7 Best Dog Food for Shedding (2023 Updated Review)

Are you fed up with the seemingly incessant amount of dog fur scattering your home, making it appear as though you’re cohabitating with dozens of hairy creatures, when in fact, it’s merely one tiny dog causing all the fuss? Dog fur has a way of clinging to basically everything, and it tends to disperse and accumulate much quicker than you can manage to clean it up.

Shedding is normal. Some dogs shed more than others, which dog owners will have to learn to live with, but there may be ways of making a dog shed less.

Proper nutrition is crucial for both humans and animals. A dog with a vitamin deficiency might start experiencing itchy skin or irritated skin, which could then cause him or her to scratch. This causes excessive shedding and more hair loss.

Notes from our DVM, Sara Ochoa: “There are also some medical conditions such as hypothyroid disease or Cushing’s disease that can cause hair loss in dogs. If your dog is losing hair excessively consult a veterinarian for advice. “

If you suspect your dog may have hormonal imbalances, we highly recommend you contact your trusted veterinarian in the first instance.

Our team has spent hours researching products to find the best dog food for shedding, read our in-depth reviews below. Learn more about our 10 point inspection checklist.

Best Dog Food For Shedding

1. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin Dog Food

When looking for dog food for shedding control, you want to find one that takes care of your dog’s coat and skin, but also the insides. This dry dog food for adults by Hill’s Science Diet is our Top Pick for the following reasons:

This limited ingredient diet dog food for sensitive stomachs contains Omega-6 fatty acids. Omega fatty acid nutrients contribute to a healthier and shinier coat by strengthening it from the roots.

Vitamin C and E boost the immune system, and the ingredients are easy to digest and perfect for sensitive stomachs.

Why We Like It – This is affordable dog food to help with shedding. It is dog food for adults, one that can be found in most pet stores all over the U.S and abroad.

Shedding can be caused by nutritional imbalances and digestive issues. This top pick hypoallergenic food to reduce dog shedding is gentle and easy to digest, even for pups with sensitive stomachs. If your dog has irritated skin, this dog food for sensitive stomachs is an excellent option to try.

Shopping for a little one? Shop the Hill’s Science Diet puppy food range, or try these puppy food options.

Nutrition Information:

Caloric Content	382 kcal/cup
Crude Protein	21.0% min
Crude Fat	12.0% min
Crude Fiber	4.0% max
Moisture	10.0% max

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2. Orijen Six Fish Dry Dog Food

Do wild-caught and fresh fish sound like something you would want to reward your dog with? The Orijen Six Fish Dry Dog Food is good for shedding thanks to its quality ingredients and high concentration of healthy essential fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. All are naturally found in the sophisticated mix of nutritious sources of protein, vegetables, legumes, and fruit.

The six fish types used in this anti-shedding dog food recipe provide your pup with an explosion of delicious flavor in every bite. This Orijen dog food is free of fillers like corn, wheat, and soy, has no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives. It uses the finest ingredients nature has to offer, making it the best dog food for shedding control.

Why We Like It – As far as natural dog food that prevents shedding goes, you can’t find better dry food than this. This high-quality protein dog food is full of natural and nutritious ingredients to help your dog grow strong and healthy.

Nutrition Information:

Caloric Content	3900 kcal/kg, 445 kcal/cup
Crude Protein	38% min
Crude Fat	18% min
Crude Fiber	4% max
Moisture	12% max

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3. Crave Grain-Free Adult Dry Dog Food with Protein

With a choice of chicken, lamb, salmon, ocean fish, lamb, and venison, there is something for every dog! It is protein-rich dog food for adults made with the diets of the dog’s ancestors – the wolf – in mind, and it is full of vitamins and minerals to help with all that hair you keep finding around the house.

This Crave dry food is a healthy and irresistibly flavored kibble that helps with shedding. Your dog will love it just as much as you will love the reduced amount of hair sticking to your clothes and furniture. With carbohydrates from quality sources and 34% animal-based protein sources, it is an effective shed control dog food that will make a noticeable difference in no time.

Why We Like It – Not all dogs like the same meat products, and some may have food allergies and sensitivities that need to be considered. This high-quality protein dog food to prevent shedding promotes a healthy energy level, a lean body, and a sharp mind!

See also: Hypoallergenic dog foods.

Nutrition Information:

Caloric Content	3717 kcal/kg, 422 kcal/cup
Crude Protein	34.0% min
Crude Fat	17.0% min
Crude Fiber	3.5% max
Moisture	10.0% max

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4. Annamaet Grain-Free Sustain Formula Dry Dog Food

Annamaet Grain-Free Sustain Formula is an anti-shedding dog food that is easy to digest and promotes a functional metabolism. It has plenty of protein from sustainable fish sources (wild-caught cod) and humanely farmed turkey. It tastes so good that even the fussiest fur baby won’t be able to say no.

Take control of that shedding by providing your dogs with dry dog food that will rebuild both coat quality and physical health.

The fish used to make this grain-free dog food that helps to shed is, of course, proven ethoxyquin-free, and it is suitable for adult dogs of all sizes.

Why We Like It – Is this sustainable fish formula the best protein-rich adult dry dog food to stop dog shedding? This is hard to say since every dog is different. But this grain-free recipe has the necessary vitamins and minerals to boost your pup’s health, and a healthy dog is less prone to unnatural hair loss.

Nutrition Information:

Caloric Content	3633 kcal/kg, 392 kcal/cup
Crude Protein	33.0% min
Crude Fat	13.0% min
Crude Fiber	3.5% max
Moisture	10.0% max

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5. Acana Light & Fit Dry Dog Food

Is your four-legged bestie one of those dogs with food addictions and tends to put on weight, making it even harder to find the best dog food to reduce dog shedding? No worries – Acana has the solution. They offer dog foods with highly effective diet formula without sacrificing quality, nutritional value, and flavor. See the reviews about Acana dog food to learn more.

This natural dog food for shedding control is packed with turkey, free-range chicken, and wild-caught fish. It is also free from grain, gluten, potatoes (not sweet potato), and other low-nutrient fillers.

It is a natural dog food product your four-legged friend will gulp down as fast as they possibly can. The formula is scientifically proven to enhance the metabolism, boost the immune system and promote a healthy weight, which are all factors contributing to a strong and healthy coat.

Why We Like It – Some dogs have a hard time keeping off weight, but it shouldn’t mean they can’t have access to the best dog food for shedding and skin and coat health. Acana Light & Fit Dry Dog Food watch the weight while still giving your dog the nutrients they need, and best of all – it is packed with meat and flavor!

Nutrition Information:

Caloric Content	3055 kcal/kg; 348 kcal/8-oz cup
Crude Protein	31% min
Crude Fat	19% min
Crude Fiber	5% max
Moisture	12.0% max

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6. ACANA Wild Atlantic Dry Dog Food Wild

ACANA Wild Atlantic Dry Dog Food Wild is a meat-packed and delicious luxury kibble for your best furry friend. It has 70% protein from real and wild-caught fish, providing a dog with plenty of energy. While also boosting the immune system and helping the metabolism function the way it should.

General physical health is a keystone for shedding reduction. This high-quality and protein-rich natural dog food is here to save the day. Acana’s answer to the best dog food for shedding pups is made with simple, natural ingredients. It is free from grains or soy and follows the lines of what a canine would have eaten in the wild.

Why We Like It – Acana is a brand known for its superior dog food, so what better brand to turn to when looking for rich in protein dog food to reduce shedding? The quality ingredients will keep your pup both happy and strong. You will likely notice positive results in coat quality only a couple of weeks into feeding your dog this product.

Nutrition Information:

Caloric Content	3,440 kcal/kg, 392 kcal/cup
Crude Protein	33% min
Crude Fat	17% min
Crude Fiber	6% max
Moisture	12.0% max

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7. Hill’s Science Diet z/d Original Skin Food Sensitives Dry Dog Food

For sensitive skin dogs, this dog food to stop shedding can solve a hair loss problem. While all dogs can shed – excessive shedding can signify a deficiency, something a quality kibble with high nutritional value can potentially solve.

The best dog food to prevent shedding is one that sits well with your dog’s metabolism, provides them with a complete and balanced diet, and one that they enjoy eating. Still, it also needs to contain vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids to boost hair growth and prevent hairs from going dry, breaking, and falling out. Hill’s Science Diet z/d Original Skin Food Sensitives Dry Dog Food is a perfect choice.

Hill’s contribution to the ‘Best Dog Food for Shedding Dogs’ product collection is a crunchy hypoallergenic dog kibble. This dog food comes with hydrolyzed protein and a single carbohydrate source (cornstarch), optimal for dogs with sensitivities.

Why We Like It: Skin disorders are common in dogs and contribute to why they may be shedding more than usual or more than what would be considered normal. This cheap dog food for hair loss works to solve this by treating these issues so that the dog’s coat can grow out stronger and more resistant.

Nutrition Information:

Caloric Content	354 kcal/cup
Crude Protein	19.1% min
Crude Fat	14.4% min
Crude Fiber	4.4% max
Omega-3 Fatty Acids	0.3.0% min
Omega-6 Fatty Acids	4.43% min

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Bonus Buys:

1. Eqyss Avocado Mist Pet Conditioner

Eqyss Avocado Mist Pet Conditioner is a mild product that uses avocado oils to nourish the dog’s skin and coat during bathtime. It relieves uncomfortable and itchy skin (dry skin can often cause itching) and strengthens new hair growing out.

While your dog’s diet is vital in controlling shedding, it is also relevant to care for your dogs’ skin and coat on the outside.

The wrong dog shampoos can dry out your dog’s skin, while the right one – such as this Eqyss conditioner – will aid in keeping your dog’s fur in top condition! If you need a product that promotes healthy skin and coat, Eqyss has got you covered.

If you want to take a jab at getting your dog to shed less, you will want to approach it from all angles. This product also has natural oils and botanicals for maximal effect.

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2. Zesty Paws Allergy Immune Supplement for Dogs

Is there dog food that helps with shedding? Yes, there is, but sometimes an additional supplement can prove to be beneficial.

These lamb-flavored soft chews will give your dog a real health boost; with vitamins, minerals, fish oil, natural antioxidants, probiotics, prebiotics, and several other things.

The formula of Zesty Paws Allergy Immune Supplement helps strengthen the dog’s immune system. It combats coat and skin health issues such as rashes and hot spots, which could be beneficial when trying to prevent the cause of excessive shedding in dogs. The combination of fish oil, biotics, and minerals makes this product worth a try.

Dogs with sensitivities causing excessive shedding and dry skin may benefit from allergy immune supplementation. However, you must always ensure these products are suitable for your dog by seeking the help of your trusted veterinarian.

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How to Spot the Best Dog Food for Shedding?

Before you can find one of the best dog foods for shedding, these are some of the ingredients you need to look out for in your purchase. These ingredients are the essential ones in helping your dog reduce excessive shedding.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Just like the famous saying “Prevention is better than cure,” foods with essential fatty acids will significantly help in preventing shedding in dogs, especially food that contains Omega-3 fatty acids. They aid in improving and nourishing the skin and coat quality of your dog leading to stronger and healthier skin.

Natural Ingredients

Natural ingredients are sources of high-quality nutrients and vitamins, unlike processed foods that offer a low nutritional value. Whole and fresh fruits and vegetables are examples of natural ingredients where you can get quality nutrition for your dog’s overall health, which will also help in the skin and coat nutrition.

Essential Minerals

Your dog should be able to have the 12 essential minerals as part of their healthy diet. The 12 essential minerals are copper, calcium, iodine, iron, chlorine, manganese, magnesium, sodium, phosphorous, potassium, zinc, and selenium. At least six of these are enough to boost your dog’s overall well-being and promote a healthy lifestyle.

No Filler Ingredients

Another important thing you should know is that filler ingredients have zero to low nutritional value. That’s why it’s best to avoid them in your dog’s diet. Especially when some of these fillers can also cause allergies which can lead to a bad reaction like hair loss and excessive shedding.

Providing high-quality dog food can make a big difference when it comes to shedding, and the secret lies in finding the best dog food for shedding problems that there is.

Related: Dog Food for Diabetic Dogs.

Dog Food for Shedding Buyers Guide

As much as we love our dogs, we might not be too found on our whole couch being covered in dog hair or for the car to turn furry after every trip to the dog park. While some shedding is normal and part of every dog’s routine – excessive shedding and dry skin can quickly become an issue.

There are a few factors to consider when looking for dog food for shedding to prevent shedding problems with your dog. By being aware of what those factors are – you set yourself and your pup up to find the right alternative for both of you.

Omega-3 & Omega-6  Fatty Acids

These two omega fatty acids are found in for example fish, and they are known to be beneficial for both the dogs’ coat and skin. Healthy skin is needed for the coat to grow out strong and resistant, which can, in turn, prevent the cause of excessive shedding and hair loss.

When looking for the best dog food for hair loss, you always want to make sure it has these healthy omega fatty acid nutrients – Omega-3 and/or Omega-6 fatty acids, as it will aid your pet in rebuilding their fur coat from within. As an extra plus, these essential fatty acids help relieve food allergies and sensitivities, prevent heart- and kidney disease boosts cognitive function, and more.

We Think You’ll Like: Best Dog Food for Allergies

Protein

Protein generally comes from meat sources in the kibble. To find the best dog food for hair shedding, you want to make sure the kibble you purchase has quality meat listed first or second since this means it has a substantial amount of it. Dogs need protein for energy and their overall health, especially digestive health. That’s why it is important to check that the product you purchase has enough to keep your dog going for a full day.

Stay away from low-quality sources of protein, such as animal by-products or filler ingredients. Aim at finding kibble containing real meat or meat meal. These will provide your pup with the protein their body needs to function correctly and promote healthy skin.

Vitamins

Many high-quality kibble products have ingredients filled with vitamins and minerals. Others might have these added as something extra. Regardless of which, vitamins and minerals will control and balance your dog’s overall well-being.

You can usually find vitamins like vitamin A and vitamin E listed among the ingredients. More than that, you also want to look for real vegetables, legumes, and fruit, which all contain vitamins and antioxidants naturally. This is essential for dogs who are eating a healthy skin vegetarian recipe.

One of the best vitamins to promote a healthy dog’s coat is the B vitamin called biotin. The lack of biotin has been scientifically proven to result in hair loss in humans, which is why it is something that can help a dog shed less.

In looking for the best dog food for shedding lab senior dogs, for Pugs (who are known to shed excessively), or a Chihuahua, you should make sure your dog’s diet includes vitamin B or ingredients with natural vitamin B sources.

Natural Ingredients

Natural ingredients are something you should look for both for your own food and that of your dog. Why consume chemicals, artificial flavors, and colors when it isn’t necessary?

A natural diet is often a synonym for a healthy dog’s diet, and a healthy dog is likely to shed less. What would you prefer? A portion of food tastes like steak because the food contains a high percentage of beef or food that tastes like steak. After all, it has artificial meat flavor added to it? The answer is simple.

When trying to figure out what dog food is best for shedding – think natural and look for products with an ingredients list that you can understand. Ingredients unknown to you can often be a sign of the kibble not being all that simple/ natural.

If you struggle to decide between dry or wet dog food, try both and see what your pooch prefers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes excessive shedding?

There are different reasons as to why your dog is experiencing excessive shedding. Seasonal shedding is one of them. This usually happens to dogs not used to warm climates—for example, Huskies, where they start shedding during spring or fall.

Another reason is poor diet. Feeding your dog with a poor-quality diet where their nutritional needs are not completely satisfied can cause excessive shedding. That’s why foods with high-quality ingredients are recommended because they provide all the essential vitamins and minerals dogs need to support their overall health.

Food or skin allergies are also causes of excessive dog shedding. You must check the labels of every product— shampoo, conditioners, and most of all, food—you use on your fur babies. Because it may contain ingredients where they are allergic to, which can cause a bad reaction of shedding.

How can you help stop dog shedding?

The best thing to do to reduce shedding is to provide a healthy and nutritious diet for your dog. If your pup’s current food is not giving them a beautiful coat and only results in hair loss, changing their food and diet is the better option.

Other things you can do are brush and groom regularly, bathe your dog with nice-smelling dog shampoos that promote a healthy coat, and keep your dog in a happy and stress-free environment.

How can food help with shedding?

If a dog feels good on the inside, it will show on the outside as well. Provide the dog with a nutritious kibble with vitamins, minerals, a protein-rich content, and healthy fatty acids. You will notice almost right away how their coat and overall physical appearance begin to change.

There is a saying that goes: “You are what you eat,” and this is definitely true when it comes to dogs, shedding, and overall well-being. Invest in high-protein dog food, and see your dog reap the benefits.

What is the best dog food for shedding?

A recommended product is the ‘Orijen Six Fish Dry Dog Food. The dog food contains protein from six different quality fish sources (all wild-caught). Fish naturally contains oils, omega fatty acid nutrients, vitamins, and antioxidants, providing a shiny and healthy coat to prevent shedding.

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Conclusion

Dog nutrition is the answer to many of our dogs’ health problems, including problems with excessive shedding.

A change in your dog’s diet may be the obvious answer to what might have been a problem for a very long time. So have a look at what you are feeding your dog now, then research the listed products above. After that, you can choose and make the gradual transition to your dog’s new diet and see for yourself the difference that it makes.

A good dog food won’t only reduce shedding, but it could also prolong your furry family member’s life for several years.

Expert Tip

Have a look at the dog’s environment, in addition to changing to a healthier diet. Stress and discomfort are known as being a major cause of excessive shedding in dogs. To make an actual change – you need to take all factors into consideration. If unsure – consult a veterinarian.

Did You Know?

Some dogs, such as the Maltese, the Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier, and the Poodle, are known for barely shedding. In contrast, large breeds like German Shepherds, Siberian Huskies, and Golden Retrievers shed a lot.

We Think You’ll Like: Best Dog Foods for Golden Retrievers