Feed your hungry hound with the best dog foods. We've put together a comprehensive list of the seven best dog food options out there, with tasty treats to suit dogs of all shapes and sizes, along with some specialised options for dogs with health issues.
With so many options to choose from, it can be tough to nail down which is the right product for you and your canine companion. Even more annoyingly, the truth is that there is no single right answer. The best dog food for a dog with diabetes won't be right for one with a sensitive stomach, and vice versa. Don't fret, though – we're here to help, and we spoke to expert vet Dr Rebecca MacMillan to make sure you're getting the best advice possible.
Whatever choice you make, you should look for high-quality ingredients when picking a dog food product – you want to see real meat as a primary ingredient. Beyond that, consider if any health or allergy conditions your dog suffers from need a specific diet. We've got recommendations below for a range of needs.
The Quick List
Best for allergies
This delicious kibble is ideal for dogs with allergies (and rated best overall in our guide to the best dog foods for allergies), thanks to its limited protein sources and lack of grains. It's also packed with fish oils and flaxseed, which contain omega-3 and 6 to combat skin inflammation.
Best for senior dogs
This tasty wet food is designed to be easier for older dogs to eat and digest. It gives them all the nutrients and minerals they need to stay healthy, while also helping to keep them well hydrated.
Best for sensitive stomachs
A digestive care formula targeted for dogs with sensitive stomachs. Formulated by vets and animal nutritionists, this dry dog food is made with high-quality ingredients, with real chicken being first on the list.
Best diabetic dog food
This prescription dry dog food from Royal Canin is designed to help keep your dog's diabetes in check. It's high in protein and low in carbs, which helps manage their blood glucose levels while maintaining muscle mass – and is our top pick in our guide to the best diabetic dog food. You need a prescription to buy it, but with one, you can order it online.
Best for puppies
Help your puppy grow up big and strong with this specially designed, grain-free formula from Nulo. It's made with 85% animal protein to promote muscle growth, and it's packed with key nutrients usually found in their mother's milk.
Best for small breeds
Hill's Science Diet dry dog food has been specially formulated for small and toy dog breeds. It's made with real chicken and whole grain to provide an easily digestible source of protein and nutrients that's easy on your dog's stomach (and your wallet).
Best for large breeds
This wet dog food has everything a big dog needs to stay healthy and happy. It's with real chicken to provide protein, rice for energy, and a tasty gravy that they'll love. It's also packed with 23 essential vitamins and minerals to give them strong bones and joints, and a silky smooth coat.
The best dog foods we recommend
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Best dog food for allergies
To put Merrick Limited Ingredient through its paces, we enlisted the help of our tester, Sarah, and her canine companion, Duke. Duke suffers from mild digestive issues, but Sarah noted that this dog food helped keep his tummy settled while also helping her manage his weight.
Despite not usually being a huge fan of salmon foods, Duke “absolutely loved it”, according to Sarah. It's easy to see why, too, given the heavy focus on tasty ingredients and the lack of grain fillers.
Another of our expert vets, Dr Joanna Woodnutt, was also a fan of this food, noting that: "This range contains limited protein sources, reducing the chance of a food allergy. The inclusion of fish oils and flaxseed adds omega-3 and 6, which have anti-inflammatory properties in the skin.”
The only real downsides that Sarah noted during testing were in the packaging. If you buy the big 22lb bag, then it's very big and bulky, and the lack of any easy way to reseal the bag means that the fishy smell can waft its way into the rest of the room. We'd recommend transferring it into a resealable container to avoid this.
Best dog food for senior dogs
Older dogs can often benefit from a switch to wet foods, as they're softer on their teeth, can help with hydration, and are often better suited to their slower metabolisms.
Alongside being a wet food, Hill’s Science Diet Senior Adult 7+ ticks a lot of other boxes too. It's made with natural ingredients and key nutrients, and the recipe is specifically formulated to support older dogs' needs. This includes minerals that support good heart and kidney health, and plenty of protein to keep their muscles strong.
While we haven't done hands-on testing with this particular dog food, we have reviewed numerous other Hill's Science foods for both cats and dogs, and we've always been impressed with them. With a 4.6 out of five-star rating on Amazon from more than 3,300 reviews, it seems that you all share in that glowing assessment, too.
Best dog food for sensitive stomachs
If your pup has a fussy stomach, Blue Buffalo's Digestive Care is our top recommendation to help keep their tummy and gut health in top condition. It's made with made with real chicken as the primary ingredient, and doesn't contain any other poultry by-products like bone meal.
The rest of the ingredients list puts health and nutrition at the forefront, with an array of healthy garden vegetables to provide a fiber-rich diet that supports a healthy digestive system and should keep your pooch regular. On top of that, it contains what Blue Buffalo calls its "LifeSource Bits" – a blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that have been "carefully selected by veterinarians and animal nutritionists" to help support immune system health.
It contains calcium and phosphorus for strong bones, glucosamine for joint health, and omega-3 and 6 fatty acids to promote a beautiful, shiny coat. It even packs in cranberries to help prevent urinary tract infections. We were impressed by the detailed breakdown of the ingredients and nutrients that Blue Buffalo provides for all their pet foods on their website.
From there, you can see that Blue Buffalo isn't completely grain-free – you'll find whole grains like brown rice and oatmeal in there, but it's completely free of corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, and preservatives. It's not the cheapest dry dog food out there, but it's made with high-quality ingredients and designed for dogs suffering from digestive distress.
Best dog food for diabetic dogs
If you've got a diabetic dog and you aren't sure what food is right for them, Royal Canin's Glycobalance formula could be the answer. You can't just buy this at a supermarket, though – you'll need a prescription from your vet, so book an appointment if you're concerned that your dog is diabetic and isn't getting the nutritional help they need.
The ingredient list might not look very appetizing at first glance – chicken by-product meal is the main ingredient after all – but it's all for a good reason. Meal contains three times more protein than fresh chicken to help your dog retain muscle mass.
Likewise, the reduced levels of starch in the formula are designed to support healthy blood glucose levels. This ensures they stay fit, healthy, and able to enjoy an active lifestyle, which in turn helps control your dog's diabetes.
Like most specialised dog foods, Royal Canin Glycobalance isn't cheap when compared to supermarket brands, but you get what you pay for here – a nutritionally balanced food that's tailor-made to help manage your dog's health condition.
Best dog food for puppies
Puppies have different nutritional needs from adult dogs, so they need a food that's designed with them in mind. Nulo's Freestyle kibble features a high-protein, low-carb recipe with real turkey (or salmon) as the primary ingredient to help your canine build up strong muscles. It's also packed with essential minerals like calcium & phosphorus to help build strong bones.
It contains 22 key nutrients that are usually found in their mother’s milk, including omega-3 DHA to support brain & eye development, and probiotics to support healthy digestion. To top it all off, there are no artificial preservatives, flavors, or grain fillers, which is great for pets with allergies or sensitive stomachs.
Overall, Nulo Freestyle has a 4.5 out of five-star rating on Amazon from 612 reviews, with most pet owners praising the product, saying their dogs loved it. Some negative reviews noted allergic reactions and a smelly aftermath, so maybe try a small bag as a tester to start out.
Best dog food for small breeds
It's not the size of the dog that matters, it's the size of the food in their bowl. Hill's Science Diet Small & Mini Dry Dog Food is made with smaller dog breeds in mind, which includes smaller pieces of kibble that are easier for pint-sized pooches to eat.
The recipe includes chicken as the primary ingredient, alongside whole grains, including brown rice. It's also packed with vitamins and minerals to support your dog's health, including omega-6 and vitamin E to give them a shiny coat and healthy skin, and fish oil-derived DHA, which supports healthy brain and eye development.
There are different versions of this kibble depending on your dog's age, with one to six, seven to 10, and 11+ formulas out there, so make sure you get the right one for your dog. Also note that the inclusion of grains in the recipe does mean that it's not suitable for dogs with allergies or food sensitivities, though.
Best dog food for large breeds
Big dogs need big meals to help keep their hefty frames in working order, and that's where Purina's Pro Plan comes in. It's made using high-quality ingredients, with real chicken as the primary protein source, and rice serving as a highly digestible source of energy, all served up in a delicious gravy.
It includes 23 essential vitamins and minerals, including calcium and phosphorus to help promote strong bones, teeth, and joints – that last one is especially important in large breed dogs as their bulkier frames put a lot of stress on their joints. Finally, it's packed with omega-6 fatty acids to give them healthy skin and a silky soft coat.
As we mentioned, though, it does contain rice and other grains, including wheat gluten, which means it's not going to be suitable for dogs with allergies and other digestive issues.
How to choose the best dog food?
Before choosing the right dog food, there are several factors you need to consider. We spoke to expert vet Dr Rebecca MacMillan to find out more:
"First of all, there is not one perfect diet out there. Different foods may suit different dogs and their owners. You will have to select one that is not only suitable for your dog but meets your needs too, in terms of things like price and storage."
When it comes to wet food vs dry food, there is no right answer. Dr MacMillan explains that the pros of best wet dog foods are that it tends to be "more palatable and preferred by some dogs", but she also notes that it costs more than best dry dog foods on a per-meal basis.
"Wet food is less energy-dense than dry kibble, due to its high water content. This means a large dog fed solely on wet food could need several cans every day! Wet food can also be more of a pain to store in bulk, and some owners also don’t like the smell."
Foods with a high moisture content can also help prevent dehydration, and it's also much easier to eat, which is a bonus for dogs with dental issues.
While your affordability and convenience are important, Dr MacMillan is keen to stress that good quality food is essential to your pet’s health. In practice, this means ensuring that their food is specifically formulated for their life stage (puppy, adult, senior) and size.
"It should also have AAFCO approval, which you will see on the manufacturer’s label. This will give you confidence that the diet actually meets its nutritional claims," says Dr MacMillan.
Speaking of nutritional claims, you should always take a good look at the ingredients list to see what is in the food you're giving to your best friend. According to Dr MacMillan, a named meat source at or very near the top of that list is a good indicator of the diet’s quality.
“If your chosen food features its main protein source lower down the list with cheaper carbohydrates above it, then this could indicate a lower quality pet food."
Much like with you would be in a restaurant, be very suspicious of any protein source listed only as "meat" or "meat meal", as this indicates a low quality product.
If your dog suffers from allergies or stomach sensitivities, there are grain-free foods and other specialised recipes that can help alleviate the symptoms. Grain-free diets don’t necessarily mean better quality, though.
As Dr MacMillan points out, "Unless your pet has been diagnosed with an allergy through a proper dietary trial, there is no need for them to avoid grains."
Likewise, MacMillan warns that you should "beware of diets that feature ‘superfood’ ingredients. These can be a marketing gimmick, and some manufacturers often only feature their superfood in very tiny amounts, so scan that ingredients list to check".
Finally, Dr MacMillan cautions against raw feeding, too.
"Most health claims are only anecdotal, whereas the scientific evidence shows proven health risks, not only to dogs but to their owners too".
If you are Immunocompromised, you are at a greater risk of harmful bacteria, including E. coli and salmonella, if you handle raw pet food.
Read next: Dog food ingredients explained
Rebecca is a veterinary surgeon who graduated in 2009 from the Royal Veterinary College in London. She has a wealth of experience in first opinion small animal practice, having done a mixture of day-to-day routine work, on-call emergency duties and managerial roles over the years. Rebecca enjoys medicine in particular and she is proud to have recently achieved a BSAVA postgraduate certificate in small animal medicine (with commendation).
She writes on various feline and canine topics, including behavior, nutrition, and health. Outside of work and writing she enjoys walking her own dog, spending time with her young family and baking!
Edited by Georgia Guerin.
This feature was last updated in May 2025 by Ian Stokes.
