8 Best Dog Foods at PetSmart – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks
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Finding the right food for your dog can feel like a struggle. Sometimes, you’ll pick a brand your dog loves but have trouble finding a retailer that carries the food. You don’t want to get your dog the perfect food and then struggle to buy it again.
Finding the best food that’s nutritionally beneficial, affordable, and accessible shouldn’t be difficult. These reviews we’ve put together can help you make an informed decision about which brands and formulas will work best for your dog, and you can get all these products from your local PetSmart!
A Quick Comparison of Our Winners (2024)
| Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall
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Wellness Complete Health Dry Dog Food |
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Best Value
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Merrick Adult Dry Dog Food |
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Premium Choice
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Instinct Raw Boost |
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Check Price |
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Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Food |
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Nutro Ultra Adult Dry Dog Food |
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Check Price |
The 8 Best Dog Foods at PetSmart
1. Wellness Complete Health Dry Dog Food – Best Overall
| Main ingredients: | Deboned chicken, chicken meal, oatmeal, ground barley, peas |
| Protein content: | 24% |
| Fat content: | 12% |
| Calories: | 434 kcal/cup |
Wellness Complete Health Dry Dog Food is our best overall dog food at PetSmart. It is one of 13 recipes, so you’re more likely to find something that works for your dog. This recipe has no corn, wheat, or soy but includes grain. It uses high-quality ingredients and the bulk of the meat protein comes from chicken and chicken meals.
The product contains an estimated 52% carbohydrates, which means this recipe is better suited for more active dogs. It’s packed with nutrients that support a healthy heart and includes antioxidant-rich vegetables and fruit, promoting immune system activity and fighting allergies.
- High-quality ingredients
- Options for dogs of all sizes
- Several recipes for a variety of dietary needs
- Fairly high in carbohydrates
2. Merrick Grain Free Adult Dry Dog Food – Best Value
| Main ingredients: | Deboned chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, sweet potatoes, potatoes |
| Protein content: | 34% |
| Fat content: | 17% |
| Calories: | 388 kcal/cup |
Merrick Grain Free Adult Dry dog food is our choice for the best dog food at PetSmart for the money. It is available in several flavors that almost always combine lean protein with sweet potato, and it has a good amount of fat and high protein levels. It also includes glucosamine and chondroitin to maintain healthy joints and hips.
It is available in different bag sizes for your convenience, but if you are bulk buying, you’ll need an airtight container because the food can go bad quickly if it is sealed improperly.
The kibble comes in both grain and grain-free options. Regarding grain-free dog food, it is worthwhile to note that the FDA launched an investigation in 20181 into the link between grain-free diets and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). However, this study is underway, and they still don’t know enough about this link to make any solid conclusions. It is essential to keep in mind that a grain allergy or sensitivity is very rare in dogs. Ask your vet for advice if you’re ever unsure about your dog’s dietary needs.
- Affordable
- High-quality ingredients
- Available in a variety of bag sizes
- Requires proper storage
3. Instinct Raw Boost Kibble + Raw Food – Premium Choice
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, chicken meal, peas, chicken fat, tapioca |
| Protein content: | 37% |
| Fat content: | 20.5% |
| Calories: | 508 kcal/cup |
Our choice for the best premium dog food at PetSmart is Instinct Raw Boost Kibble + Raw Food. It includes standard high-protein kibble and freeze-dried raw bits. Not only does this recipe have freeze-dried muscle meat, but it also has nutritionally rich organ meat. The meat is freeze-dried before being added to the recipe, and because of how delicate the process is, the freeze-dried ingredients are considered superior to meat meals.
The inclusion of freeze-dried raw meat will cost you more, but as you can see, it is nutritionally beneficial.
- Raw diet without compromising convenience
- High-quality protein sources
- Kibble and freeze-dried bits
- Costly option
4. Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Food
| Main ingredients: | Chicken meal, whole grain wheat, cracked pearled barley, whole grain sorghum, whole grain corn |
| Protein content: | 25% |
| Fat content: | 15% |
| Calories: | 374 kcal/cup |
Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Food is best for puppies of all sizes up to 1 year old and is also suitable for pregnant or nursing dogs. The recipe has natural ingredients that are easily digested and of high quality. It includes natural DHA from its quality fish oil, which promotes brain and eye health and skeletal development, which is perfect for a growing pup!
The kibble is smaller than advertised and has a strong smell, which could be unappealing to fussier dogs. That isn’t to say the smell is off-putting, as some dogs would love it, but it’s worth noting before you buy since you also have to smell it.
- High-quality ingredients
- Specially formulated for puppies
- Suitable for pregnant and nursing dogs
- Small kibble size
- Strong smell
5. Nutro Ultra Adult Dry Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, chicken meal, whole grain sorghum, whole grain barley, whole grain oats |
| Protein content: | 24% |
| Fat content: | 15% |
| Calories: | 362 kcal/cup |
Nutro Ultra Adult Dry Dog Food provides a high-quality diet that caters to the nutritional needs of all breeds, whatever their size or age. This means you’re likely to find a recipe that works for your dog from Nutro’s dry and wet food options. There’s a balance of low-fat carbs like wholegrain brown rice and sorghum, which forms a tasty and digestible meal that’s gentle on tummies and digestive tracts.
There are no artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors, and Nutro avoids by-products, corn, wheat, and soy protein. There has been a recent change in the formula, which some owners have been unhappy with.
- High-quality ingredients
- Wide variety
- No hidden artificial chemicals
- A recent change in the formula
6. Solid Gold Sensitive Stomach Dry Food
| Main ingredients: | Salmon, ocean fish meal, chickpeas, lentils, peas |
| Protein content: | 26% |
| Fat content: | 15% |
| Calories: | 388 kcal/cup |
Solid Gold Sensitive Stomach Dry Food is one of the pricier options but, it provides an all-natural formula. They make various diets for different needs, including formulas for weight management and limited ingredients for sensitivities.
Solid Gold uses high-quality meat and vegetable ingredients and a blend of superfoods that make their recipes easily digestible and protect gut health. We’re not overly fond of the ingredient “natural flavor” because it isn’t entirely obvious what this means.
Nutro produces dry and wet food, and it has various flavors if you want to mix the wet and the dry.
- High-quality ingredients
- Options for various dietary needs
- Pricey
7. Wellness Core Original Dry Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Deboned turkey, turkey meal, chicken meal, peas, dried ground potatoes |
| Protein content: | 34% |
| Fat content: | 16% |
| Calories: | 417 kcal/cup |
Wellness CORE Original Dry Dog Food is high in protein and fat which maintains energy levels and muscle mass. It has special diets for sensitive tummies and produces treats and raw meals. Wellness CORE has options for different sizes of dogs. It is recommended by veterinarians and is developed without fillers, meat by-products, soy, corn, wheat gluten, artificial colors, preservatives, or flavors. It can be a little pricey, which might put it out of some pet parents’ budget.
- High-quality ingredients
- Variety of flavors and formulas
- Pricey
8. Whole Earth Farms Dry Dog Food
| Main ingredients: | Chicken, chicken meal, rice, barley, pork meal |
| Protein content: | 25% |
| Fat content: | 14% |
| Calories: | 372 kcal/cup |
Whole Earth Farms Dry Dog Food provides a quality recipe to keep your dog happy and healthy. It delivers antioxidants for a healthy immune system, which is essential for your dog’s overall health, and omega fatty acids for their skin and coat. The field-grown vegetables give your dog fiber for healthy digestion, and the recipe is packed with vitamins and minerals to deliver a balanced diet.
Some reviews have complained that this food lacks a “meaty” smell, which made their dogs a little disinterested in it.
- High-quality ingredients
- Packed with vitamins and minerals
- Lack of meaty smell
- Owned by Purina
Buyer’s Guide: How to Select the Best Dog Food at PetSmart
Figuring out which food is best for your dog comes down to a few factors, and we discuss them below.
Where Do You Start?
What does your dog need from its diet? Of course, something like cost is essential, but the most important factor when it comes to your pet is their health. Think about your dog’s diet as their foundation, which will support their health, well-being, and longevity. Investing in their health throughout their lives will improve their quality of life and save them money because you’ll be avoiding hefty vet bills in the future.
Does your dog have any dietary restrictions? If they have allergies or sensitivities, your choices are more limited, but it does also narrows down your search. Take the time to research brands and look at reviews to give you an idea of what works for other dogs and their pet parents.
Nutritional Profile
The nutritional needs of a dog may surprise you. There have been debates about whether dogs are omnivores or carnivores. It’s clear that dogs don’t get their nutrition from meat alone, but their primary protein source should be animal proteins, not plants. However, unlike cats, dogs can process plant material and benefit from complex carbohydrates.
Dogs gain nutrients from fruits and vegetables, and superfoods like kale and blueberries are always good to see in an ingredient list. Even wolves are known to munch on fruits and vegetables in the wild. Additionally, when it comes to carbohydrates, it’s best when they appear in moderation because too much can cause weight gain, especially if your dog isn’t especially active. Sweet potato, quinoa, and chickpeas are examples of high-quality carbs that provide fiber for digestion.
What Food Does for Your Dog
A dog is considered a puppy for the first 12 months of its life, and it goes through a lot of changes during this time, which means it needs a good diet to support all the changes. Puppy food has a higher concentration of calories which turns into bone growth and new muscle. Once your dog is out of the puppy stage, the extra calories could result in weight gain.
If your dog is a large breed may prefer buying large quantities, and you need a brand that stays fresh for a long time. Larger dogs are also more prone to joint problems, so you can look at diets that offer joint support.
Some brands produce food for special requirements, but for average canines, you should look for a company that uses high-quality ingredients, is affordable, accessible, tasty, and meets your dog’s specific needs. If you keep these things in mind, you can’t go wrong.
Final Verdict
Our pick for the best overall dog food at PetSmart is Wellness Complete, which is packed with vitamins and minerals. Merrick dog food is the best value because it offers affordability which every pet parent appreciates without compromising on quality. And lastly, we have our premium choice, Instinct Raw Boost, which gives your dog a taste of a raw diet and takes out all the hassle. Hopefully, our reviews have provided insight into selecting the perfect food for your favorite pup.
- See Also: 15 Most Popular Dog Food Brands (Update)
Featured Image Credit: Dmytro Zinkevych, Shutterstock
