Best Dog Food for Skin and Coat Problems (2024)

A dog’s skin and coat are what impresses most dog (and non-dog) lovers out there. Usually, a well-kept dog has a good quality for their skin and coat, which is due to the food they eat, as well as their grooming habits. But what happens if your dog gets skin allergies all of a sudden?

Your vet may recommend not just a change in routine for their cleaning and shampoo products, but may also recommend certain food and supplements to help them ease their allergies on their skin and coat.

It’s not enough to just bathe and groom them properly – sometimes the problems are underneath their skin and coat.

This is why you may want to look for the best dog food for skin and coat, which usually contains important oils that are good for their skin and coat.

5 Best Dog Food for Skin and Coat Problems

We picked some of the best dog food for skin and coat in the market to address such problems for you:

1. Diamond Care Sensitive Skin Recipe

If your dog has sensitive skin, chances are, they may like this dog food since it is specially developed for them. It is a pack of 25 lbs. of dog food with omega fatty acids to help maintain their skin and coat quality. It has no gluten and fillers so that you’re assured of only pure dog food without the artificial flavorings.

It also contains other important skin nutrients for your dog’s health, such as antioxidants like Vitamin E, which can also boost your dog’s immune system against various sickness and bacteria. The dog food is ideal for adult dogs and contains both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in good amounts.

2. Verus Advanced Opticoat Dry Dog Food

For dogs who prefer dry dog treats, this one can be a great choice. It contains 15 lbs. of dog food that is good for all life stages and contains fish meal and potato which has been naturally processed without the preservatives and fillers.

If your dog is suffering from excessive shedding, this may be a nice pick for them, since it is friendly towards dogs with skin and food allergies. Dogs with alopecia can also have this dog food to help them out.

3. WholeHearted Grain Free All Life Stages Dry Dog Food

Vets may sometimes advise a dog to have a grain-free diet, in which this duck and lentil recipe may be right for them. This one has omega 3 fatty acids as well so it is good for their coat and skin health. It doesn’t contain wheat, corn, or grains so it’s good for dogs who are on a diet from those.

It also has some canine probiotics, which helps boost their gut health and immune system, so it is good for dogs who have digestive upsets as well.

4. Weruva Limited-Ingredient Natural Dry Dog Food with Grass-fed Lamb

A lamb diet may also be recommended by your vet for your dog if they have skin issues. This dog food is a 4-lb. a bag that comes with salmon oil and linoleic acid which can help boost their skin and coat health.

It is also protein-rich so it can boost your dog’s muscle health and it does not contain any GMO products as an all-natural product.

5. WholeHearted Grain Free Senior Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food

For senior dogs, you may want to try this one, since it is formulated for them. It also contains omega 3 fatty acids which can help your dog’s coat and skin. It does not contain wheat, grains, and corn and is ideal for dogs who are 7 years old and above.

The dog food contains chicken as the first ingredient and each pack can be ordered in 5-lb. or 25-lb. bags. Additionally, the dog food has antioxidants to help keep their immune system and coat healthy.

Things to Consider Before You Buy

After we’ve reviewed the best dog food for skin and coat, how do you know which one is the ideal one for your dog? Here are some questions and facts you need to consider first.

How do I choose the best dog food for skin and coat?

To know which dog food is the best for your dog when it comes down to skin and coat conditions or problems, you should consider the following first:

1. Your vet’s advice – if you want to give your dog the best food for their skin, you should first go to your vet. Unless you are already an expert (or you are a veterinarian yourself), you may need to get the advice of your vet first in order to know the skin type and condition of your dog. If your dog develops skin problems, the vet can give you prescription medicine or food to address the said problems.
2. Look for essential fatty acids – things like Omega 3 and Omega 6 are the best for dogs with skin and coat problems because they help produce oils in your dog’s body to keep their coat healthy and moisturized for that shiny look. These kinds of omega fatty acids are present in most oils that are in commercial dog foods nowadays.
   • Omega 3 is best known to condition your dog’s skin and coat as well as help with allergies and the like. It is also known to boost their joints, cognitive development, and has anti-inflammatory properties. This means that it can possibly help soothe or ease flare-ups in your dog’s skin or coat. It goes along with Omega 6 for its skin and coat benefits.
   •  Omega 6 goes hand in hand with Omega 3 fatty acids and is good at balancing your dog’s coat health, skin, immune system, and regular growth since they are involved in cell production and function. Most foods that are rich in Omega 6 include soybean oils, sunflower oil, and chicken fats.
3. Zinc – as a trace mineral, sometimes zinc is not that present in your dog’s system. Zinc is important in their immune system as well as other functions such as their coat health. It goes well with B-vitamins and other important nutrients to keep your dog healthy.Zinc deficiency can be a bad thing for dogs and they may become more prone to dermatitis, which may look like skin allergies around the eyes and muzzle.
4. Linoleic acid – as an omega 6 fatty acid, this kind of acid helps with a dog’s coat and skin health. This linoleic acid is not exactly naturally present in a dog’s system, so it must be fed to them manually, which also boosts their immune system for them not to get sick easily.
5. B vitamins – if you feed your dog with foods that are rich in B vitamins, your dog can possibly have better skin and coat health and it can reduce excessive shedding, which can be troublesome to owners who have heavy-shedding dogs.Vitamin B complex can help alleviate flea allergies, hair loss, ticks, and even premature graying. Vitamin B works well with vitamin C in this case, since they are both great for your dog’s immune system and their coat/skin health.
6. Healthy oils – you can also look for natural soybean, fish oil, sunflower oil, and chicken fat. Most commercial dog foods nowadays have these ingredients and if they are present, they may contain most omega 3 and 6 fatty acids that your dog needs for their coat to look shiny again and to get rid of most skin allergies that they may have, as well as excessive shedding due to poor skin/coat health.
7. Vitamin E – if your dog itches often due to their skin and coat being too dry, your dog can possibly benefit from Vitamin E in their food or supplements. Vitamin E also works well for ear infections and irritations that they may have.Just as humans take vitamin E for helping prevent various skin problems and for looking younger despite the aging years, vitamin E is also a good antioxidant that helps in cell membrane repair in dogs. There are also some vitamin E supplements that you can apply to your dog’s skin, just as with their human counterparts.
8. Vitamin A – like with vitamin E, vitamin A can also be essential for dogs. Without the recommended amount of Vitamin A in their food, they may have poor skin and coat quality and they may also feel weak in their muscles and may not see clearly.Vitamin A is usually present in dog foods that contain egg yolks, liver, and fish oil, especially fish liver oil. However, do note that you should not overdose your dog with vitamin A since it is a fat-soluble vitamin which can be toxic to your dog if your dog takes a lot of it too much.
9. Your dog’s skin type – like with humans, some dogs also have more sensitive skin over the others. For dogs who have sensitive skin, they may need a different kind of coat and skin treatment, which usually involves a different diet as compared to a regular dog. In the same way, they may also need a different shampoo to clean them up.

Why is it important to keep a dog’s skin and coat healthy?

Your dog’s skin and coat are important in their overall physical appearance. Here’s why you need to maintain it:

1. Their skin protects their muscles and organs. A dog’s skin and coat can help their muscles and organs operate properly. Imagine a dog suffering from a bad itch or wound – their internal organs can be affected because the bacteria can get inside their bodies without protection. Therefore, it is important to keep your dog’s skin healthy against such infections so that they will be less prone to sickness.
2. Good grooming represents a good owner. If your dog gets groomed properly, others will praise you for being a good owner. The coat quality of a dog is also very important if they are a high-maintenance breed that has a thick coat or fur. It is also crucial if they are competing in shows so that they will be kept with a good appearance in front of the audience.
3. It gets rid of bacteria and dirt. A dog’s skin and coat also act as a protection to get rid of bacteria and dirt that they may pick up from day to day adventures. Unlike humans, dogs can get into places that humans don’t really get into, such as dirty nooks and crannies. Therefore, it is important that their skin and coat gets protected against bacteria that may turn into sickness later on.
4. Your dog will feel more refreshed. A dog with healthy skin and coat will less likely itch more often and find more time to play and exercise. Imagine if a dog keeps scratching their skin all the time – they will feel frustrated! Therefore, you need to keep your dog’s skin and coat healthy if you want them to enjoy life and playtime!
5. Their food may also benefit their immune system. Most foods that are for coat and skin problems, such as omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, are also good for the dog’s immune system. This means that they can be protected against other illnesses and maintain a good overall healthy lifestyle.

Conclusion

The Diamond Care Sensitive Skin Recipe is our clear winner for the best dog food for skin and coat due to fact that it is made especially for dogs with sensitive skin and it has a lot of omega fatty acids (omega 3 and omega 6) to help your dog’s skin and coat health. One bag also has a lot of dog food so it’s good for a lot of feeding sessions.

While other dog foods are also great in their own way, we chose this one since it also has a lot of other ingredients and nutrients that are ideal for your dog’s coat and health, such as vitamin E. Remember that before choosing, always follow your vet’s advice on choosing the ideal food for your dog’s skin and coat problems!