Tame the Shedding Beast: Best Dog Foods for a Healthier Coat!
Dog food that helps with shedding sounds too good to be true! We have 6 brands that do just that!
It’s normal for dogs to shed. Dogs shed two times a year, that is, during the spring and the fall. Sometimes when they are pregnant, they shed a lot.
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Excessive shedding is a sign there’s something wrong with your dog or you’re not giving them the best dog foods for shedding.
For instance, dogs feeding on low-quality foods shed a lot more than dogs feeding on high-quality food. If food is the challenge, then it makes sense to change your dog’s diet.
What dog food helps with shedding?
While shedding is natural, most dog parents would prefer their dogs to shed less. Normal shedding for dogs happens during the spring or when they are pregnant. Certain breeds like Golden Retriever, Labrador Retrievers, Newfoundlands, and Pekingese shed a lot.
If you have a dog that sheds excessively and patches of hair are missing, it is abnormal. Besides that, if the skin shows red hot spots, you need to check it. Some dogs have skin abnormalities like hot spots, rashes, dry skin, and other issues related to food allergies.
Food allergies can affect your dog, and you need to change their diet, which includes limited dry dog food. Sometimes your dogs may shed because they lack excellent nutrition. A healthy dog on the inside will show on the outside.
Another reason why dogs shed is because of stress at home.
If you have relocated, chances are it affected your dog’s routine. Dogs love routine. The more you maintain their routine, the happier they will be happier at home and less stressed.
Sometimes, the stress can be a result of welcoming a new pet at home. Besides your dog feeling anxious, they will start to shed a lot due to heightened anxiety. You can always eliminate the stress or take your dog to the vet to seek medical attention.
Ever heard of the saying: “You are what you eat”. The adage applies to a dog’s health. That said, as a dog parent, you need to invest in high-protein dog food and reap the benefits.
A balanced dog’s diet will have a high protein content, minerals, vitamins, and healthy fatty acids. After feeding the dog, you will start noticing changes in its physical appearance.
Best dog food for shedding
Many dog foods will help reduce shedding while also meeting your dog’s nutritional needs. The following is a list of the best dog food that will stop shedding:
1. Crаvе Adult Drу Dog Fооd – Best Fооd fоr Shеddіng Dоg
Crave adult dry dog food is one of the best foods for shedding dogs because it is grain-free and has the highest amount of protein and carbohydrate content in the food. If you want a protein-rich diet for your couch, craving adult dry dog food is going to be your choice.
The protein diet keeps your dog lean and energy for them to run around. Unlike other dog food, this one lacks chicken by-products, wheat, corn, soy protein, artificial flavors, or preservatives. The dog food comes in different sizes, from small to large.
2. Bluе Buffalo Life Protection Fоrmulа
It comes in 14 different flavors. Since dog food exists in four different sizes, it means you can choose the right size and customize it according to your dog’s needs. Blue buffalo dog food is packed with essential vitamins, minerals, nutrients, wholesome meat, and fruits to support the skin and coat.
The Blue Buffalo dog food is all-natural and free from artificial preservatives, chemicals, and dyes. That means it is healthier for your dog to eat. Blue buffalo life protection formula has chicken meal, brown rice, barley, oatmeal, pea starch, and flaxseed. What’s more, Blue Buffalo incorporates a moderate amount of protein to add to your dog’s diet.
3. Mеrrісk Whole Earth Fаrmѕ Grain-Free Recipe
Merrick whole earth farms grain-free come third in our list. It comes in four different sizes and different flavors, giving you a choice to customize your dog’s diet. The main ingredient is a high-quality protein that supports your dog’s healthy skin and keeps the coat shiny.
All Merrick Whole Earth Farm ingredients come from the United States, which means you are assured of quality. Since it’s free from grain, it’s easier for the dog to eat and digest. The formula doesn’t have by-products, wheat, dyes, or artificial flavors, which means your dog will receive a healthy diet.
4. Purina Prо Plan Dоg Fооd
Purina Pro Plan is an above-average dog food meant to assist dogs having specific dietary problems. The formula is based on salmon and rice, which helps to reduce excessive shedding in dogs. The primary ingredient is salmon which is helpful to couches with allergies. Other ingredients are whole grains, soybean meal, fish oil, wheat bran, and rice.
All the ingredients in the list are digestible for dogs which means they are perfect for dogs with intolerances. What we like about Purina Pro: the inclusion of Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which are essential in maintaining your dog’s coat and skin to be healthy.
5. Wеllnеѕѕ Sіmрlе Nаturаl Lіmіtеd Ingredient
The Wellness Simple Natural limited-ingredient dog food will guarantee your dog a healthy, happy, and long life. Most importantly, dog food is nutrient-packed and centered around organic animal proteins, helping dogs with sensitive skin issues, and stomach and coat conditions.
You can choose from six different protein combinations and sizes, which depend on the breed you have. Wellness Simple Natural limited ingredients lack artificial dyes, fillers, additives, and flavors which means it is digestible.
A key ingredient that deserves to be mentioned is the omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids that maintain the dog’s skin and natural coat.
6. AvoDerm Natural Dog Food for Adults
We liked AvoDerm dog food because it is made from natural ingredients such as California-grown avocado and high-quality protein. The meat-based proteins assist your dog in restoring its coat and improving its health.
Other things the food assists include calming skin irritation, itching, and inflammation.
But that’s not all. This dog food has antioxidants, crude fiber, and minerals, improving your dog’s well-being from the outside. Dog food has no artificial ingredients such as preservatives, additives, and other fillers.
Dog parents who purchase this dog food like it because it has many antioxidants, fiber, minerals, and vitamins that a dog needs. Besides that, dog food comes in two different flavors, and you can try them both to see what your dog likes.
The Ingredient to look for in Dog Food
Brushing and grooming won’t prevent excessive shedding in dogs. What you need is to make sure the dog gets proper nutrition. It’s not a secret that the best dog food will help your dog’s fur grow stronger and healthier.
But what kind of dog food will stop shedding, and how can you know you are choosing the right dog food?
There are lots of factors that you need to put into consideration when you buy dog food that prevents shedding. Make sure that each dog food you buy at least has one of these ingredients.
1. Omega-3 & Omega-6 Fatty Acids
There are two omega fatty acids found in fish that improve the dog’s skin and coat. Your dog needs healthy skin, which makes the coat grow. A strong coat fights off excessive shedding, hair loss, and other skin issues that affect the dog. The dog’s body can’t make fatty acids, so you have to feed your dog foods with omega-3 and omega-6 ingredients.
Dogs with dry skin and weak fur shed a lot and giving them these fatty acids will reduce their shedding. Salmon and other types of fish are rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.
That said, when buying dog food, ensure they have omega fatty acid nutrients, which are responsible for building your dog’s coat and keeping them healthy. As a bonus, these acids also relieve your dog from food allergies and sensitivities and protect your dog from heart and kidney-related diseases.
2. Protein
Protein comes from meat. You want to make sure the dog food you buy has high-quality meat. Protein provides energy and vitality for the dog, and improves general health and digestion. That said, your dog needs to have enough protein in its body.
Always look for kibble containing real meat such as deboned chicken, turkey, beef, rabbit, or ream meal. Low-quality protein-like animal by-products won’t improve the general health of your dog and improve their coat.
3. Vitamins
A high-quality kibble dog food should have vitamins and minerals as added extras. Vitamins and minerals control and balance your dog’s overall health. Most kibble we have bought in the past has vitamin A and vitamin E listed.
While vitamins play an essential role in the dog’s body, dog food has vegetables, legumes, and fruits which are sources of vitamins and antioxidants. Vitamin B or biotin is known to improve a dog’s coat and skin.
The lack of vitamin B causes hair loss in human beings, which prevents hair loss in dogs.
Whether you want the best dog food for your senior dog or chihuahua, make sure it has vitamin B or other natural sources of vitamin B. Look for vitamins and minerals made from natural ingredients.
Many dog food manufacturers make a chemical concoction of vitamins and minerals and spray it onto the kibble. It doesn’t sound healthy. When shopping, look for vitamins and minerals that come from natural healthy ingredients.
When shopping, look for the following vitamins and minerals in dog food:
- Iron
- Magnesium
- Copper
- Potassium
- Manganese
- Iodine
- Choline
- B vitamins
- Vitamins A, D, E, and K
- Calcium
- Zinc
4. Natural Ingredients
The discussion of dog food won’t be over without the mention of natural ingredients. Your dog should consume chemicals, artificial flavors, colors, or additives because they are responsible for many ailments dogs face today.
The more you feed artificial ingredients in the food, the more your dog starts developing complications soon.
When buying dog food, think of natural-looking products with a list of ingredients you can understand and consume. Anything your grandma can’t pronounce won’t be safe for the dog.
5. No Fillers
Ever asked yourself why some dog foods are cheaper than others? Well, it’s because they have artificial ingredients that don’t add nutritional value to the dog.
When to See a Vet for Dog Shedding
If you have tried to change your dog’s food and still shed, you need to see a medical examination vet. The vet will examine your dog, and discuss the diet and lifestyle options.
The examination will include blood analysis together with tests to find out the cause of excessive shedding. Sometimes the loss of hair is treated with medication, especially when the diet is not working well.
