You might have noticed that your dog’s coat is changing for the worse, and you want to do something about it. Like human hair, a dog’s fur is a good indicator of their health. If your dog’s coat needs a little love, a high-quality diet can help!
Here, we have a list of reviews of the best dog foods for your dog’s skin and coat. These have beneficial vitamins to keep your dog’s coat healthy and gorgeous! Let’s dive in!
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The 10 Best Dog Foods for Skin and Coat
1. The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food Subscription Service — Best Overall
| Main ingredients: | USDA pork, potatoes, sweet potatoes, USDA pork liver |
| Protein content: | 9% minimum |
| Fat content: | 32% minimum |
| Calories: | 152 kcal/serving |
If your dog has sensitive skin, fresh and wholesome ingredients are the best solution. That’s why we found The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food Subscription Service to be the best overall dog food for skin and coat. Although grain-free diets aren’t ideal for every dog, grain sensitivities and digestive issues are possible causes of coat and skin problems. A reaction to common proteins like beef and chicken is another reason.
The Farmer’s Dog Pork Recipe contains a novel protein and wholesome vegetables as its main ingredients, with sweet potatoes and cauliflower among them. It also contains fish oil, which helps make your dog’s coat soft and lustrous. Finally, it is high in healthy proteins and fats to fuel your dog all day. Although this is a more expensive food, it is a great option to consider.
- Fresh, nutritious food
- 39% protein
- Easy to digest
- Easy to use
- Grain-free with legumes
- More expensive
2. Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat Formula All Life Stages Dry Dog Food — Budget Buy
| Main ingredients: | Salmon, fish meal, potatoes, lentils, peas |
| Protein content: | 25.0% minimum |
| Fat content: | 14.0% minimum |
| Calories: | 408 kcal/cup |
If you’re looking for an affordable option to help your dog’s coat, Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat Formula All Life Stages Dry Dog Food is the best dog food for skin and coat for the money. There are quite a few things that we like about this food. First, there’s no chicken, but it is still high in protein—ideal for dogs with chicken allergies. There are also more calories per cup, so your pup stays fuller longer.
What stands out the most in this food is the ingredients. The first ingredient is salmon, packed with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. You’ll also find zinc, copper, biotin, and riboflavin, all of which contribute to a healthy coat.
After switching to this food, many dog owners see a notable difference in their dog’s coats. The only downside is that some owners also report excessive shedding.
- No chicken
- Good price for the ingredients
- High in vitamins and minerals
- May cause shedding
3. Go! Solutions Skin + Coat Care Lamb Recipe Dry Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Lamb meal, oatmeal, whole brown rice, deboned lamb, canola oil |
| Protein content: | 22.0% minimum |
| Fat content: | 14.0% minimum |
| Calories: | 451 kcal/cup |
Go! Solutions Skin + Coat Care Lamb Recipe Dry Dog Food doesn’t contain chicken, which is perfect for fur babies with chicken allergies. There are also no preservatives and a hefty amount of vegetables and vitamins, all for your dog’s skin and coat.
This food has 451 calories per cup, so you need to be careful with how much you feed your pet. Otherwise, your dog will gain weight. Some owners also report their dogs becoming gassy when eating this food, so beware!
- No chicken
- No preservatives
- Clean ingredients
- Expensive
- Can cause gas
4. AvoDerm Natural Puppy Chicken Meal & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food — Best for Puppies
| Main ingredients: | Chicken meal, ground brown rice, ground white rice, chicken fat, oatmeal |
| Protein content: | 26.0% |
| Fat content: | 16.0% |
| Calories: | 372 kcal/cup |
AvoDerm Natural Puppy Chicken Meal & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food is our favorite option for puppies. This food is rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids from avocado. It’s true that avocados contain persin, which is toxic to dogs and cats. However, persin is only found in the pit, skin, bark, and leaves. This recipe doesn’t source from these areas of the fruit, so your dog will be safe and can reap the benefits.
Not only does this puppy food help with skin and coat, but it also has DHA for healthy development. DHA is another omega-3 fatty acid that’s important for neural development in puppies.
The downside of this food is that it may cause diarrhea. Some owners report their dogs’ GI tracts not liking it. However, many owners and dogs still love it!
- Contains DHA
- Good for pregnant females and nursing mothers
- No artificial colors or flavors
- May cause diarrhea
5. ACANA Singles + Wholesome Grains Limited Ingredient Diet Lamb & Pumpkin Recipe Dry Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Deboned lamb, lamb meal, oat groats, whole sorghum, lamb liver |
| Protein content: | 27.0% |
| Fat content: | 17.0% |
| Calories: | 371 kcal/cup |
ACANA Singles + Wholesome Grains Limited Ingredient Diet Lamb & Pumpkin Recipe Dry Dog Food is nutrient-dense, providing complete nutrition and all the necessary vitamins for a shiny, healthy coat. There are no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. It also has the highest protein count of all the foods on this list. Plus, it’s great for all dog sizes and breeds.
Not every ingredient is sourced in the United States, though, and some dogs don’t care for the taste. So, it’s best to go with a small bag and mix the kibble with your dog’s current food to see if your dog likes it.
- No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
- Nutrient-dense
- Great for all breeds
- Not all ingredients sourced in the U.S.
6. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Sensitive Skin Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, brewer’s rice, chicken meal, yellow peas, cracked pearl barley |
| Protein content: | 20.0% |
| Fat content: | 13.0% |
| Calories: | 382 kcal/cup |
Hill’s Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Sensitive Skin Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food is nice for dogs that struggle with food sensitivities and need extra shine to the coat. It contains prebiotic fiber to feed beneficial gut bacteria and reduce an upset tummy. Plus, if you have more than one dog, you can feed this food to both if one has stomach issues and the other doesn’t.
Hill’s is cheaper than prescription food and doesn’t contain any artificial colors, flavors, or BHA. It’s also made in the U.S.A. The biggest con with this food is that it may cause GI upset.
- No artificial colors, flavors, or BHA
- Supports a healthy gut
- May cause GI upset in some dogs
- Not formulated for dogs with seasonal allergies
7. Royal Canin Small Sensitive Skin Care Dry Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Brewer’s rice, corn gluten meal, wheat gluten, wheat, chicken fat |
| Protein content: | 24.0% |
| Fat content: | 15.0% |
| Calories: | 414 kcal/cup |
If your dog’s coat is dry and flaky, Royal Canin Small Sensitive Skin Care Dry Dog Food could be a good option. It’s loaded with nutrients like fish oil, vitamin E, biotin, and riboflavin for a beautiful, healthy coat.
This food uses chicken fat instead of meat for an allergy-safe and delicious product. In addition, Royal Canin Sensitive Skin has DHA for your dog’s mental development, and the shape of the kibble helps remove tartar from your dog’s teeth.
The downside is that it’s recommended to supplement this food with the wet food version to provide texture variety. However, this isn’t necessary, and many dogs love the flavor of the dry food as is!
- Reduces dry skin
- Great for oral and digestive health
- Small bag
- Ideal to pair it with wet food
8. Blue Buffalo True Solutions Perfect Skin & Coat Natural Salmon Adult Dry Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Deboned salmon, salmon meal, oatmeal, brown rice, barley |
| Protein content: | 24.0% minimum |
| Fat content: | 14.0% minimum |
| Calories: | 363 kcal/cup |
The primary protein source of Blue Buffalo True Solutions Perfect Skin & Coat Natural Salmon Adult Dry Dog Food is salmon combined with flaxseed for a rich, beautiful coat. There are no artificial flavors or preservatives, and the food comes with Lifesource Bits, which are small pieces of kibble packed with vitamins and nutrients. This food is good for dogs of any size and breed, along with those that have allergies to chicken. You won’t find a trace of chicken flavoring, byproduct, or meal in this option.
The biggest downfall of this food is the risk of GI upset. Blue Buffalo is known for causing diarrhea in dogs due to its wide array of ingredients. Even so, dogs love the flavor, so this could be a good option for picky eaters!
- No artificial flavors or preservatives
- Good for all breeds and sizes
- Ideal option for dogs with allergies
- May cause diarrhea and gas
- Recall history
9. Nutro Natural Choice Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, brewer’s rice, chicken meal, whole grain brown rice, whole grain barley |
| Protein content: | 22.0% minimum |
| Fat content: | 14.0% |
| Calories: | 343 kcal/cup |
Nutro Natural Choice Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food has non-GMO ingredients and is loaded with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Plus, the food is made with natural fibers for easy digestion.
You can’t feed this food to puppies under 1 year of age, and a few owners reported their dogs refusing to eat the kibble after years on the brand. These owners suggest a new formula, but if your dog hasn’t eaten this food before, they should be fine.
- Non-GMO ingredients
- Made in the U.S.
- Natural fiber for easy digestion
- Not suitable for puppies
- New food formula
10. Purina ONE +Plus Adult Skin & Coat Formula Dry Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Salmon, rice flour, pearled barley, oatmeal, corn gluten meal |
| Protein content: | 26.0% minimum |
| Fat content: | 16.0% minimum |
| Calories: | 438 kcal/cup |
Purina ONE +Plus Adult Skin & Coat Formula Dry Dog Food is a grain-free and gluten-free option for owners wanting to steer in that direction. As a disclaimer, the inclusion of grains is beneficial to most dogs, so it’s best to check with your veterinarian if grain-free food is the right option for your dog.
Purina Skin and Coat is high in protein and caloric value, so a little goes a long way. There are no artificial colors or preservatives, and it’s affordable compared to prescription food.
This dog food kibble is small, which some owners don’t like for their big dogs. This food can also be difficult to find sometimes and can cause stinky gas for your dog.
- Affordable
- No artificial colors or preservatives
- Fishy smell
- Gives dog gas
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Food for Your Dog’s Skin and Coat
What Vitamins Are Good for a Dog’s Coat?
A dog’s diet is a big contributor to the health of their skin and coat, so it helps to know what vitamins and minerals to look for so you can purchase the best dog food for your pet.
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin C
- Biotin
- Riboflavin
- Zinc
- Copper
- Omega-3
- Omega-6
Fatty acids are ultimately what you want to look for in your dog’s food. For example, omega-3 and omega-6 help produce natural oils and reduce dandruff and dull-looking fur.
Check the Ingredient List
One of the biggest things to consider when shopping for a new type of kibble is the ingredients. It doesn’t matter what packaging the food comes in or the overall size, unless those are important to you. Your main concern should be the ingredients.
Ask yourself a few questions about whether the food is up to your standards. Do the first listed ingredients include high-quality meat protein sources? Are there artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives? What ingredients are included that will help my dog’s skin and coat be as healthy as possible?
These are all things that you need to consider. Keeping up our dogs’ health starts from the inside and with what food we feed them.
Conclusion
Our best overall selection among these reviews is The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food for its high-quality, fresh ingredients. Our favorite value option is Diamond Naturals Skin and Coat Formula Dry Dog Food for its affordability, great flavor, and great ingredients. For puppies, we recommend AvoDerm Natural Puppy Food for its high protein, DHA formula.
We hope that one of these foods works for your pup so they can have healthy skin and a shiny coat again!
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Featured Image Credit: Dmytro Zinkevych, Shutterstock
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