You might have noticed your dog’s coat is changing, and you want to do something about it. Like humans, a dog’s coat is a good indicator of its health. If your dog’s coat needs a little love, a high-quality diet can help!
We’re listing the best-reviewed dog foods for your dog’s skin and coat today. These foods have beneficial vitamins to keep your dog’s coat healthy and, dare we say, gorgeous. Let’s dive in!
A Quick Look at Our Favorites in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food
Fresh, nutritious food
Easy to digest
G39% protein
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Best Value
Diamond Naturals Skin & Coat Formula Dry Dog Food
No chicken
Good price for the ingredients
High in vitamins and minerals
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Go! Solutions Skin + Coat Care Dry Dog Food
No chicken
No preservatives
Clean ingredients
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Best for Puppies
AvoDerm Natural Puppy Dry Dog Food
Contains DHA
Good for pregnant females and nursing mothers
No artificial colors or flavors
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Vet’s Choice
ACANA Wholesome Grains Dry Dog Food
No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
Nutrient-dense
Great for all breeds
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The 11 Best Dog Foods for Skin and Coat
1. The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food Subscription Service – Best Overall
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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, wholesome ingredients are the best solution. That’s why we found The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food Pork Recipe to be the best overall choice for promoting healthy skin and coats. Although grain-free diets aren’t the best for every dog, grain sensitivities and digestive issues are one possible cause of skin and coat issues. 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 option, it is a great option to consider.
Pros
Fresh, nutritious food
39% protein
Easy to digest
Easy to use
Cons
Grain-free with legumes
More expensive
If you’re looking for an affordable option to help your dog’s coat, then Diamond Naturals Skin and Coat Formula All Life Stages Dry Dog Food is the best for the money. There are a few things we like about this food. First, there’s no chicken but is still high in protein—another great option for dogs with chicken allergies. There are also more calories per cup, so your dog stays fuller longer.
Fresh, nutritious food
39% protein
Easy to digest
Easy to use
- Fresh, nutritious food
- 39% protein
- Easy to digest
- Easy to use
Grain-free with legumes
More expensive
- Grain-free with legumes
- More expensive
Main ingredients: Salmon, fish meal, potatoes, lentils, peas
Protein content: 25.0% minimum
Fat content: 14.0% minimum
Calories: 408 kcal/cup
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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 some owners also report excessive shedding.
Pros
No chicken
Good price for the ingredients
High in vitamins and minerals
Cons
May cause shedding
Number three on our list is Go! Solutions Skin and Coat Care Lamb Meal Recipe Dry Dog Food. First, this food doesn’t contain chicken, 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.
No chicken
Good price for the ingredients
High in vitamins and minerals
- No chicken
- Good price for the ingredients
- High in vitamins and minerals
May cause shedding
- May cause shedding
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
This food has 451 calories per cup, so you need to be careful with how much you feed your dog. Otherwise, your dog will gain weight. Some owners report their dogs becoming gassy when eating this food, so beware!
Pros
No chicken
No preservatives
Clean ingredients
Cons
Expensive
Can cause gas
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. Avocados indeed contain persin, which is toxic to dogs and cats. However, a person is found in the pit, skin, bark, and leaves. This recipe refrains from using these areas of the fruit. So, your dog will be safe and can reap the benefits.
No chicken
No preservatives
Clean ingredients
- No chicken
- No preservatives
- Clean ingredients
Expensive
Can cause gas
- Expensive
- Can cause gas
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
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 to this puppy food is that it may cause diarrhea. Some owners report their dog’s GI tract not liking this food. However, there are still many owners and dogs that love it!
Pros
Contains DHA
Good for pregnant females and nursing mothers
No artificial colors or flavors
Cons
May cause diarrhea
Fifth on our list is ACANA Singles + Wholesome Grains Lamb and Pumpkin Recipe Dry Dog Food. This is our favorite vet choice for a few reasons. The food is because it 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.
Contains DHA
Good for pregnant females and nursing mothers
No artificial colors or flavors
- Contains DHA
- Good for pregnant females and nursing mothers
- No artificial colors or flavors
May cause diarrhea
- May cause diarrhea
Not every ingredient is sourced in the United States, 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.
Pros
No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
Nutrient-dense
Great for all breeds
Cons
Expensive
Another good pick for healthy skin and coat is Nature’s Recipe Healthy Skin Vegetarian Recipe Dry Dog Food. This Nature’s Recipe formula contains no artificial colors and, as the name suggests, does not use animal meat or fat as the protein source. Instead, Nature’s Recipe uses soybean oil. This is a nice option for dogs with chicken allergies.
No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
Nutrient-dense
Great for all breeds
- No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
- Nutrient-dense
- Great for all breeds
Expensive
- Expensive
Main ingredients: Brewer’s rice, soybean meal, barley, canola oil, natural flavor
Protein content: 21.0% minimum
Fat content: 8.0% minimum
Calories: 305 kcal/cup
You’ll also find omega-6 fatty acids, zinc, and copper in this recipe to support a healthy coat. The downside to this formula is that some owners report their dog experiencing GI upset after eating.
Pros
Affordable
No artificial colors or preservatives
Good for dogs with chicken allergies
Cons
May cause GI upset
- See also: Nature’s Recipe Dog Food Review: Recalls, Pros & Cons
Number six on our list is Hill’s Science Diet Sensitive Stomach & Skin Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food. This food is nice for dogs who struggle with food sensitivity and need some 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 dogs if one has stomach issues and the other doesn’t.
Affordable
No artificial colors or preservatives
Good for dogs with chicken allergies
- Affordable
- No artificial colors or preservatives
- Good for dogs with chicken allergies
May cause GI upset
- May cause GI upset
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 is cheaper than prescription food and doesn’t contain any artificial colors, flavors, or BHA. It’s also made in the USA. The biggest con with this food is that it may cause GI upset in your dog.
Pros
No artificial colors, flavors, or BHA
Supports a healthy gut
Cons
May cause GI upset in some dogs
Not formulated for dogs with seasonal allergies
- Royal Canin Sensitive Skin Care Dry Dog Food
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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
Next on our list is Royal Canin’s Small Sensitive Skin Care Dry Dog Food. If your dog’s coat is dry and flaky, this could be a good option. This food is loaded with nutrients like fish oil, vitamin E, Biotin, and Riboflavin for a beautiful, healthy coat.
No artificial colors, flavors, or BHA
Supports a healthy gut
- No artificial colors, flavors, or BHA
- Supports a healthy gut
May cause GI upset in some dogs
Not formulated for dogs with seasonal allergies
- May cause GI upset in some dogs
- Not formulated for dogs with seasonal allergies
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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
This food also uses chicken fat instead of meat for an allergy-safe and delicious product. In addition, Royal Canin Sensitive Skin is another food that has DHA for your dog’s mental development. Another interesting fact about this food is 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!
Pros
Reduces dry skin
Great for oral and digestive health
Cons
Small bag
Ideal to pair it with wet food
Blue Buffalo True Solutions Perfect Coat Skin & Coat Care Formula Dry Dog Food is number eight on our list. The primary protein source 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, plus those with allergies to chicken. You won’t find a trace of chicken flavoring, byproduct, or meal in this option.
Reduces dry skin
Great for oral and digestive health
- Reduces dry skin
- Great for oral and digestive health
Small bag
Ideal to pair it with wet food
- Small bag
- Ideal to pair it with wet 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 biggest downfall to this food is the GI upset. Blue Buffalo is known for causing diarrhea in dogs from their vast array of food options. Even so, dogs love the flavor, so this could be a good option for picky eaters!
Pros
No artificial flavors or preservatives
Good for all breeds and sizes
A good option for dogs with allergies
Cons
May cause diarrhea and gas
Recall history
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.
No artificial flavors or preservatives
Good for all breeds and sizes
A good option for dogs with allergies
- No artificial flavors or preservatives
- Good for all breeds and sizes
- A good option for dogs with allergies
May cause diarrhea and gas
Recall history
- May cause diarrhea and gas
- Recall history
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
You can’t feed this food to puppies under one year of age, and a few owners recently report their dogs refusing to eat the kibble after years on the brand. Owners suggest a new formula, but if your dog hasn’t eaten this food before, it should be fine.
Pros
Non-GMO ingredients
Made in the US
Natural fiber for easy digestion
Cons
Not suitable for puppies
New food formula
- Purina ONE +Plus Skin & Coat Formula Dry Dog Food
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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 Natural Sensitive Stomach +Plus Skin & Coat Formula Dry Dog Food is last on our list. This 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 is the right option for your dog.
Non-GMO ingredients
Made in the US
Natural fiber for easy digestion
- Non-GMO ingredients
- Made in the US
- Natural fiber for easy digestion
Not suitable for puppies
New food formula
- Not suitable for puppies
- New food formula
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 Skin and Coat are 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 didn’t like for their big dogs. The food can also be difficult to find sometimes and can cause stinky gas for your dog.
Pros
Affordable
No artificial colors or preservatives
Cons
Fishy smell
Gives dog gas
Affordable
No artificial colors or preservatives
- Affordable
- No artificial colors or preservatives
Fishy smell
Gives dog gas
- 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 Coats?
A dog’s diet is a big contributor to the health of its skin and coat. It helps to know what vitamins and minerals to look for so you can purchase the best dog food for your pet.
You might have noticed a difference in the food options we listed. But just in case, here are the vitamins for making your dog’s fur extra shiny and smooth:
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. Fatty acids like omega-3 and omega-6 help produce natural oils and reduce dandruff and dull-looking fur.
Vitamin E
Vitamin C
Biotin
Riboflavin
Zinc
Copper
Omega-3
Omega-6
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin C
- Biotin
- Riboflavin
- Zinc
- Copper
- Omega-3
- Omega-6
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 it 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 you need to consider. Keeping our dog’s health starts from the inside and with what food we are feeding them.
Conclusion
Let’s do a quick review. Our best overall selection is The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Dog Food for their high-quality, fresh ingredients. Our favorite value option is Diamond Naturals Skin and Coat Formula All Life Stages Dry Dog Food for its affordability, great flavor, and great ingredients. For puppies, we recommend AvoDerm Natural Puppy Chicken Meal & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food for its high protein, DHA formula.
Finally, our vet’s choice is ACANA Singles + Wholesome Grains Lamb and Pumpkin Recipe Dry Dog Food. It has the highest protein count, tastes great, and is nutrient-dense for the best skin and coat care for your dog.
- See Also: 10 Best Dog Foods for Shiny Coats
Featured Image Credit: Dmytro Zinkevych, Shutterstock
