With the common myth of the non-shedding Doodles still floating around, it often comes as a surprise to new owners when they take their pet home and find that they do, in fact, drop hair. The simple truth is that everything with fur or hair sheds. That being said, Doodles, with the Poodle influence, do tend to do so far less than many other breeds even when their other parent is known to be a real hair dumper.
If you do end up with a shedding Doodle, though, you have cause to consider yourself lucky. It’s likely that despite this issue, their coat is much lower maintenance than the tangle-prone Poodle variety. Curly coats require daily attention to keep them in good condition. With others, you will likely only need to brush them a couple of times a week at most. However, if the thought of regularly cleaning hair from your furniture has still got you pulling your hair out – save your follicles some pain by investing in a high-quality anti-shed supplement such as the ones reviewed below.
Table of Contents
- Causes of Shedding in Dogs: Should You Be Worried?
- What Are Dog Shedding Supplements?
- Ingredients to Look Out For
- Best Supplements To Reduce Shedding: Reviews
- Other Ways to Reduce Hair Shedding
- Coat Shedding: Frequently Asked Questions:
Top 3 Anti-Shed Supplements For Your Dog
If you want a solution to super shed right now but don’t have time to carefully peruse the reviews, here are our top picks. However, if you’ve got a couple of minutes, you might check to make sure you get the very best product for your pet.
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Pick #1:
The Missing Link Skin & Coat Powder Dog Supplement. A unique and powerful blend of nutrients, including omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, dietary fiber vitamin E, and biotin, to soothe sensitive skin and encourage hair growth.
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Pick #2:
PetHonesty Salmon Skin Health Salmon Flavored Soft Chews Skin & Coat Supplement for Dogs. Crafted with real wild Alaskan Salmon Oil for healthy omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids, plus rich in DHA and EPA for a shiny coat, a healthy immune system, and reduced shedding.
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Pick #3:
Zesty Paws Omega Bites Chicken Flavored Soft Chews Skin & Coat Supplement for Dogs. Chewables containing omega-3 fatty acid (with EPA and DHA), vitamins C and E for skin health, and zinc, biotin, and cod liver fish oil to keep skin hydrated and protected.
Causes of Shedding in Dogs: Should You Be Worried?
While frustrating, shedding is a natural part of pet ownership unless you manage to track yourself down a rare, but not unheard of, hairless dog. In the absence of one of these, you’ll just have to make the best of it. That being said, while some shedding is definitely not a cause for concern, if you notice an uptick in your pet’s hair loss – and especially if you start to see bald patches – there could very well be something more sinister going on.
Regular reasons a dog sheds include:
- Changing seasons – pups with double coats cast off their winter layers in the spring and their summer ones in the fall.
- Warmer temperatures – as hair is a vital temperature regulating tool, increasing heat could also see coat loss occurring.
Less common reasons include:
- Skin parasites – constant scratching caused by the presence of fleas, for instance, could damage your pooch’s skin and hair.
- Stress at home – itching may indicate that your fur-baby isn’t feeling all that happy. This could also be a source of scratching that causes molt.
- Hormonal imbalances – conditions that affect hormone levels could have hair loss as a side effect. If you suspect this is the case, then get your pal on down to the vet.
What Are Dog Shedding Supplements?
Alongside a complete and nutritious diet, supplements can help provide a little extra something something to supercharge your pet’s coat and skin health. While not always explicitly marketed toward reducing shedding, products to look out for are the ones that promise to boost hydration. These typically contain a generous helping of ingredients such as coconut oil, flaxseed oil, and, most especially, fish oil. These all help with keeping moisture locked in and itchiness at bay.
Ingredients to Look Out For
While there is an assortment of supplements on the market promising many things, shedding products are likely to be far more effective if they contain one or more of the following in plentiful supply:
Omega 3
A useful fatty acid that can be further broken down into three types: eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA). EPA and DHA are particularly important for skin and coat health, and fish oil is the most potent source of both.
Biotin
A water-soluble B vitamin that dogs cannot create for themselves. Biotin, found once again in fish but also in nuts, seeds, meats, and veggies, improves skin hydration and smoothness while boosting shine and hair regeneration speeds.
Vitamin E
A fat-soluble vitamin that provides an excellent defense against oxidative damage. It’s also directly involved in developing both hair and skin. Vitamin E is found in eggs, fish, spinach as well as various plant-based oils.
Zinc
A mineral and antioxidant that has many roles within the body, including reducing skin inflammation and supporting speedy healing. Zinc also helps with keeping glands around hair follicles working well, producing the oil that helps protect both hair and skin. It’s found in many different meat products.
Best Supplements To Reduce Shedding: Reviews
Best For Patchy Pooches
With their NASC-certified, non-GMO formula, which is developed by veterinarians, The Missing Link’s Skin & Coat superfood supplement is perfect for pups of all shapes and sizes. Enriched with a powerful mix of ingredients that not only level up coat health but skin health too, this super powder is super easy to add to your pet’s food. They won’t even notice it there. Moreover, it helps with hair growth to quickly get rid of bald spots.
The Missing Link Skin & Coat Powder Dog Supplement
Customers’ reviews emphasize how much this “excellent skin and coat supplement” can drastically reduce itching in less than no time at all. This makes it great for shedding, plus it adds a soft, silky sheen to hair too. One pet parent even goes so far as to call it a “magical supplement” because of results seen not just with hair but with sensitive tummies too. On top of all that, reviewers love the affordable price.
Pros
The Missing Link’s powder does everything needed. It’s quick and easy to administer and doesn’t hurt the wallet.
Cons
Some dogs take a little longer to benefit from this supplement than others. Stick with it!
Best For Scratchy Scruffs
GMP compliant, made in the US with globally sourced ingredients, and containing no GMOs, wheat, corn, soy, or harsh preservatives, PetHonesty’s Salmon Soft Chews are nutritious right to the core. The real Alaskan salmon oil is rich in omega-3, omega-6, and even omega-9. It contains canine-healthy doses of DHA and EPA for beautifully soft skin and a glossy low-shed coat, among many other things. Furthermore, vitamins C and E help strengthen the body’s natural defenses against illness.
PetHonesty Salmon Skin Health Salmon Flavored Soft Chews Skin & Coat Supplement for Dogs
This much-loved brand is a hit with reviewers, with 97% saying they would recommend this product to a friend. Many of them note that these chews made a noticeable difference to the condition of their pet’s coat, giving it a fab shine. It even seems to be good for pups with allergies relieving itching as well as other symptoms. All-in-all it’s a great supplement for dealing with a lackluster coat and dehydrated skin.
Pros
Omega fatty acids (which this product is packed with) are excellent for their moisture-enriching properties. For hair and skin – yes, but their benefits go way beyond that.
Cons
Not every dog will be a fan of the fishy flavor of these soft chews. You might have to hide them away in their food or another treat.
Best For Discerning Doods
Featuring AlaskOmega, a premium fish oil with Omega 3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) as its primary ingredient. And with added nutrients and fats (like coconut and flaxseed) that support overall canine health, Zesty Paws Soft Chews are another great option for helping to reduce molt. These supplements are particularly good for senior dogs as they also help keep joints mobile and the immune system strong. Plus, they are designed to be especially tempting for pooches flavor-wise.
Zesty Paws Omega Bites Chicken Flavored Skin & Coat Soft Chews
Many customers are happy to find a fish oil supplement that doesn’t taste too fishy. Not only do their dogs chow down on them, but they seem genuinely happy about doing so. And the effects? One person says, “My vet was amazed at my dog’s fur and began recommending it to her other clients.” A ringing endorsement indeed – and by no means the only one. The review section is filled with pleased owners with shiny, happy pups.
Pros
Not only are Zesty Paws chewables absolutely brimming over with goodness, but the tantalizing chicken flavor makes them easy to administer.
Cons
You can’t please all of the pets all of the time. Some dogs inevitably turned up their noses, and their owners had to get a little creative.
Other Ways to Reduce Hair Shedding
Beyond adding supplements to your pup’s diet, there are a few other things you can do to help keep their hair loss manageable, including:
Feeding Your Dog Top-Quality Dog Food
Poor diet is the number one contributor to shed. It’s no use adding supplements into their daily routine that should be coming directly from their food. You don’t have to opt for the priciest option. Just find one with the right nutritional profile for your pet based on their age and life stage. Protein should be the number one ingredient with a good mix of fats, carbs, vitamins, and minerals thrown in.
See Also:
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Keeping Their Coat Clean and Well Groomed
Dirt and debris caught up in your pet’s coat can cause an awful lot of irritation. This can lead to the kind of scratching that pulls out healthy hair. Not only that, but curly Poodle coats tend towards knots and tangles, which have much the same effect. Frequent brushing can eliminate both issues. It can also remove loose and dead hair, collecting them all together so you can trash them rather than leave it to cover your belongings.
Washing Them Less Frequently
You may be keen to keep your four-legged friend well-washed to reduce issues such as that nasty wet dog smell. However, popping your poppet into the tub too frequently can wreak havoc with their hair. Basically, a canine’s coat contains natural oils which help protect it from drying out. If you wash these away, their hair will be far less healthy. Instead, make regular use of waterless shampoos and wipes to keep your pet fresh and feeling good.
See Also:
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Picking a More Suitable Shampoo (and Conditioner)
If you are washing your dog once a month or less and still seeing problems with their skin and hair, the issue might be the shampoo. While many dogs do well with most canine products, some do require extra hydrating ones. These are often marketed as reducing shed too. Just be sure to never use human shampoo on your pup (with the exception of more mild and pH-balanced baby formulas). People’s products are simply too harsh for a dog’s more delicate skin.
Best Shampoos and Conditioners for Doodles
Shed Control Shampoo
Coat Shedding: Frequently Asked Questions:
There are a number of factors that play into how much your pup is going to molt. Some dogs are just year-round shedders. However, this doesn’t tend to be the case with Doodles. Often you’ll find that these dogs might drop a little coat at the changing of the seasons and nothing more. That being said, if your ordinarily low-shedding hound suddenly starts to lose hair like mad, there could be a problem with their skin, diet, or any number of other things. In this situation, get them to the vet.
Numerous supplements are marketed to reduce the annoying issue of shedding for dogs. However, not all are made equal. You’ll need to carefully pick and choose from what’s out there and pay extra close attention to ingredients. Anything that mentions omega 3,6, biotin, vitamins A, E, and zinc are going to be good, especially if they come from a fish source. If in doubt, chat with your vet. They can likely give you some recommendations.
Many people purchase a Doodle for the low-shed factor, but this isn’t always a given. If your ‘hypoallergenic’ dog ends up being a bit more of a hair dropper than you bargained for, don’t despair! Certain changes you can make to their diet and routine should help lessen the issue considerably. One of these is introducing supplements that provide suitable nourishment for their skin and hair. These reduce problems such as dryness, flaking, and itchiness, all of which contribute to higher levels of hair loss. That’s why we have devised this list of excellent skin and coat supplements based on dog owner reviews. We hope it helps!
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