10 Best Wet Dog Foods

All dogs have one thing in common — they love food. That’s why so many begs for table scraps or push their dry kibble away. They want the good stuff.

But, raw diets and dehydrated foods can get costly, so what’s a good alternative with great value? Well, how about the best wet dog food to entice even the pickiest eaters? 

My top choice is Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Canned Dog Food. 

It includes high-quality proteins and is cooked low and slow to hold nutrients. It’s also a mono protein food — so it’s safe for dogs with allergies too. 

But, whether you have a puppy, large breed, or even a good boy with a sensitive tummy, we got you covered. Here are the top 10 best wet dog food options. 

Our Best Wet Dog Food

1. Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Canned Dog Food (Best for Adults)
2. Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Canned Dog Food (Best for Puppies)
3. Wellness Complete Health Senior Formula Canned Dog Food (Best for Seniors)
4. The Honest Kitchen Butcher Block Wet Dog Food (Best for Picky Eaters)
5. American Journey Grain-Free Canned Dog Food (Best Budget Food)
6. Stella & Chewy’s Wild Red Grain-Free Wet Dog Food (Best Premium Food)
7. Whole Earth Farms Grain-Free Small Breed Grain-Free Canned Dog Food (Best for Small Breeds)
8. Purina Pro Plan Specialized Adult Large Breed Canned Dog Food (Best for Large Breeds)
9. Natural Balance Original Ultra Whole Body Health Reduced Calorie Canned Dog Food (Best for Weight Loss)
10. Ziwi Peak Beef Recipe Canned Dog Food (Best for Sensitive Stomachs) 

10 Best Wet Dog Food Reviewed 

The recipes listed below follow the AAFCO nutrient profile guidelines. Before switching your dog to wet food, please consult with your veterinarian. If you’d like to see a dry matter basis for foods and compare them to dry formulas, this math formula makes it easier. 

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Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Canned Dog Food

• First 5 Ingredients: Beef, Beef Broth, Beef Liver, Carrots, Peas
• Guaranteed Analysis: (wet matter basis) 8.5% Crude Protein, 6% Crude Fat, 1.5% Crude Fiber, 78% Moisture
• Caloric Content: 398 kcal/cup
• Key Feature: Monoprotein wet dog food made without grains and corn 

Dogs love wet food. So most will gobble up whatever you get them. But, if you’re looking for an overall nutritious wet food to offer dogs of all sizes and breeds, Blue Buffalo Homestyle Adult is a great option. 

It starts with high-quality and tender chunks of beef and beef liver. These ingredients provide over 32% of Crude Protein (if measured on a dry matter basis) to support lean muscle mass. Beef also contains iron, vitamin A, and selenium, which keep your dog’s eyes and heart strong. 

Carrots, sweet potatoes, and brown rice are full of easy-to-digest carbohydrates. These keep your dog regular and provide nutrients like vitamin C for immune system support. 

This is pate-style dog food, so it’s all mixed and resembles a meatloaf. You can serve this on its own or use it as a food topper to entice your dog to eat their kibble. 

This formula doesn’t include any by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy. And, it’s free of artificial flavors and preservatives.

Pet parents think the beef recipe is the best Blue Buffalo Homestyle option. But they do say it smells, although that doesn’t seem to bother their pups! 

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Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Canned Dog Food

• First 5 Ingredients: Water, Chicken, Whole Grain Corn, Cracked Pearled Barley, Soybean Meal
• Guaranteed Analysis: (wet matter basis) 7.4% Crude Protein, 4% Crude Fat, 1.5% Crude Fiber, 78% Moisture
• Caloric Content: 482 kcal/can
• Key Feature: High-protein wet dog food with DHA for puppies

While puppies tend to be the least picky, they can still enjoy (and thrive on) wet dog food. But, it’s crucial to choose a formula specifically made for pups. Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Canned dog food is a great option. 

It starts with whole deboned chicken. This includes glucosamine, chondroitin, and taurine to strengthen your puppy’s muscles, joints, and heart. 

For a healthy source of DHA, they add pork liver and fish oil. DHA is significant for puppies since it helps build their mobility and cognitive function. With two sources, your little one will have plenty of support.  

This formula also includes whole-grain corn and cracked pearled barley. These provide prebiotic fiber for digestion and vitamins like selenium for metabolism support.  

It’s important to note that this canned dog food is recommended for puppies up to 1 year old. It’s not endorsed for adult dogs, mature adult dogs, obese, or obese-prone dogs.

Puppy parents love using this food for smaller pups that need to gain weight or muscle or who have sensitive tummies.  

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Wellness Complete Health Senior Formula Canned Dog Food

• First 5 Ingredients: Chicken Broth, Chicken, Whitefish, Chicken Liver, Ground Barley
• Guaranteed Analysis: (wet matter basis) 7% Crude Protein, 3% Crude Fat, 3% Crude Fiber, 78% Moisture
• Caloric Content: 326 kcal/can
• Key Feature: A low-fat and high-fiber dog food with glucosamine for senior dogs 

As your dog ages, he’ll need more vitamins and nutrients but fewer calories and fats to keep their slowing metabolism healthy. T

his is why senior-friendly dog food is essential. This may be easier with coated kibble, but it’s also possible with wet food! 

Wellness Complete Health wet food is packed with premium protein and vegetables, without the extra fat and calories. 

It starts with real chicken and whitefish. These offer glucosamine and omega fatty acids for healthy joints and help your dog keep their muscle mass. 

Ground barley and sweet potatoes offer easy-to-digest carbohydrates. And, they include beta-carotene for healthy eyes and chromium for healthy digestion. 

This is another pate-style wet dog food. This can be extremely helpful for senior dogs that find it hard to chew their food.

And, it’s also great if your older dog has become a picky eater. It’s also formulated by nutritionists and veterinarians who crafted it without chicken by-products or artificial preservatives.

Dog owners say that this is the best dog food for seniors that don’t have teeth. And, many recommend it if your older dog needs to lose a few pounds. 

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The Honest Kitchen Butcher Block Pate Wet Dog Food

• First 5 Ingredients: Turkey, Turkey Bone Broth, Turkey Liver, Duck, Sweet Potatoes
• Guaranteed Analysis: (wet matter basis) 8% Crude Protein, 5% Crude Fat, 1% Crude Fiber, 82% Moisture
• Caloric Content: 343 kcal/box
• Key Feature: GMO-free and grain-free dog food with chunky vegetables and meat for picky eaters

The Honest Kitchen is known for its raw and dehydrated foods. But did you know they made delicious canned options as well, with the same ingredients and philosophy?

Their Butcher Block Pate wet dog food is chef-inspired but made with your dog in mind. It starts with human-grade cage-free turkey and cage-free duck.

If your dog is sensitive to chicken but not other poultry, this would be a great alternative. And, these animal proteins also provide plenty of fat to entice even the pickiest of eaters. 

It also includes root veggies like sweet potatoes and carrots. These provide vitamins like calcium and potassium for stronger bones and teeth. 

The Honest Kitchen is proudly made in the US in a human-grade food facility. Their wet food is kettle-cooked in small batches for a hearty, smooth texture.

This formula doesn’t contain meat meals, fillers, artificial flavors, or artificial preservatives.

Pet parents say their picky dogs love the pate. And they like not having to rehydrate the food during mealtime like the other recipes from The Honest Kitchen. 

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American Journey Grain-Free Canned Dog Food

• First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Turkey, Chicken Liver, Potatoes
• Guaranteed Analysis: (wet matter basis) 9% Crude Protein, 6% Crude Fat, 1.5% Crude Fiber, 78% Moisture
• Caloric Content: 425 kcal/can
• Key Feature: Budget-friendly wet dog food with animal proteins as the first ingredient

Wet dog food can add up to be high value — especially if your dog needs a can or two per feeding. Instead of sacrificing quality, choose a wallet-friendly dog food that still focuses on your dog’s overall health.  

American Journey Grain-Free wet dog food starts with real deboned chicken. It’s followed by chicken bone broth and deboned turkey to provide high-quality protein — helping your dog maintain lean muscles. And they provide essential amino acids for joint health. 

Potatoes and flaxseed provide fiber and vitamins like vitamin C for immune system support. And fish oil is added for DHA and EPA for healthy brain function. 

This formula is loaf-style, so it’s less messy — perfect for feedings. It’s also crafted in the US. It’s free of poultry by-product meal, grains, corn, wheat, and soy.

And, this recipe doesn’t include any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. Each batch is packed in BPA non-intent cans for safety.

Pet owners love that this food is easy to feed their dogs. However, they admit that the odor is strong and can stink up the room during feeding time. Thankfully, it doesn’t make the dogs smelly too. 

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Stella & Chewy’s Wild Red Grain-Free Wet Dog Food

• First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Beef Broth, Pumpkin, Carrots
• Guaranteed Analysis: (wet matter basis) 7% Crude Protein, 2% Crude Fat, 2% Crude Fiber, 85% Moisture
• Caloric Content: 216 kcal/can
• Key Feature: Premium grain-free dog food made with “whole prey” ingredients

Looking for a premium brand and formula to spoil your dog? How about one that starts with raw foods? Stella & Chewy’s Wild Red Grain-Free dog food is the perfect option. 

It starts with shredded chicken and lamb. These ingredients are “whole prey” — they include the animals’ muscle meat, organ meat, and cartilage.

These ingredients start raw and are gently cooked during the canning process. So this is a great food to test out the benefits of wholesome ingredients if you plan on switching to raw in the future. 

Next up is pumpkin, which offers natural fiber to boost digestive health. And, sunflower oil and flaxseed oil provide omega-3s for joint support and healthy skin. 

This formula is free of artificial ingredients, fillers, preservatives, grains, and potatoes. It also doesn’t contain any peas, lentils, artificial colors, artificial flavors, or preservatives. 

Dog moms and dads enjoy that this food is made with US ingredients. And many say that they would even be willing to try it themselves. 

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Whole Earth Farms Grain-Free Small Breed Grain-Free Canned Dog Food

• First 5 Ingredients: Beef, Beef Liver, Beef Broth, Carrots, Apples
• Guaranteed Analysis: (wet matter basis) 8% Crude Protein, 4% Crude Fat, 2% Crude Fiber, 78% Moisture
• Caloric Content: 101 kcal/3 oz can
• Key Feature: Grain-free premium ground wet dog food made for small breeds

Your little furry friend needs plenty of nutrients, like omega fatty acids, for their joints. And they need about as much protein as their larger counterparts. But, they don’t need as many calories, so small breed dog food is specifically made for them. 

Whole Earth Farms Small Breed Grain-Free wet dog food is the perfect companion to your small dog. 

First, they start with real USA-raised beef. The beef includes essential nutrients like B vitamins for energy. And, it’s chicken-free, which is excellent for dogs with poultry allergies.

They also include field-grown sweet potatoes, carrots, and apples. These offer fiber, vitamin A for eye health, and calcium for strong teeth. 

This formula is grain-free and doesn’t include corn, soy, or wheat. It also doesn’t include fillers, animal by-products, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. 

This ground pate can be fed as a standalone meal or as a topper on your dog’s favorite kibble. And, because it’s soft, small senior dogs don’t have to worry about their sensitive teeth.

Owners of small breeds love the smaller can size since they don’t waste or store the food. 

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Purina Pro Plan Specialized Adult Large Breed Canned Dog Food

• First 5 Ingredients: Water, Chicken, Liver, Wheat Gluten, Rice
• Guaranteed Analysis: (wet matter basis) 9% Crude Protein, 2% Crude Fat, 1.5% Crude Fiber, 82% Moisture
• Caloric Content: 316 kcal/can
• Key Feature: High-protein dog food with omega fatty acids for strong bones and joints in large breeds

Large breeds need plenty of healthy fats and protein to keep their muscle mass and protect their joints. And, they also need more calories to keep up with their activities and energy levels. Because of this, wet foods aren’t usually the best choice since many are lower in calories. 

But, Purina Pro Plan Adult Large Breed wet dog food makes feeding your dog a different diet super easy. Each can includes 316 calories and a whopping 48% of Crude Protein (when measured as dry matter). 

Deboned chicken and chicken liver promote muscle conditioning. And, they also offer calcium and phosphorus to help keep your dog’s bones and teeth strong. 

This formula includes turkey too, which provides omega-6 fatty acids for itch-free healthy skin and a shiny coat. 

This dog food is for adult dogs over 50 pounds — perfect for large breeds. And, the cans are proudly manufactured at Purina-owned U.S. facilities. This recipe is free of artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.

Large dog owners love that their dogs gobble this food up. But many do mention that there’s a lot of gravy in the can, which can get messy. 

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Natural Balance Original Ultra Whole Body Health Reduced Calorie Canned Dog Food

• First 5 Ingredients: Chicken Broth, Chicken, Chicken Liver, Salmon, Brown Rice
• Guaranteed Analysis: (wet matter basis) 8% Crude Protein, 5% Crude Fat, 2% Crude Fiber, 78% Moisture
• Caloric Content: 405 kcal/can
• Key Feature: High-protein wet dog food with reduced calories for weight loss

Have you ever been on a diet? If so, you may think that reduced calories and fat also mean reduced flavor. And just like humans love tasty food, so do their dogs. But, if your pup needs to lose a little weight, “diet” can seem like a bland word. 

With Natural Balance Ultra Reduced Calorie wet food, that won’t be an issue. First, this recipe starts with high-quality chicken, salmon, and duck.

These create an optimal balance of premium proteins and essential nutrients like chondroitin for joint health. And, these are lean proteins — so your dog will get to keep their muscle mass without the extra fat. 

A unique ingredient — yucca schidigera extract — helps aid the gastrointestinal system and reduces odor. This can help boost your dog’s metabolism and lose even stubborn pounds. 

This formula is gluten-free. It doesn’t include any artificial colors or preservatives. 

Pet owners hate that the wet dog food is a jelly-like consistency. But, they say their dogs like it, so they’re willing to deal with the hassle of taking it out of the can. And, many also noted that this food gave their dog a regular poop schedule. 

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Ziwi Peak Beef Recipe Canned Dog Food

• First 5 Ingredients: Beef, Water, Beef Lung, Beef Kidney, Beef Tripe
• Guaranteed Analysis: (wet matter basis) 8% Crude Protein, 5.5% Crude Fat, 2% Crude Fiber, 78% Moisture
• Caloric Content: 419kcal/can
• Key Feature: GMO-free and chicken-free wet dog food for dogs with sensitive stomachs

Does your dog have a sensitive stomach or food allergies? If so, food made with whole ingredients that nourish their gut health is vital. 

Ziwi Peak mirrors a whole-prey, nutrient-dense diet to nourish your dog from the inside out. They start by using fresh beef — including the organs and bone. And, they include New Zealand green lipped mussels for a natural source of chondroitin and glucosamine. These promote extra mobility, too, keeping your dog limber. 

Dried kelp is rich in fiber, prebiotics, and antioxidants. This naturally improves the health of your dog’s gut. The fiber helps prevent constipation and ensures smooth digestion. And the antioxidants and prebiotics boost your dog’s immune system and gut function. 

To keep this formula as natural as possible, they don’t include TSPP, BPA, or carrageenan during the canning process. It’s grain-free and doesn’t include potatoes, soy, or other cheap fillers. 

All free-range meats and wild-caught fish are ethically and sustainably sourced. They don’t include added hormones, antibiotics, or growth promotants.

Pet parents love that their dogs can eat this food even if they have a sensitive stomach. And, many also say that the food is so tasty that their dogs run to their bowls during feeding time. 

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Buying Guide for Wet Dog Food

Were you looking to switch to wet dog food? Here’s what you need to know.

Wet Dog Food vs. Dry Dog Food

Wet food does have many pros. First, it’s easy to digest and offers plenty of hydration. This is especially helpful for dogs with sensitive stomachs and who don’t drink enough water.

And, because it’s closer to the natural state of ingredients than kibble, dogs are enticed to eat it. This can be helpful if you have a picky pup or dog with a low appetite. 

However, there are two downsides as well. For one, wet food doesn’t scrape off plaque and tartar. So it’s not as good for your dog’s teeth. If you switch to wet food, be sure to get your dog’s teeth cleaned regularly. 

Second, wet food can be of higher value. For budget-conscious dog owners, mixing wet food with dry food may be more economical. 

What to Consider When Buying Wet Food

What should you look for when buying wet dog food? Here are the main points. 

Meat as the First Ingredient

Dogs are omnivores. And just like their ancestors, they need high-quality meat to get their proteins, fats, and other essential vitamins.

So focus on real animal protein being the first ingredient. Chicken, fish, beef, and even meat meals are great options. 

Nutritious Vegetables

Again, your dog doesn’t just need meat to survive. They also need wholesome vegetables. These provide easy-to-digest carbohydrates and other vitamins and minerals too. 

While vegetables shouldn’t make up the bulk of your dog’s diet, they are essential. Focus on green and fibrous veggies and options like potatoes and carrots. 

No Fillers and Additives

Additives like artificial preservatives and colors don’t offer any additional benefits to your dog. And in worst-case scenarios, they can cause long-term health issues like cancer or heart problems.

The main fillers to avoid are artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. But you should also avoid meat by-products, wheat, soy, and corn when you can. 

How to Choose Wet Dog Food

Not sure how to choose the right wet food? Here’s what you need to know. 

Breed Size

Your dog’s size will determine how much food they need. And, based on their breed, they may need to avoid certain ingredients or types of food. So this is important to keep in mind. 

For example, breeds like Rottweilers tend to have hip and joint problems. Because of this, they may need more healthy fats than a smaller dog like a Yorkie. 

Life Stage

Your pup’s life stage is an essential factor as well. Puppies need more nutrients, vitamins, and fats than their adult counterparts.

And, as your dog ages, they’ll need fewer calories and more vitamins like glucosamine for their aging joints. 

Health Issues

Does your dog have heart problems? Joint issues or kidney problems? Need a low protein diet?

This will determine the formula you buy and how much you feed them. If your dog has any current health issues, please speak with your veterinarian before switching their food. 

Food Texture

Most dogs love the texture of wet food because it closely resembles meat. But, if your dog is extra picky, there are multiple types of canned food — including “meatloaf” and “with gravy” types. 

To ensure you don’t buy food that your dog won’t eat, try a can of food at a time. Then, when you know your dog likes it, you can grab more. 

Our Verdict

We all try to give our dogs the best. And wet food can be delicious and nutritious. But, it’s essential to choose an option that fits your dog’s needs. 

Of course, my favorite is Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Canned Dog Food. 

With plenty of protein and healthy fats and is great for almost all life stages. But, if you need a different option, there are plenty on this list. No matter your dog’s needs, they can enjoy some delicious canned pate or meats in gravy. 

FAQ

Want to know more about buying wet dog food? Here are a few common questions and their answers.