Best wet dog food: Tasty and healthy options for your canine

If you’re on the hunt for the best wet dog food, you’re in the right place. We looked through endless options to find a good fit, no matter the dog you're buying for. We were particularly interested in how each option was formulated, the type of ingredients, and the age range it was suitable for.

You may have heard the argument that dry dog food is best, but the good news is that there is really no right or wrong answer. The best diet for your pooch will depend on them and their unique character traits.

That's not to say the best dry dog food, doesn't have a lot to offer. It’s not as messy and is easier to clean than wet dog food. It can be easier to portion out to prevent overfeeding. However, wet food has a lot of advantages too.

Packed with at least 70% moisture, it’s a great option for pooches who don’t drink enough water. It’s also easier on teeth and can be easier for dogs with dental problems or who have difficulty chewing.

In this guide, we go over eight great options of wet food (although we think the Hill’s Science Diet Wet Dog Food is the best pick), with expert advice from vet, Dr Rebecca MacMillan, on how to choose the right wet food for your pooch.

The quick list

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The best wet dog food we recommend

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The best overall wet dog food

Combining high-quality natural ingredients – like chicken, brown rice, and a mix of vegetables smothered in gravy – with an infusion of protein and vitamin E to support healthy skin and a shiny coat, this food guarantees great taste and nutrition. It contains moderate levels of sodium and phosphorus help support your dog’s kidney and heart health.

This recipe also offers versatility – you can serve it alongside dry food to add variety to your dog’s meals. With only 305 calories per can, you can feel confident your dog isn’t overindulging, helping to reduce the risk of obesity.

We can't see any downsides to trying this out. With numerous flavors to choose from (including beef and chicken variations), this food will supply your dog with everything they need from a nutritional standpoint.

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Best budget wet dog food

If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly approach towards feeding your dog, then Pedigree could be the way to go.

But being cheap shouldn’t be the sole factor when it comes to feeding your pet – after all, at what price should their health and happiness come?

Thankfully, you don’t need to worry about this when it comes to Pedigree. Filled with great meaty flavors and a decent proportion of protein combined with a low rate of fat, all your dog’s dietary needs will be fulfilled.

The real beef will appeal to every dog, providing them with the substance they need, with the oils and minerals present allowing for healthy skin and coat.

Our one real quibble is the portion sizes. The feeding guide suggests that you should offer three portions daily for every 10lb of dog, meaning this might be more ideal for small dog breeds, otherwise, you’ll find yourself working through it pretty quickly.

So, for those of you with smaller breeds, the Pedigree pouches could represent a great value option, saving you having to gradually work your way through tins, and making it easier to keep track of feeds.

Best wet dog food for puppies

If you're taking a puppy home for the first time, you'll want to ensure that you've got quality food to support their growing bodies. That's where Blue Buffalo comes in.

This option has been formulated specifically for puppies up to 12 months. It is packed with whole grains, fruits, and vegetables to give puppies a complete and balanced meal in each serving. The Homestyle Recipe is designed to boost cognitive development and support healthy muscle growth.

The other great thing about this option is that it can either be served on its own, combined with dry food, or as a treat in between meals.

The Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe is also free from chicken by-products, corn, wheat, and soy. So if you have a pup with a sensitive stomach or skin allergies, this is a great pick for them.

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Best wet dog food for small dogs

Specially created with adult toy dog breeds in mind, this pack of mouth-watering dishes contains meaty chunks and natural ingredients with a hint of a savory sauce. As such, they are packed with flavor and texture, but since the chunks are deliberately bite-sized, they are very easy for small mouths to chew.

This pack comes with 30 cans in three different flavors: real salmon, farm-raised beef, and chicken. The meat is mixed in with tomatoes, carrots, and rice that can be clearly seen, ensuring it all feels very natural as you'd expect from a premium product.

With no artificial colors, preservatives, or flavors, the meals are also high in protein, so they will help to support your pooch's muscles. They are also packed with 23 essential vitamins and minerals. If you're after a healthy choice, you can't go too far wrong.

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Best wet dog food for dogs with sensitive stomachs

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If you’re looking for a delicious grain-free dog food that’s rich in nutrients and full of flavor, then look no further than these mouth-wateringly moist dishes from Nutro, made with non-GMO ingredients.

Featuring only the finest cuts of real beef, lamb, chicken, or turkey, these easy-peel trays offer tons of variety and come packed full of vegetables. Made with Nutro’s clean eating philosophy in mind, there are zero chicken by-products, artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors, and all the dishes are free from corn, wheat, and soy.

High in protein and with plenty of vitamins and minerals, you’ll find the ingredient list has everything your doggy needs to thrive and none of what they don’t. While it may not be the cheapest multi-pack on the market, the quality makes it well worth the extra money.

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Best wet dog food for seniors

It’s an unfortunate fact of life that at some point, your dog will start aging. As a result of this, your standard everyday dog food might not be what they need.

Luckily, Royal Canin are about. Famous for a number of products that are geared towards pets with digestive disorders, here they have formulated a type of wet dog food that should assist and support senior dogs.

Since it’s aimed primarily at dogs whose issues mean they have a hard time digesting fat, the fat content of this product is accordingly low. To make up for the reduced fat, fiber, and moisture levels are made in line with this, so your dog will always get the nutrition they need.

Additionally, the presence of highly digestible proteins and prebiotics helps support digestive health and good gut bacteria, while antioxidants that are present ensure a healthy immune system. In this process, this food also prevents the formation of crystals in the bladder, making passing urine easier.

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Best wet dog food for picky eaters

One of the more popular brands for small dogs, Cesar has endured through the rise and fall of other brands thanks to combining its ‘gourmet’ brand with a relatively low price tag. Dog owners can rest assured that they’re buying a reliable and high-quality product without breaking the bank.

This multipack, containing recipes for prime rib, New York strip, and filet mignon, plays to Cesar’s strengths. As usual, these are real meats, combined with a variety of minerals and vitamins. The different flavors keep dogs interested and on their toes, while the peel-away trays ensure that they retain their freshness before being eaten.

Due to the portion sizes, this isn’t the best option for medium-sized or large breed dogs, and some of the recipes might not necessarily represent the best source of protein (we’re thinking specifically of the pork-flavored options here). Then again, considering the image of the dog on the packaging, we doubt it’s the kind of thing you’d go for if you’ve got a Doberman Pinscher or a Labrador anyway.

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Best grain free wet dog food

Purina has long promoted itself for producing foods that are sources of real meat.

This particular brand is made from real turkey and venison, in addition to four types of antioxidants aimed at supporting the immune system, with no artificial colors or preservatives included.

It may seem like a lot has been packed in, but dogs won’t have any problems stomaching it. With such a high concentration of meat products, the level of moisture is correspondingly high as a result, polling in at 78%.

Our only real concern with this is the relatively high calorie count – at 1,251 per kg, it’s a fair amount higher than the other products reviewed here. All this means is that servings at meal time might need to be smaller as a result, but that’s a minor issue in the grand scheme of things.

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How to choose the best wet dog food?

The best wet dog food option is going to be one that is appropriate for your dog's current stage in life.

Do you have a puppy, an adult, or a senior dog? Dr Rebecca MacMillan says, "A good quality wet food will feature a named protein source at the top of its list of ingredients. You should also check that the diet is complete and whether feeding solely this will give your pet all the nutrients that they need."

She also recommends choosing a brand that has had a veterinary nutritionist help formulate the diet.

Here are a few other factors to consider when it comes to choosing what wet dog food to give to your dog.

• Should you even buy wet dog food? Dry food might be more ideal from a practical standpoint, but it’s not all about you.
• What can you afford? We’d all like the best for our pet, but don’t bankrupt yourself in the process.
• What size is your dog? Certain types of food are geared towards dogs of a particular size, so choose accordingly.
• Is the food healthy? Make you choose something that balances all of your dog’s nutritional needs.
• Does your dog have any health issues? If they do, then you might need to choose a particular kind of food that helps with their ailments. Always consult a vet before making a concrete decision on this.
• More importantly, do they like it? Some pets are picky. If they turn their noses up at it, or display odd behavior after eating, then it may be worth choosing something else. Maybe take a look at our round-up of dry dog food instead?

Who is wet dog food best for?

Dr MacMillan says, "Wet food-only diets tend to be better suited to small breeds and young puppies. Wet food might also be helpful in the short term for animals that are recovering from dental surgery or for dogs that are unwell and need something highly palatable to get them eating again."

Large dog breeds may need to eat several cans of wet dog food a day, which can get pretty expensive.

Read next: When to start feeding puppies wet food and our pick of the best puppy food

Expert advice from

Expert advice from

Dr. Rebecca MacMillan BVetMed BSAVA PGCertSAM MRCVS

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 and Megan Milstead.