Best Dog Food For Skin And Coat

As a dog owner I know there are few things as frustrating as a sick or irritated dog.  Unfortunately skin or coat conditions are very common in dogs, causing itching or burning skin, or even loss of hair.

Nobody wants their pet on permanent medication; luckily there are foods available to help you through these difficult stages and to assist you to manage the condition.

Top Food Options For Skin And Coat

Causes Of Skin And Coat Condition

Many things in everyday life can cause problems with your dog’s skin and coat, it as a matter of fact probably the first place you as the owner will notice something is wrong.

There is a few things you can look out for and take care of, but if a problem persists and causes extensive discomfort it is better to seek medical advice.

Medical problems can include a parasite infection that will deplete your dog of all the nutrients needed for healthy growth and development.  Parasites include hookworms, roundworms and tapeworms.

Ticks and fleas can be a major irritation to the skin, and in some dogs actually cause an allergic reaction that can cause a rash or the hair to fall out leading to bald spots.

On the more serious side a bad skin or coat could indicate an autoimmune disorder, a yeast infection, thyroid problems or a kidney condition, so regular visits to the vet is crucial.

When should you take your pet to the vet?  The answer is easy.  You as primary care giver know your dog and his needs.  If you feel something is wrong seek medical advice; stop second guessing yourself and be confident in your knowledge of your dog. 

How can I help my dog?

Omega 3&6 are very good for skin and coat conditions.  These supplements are found naturally in fish oil, or fish like tuna, salmon and sardines.

For a healthy coat additional oil can be helpful. Try coconut, olive, sunflower or flaxseed oil, but be careful as too much of a good thing can be bad.

Herbal remedies can be of great help, spirulina, B vitamins and horsetail is good supplements to start with in moderation.  These are high in protein and silica, which help with overall coat and skin protection.

A regular brush or bath will help as it reduces fleas.  You also need to wash your dogs bedding regularly and make sure that your house and the dogs area is as flea free as possible.

The most effective long term solution is a balanced diet, and luckily there are many food and food supplements that is helpful for skin and coat conditions. 

Solid Gold Holistic Senior Dog Food with Superfoods

Although this food states it is specially formulated for older dogs, it is also appropriate for dogs that are not very active.

Carbohydrates like corn, soy and wheat is not used and they are known as possible allergens to dog.  It is replaced with pearled barley and oatmeal, especially oatmeal is known for its healing properties with skin conditions.

Ocean fish and egg is used as protein.  Fish is rich in omega 3&6 oils, and in conjunction with olive oil, canola oil and salmon oil that are used as a fat basis this covers skin and coat health.

The egg protein is packed with amino acids to support good muscle growth and ensure a healthy metabolism.

This food is vitamin and mineral rich and packed with what is called super-foods, this includes cranberries, pumpkin, blueberries, kelp, almond oil and broccoli. This ensures overall health and a good immune system. 

Fromm Four-Star Salmon Tunalini Dog Food

This is a fish only protein food, supplemented with egg.  Salmon and Tuna together with sardine and anchovy provide protein for strong muscle development, and are rich in omega 3&6 that assist in healthy skin and coat condition.

As fat source they use olive oil, salmon oil, flaxseed and chicken fat. Fats help with a shiny coat and are essential to support cell growth.  It also protects your canine’s organs and helps with warmth.

This is a grain free product with potato as a carbohydrate.  Potato is not a major allergen prone food, so the chances that this food will aggravate a skin problem due to allergies are slim.

This is a vitamin rich food with a medley of Mediterranean vegetables like spinach, zucchini, tomatoes and egg plant.  It also has added vitamins and minerals.

The dry food is small bite size and this dog food is suited for all dog types and ages.

CANIDAE Grain Free PURE Dry Dog Food

As the name states, this is a grain free food that uses sweet potatoes as carbohydrates to eliminate any chance of a wheat allergy affecting your pet’s coat.

Good digestion is ensured with probiotics that is added after the cooking process and easy to digest ingredients.

In the same line as the probiotics, antioxidants and omega 3&6 are also added after cooking.  This secures a healthy immune system and a beautiful skin and coat.

This limited ingredient food makes it easy to exclude food sensitivities, only eight key ingredients are used, namely Fresh Salmon, Salmon Meal, Menhaden Fish Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Peas, Canola Oil, Alfalfa and Potatoes.

The process of adding the nutrients after cooking is very effective as none of the goodness or nutrients gets lost in the cooking process.

Added for a fat is canola oil that is also beneficial to good skin condition. No artificial color or preservatives are added to this vitamin packed recipe. 

Castor & Pollux Organix Dry Dog Food

This is an organic product, this means the ingredients used to produce this food is all natural as far as possible.  Organic products strive to avoid man made fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators and feed additives.

Being an organic product it excludes a variety of things that could cause allergies which could in turn cause skin and coat irritations.

Chicken is used as a protein source together with egg.  This combination is easy to digest and fulfills in all your dog’s protein needs thus ensuring good muscle tone.

Peas, apples, pears, broccoli and pumpkin ensure a vitamin rich diet for healthy development.  Vitamins and minerals are also added so that you do not have to worry about extra supplements.

Fat content is covered with flaxseed that assists in securing a shiny coat for your dog.  If you feel the need for more fat you can add some cod liver oil twice a week to the dry food.

For carbohydrate and fiber content brown rice and oats are used.  This secures healthy digestion, and oats are also very good for skin condition.
No corn, wheat or soy is used in this grain free formula.  If your dog has a wheat allergy a grain free option is the only way to ensure no negative reaction to their food.

Natural Ultramix Grain Free Poultry Free Adult Dry Dog Food

To exclude meat allergies only fish is used as a protein.  The salmon is also rich in omega 3&6 that is excellent for skin and coat condition.

This high protein dry food is mixed with fruit and vegetable pieces.  This is a unique feature that ensures a fiber rich diet packed with antioxidants, minerals and vitamins.

An extensive breakdown of fats, fiber, protein and carbohydrate is given on the pack in percentage form to make it easy to understand and to decide what you need to supplement.

No preservatives or colorants are added and the product is tested to ensure safety for your pet and peace of mind for you. 

With skin condition it is very important to eliminate any food that could cause an allergy.  Dog allergies can include beef, chicken, dairy products, lamb, fish, corn, chicken eggs, wheat, and soy.

Unfortunately this is also the ingredients most frequently found in dog foods.  Try eliminating ingredients one by one until the culprit is found and excluded from your pet’s diet.

Once you have your dog in optimum condition it is not that difficult to keep him/her healthy.   There is also a variety of supplements available that you can add to a nutritional diet to keep your loved dog’s coat and skin in premium condition.