The best wet dog food to nourish your pup in 2024, per veterinarians

We all adore our canine companions; they’re masters at sensing our emotions, greeting us with joyful tail wags, and showering us with affectionate kisses. In turn, we love to pamper our pooch with toys and spa days.

Despite our dogs’ inability to converse with us verbally, they communicate their needs in various ways. Expert guidance seemed like a good way to ensure we meet those needs, particularly in their diet.

Before recommending dog food, Carrie Mann, DVM of Hudson Veterinary Hospital, carefully considers numerous factors, including medical history and age. However, she firmly advocates for including “some grains” in their diet, stating, “there is no medical or nutritional benefit of feeding a ‘grain-free’ diet,” and emphasizes that the veterinary community has research to support this stance.

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If her clients are interested in trying a diet she hadn’t heard of, Dr. Mann would reach out on their behalf to speak with the brand’s board-certified veterinary nutritionist on staff. If the brand doesn’t have one, it’s a red flag. She recommends the tried and true Hill’s Science Diet, Royal Canin, and Purina because they work extensively with veterinary nutritionists and perform “extensive research.”

“Their goal is to find a diet that helps dogs live healthier and longer,” Dr. Mann said.

According to Dr. Mann, wet dog food presents numerous advantages, especially for sensitive chewers, as it offers a softer texture. Its heightened palatability often makes mealtime more enjoyable for our furry friends. Additionally, it caters to specific dietary requirements and can even aid in maintaining their hydration levels due to the moisture in their food.

Find the right product for your pup below and get the answers to your FAQ at the end.

Best for Puppies Overall: Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Wet Dog Food

“Dogs require similar nutrients as humans. It is important to have high-quality
protein and amino acids, fats and fatty acids, minerals, and certain vitamins,” Dr. Mann said.

Your puppy will eagerly lap up the delicious chicken and rice blend, specially formulated with ample protein to promote lean muscle development. The food is enhanced with DHA from fish oil to boost brain health and fortified with vitamins C and E to bolster its immune system. It comes in a pack of 12; each can is 12.5 ounces.

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Best Toy Dogs: Hill’s Science Diet Adult Small Mini Wet Dog Food

This savory beef and vegetable stew is packed with protein and grains, or you can order Hill’s chicken and vegetable flavor. It comes in a pack of 12, 3.5-ounce single-serve trays to ensure exact food portions for ways regulations. If you don’t want to give all of it at once, cover the tray and place it in the fridge. Your puppy will eagerly lap up the delicious chicken and rice blend, specially formulated with ample protein to promote lean muscle development.

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Best for Large Senior Dogs: Hill’s Science Diet Canned Dog Food

“Dogs that have conditions where they are more prone to dehydration, such as kidney disease, would benefit from wet food,” suggested Dr. Mann.

This product is crafted with a blend of nutritious brown rice, tender chicken, and wholesome veggies enveloped in savory gravy. Your furry friend won’t be able to resist licking their lips, and you might even find yourself tempted to sneak a taste (maybe). Each can is 12.8 ounces and comes in a pack of 12.

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Best Puppy Starter: Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition

For those newborns gradually transitioning from their mother’s milk, this gentle formula crafted from an ultra-soft mouse ensures an easy and enticing feeding experience. Each can contains 5.1 ounces and is available in a case of 24.

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Best for Sensitivities: Royal Canin Canine Care Nutrition Digestive Care Canned Dog Food

This formula carefully supports intestinal health and promotes firmer stools for dogs with sensitive digestive systems. It features the irresistible taste of chicken and pork meatloaf in a savory gravy, and each 13.5-ounce can come in a convenient case of 12.

“Any new diet should be transitioned slowly. I recommend transitioning over about one week. Every day feeding less of the old diet and more of the new diet. For example, on days one and two, feed ¼ new diet and ¾ old diet; on days three and four, feed ½ new diet and ½ old diet; on days five and six, feed ¾ new diet and ¼ old diet; and on day seven, feed only the new diet.”

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Best for Mature Small Dogs: Royal Canin Mature 8+ Canned Dog Food

As your dog ages, its dietary needs may change. Royal Canin incorporates antioxidants and vitamins into its formula to promote cellular health while maintaining its delicious taste. It’s conveniently packaged in 5.2-ounce cans and available in a case of 24.

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Best for Large Puppies: Purina Puppy Canned Dog Food

Larger puppies, with their big appetites, need nourishing meals. That’s why Purina offers 13-ounce cans of real lamb goodness in a convenient case of 12. Free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives, this food is packed with antioxidants and contains zero fillers, ensuring your dog builds a strong immune system.

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Best for Adult Dogs Overall: Purina True Instinct Variety Pack Canned Dog Food

Available in cases of six or twelve variety packs, this might be a good choice for picky eaters. Packed with nutrients, minerals, and vitamins, it ensures your dog receives the health benefits it needs with zero filler.

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Best for Mature Large Dogs: Purina 7+ Adult Wet Dog Food

Available in turkey & rice or chicken & rice, this pro plan provides all the essential proteins your pooch needs for strong, healthy bones. It comes in 13-ounce cans in a pack of 12.

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FAQ

To discover the optimal diet for our canine companions, we reached out to Dr. Hannah Hart a veterinarian at Chewy, who graciously shared her expertise on pet care.

What should pet parents look for when searching for a good dog food brand? 

A good place to start when searching for good dog and cat foods is with reputable brands such as Purina, Hill’s, Iams, Royal Canin, and Eukanuba (for dogs); these companies tend to put more funding into research for their diets and conduct extensive feeding trials to confirm that their diets are complete and nutritionally balanced for different life stages of pets. They also have veterinarians and nutritionists on staff to develop and verify the diets, so it’s easier to confirm quality and safety with diets from these companies. 

Each pet has unique needs when it comes to nutrition, so it’s important to consult with your veterinarian to determine the best food for your pet. 

What are the benefits of feeding wet dog food compared to dry dog food?

Wet food can be beneficial for dogs for a number of reasons. For dogs who tend not to drink a lot of water, wet foods can help provide more hydration in the diet. Wet food can also be good for dogs who need extra water in their diet even if they are drinking well, such as dogs with diarrhea, kidney disease, Cushing’s disease, diabetes, or urinary tract infections. Because wet foods are softer, they can also be ideal for dogs with dental disease, and they can be warmed up to improve aroma and make them more appetizing for picky eaters. 

How important is it to consider a dog’s age, size, and breed when selecting wet food?

Dogs of any age, size, and breed may do well on wet food. It may be a bit expensive to feed a larger dog wet food because the number of calories per equal volume is lower in wet food versus dry food, but if your dog prefers wet food over dry food, there are good options available for any life stage, size, and breed of dog. 

How can I tell if wet dog food is of high quality?

As discussed above, purchasing from reputable brands such as Purina, Hill’s, Iams, Royal Canin, and Eukanuba is an important first step in ensuring that the food you are buying is high quality. 

You will then want to look at the packaging for an AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) statement that will read something to the effect of ‘___________ is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog (or Cat) Food Nutrient Profiles for [Life Stage].’ The life stage can be things like ‘all life stages,’ ‘growth,’ ‘pregnancy and lactation,’ or ‘maintenance.’ 

Are there any specific dietary considerations for dogs with health conditions such as allergies, digestive issues, or weight management concerns?

There are a variety of wet foods available, especially the prescription wet foods, that can address concerns like allergies or digestive issues. Wet foods can be ideal for weight management because you can feed a lower number of calories for the same volume as dry food so that your dog continues to feel satisfied on fewer calories making the weight loss journey easier.

How can I determine the appropriate portion size of wet dog food for my dog?

It is best to work with your veterinarian to determine the appropriate number of daily calories your dog needs. They’ll review weight and body condition, health status, life stage, and breed to make the best decision. 

For example, if you have a dog who weighs 36 pounds and is at an ideal body weight, your dog may need about 800 calories per day. If he or she is eating a dry food that is 400 calories per cup, he or she would need two cups of food per day. If he or she were switched to solely wet food, a 13-ounce…can only be 300 calories or so, so he or she would need two two-thirds cans of wet food to make up the same number of daily calories. 

Can wet dog food be used as the sole source of nutrition, or should it be supplemented with other foods?

If the wet food is labeled with an AAFCO statement is determined to be ‘complete and balanced,’ it can be fed as the sole source of nutrition. Some wet foods may be intended for ‘intermittent or supplemental feeding only’ and, in those cases, should make up no more than 10 percent of the calories in their daily diet. 

Are there any misconceptions about wet dog food that you’d like to address?

One misconception is that wet food is more fattening than dry food, which we have already discussed is not the case because wet foods can be as nutritionally balanced as dry foods and in fact may help with weight loss and maintenance because of their lower calorie density per equal volume. 

Another misconception is that wet foods can cause diarrhea. Any food could potentially cause diarrhea if a dog is switched directly from one food to another or if that particular dog is sensitive to an ingredient in the diet, whether that is wet food or dry food. In fact, there are over-the-counter wet foods such as Hill’s Sensitive Stomach & Skin and Purina Sensitive Stomach & Skin that can help reduce diarrhea in certain dogs as well as prescription diets like Hill’s I/D and Purina EN that are specifically designed for reducing digestive upset. 

What role does water intake play in a dog’s diet when feeding wet food?

Otherwise, healthy dogs who drink enough water may not derive as much of a hydration benefit from feeding wet food as dogs who need higher water intake due to medical conditions or due to natural tendencies to drink less water. This is not to say that otherwise healthy dogs who drink well should not be fed wet food, but that the extra hydration benefit may not be as necessary in these dogs. 

It’s unlikely that they would become over-hydrated from eating wet food in the face of normal water intake. 

How can I transition my dog from dry to wet food or vice versa without upsetting its stomach?

The best way to transition from dry food to wet food is slowly over several days. One protocol might involve feeding 25 percent of the calories in each meal as the new wet food and 75 percent as the dry food for a couple of days, then 50 percent of the calories in each meal as wet food and 50 percent as dry food for the next couple of days, followed by 75 percent of the calories in each meal as wet food and 25 percent as dry food for the next couple of days. 

Only after then should your pet have exclusively wet food, but each dog is different, and you may need to work in 10 percent increments rather than 25 percent and/or feed each unique ratio of wet food to dry food for longer than a couple of days before moving on to the next step. It may also be helpful to add a probiotic such as Fortiflora or Proviable to the wet food when transitioning to help keep the digestive system in balance throughout the transition process. 

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Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post

This article was written by Emma Sutton-Williams, New York Post Commerce Reporter. Proud dog mom to a Mini Sheepadoodle named Lucy, Emma routinely tests top-rated pet products with her pup to find the best recommendations for fellow pet owners. In search of the best dog food brands, leashes, harnesses and more, Emma taps veterinarians and experts like Cesar Millan, better known as the “Dog Whisperer,” for pet health advice, FAQs and training secrets. In addition to her work at the Post, Emma’s byline has appeared in Rolling Stone, Oprah Daily, Parents, InStyle, StyleCaster and more. 

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