A coat that’s lost its shine?
Coats vary between breeds. If yours looks dull, the overall diet is one area worth considering.
A glossy coat alone cannot tell you everything about your dog’s health.
Everyday care, from the inside out
Healthy skin.
A well-nourished coat.
Protein, essential fats, vitamins and minerals all play a part. Start with a complete, balanced food that suits your dog.
Where to start ↓Explore the range →
Coat condition or a skin problem?
Itchy, sore or losing hair?
Persistent scratching, redness, bald patches or weeping skin need a vet’s attention. Changing food alone may not address the cause.
See the signs to check ↓Three building blocks to look for
Protein
Hair needs protein to grow and stay strong. Choose a clearly identified source your dog enjoys.
Essential fats
Omega-3 and omega-6 support normal skin and coat. The balance of the whole diet matters.
Vitamins & minerals
A complete food provides nutrients such as zinc and vitamin E as part of its formulation.
Explore a food that suits your dog
Fish-based recipes are one option. A healthy coat can also be supported by other complete, balanced foods. Explore our Grain Free Wet Dog Food for more wet feeding options.
Soft salmon wet food
Salmon & Sweet Potato: a complete grain-free wet food for adult dogs, with fish oil.
Explore salmon wet food →
Ocean Fish Cold Pressed
A complete dry option with ocean fish, sweet potato and fish oil.
Explore Ocean Fish →
Try a small sample
Discover the Ocean Fish & Sweet Potato texture with a 200g sample before choosing a full bag.
Try the Ocean Fish sample →Prefer wholegrains? Explore Salmon, White Fish & Brown Rice →
More advice, when you need it
Choose a topic, then open only the question you want answered.
Understand the changes you’re seeingDull coats, flaking, shedding, itching and redness.
A dull or lacklustre coat
A healthy coat will vary enormously between breeds, but it should generally look and feel normal for your individual dog.
If their coat has noticeably lost condition, nutrition is one of several areas worth considering.
Dry or flaky skin
Occasional dry skin can have relatively simple causes, but persistent flaking or irritation deserves closer attention.
Excessive shedding
All dogs shed to some degree, and some breeds shed dramatically at particular times of year.
A sudden change in shedding, bald patches or thinning fur is different and should be investigated
Itching or licking
Regular scratching, licking or chewing is not simply a cosmetic coat issue.
Allergies, parasites, infections and other skin conditions can all cause itching.
Red or irritated skin
Redness, soreness, unpleasant odours or weeping skin need veterinary attention rather than simply a change of food.
Nutrition for healthy skin & coatProtein, omega fats, zinc, vitamins and salmon oil.
How does everyday nutrition support the coat?
Your dog's coat is one of the first things you notice — but good coat condition starts beneath the surface.
Protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals all play a role in maintaining normal skin and a healthy coat. So if your dog's fur has become dry, dull or lacklustre, it can be worth looking at what is going into their bowl.
At Nature’s Harvest, several of our recipes combine clearly identified animal proteins with naturally occurring or added oils and carefully selected nutrients that help support everyday skin and coat health.
Skin and coat health isn't about one “magic” ingredient.
It depends on the dog's overall diet being nutritionally appropriate and providing the building blocks the body needs.
Good-quality protein
Hair needs protein to grow and stay strong. Nature’s Harvest uses clearly identified sources including salmon, white fish, ocean fish, chicken and lamb.
Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 fatty acids are an important part of the diet and contribute to normal body functions, including the maintenance of healthy skin. That’s why several Nature’s Harvest recipes include fish or salmon oil.
Omega-6 fatty acids
Omega-6 fatty acids also play an important role in maintaining normal skin and coat. The aim isn't simply to chase the highest possible number of one particular fat. Good nutrition is about the overall balance of the complete diet.
Zinc
Zinc is an essential trace mineral with a role in normal skin function. You'll see zinc included within the nutritional additives of several Nature’s Harvest complete foods.
Vitamins
A nutritionally complete food provides vitamins alongside the other nutrients your dog needs. Vitamin E, for example, is included in a number of our recipes as part of the overall nutritional formulation.
What about salmon oil?
Salmon oil is included in several Nature’s Harvest recipes.
It naturally provides omega fatty acids and is incorporated as one part of a nutritionally complete formulation.
Think of salmon oil as one useful ingredient within the whole diet, rather than something that can compensate for an otherwise unsuitable food.
Healthy skin and coat depend on the overall nutritional picture.
Choose between feeding optionsWet food, Cold Pressed and whether fish is essential.
I want a fish-based wet food
Made with 60% salmon, together with sweet potato, vegetables and selected herbs.
The recipe also includes fish oil, minerals and trace elements including zinc.
Why consider it?
• 60% salmon
• Clearly identified fish protein
• Contains fish oil
• Grain-free recipe
• Sweet potato
• Includes zinc within the nutritional formulation
• Complete wet food for adult dogs
I prefer dry food
For owners who prefer a dry food, our Cold Pressed Ocean Fish recipe provides another fish-based option.
It contains 49% dried ground ocean fish, sweet potato and fish oil.
Its declared nutritional analysis includes:
Omega-3: 0.97% · Omega-6: 2.85%
It also contains zinc, vitamin E and other vitamins and minerals as part of its complete nutritional formulation.
Why consider it?
• 49% ocean fish
• Contains fish oil
• Omega-3 and omega-6 declared on pack
• Grain-free recipe
• Sweet potato
• Complete cold pressed food
Does my dog need fish to have a healthy coat?
No.
A dog does not have to eat a fish-based food to maintain healthy skin and coat.
A complete, balanced diet should provide the essential nutrients your dog needs regardless of the main protein source.
Several of our other recipes also contain ingredients such as salmon oil alongside proteins including chicken and lamb.
Fish-based recipes are simply a particularly useful option for owners interested in incorporating fish and fish-derived oils into their dog's everyday diet.
Skin & coat mythsFive common assumptions, explained.
“A shiny coat means my dog is definitely healthy.”
Not necessarily.
Coat condition can provide useful clues, but it cannot tell you everything about your dog's health.
A dog can have an attractive coat and still have an unrelated medical problem.
“If my dog’s coat is dull, they need a supplement.”
Not automatically.
Before adding supplements, look at your dog's overall diet.
If they already eat a complete food, unnecessary supplementation may not provide additional benefit and can upset the nutritional balance.
“Grain-free food is better for the skin.”
Not necessarily.
Some dogs suit grain-free recipes and others thrive on foods containing grains such as brown rice.
The presence or absence of grain alone does not determine whether a diet supports normal skin and coat.
“If my dog is itchy, changing food will fix it.”
Not necessarily.
Itching can be caused by fleas, allergies, infections, parasites and a range of other conditions.
Persistent itching needs investigation rather than repeated food changes.
“Fish is the only protein that supports a healthy coat.”
No.
Dogs need an appropriately balanced diet containing sufficient protein, fats, vitamins and minerals.
Fish is one useful source of nutrients, not the only route to healthy skin and coat.
When should I speak to my vet?
Book an appointment if you notice something wrong with your dog’s skin. Signs that need attention include:
- persistent scratching
- frequent licking or chewing
- bald patches
- red or inflamed skin
- sores
- scabs
- strong or unusual skin odour
- weeping skin
- recurring ear problems
- sudden or significant hair loss
Skin problems can have many causes. Persistent itching needs investigation rather than repeated food changes. If you suspect a food-related reaction, read our Prone to Allergies guide. If your dog also has digestive sensitivity, our Sensitive Stomach guide explains what to consider.
Read PDSA’s guidance on skin problems →