raw eggs help dog shedding?
While eggs strengthen the hair follicles, they will not significantly decrease shedding in dogs already receiving optimal nourishment. You should never feed your dog raw eggs, which may expose them to salmonella.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.
