Key Points
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Consult with your vet before using any dog supplements for suitability and dosage.
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The best dog shedding supplements of 2023 include a mixture of liquid supplements, as well as soft chews.
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Fish oil, krill, oil, biotin, vitamins, and probiotic cultures are the popular sources of the best dog shedding supplements on the market in 2023.
Many pet owners find themselves constantly in a battle with their four-legged friends' shedding. Even though shedding is part of their lives, there are many ways to manage your pup's shedding. Supplementing your dog's diet with the right vitamins and minerals helps reduce the problem.
This article discusses the nutrients essential to a dog's fur, and the top seven best dog shedding supplements of 2023.
Normal Shedding vs. Excessive Shedding
You probably wonder if your dog's shedding is normal or excessive. In general, double-coat dogs shed more than single-coat dogs. German shepherds, Akitas, Siberian huskies, corgis, Chow Chows, Boston terriers, Labrador retrievers, and Newfoundlands top the chart as the worst furball-creating offenders.
During spring and fall, the double-coat dogs shed more than usual as they try to change their coats for the upcoming season. There's nothing to worry about unless your dog starts developing bald spots or their coats become dull and brittle.
Other signs that your pooch suffers from excessive shedding include:
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Extremely thin coat with skin visible
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Constant scratching, licking, and face-rubbing
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Rashes or other irritation on the skin
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Flaky and scaly skin
Causes of Excessive Shedding
Excessive shedding happens much more often than you think. According to VCA Animal Hospitals, "approximately 25% of dog visits to the veterinarian involve problems with the skin and haircoat." Excessive shedding is often a sign that your dog suffers from an underlying health problem. The most common causes are allergies, skin infections, parasites, and nutrient deficiency.
Allergies
Like humans, many dogs suffer from allergies caused by food, pollen, mites and fleas, dander, and other environmental allergens. The usual allergic reactions are itching and inflammation, which leads to excessive shedding as the body attempts to get rid of the irritants.
Skin Infections
Bacterial and fungal infections are common in dogs, particularly pups with weakened immune systems. These infections cause irritation, inflammation, and excess sebum secretion. The more the pooch scratches, the more their skin overreacts, causing a quick downward spiral of excessive shedding.
Parasite Infestations
Parasites cause excessive shedding in two ways. External parasites, such as fleas, ticks, mites, and lice, feed on your dog's blood and cause skin irritation. Internal parasites, such as worms and protozoa, weaken the pooch's immune system and absorb all the necessary nutrients in their bodies, causing dog shedding-related vitamin deficiency.
Nutrient Deficiency
The skin is a mirror of a dog's nutrition intake. The deficiency quickly shows in their coats if they lack the essential vitamins and minerals. Their gut health is also crucial for their digestive system to absorb all these vital substances. As a result, a dog suffering from a probiotic imbalance in their stomachs is prone to nutrient deficiency and excessive shedding.
Nutrients Essential to a Dog's Skin and Fur
A dog's coat is their crowning glory. When you go to the dog park, people often ask why some dogs' coats look so splendidly gorgeous. Obviously, regular grooming helps. However, dogs also need a wide range of nutrients to maintain healthy skin and fur.
Check out the following seven essential nutrients for a dog.
Protein
Protein is essential for body cell functioning, including skin cells. It provides the nutrients for skin cells to regenerate and repair themselves while growing out new coats. When dogs don't eat enough protein, they quickly develop bald spots and dull fur. In general, an adult dog's daily diet needs approximately 25 to 30 percent protein for their daily functioning.
Not all protein sources are beneficial to your dog. Many dog food brands take pride in using beef and chicken. However, they are among the most common proteins that cause skin allergies. Other common allergy-inducing proteins are wheat, dairy, soy, eggs, corn, and nuts.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are a type of polyunsaturated fat that is essential for healthy skin and coat. They keep the skin moisturized and supple, promote balanced sebum secretion, and boost the immune system. The three types of omega-3s are DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), and ALA (alpha lipoic acid).
ALA is the most common form of omega-3 because it is the original form of fatty acid from which the EPA and DHA derive. All plant-based and nut-based sources of fatty acids are rich in ALA. However, dogs must convert ALA to EPA and DHA to utilize the fatty acids. Only a maximum of 10 percent of ALA converts into EPA, and 5 percent into DHA. Still, ALAs are beneficial to cardiovascular and nervous system health. As a result, offering ALA to your dog is still a great supplement for their overall well-being.
In contrast, EPA and DHA are active forms of omega-3s. Dogs directly absorb these two fatty acids without any required chemical conversions. Therefore, EPA and DHA are much more efficient. Unlike ALA, EPA and DHA are directly responsible for maintaining healthy dog skin and coats. They also boost the functioning of their immune system, alleviate inflammations, and promote joint health.
The most common animal sources of omega-3s are fish, seafood, and eggs. Cold-water fish, such as sardines, salmon, halibut, and mackerel, have the highest level of fatty acids. Cod liver, oysters, mussels, and krill also have many beneficial oils. According to Today's Veterinary Practice, the safe maximum EPA and DHA consumption for dogs is 280 mg/100 kcal.
If your dog suffers from seafood allergies, plant, and nut-based omega-3 sources are available. Hemp seeds, flaxseeds, chia seeds, walnuts, algal oil, and coconut oil provide some excellent options. At the same time, the topical use of coconut oil for dog shedding offers a natural solution for excessive shedding.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin and an antioxidant that helps to protect cells from free radical damage. It also hydrates your dog's coat and promotes new hair growth by improving blood circulation and hormone balance.
Many natural foods are rich in vitamin E. Chicken, beef, organ meats, salmon, sweet potato, blueberries, spinach, and peanut butter are all great sources. If you worry your dog is not getting enough vitamin E, talk to your veterinarian about whether your dog needs supplements.
Biotin (Vitamin B7)
Biotin is another water-soluble vitamin part of the B complex group of vitamins. Sometimes known as vitamin H or coenzyme R, biotin is important in helping the body metabolize fats and proteins. Aside from being a metabolism helper, biotin is a miracle solution for shedding dogs.
While biotin does not stop all shedding, it strengthens the keratin in the hair shafts to prevent breakage. As a result, your dog's hair becomes stronger and withstands more weight before it sheds.
Biotin is available in egg yolks, liver, salmon, nuts, mushrooms, bananas, oatmeal, and pumpkin seeds. Biotin is also in many dog shedding remedies and fur products on the market.
Vitamin A
Aside from being an essential vitamin for many bodily functions, including vision and cell growth, vitamin A is crucial in regulating keratin production. Dogs that suffer from vitamin A deficiency shed more because their bodies are not able to produce enough keratin, causing the hair shafts to become brittle.
Vitamin A is abundant in liver, egg yolks, carrots, leafy greens, and sweet potatoes. Although the vitamin is great for managing shedding, it is important that you don't give your dog too much vitamin A as it is toxic in large amounts. Just to be safe, speak with your veterinarian about the correct dosage for your dog's weight and needs.
Probiotics
Gut health is everything. It affects everything from mental health to nutrient absorption and skin health. Dogs that lack good bacteria in their gut flora often show signs of excessive shedding and poor immune system. Many dogs return to their healthy self once their gut flora returns to good health.
Fermented foods, such as yogurt and kefir, offer a good source of bacteria for dogs. However, probiotic supplements are a better option if your fur baby suffers from dairy allergies.
Seven Best Dog Shedding Supplements
Providing a balanced diet for your pup is a challenging task. If you are not able to offer a fresh source of meals to meet the daily nutrient intake, the easiest way to manage your dog's shedding problem is through supplements.
Check out seven of the best dog shedding supplements on the market in 2023.
1. Vet's Best Healthy Coat Shed & Itch Relief Dog Supplements
Vet's Best Healthy Coat Shed & Itch Relief Dog Supplements provides quick itching relief for your pooch. It includes a powerful blend of fish oil for dog shedding that helps to nourish and strengthen the hair shaft and skin cells. The formula has the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) approval, and it is safe for all adult dogs that are not pregnant or nursing. The supplements come in tasty chewable tablets that are easy to gobble up.
Photo source: Amazon.com
2. Shed-X for Dogs Liquid Supplement
Shed-X for Dogs Liquid Supplement offers an easy solution to incorporate omega-3s, biotin, and many other vitamins and minerals into your current dog's kibbles. The formula includes a natural chicken flavor to entice your canine into munching down their food without any complaints. The best part about the Shed-X supplement is that it guarantees results within three to six weeks.
Photo source: Amazon.com
3. Dinovite Probiotic Supplement for Dogs
If your dog hates yogurt or is allergic to dairy, Dinovite Probiotic Supplement for Dogs offers an excellent probiotic source option. With 10 strains of probiotic bacteria and prebiotic digestive enzymes in the formula, this dog supplement works wonders on excessive shedding, itchy skin, and stinky odor problems.
Just scoop the supplement powder into your pooch's kibbles, add water, and stir until everything is well-blended.
Photo source: Amazon.com
4. Ready Pet Go! Omega-3 Fish Oil for Dog Shedding
Ready Pet Go! Omega-3 Fish Oil for Dog Shedding is another excellent chewable option for your furry friend. All supplements from this company are products from the USA, and pass through vigorous standard tests by a third-party laboratory. Instead of using fish oil, this formula uses krill oil and includes vitamin E and biotin. Dogs and humans are better at absorbing krill oil than fish oil. As a result, this brand gives you quicker results than other brands that use fish oil as their source of omega-3 fatty acids.
Photo source: Amazon.com
5. The Missing Link Skin & Coat Probiotics Superfood Supplement Powder for Dogs
The Missing Link Skin & Coat Probiotic Superfood Supplement Powder for Dogs offers an easy solution to upgrade your current dog kibble quality with probiotics and vitamins. Unlike other formulae that use fish oil or krill oil, this brand uses fish meal and flaxseed as their main sources of omega-3 fatty acids. They also include Lactospore bacteria to offer your pup a healthy gut flora balance.
Photo source: Amazon.com
6. Nutri-Vet Shed Defense Soft Chews for Dogs
Nutri-Vet is a trusted brand with American products passing the NASC standard tests with flying colors. Their Shed Defense Soft Chews for Dogs incorporate salmon oil with infused natural smoke flavor to attract your furball into munching these chewable tablets. It's easy to use and you see results rather quickly.
Photo source: Amazon.com
7. PawfectCHEW Fish Oil Omega-3 for Dogs
The PawfectCHEW Fish Oil Omega-3 for Dogs uses wild Alaskan salmon fish oil and algae as their main sources of omega-3,6, and 9. It also includes biotin, zinc, and vitamins C and E to promote healthy skin, coats, and joints. The made-in-USA product is NASC-certified. Best of all, the tasty chewable tablets are naturally salmon-flavored and do not contain any flavoring products.
Photo source: Amazon.com
Consult With Your Vet Before Supplementing
When it comes to dog supplements, there are plenty of options available. However, be sure to consult with your vet before giving any to your pup. With the help of a thorough physical examination and blood tests, your vet is the best person to guide you on which supplements are suitable for your dog, and how much they need.
Be patient with the supplements. Sometimes, your furry friend's skin and coat condition needs a few weeks or months to improve significantly. Your persistence is crucial to your pup's health.
