6 Best Dog Foods For Dry Skin: Healthy Skin for Your Pooch!

4. Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Dry Dog Food – Potato & Duck Formula

Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Dog Food with Potato & Duck Formula is a highly digestible food which has fewer components in comparison to other similar products.

Your dog’s taste buds will be stimulated by the duck flavor, and the carbohydrate content derived from potatoes will be easy for your dog to digest.

The Natural Balance Limited Ingredient dog food formula is a viable option for those who are worried about choosing grain-free food due to the absence of peas, pea protein, lentils, legumes, corn, wheat, or soy. The FDA’s DCM report has singled out peas and lentils as potential causes (however, it is imperative to note that the exact cause of DCM remains uncertain). Hence, this recipe can be a more secure choice than other grain-free options.

Characteristics:

• 100% grain-free recipe is ideally suited for dogs with food allergies or dry skin
• Contains no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives , as these items can often exacerbate skin problems
• Contains a limited number of ingredients to help reduce your dog’s exposure to potential food allergens
• Includes sources of both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to help support coat and skin health

5. Blue Buffalo True Solutions Skin & Coat

Blue Buffalo True Solutions Skin & Coat is a dog food that contains salmon and is designed to enhance the state of your dog’s coat and skin health.

Most dogs digest the food very well due to the fact that the carbohydrate content is mainly derived from nutritious grains such as oatmeal, brown rice, and barley.

Characteristics:

• Salmon and salmon meal are the first two ingredients, for lean proteins
• Chicken and poultry byproduct-free to eliminate common allergens
• Contains no corn, soy, wheat, artificial flavors, or preservatives – which frequently cause skin and coat problems for some dogs
• Includes both omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to help promote healthy skin and a shiny coat
• Fortified with vitamins, minerals and antioxidant-rich ingredients to ensure balanced and complete nutrition

6. Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato

The Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Salmon & Sweet Potato is a recipe that is free from grain and mainly comprises of salmon.

The formula is designed with few ingredients and aims to steer clear of ingredients that often trigger stomach problems and subsequently, skin problems, in dogs. It excludes gluten grains, chicken, beef, corn, wheat, soy, dairy, and eggs!

This recipe has a restricted list of ingredients and aims to exclude components that are often responsible for stomach problems, which can result in skin problems for dogs. It is free of gluten grains, chicken, beef, corn, wheat, soy, dairy, and eggs!

• Salmon is the #1 ingredient and single animal protein source
• Relies on potatoes, peas and pumpkin – gluten-free carbohydrates for gentle digestions
• Contains no chicken, beef, corn, wheat, soy, dairy or eggs
• Contains no artificial flavors or preservatives
• Also available in a lamb or duck recipe

BONUS: How to Choose the Best Dog Food

Dog owners are confronted with a plethora of options claiming to be the best dog food on the market instead of having all dog food being equal in an ideal world. It is often exasperating to search for a dog food brand that is both healthy and enjoyable for your pet while still being wallet-friendly. Experts have compiled advice to aid you in streamlining your choices.

What Makes a Dog Food “Good”?

Dry kibble or canned wet food is the preferable option for most dog owners to feed their pets. Although these processed foods may not be appetizing to humans, they do provide all the essential nutrients that dogs require to maintain good health. Veterinary experts have thoroughly tested and closely regulated commercial dog foods to ensure their high quality. So, what precisely are the constituents of these dog foods?

Domestic dogs are not strict carnivores like cats. Although meat constitutes a significant part of their diet, they can also obtain essential nutrients from grains, fruits, and vegetables. These non-meat foods are not just fillers; they can provide vital vitamins, minerals, and fiber. An ideal dog diet should include vegetables, grains, fruits, and meat. The finest dog foods contain high-quality versions of these ingredients that suit your dog’s digestive system.

Dog Food Nutrition

To ensure your furry friend is well-fed, it’s vital that his dog food meets his nutritional requirements. Although most commercial dog food brands meet the minimum nutritional standards for canines, keep in mind that not every dog has identical nutritional needs.

Throughout their lifetime, dogs need diverse types and amounts of nutrients. To cater to the distinct nutritional demands of puppies and adult dogs, it is beneficial to feed them puppy formula or “all life stages” food. Concerning the disparities in nutritional requirements of these two stages, the Merck Veterinary Manual provides a list of suggested nutrients and their recommended quantities based on age and weight. The dietary essentials for puppies and adult dogs differ for small and large breed dogs.

Dog Food Myths and Misinformation

Numerous fallacies and incorrect information concerning dog nutrition exist on the Internet. You can navigate the information overload by adhering to a basic guideline of checking your sources. Several people assert facts about dog nutrition without corroborating them with scientific evidence. While undertaking research, ensure that the information is supported by a reliable source such as a canine nutritionist, veterinarian, or scientific study. It’s also prudent to be doubtful. If it appears too perfect, it is highly likely to be untrue.

There are many inquiries regarding dog food options such as those containing grains, peas, or animal byproducts. If your dog has a grain allergy, it’s recommended to consult with your vet before switching to a grain-free diet. Grains are actually beneficial for most dogs as they provide essential nutrients. It’s important to note that quality animal byproducts, such as organ meats, are nutritious and contain more nutrients than muscle meat. It’s also important to know that regulated byproducts exclude non-nutritious items such as hooves, hair, or manure. If you have any concerns about your dog’s diet, don’t hesitate to discuss it with your vet.

How to Read a Dog Food Label

Deciphering whether a dog food is good or bad can be done by reading the label, although the task can prove challenging due to the small print and managing big bags of dog food in-store. Moreover, caution must be taken as dog food labels can be deceptive, as highlighted by the Merck Veterinary Manual. The FDA requires that dog food labels provide eight essential pieces of information plus specific states may set their own labeling requirements.

• Product name
• Net weight of the product
• Name and address of the manufacturer
• Guaranteed analysis
• List of ingredients
• Intended animal species (i.e. dog or cat)
• Statement of nutritional adequacy
• Feeding guidelines

Product Name

Simply judging by its name, one can deduce a lot about what is contained in the packaging, with the term “beef” indicating that beef must comprise at least 70% of the product. However, in the case of “beef dinner,” “beef entrée,” or “beef platter,” the threshold is only 10%. “With beef” necessitates just 3% of the entire product, while “beef flavor” implies that the product contains less than 3% beef, just enough to add a meaty taste. The same rules apply for other named ingredients such as “chicken.”

Ingredients

The quality and origin of ingredients in dog food cannot be determined from the ingredient list, and some manufacturers divide ingredients to achieve equal distribution. For example, various types of corn, such as ground corn, kibbled corn, or flaked corn, may be listed separately, which lowers the rank of corn on the ingredient list despite it having high content in the food. Meat is also a complex ingredient as whole meats have a significant proportion of water weight, so the percentage of meat reduces after processing. On the other hand, meat meal may sound unappetizing, but it contains more meat than whole meats since there is no water weight in it.

Although the quality of the ingredients may not be indicated in the ingredient list, it does reveal the contents of the food, which is crucial for dogs with unique dietary requirements or sensitivities, as well as for pet owners who want to provide their dogs with specific fiber, protein, and carbohydrate sources.