Finding the best skin and coat supplement for your furry four-legged friend can be a tough task since the market offers a long list of different options. That’s why we have put together a guide that goes over the ingredients the best skin and coat supplements for dogs should have, the impact some of them have on the environment and, finally, the pros and cons of what we consider the best skin and coat supplements for dogs.
Basic ingredients of the best skin and coat supplements for dogs
There are two key ingredients that the best skin and coat supplements for dogs should definitely have to be truly effective and beneficial for your pup.
1. Omega 3
Omega-3 represents a family of fatty acids that play a crucial role in your dog’s health. They must be obtained through food and, specially, from supplements. The two most important ones that have many benefits for dogs are DHA and EPA.
They reduce skin and joint inflammation while improving the skin and coat health of dogs, among other benefits.
2. Vitamin E
Vitamin E is essential for a dog's health. It acts as an antioxidant that helps defend the body against free radicals in the skin, and other cells. It is a key component that promotes healthy skin and coat, among other things such as a healthy immune system, muscles, heart, liver and nerve cell membranes.
The BIG problem with Omega-3
All kinds of supplements for dogs, such as multivitamins and, what brings us here today, skin and coat ones, use fish oil sourced omega-3. Although it has many benefits for the overall health and skin of dogs, it has a terrible impact on the environment.
The rising increase in fish oil demand directly contributes to a phenomenon that’s destroying our oceans and taking with it millions of marine species: overfishing.
Overfishing means that fish are being caught at a faster rate than stocks can replenish. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, one-third of the world's assessed fisheries are currently pushed beyond their biological limits.
Does this mean that you should deprive your dog from the benefits omega 3 has to offer? Absolutely not.
There is an option that has all the benefits fish oil provides, but is sustainably sourced: algae oil. It literally offers the same benefits as omega 3 sourced from fish oil. The only difference is that it doesn’t contribute to a phenomenon that’s destroying our planet.
But, how could they offer the same benefits?
Well, as a matter of fact, fish are not able to produce EPA and DHA, the two most important omega 3 fatty acids. So, they get it by eating algae, as this study confirms. This means that by consuming algae oil directly, you would only be skipping a step that merely contributes to overfishing.
What is more, since it can be produced in a controlled and purified environment, algae oil is free of toxins that can be present in fish oil.
Nevertheless, there are very few skin and coat supplements for dogs that offer this plant-based option.
Whether you are a vegan pet parent that is looking for a plant-based supplement for your dog or just a human concerned for the planet, skin and coat supplements that contain algae oil are the best option.
If you want to learn more about sustainable fish oil, click here.
Best skin and coat supplements for dogs
Now that we have gone through the key ingredients of skin and coat supplements for dogs and the environmental problem one of them faces, let’s dive into the best skin and coat supplements for dogs in the market.
1. Mokai Allergy Relief Omega-3
Pros:
- Algae oil sourced omega-3
- Has Vitamin E
- Contains super herbs and adaptogens that will cleanse your dog’s liver and kidneys, allowing their body to get rid of toxins that will make their skin and coat glow from the inside out.
- Prevents and controls skin allergies
- Also has other benefits: reduces joint pain, improves brain development and boosts the immune system.
- Contains Biotin and Zinc, which help promote a healthy skin and coat
- No-chicken Chick’n and peanut butter flavored (Plant based)
- Plastic free packaging
Cons:
- Safe use in pregnant or breastfeeding animals has not been tested yet
Main ingredients: algae oil sourced omega 3, DHA, EPA, flaxseeds, vitamin C, zinc, vitamin E, among others.
2. Finn Skin & Coat
Pros:
- Beef liver flavor
- Contains EPA, DHA and Vitamin E
- Plastic free packaging
Cons:
- Fish oil sourced omega 3
- It is specifically sourced from salmon oil, which can have side effects on dogs such as diarrhea, sleepiness and fishy odor breath
Main ingredients: salmon oil, EPA, DHA, vitamin E, zinc, ascorbic acid, among others.
3. Zesty Paws Omega Bites
Pros:
- Contain EPA, DHA and Vitamin E
- Chicken flavored (a common allergen)
Cons:
- Fish oil sourced omega 3
- Contain palm oil, which can be prejudicial for dogs’ health, in addition to being a major driver of deforestation and orangutan extinction
- Plastic packaging
Main ingredients: omega 3 fatty acids, fish oil, vitamin E, zinc, ascorbic acid, among others.
4. Vetri Science Derma Strength
Pros:
- Contains omega 3 fatty acids and vitamin E
- Accessible price
Cons:
- Salmon oil sourced omega 3
- Contains brewer’s dried yeast, which may cause stomach pain, among other risks
- Has preservatives such as sorbic acid
- Fishy smell
- Plastic packaging
Main ingredients: omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin E, linoleic acid, among others.
5. Natural Dog Company Skin & Coat
Pros:
- Contains omega 3 and vitamin E
- Accessible price
Cons:
- Fish oil sourced omega 3
- It is specifically sourced from salmon oil, which can have side effects on dogs such as diarrhea, sleepiness and fishy odor breath
- Contains palm fruit oil, which can be prejudicial for dogs’ health, in addition to being a major driver of deforestation and orangutan extinction
- Powder cellulose is one of the inactive ingredients, which some dogs can be allergic to
Main ingredients: salmon oil sourced omega 3, vitamin E, organic hemp seed powder, among others.
