While it is true every dog and every dog owner has particular preferences when it comes to food, choosing the best canned dog food is still not that straightforward given the numerous options.
Canned dog food has many advantages over dry food, such as being more palatable and having a texture that is as close to a dog's natural diet as possible. This dog food also has fewer preservatives as the canning process preserves it naturally.
And to help you choose the best quality canned food for your pooch, here we look at some top-rated options and explain what you need to look for when comparing different brands.
Cesar Gourmet Wet Dog Food takes the top overall spot as it comes in an assortment of delightful poultry flavors that will please any dog taste buds. What's more, the food uses real poultry as the first ingredient, which keeps it healthy and highly nutritious.
Dog owners will also love that the meals are well-balanced and complete with everything that your adult dog needs for a healthy life. The food has 9% protein, 4% fat and up to an impressive 82% moisture content to help make sure that the dog will not have any issues with the digestion.
This dog food is ideal for all breeds from small to large, and it will also be perfect for the sensitive stomachs as it does not contain any grains and hence no gluten.
As a bonus, it will come in convenient trays for easy serving and clear feeding directions to ensure you know just the right portion for your pet.
At first, the smell is not very pleasant, and some dogs will not like it, but as they eat the food more and more and find out just how delicious it is, they should get used to the smell.
Pros:
Wide variety of flavors in one package
Made with real meats
Easy to serve with trays
Does not contain any grains
Complete and well-balanced meal
Cons:
Not a very pleasant smell
2. Best Affordable: Purina Pro Plan Savor Adult Canned Wet Dog Food
Purina Pro Plan Savor Adult Canned Wet Dog Food
Lifestage: Adult | Breed Size: Small breeds, medium breeds, large breeds
For a 12-pack of 13-ounce cans, the Purina Pro Plan Savor is our best affordable canned dog food. To get the same quantity of similar or better quality food, you will need to spend way much more money.
This dog food uses real beef to ensure your pet gets the best quality protein. Also, the rice and all other ingredients are highly digestive to ensure maximum nutrient absorption. With 23 essential minerals and vitamins, this food will provide everything the dog needs for a healthy lifestyle. And it also includes prebiotics and probiotics to help support digestive health.
A plastic lid would have been nice to ensure any leftover food in the can is easy to store, but because this is canned food, it is not advisable to keep it long once it is open. And while the tin might look smaller, there is still contain 13 ounces of food inside as advertised.
Pros:
Relatively more affordable
High-quality protein source
Highly digesting ingredients
Contains 23 essential vitamins and minerals
Prebiotics and probiotics support digestive health
Cons:
No plastic lid for cans
Can looks smaller than expected
3. Best Brand: Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Natural Adult Wet Dog Food
Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Natural Adult Wet Dog Food
Lifestage: Adult | Breed Size: Small breed, large breed
Not Contain: Chicken/poultry by-products,corn, soy, wheat, artificial flavors to preservatives
Blue Buffalo is one of the best canned dog food brands in the market. But besides this particular food being from a top brand, it is highly nutritious with 8.5% protein and 6% fat. Also, it has 1.5% fiber to help with digestion and both minerals and vitamins for skin and coat care.
The ingredients used are wholesome to maximize the nutrient content, and this dog food does not contain any preservatives or artificial flavors, which makes it even healthier. You can feed your dog in three different ways, which are as a meal, treat, or when mixed with dry kibbles.
The pull tab on the cans seems to break a little too quickly, but if you have a can opener, you can still open them with no hassle.
Pros:
High-quality dog food from a leading brand
Allows for more feeding options
Made with fine quality and wholesome ingredients
Enhanced with minerals and vitamins
No preservative or artificial flavors
Cons:
Wanting pull tab quality
4. Best for Senior Dogs: Hill's Science Diet for Senior Dog
Hill's Science Diet For Senior Dog
Lifestage: Senior | Breed Size: Small breeds, medium breeds, large breeds
Senior dogs will require special attention when it comes to the formulation of food, but you can't go wrong with the Hill's Science Diet for Senior Dog . What makes it our best canned dog food for senior dogs is that it has easily digesting ingredients.
This food has the perfect balance of proteins, fats, and fiber with 2% of the latter to make it even easier to digest for the senior dogs. With the omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin E, this food will ensure the dog's skin and coat remain healthy as it ages.
The smell of this food will take the dog some time to get used to it, but given that the food is quite tasty, it will hardly even notice the smell.
Pros:
Ideal protein, fat and fiber content for older dogs
All the ingredients are easily digestible
Keeps the skin and coat healthy
Great tasting dog food
Cons:
Smell takes some getting used to
5. Best Tasting: Pedigree Chopped Ground Dinner Wet Dog Food
Pedigree Chopped Ground Dinner Wet Dog Food
Lifestage: Adult | Breed Size: Small breeds, medium breeds, large breeds
Many dogs are often highly sensitive to how the food tastes. So if you are looking for something tasty that even picky dogs will love, the Pedigree Chopped Ground Dinner is a good pick. With real beef as the number 1 ingredient, this is one of the tastiest dog food out there.
The real beef gives a high enough protein dose of 8%, which should be enough for most adult dogs regardless of the breed size. Better yet, this is a complete and balanced food with ingredients from all food groups and included minerals for skin and coat health.
This dog food is not grain-free as it contains brewer's rice. But, if your dog is not sensitive to grains, this should not be an issue for you.
Pros:
Tasty flavor from real beef
Contains everything the dog needs
Perfectly ground for more natural chewing
Helps give dogs healthy skin and coat
Suitable for all breed sizes
Cons:
Not grain-free
6. Best Grain-Free: Purina One SmartBlend True Instinct Adult Canned Wet Dog Food
Purina One SmartBlend True Instinct Adult Canned Wet Dog Food
Lifestage: Adult | Breed Size: All breed sizes
Flavor: Variety pack
Ingredients: Real turkey & venison/ Real chicken & duck, turkey broth/chicken broth, pork lungs, liver, …
Not Contain: Grains, poultry by-product, fillers, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives
For the dogs with sensitive stomachs or just allergic to gluten, the Purina One SmartBlend is the perfect food as it is completely grain-free. Also, this is a balanced food that will not include any poultry by-products or fillers as each of the ingredients has a specific purpose.
Because this dog food is enriched with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, it will be ideal for the overall well-being of the dog by supporting the digestive and immune system, while also living it with healthier skin and coat. And the nutrition is highly digestible to ensure the body absorbs most of it.
While there are complaints about some of the cans arriving dented, this is mostly because of bad shipping. It does not, in any way, affect the quality of the dog food.
Pros:
Gluten-free for sensitive animals
No poultry by-products
No fillers and each ingredient has a purpose
Enriched with minerals and vitamins
Highly digestible nutrition
Cons:
Some cans come dented
7. Best Complete and Balanced: Iams Proactive Health Wet Dog Food
Iams Proactive Health Wet Dog Food
Lifestage: Adult | Breed Size: Small breeds, medium breeds, large breeds
Flavor: Beef & rice
Ingredients: Beef, rice, carrots, green peas, flaxseed, meat by-products,…
The perfectly balanced and complete Iams Proactive Health not only contains a real meat protein but will also have everything the dog needs from carbohydrates to a healthy dose of vitamins and minerals.
There is a decent amount of omega-6 fatty acids on this dog food to ensure it will help keep the skin and coat healthy and soft. And because it is slow-cooked in a real broth, it will have an excellent flavor, and you can be sure your dogs will also love the texture.
Although this dog food is not grain-free, the manufacturer uses wholesome grains to provide a healthy dose of carbohydrates. Hence, if your dog does not have issues with gluten, this is an excellent food choice.
Pros:
Perfectly balanced and complete diet
Gives the dog healthy skin and a beautiful coat
Contains wholesome grains for healthy carbohydrates
Excellent flavor and texture
Cons:
Not gluten-free
Other Good Recommendations - Review
8. Wet Dog Food | Puppy | Small Breed, Medium Breed, Large Breed | Pedigree Puppy Ground Dinner
Pedigree Puppy Ground Dinner
Pedigree Puppy Ground Dinner is a fantastic all-round dog food that will ensure your puppies grow fast and healthy. It uses real chicken and beef to provide 9% protein content, and it is a complete and balanced food that will give the puppies everything they need.
This puppy food contains DHA to support healthy brain development and has optimal minerals for skin and coat health. What's more, it has a soft texture to make it easy for puppies to chew.
Key Features
Formulated with DHA to support brain development
Real chicken and real beef for a fantastic taste
100% complete and balanced dog food
Soft texture for comfortable chewing
Optimal mineral levels to promote healthy skin and coat
9. Wet Dog Food | Puppy | Toy Breed, Small Breed, Medium Breed, Large Breed | Taste of the Wild Real Meat
Taste Of The Wild Real Meat
Despite having been domesticated thousands of years ago, dogs will still crave a taste of the wild. With real duck as the first ingredient for this particular food, that is just what they get.
There is also a highly digestible prebiotic fiber on this food to help with digestion and lots of fruits and vegetables to provide much-needed antioxidants for a healthy lifestyle.
Key Features
Highly digestible prebiotic fiber
Real duck protein for lean and strong muscles
Antioxidants included for a healthy lifestyle
Trusted and sustainable ingredient sources
10. Wet Dog Food | Adult | Toy Breed, Small Breed, Large Breed | Blue Buffalo Wilderness
Blue Buffalo Wilderness
Good canned dog food should always give you more feeding options like the Blue Buffalo Wilderness that will allow you to serve it as a treat, mix it with dry feeds or feed it as a meal on its own.
With real turkey and chicken as the first ingredients, you can be sure of getting a high-quality protein source. And this will be an ideal food even for dogs sensitive to gluten as it is grain-free.
11. Wet Dog Food | Adult | Small Breed, Medium Breed, Large Breed | Weruva Wet Dog Food
Weruva Wet Dog Food
With the limited ingredients of this Weruva dog food , you will get not only one of the healthiest canned dog foods but also something that will be easily digestible for your adult dog. The ingredients are 100% complete and balanced, as they include minerals and vitamins.
For the gluten-sensitive dogs, this grain-free food will be perfect. And to make it even better, it will not include any artificial flavors or preservatives.
Key Features
Limited ingredients recipe for easy digestion
100% complete and balanced for a dog's overall health
Grain-free for the sensitive dogs
Free of artificial colors and preservatives
12. Wet Dog Food | Adult | Small Breed, Medium Breed, Large Breed | Nature's Recipe Easy to Digest
Nature's Recipe Easy To Digest
If you have a dog with food sensitivity issues, this Nature's Recipe product is the best canned dog food for you. And this is because it does not contain ingredients associated with food sensitivity like beef, wheat, or corn.
This dog food uses some high-quality real meats as the protein source to help the dogs built lean mass. Because it uses highly digestible barley and rice as the sources of carbohydrates, it will give the dog the energy it needs with no digestion issues.
Key Features
Natural ingredients with added vitamins and minerals
High-quality real meat protein
Highly digestible carbohydrates sources
Does not have any ingredients associated with food sensitivity
13. Wet Dog Food | Adult | Small Breed, Medium Breed, Large Breed | Wag Wet Canned Dog Food
Wag Wet Canned Dog Food
With real beef, chicken, and beef broth as the first ingredients, the Wag Wet Canned Dog Food is both a healthy and tasty dog food as it contains real animal protein. Better yet, it will not contain common additives and fillers like grains, corn, or soy.
You can serve this food on its own or by mixing it with dry kibbles, which means it will be easy to introduce it to your dog.
Key Features
Real beef, chicken and beef broth makes it tasty and healthy
Does not have any added grain
Can be mixed with kibbles for more serving options
Easy pull can tab for effortless opening
14. Wet Dog Food | All Life Stages | All Breed Sizes | Natural Balance Ultra-Premium
Natural Balance Ultra-Premium
Whether you have a pup or senior dog, small or large breed, this dog food by Nature Balance should work for you as it is nutritious enough for every dog. Besides the real meat protein, this is a uniquely balanced dog food with a blend of different minerals, vitamins, and nutrients.
There is relatively more fiber on this dog food when compared to others to ensure easy digestion for the pet. Also, your pet will maintain healthy and soft skin and coat when on this food as it has a good ratio of omega 6 and 3 fatty acids.
Key Features
Suitable for all breeds and life stages
Unique blend with all minerals, vitamins, and nutrients
2% fiber for healthy digestion
Omega 6 & 3 for healthy skin and coat
Zero artificial color or flavors
15. Wet Dog Food | All Life Stages | All Breed Sizes | Merrick Chunky Grain Free
Merrick Chunky Grain Free
Merrick Chunky Grain Free is another fantastic canned dog food that will work for any dog out there, as it is ideal for all breed sizes and life stages. Furthermore, it is also a grain-free food with no gluten to make it suitable for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
Another thing that makes this one of the best wet dog foods is that it is made with wholesome foods like sweet potatoes, peas, and blueberries to ensure the dog gets optimal nutrition.
Key Features
High levels of omega 3 & 6 for skin and coat care
Real whole foods provide optimal nutritional
Suitable for all breeds at any life stage
Meaty chunks are enjoyable to eat for dogs
Gluten-free for food-sensitive stomachs
How to Buy the Best Canned Dog Food
How To Buy The Best Canned Dog Food
1. Your Dog
As a dog owner, you should know your canine friend better than everybody else. Hence, it should be easy to tell what food will be best for it and also what the dog is allergic to or just does not like eating.
Using this information, you can pick the most nutritious and tastiest food for your furry friend. On the same breath, it will be essential to keep in mind that the ideal food for your dog also depends on several other things like their life stage and breed.
You need to know your breed well because certain kinds like retrievers, Dachshunds, and German shepherds often have food allergies.
2. Specific Meat Source
Good canned dog food should have a real meat source to ensure the pet gets the proteins that it needs. Remember that dogs are carnivorous animals, which means they are a natural meat eater, and so there should get the right amount of it in their diet.
The specific meat source matters a lot, and hence you need to check whether the food uses chicken, turkey, beef, bison, or any other common meat type. And make sure that your dog is not sensitive or even allergic to the meat source used.
Some foods will include specific body parts steak or drumsticks as their meat source, and others even have organs like chicken or turkey liver. These are still good protein sources provided they are indicated on the ingredients to ensure you know what you are buying.
3. Balanced Nutrition
As much as dogs are meat-eating animals, they will still need to get balanced nutrition to remain healthy. Hence, their food should include ingredients from different food groups like fats, vitamins, carbohydrates, and minerals.
Vegetables and fruits like carrots, peas, and blueberries will provide the vitamins and minerals that your dog needs, while brown rice is a healthy source of carbohydrates.
But to make sure the canned for is perfectly balanced, you need to check the percentage of each of these ingredients. For example, the Pedigree Chopped Ground Dinner includes 8% protein, 6% fat, 1% fiber, and 78% water, which ensures the dog gets a perfectly balanced meal.
4. Grain-free
Most dog breeds will not do well with grains due to the high dose of gluten. Grains will often lead to problems like indigestion. Hence, the healthiest canned dog foods will often be grain-free.
But, while grain-free food is preferable, some grains like quinoa, buckwheat, and amaranth are known to be beneficial to the digestive system and overall well-being of the dog. Therefore, canned food that includes them should still be okay.
Q&A
Is Canned Dog Food Good for Dogs?
A: Yes, canned food is good for dogs at all life stages, from puppies to seniors. This food contains some nutrients that you might not find in the dried kibbled and is also easier to chew thanks to the extra moisture. The excess water in canned dog food also hydrates the dog and helps with digestion.
Should I Feed My Dog Canned Food Every Day?
A: There is no problem feeding your dog canned food every day, but it is a good idea to rotate the food and make dry kibbles part of their diet to ensure you do not give the dog too much or fewer nutrients. Adding dry food also provides the dog with an opportunity to exercise their jaws and clean the teeth.
How Much Canned Food Should a Dog Eat Daily?
A: It depends on the dog breed and life stage. Puppies and smaller breeds will generally eat less food when compared to large breeds and adult dogs. The lifestyle and metabolism of the dog should also help you determine how much food they need.
But, around 3 ounces per 3-1/2 pound of weight is often enough per day. Dividing the food into two or three meals a day is an even better idea.
How Long Can You Keep Canned Dog Food Out?
A: Wet dog food can spoil in just a few hours, and so you should make sure you do not leave it out for more than 2 hours once the can is open. Any canned food on the dog's bowl should also be discarded within 4 hours if the temperature in the house is not below 50°F.
Is it Okay to Mix Wet and Dry Dog Food?
A: While it is still okay to mix dry and wet food, there is no need to do it as a better idea would be to give them to the dog at different times. And if you have to mix them, make sure you get the portions right so that the dog does not refuse to eat.
Buy on Etsy
Amazon Brand - Wag Wet Canned Dog Food 12.5/13.2 oz - Walmart Link
Purina ONE Grain Free, Natural Pate Wet Dog Food Variety Pack, SmartBlend True Instinct - - Walmart Link
Purina Beyond Grain Free, Natural, Adult Wet Dog Food Variety Pack (Packaging May Vary) - Walmart Link
Purina Pro Plan High Protein, Gravy Adult Wet Dog Food - (12) 13 oz. Cans - Walmart Link
Purina Pro Plan High Protein, Pate Adult Wet Dog Food (Packaging May Vary) - Walmart Link
PEDIGREE CHOICE CUTS IN GRAVY Adult Canned Wet Dog Food, Variety Packs - Walmart Link
Pedigree Homestyle Meals Adult Wet Dog Food, 13.2 oz Cans - Walmart Link
Canned dog food is perfect when you want something with a long shelf life that will also have a fantastic texture that your pet will enjoy. Now finding the best canned dog food for your pet is all about picking what works for you from our list above.
For those still finding it hard to pick, the Cesar Gourmet Wet Dog Food is our best overall canned dog food as it is a complete and balanced food that comes in an assortment of some fantastic poultry flavors.
However, the Hill's Science Diet 4968 is perfect if you are looking for something for your senior dogs, while the Purina Pro Plan Savor will give you a better value for your money as it is more affordable.
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