10 Best Wet Dog Foods – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

Wet dog food can be an excellent option for picky eaters or dogs that need a little more moisture in their food. However, finding the perfect wet dog food can be confusing and overwhelming, given the many choices dog parents have to choose from. So, how do you choose? What do you need to look for?

In this guide, we have listed our top choices for wet dog food with reviews to understand better what to look for in a healthy wet canned dog food. We have also added a buyer’s guide at the end to help you even further so that you are armed with vital information before deciding on a product. Let us begin!

A Quick Glance at Our Winners (2024)

The 10 Best Wet Dog Foods

1. The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Wet Dog Food Subscription – Best Overall

The Farmer’s Dog offers a fresh approach to wet dog food. Whole muscle and organ meat comprise the bulk of the recipes formulated by board-certified veterinary nutritionists. All recipes are cooked at low temperatures in USDA kitchens according to USDA facility standards and are 100% complete and balanced to adhere to AAFCO’s nutritional standards.

This company caters the recipes to the short questionnaire you fill out about your dog. Based on your answers, you will be given an appropriate meal plan that may be a variety of four recipes: turkey, beef, chicken, or pork. Each recipe has its blend of fresh veggies, including carrots, cauliflower, potatoes, and sweet potatoes.

All recipes contain the necessary vitamins and minerals your dog needs daily, and your dog will receive fresh food. A downfall is that the plans are expensive, but they offer 50% off your first box, and the food is delivered right to your door without costly retail store markups. Given the human-grade, fresh ingredients and catered meal plans, The Farmer’s Dog is our pick for the best overall wet dog food.

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2. Purina ONE SmartBlend True Instinct – Budget Buy

Purina ONE SmartBlend True Instinct Tender Cuts is smothered in tasty gravy your doggie will surely love. It’s made with real beef and wild-caught salmon for an enticing flavor, and it is nutrient-dense. It contains no fillers, artificial flavors, or preservatives, and it’s veterinarian-recommended.

It does contain a high amount of protein and may not be suitable for dogs that need lower protein in their diet. It has no poultry by-products, and every ingredient serves a purpose.

This wet food comes in a 12 count of 13-ounce cans at a reasonable price, especially for wet food, which tends to be pricier. This formula may cause tummy upset in some dogs, though, along with excessive gas. However, with the reasonable price and nutrient-dense formula, this food is our pick for the best wet dog food for the money.

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3. Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight

Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Hearty Vegetable & Chicken Stew is perfect for dogs needing a little weight management. Hill’s Science Diet has been recommended by veterinarians for over 70 years and you can rest assured your dog will be consuming top-quality ingredients with every bite.

Each can contain 247 calories, and it’s low in fat at only 1.5%. Chicken broth and pork liver are the first two ingredients, followed by carrots and green peas. However, there are ongoing heart disease concerns with green peas, and we recommend checking with your veterinarian before switching to this food.

This lean recipe is 100% balanced with prebiotic fibers for smooth digestion, and it contains no artificial flavors or preservatives. It comes in a case of a dozen 12.5-ounce cans, but it is one of the pricier options on our list. We’ve also seen complaints of the cans arriving damaged or bent.

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4. Purina ONE +Plus Classic Ground Healthy Puppy – Best for Puppies

Purina ONE +Plus Classic Ground Healthy Puppy Lamb & Long Grain Rice is designed for puppies to promote whole-body health. This lamb and rice food is complete and balanced with the essential vitamins and minerals puppies need to start off on the right track for a healthy life. It includes long-grain rice as a natural source of carbohydrates, and it’s suitable for all breeds and sizes.

It contains no fillers, just vital ingredients to help your growing puppy stay healthy and strong. It has antioxidants to support immune health, and the high protein content (8%) promotes strong muscle health. This wet food is free of by-products and contains no artificial flavors or preservatives.  This food does have a pungent smell, and it caused diarrhea in some dogs according to several customers.

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5. Royal Canin Canine Care Nutrition Joint Care

For dog parents of large breeds, Royal Canin Canine Care Nutrition Joint Care may be an excellent option, especially if your large doggie needs joint care. This food supports cartilage and joints, which can decline as your dog ages. The soft, loaf texture is easy to chew, and the formula also supports weight management to help out with any bone and joint issues currently present.

This wet food pairs exceptionally well with Royal Canine Joint Care Dry Adult Dog Food, and if your dog is already eating the dry kibble, this wet food will provide an added bonus for bone and joint support with added taste.

The first ingredients are pork and chicken by-products, which may shy some dog parents away; however, by-products provide essential nutrients, but if you’re concerned, consult your veterinarian. This food is also a little pricey and comes in a case of a dozen 13.5-ounce cans.

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6. Cesar Classic Loaf

For those who need smaller portions and grain-free recipes, Cesar Classic Loaf may be a good option. This food comes in 3.5-ounce cans in a case of 36 at a great value. You’ll also receive a variety of recipes that include chicken, beef, or turkey, and all of them contain a savory sauce your dog will love.

These recipes contain essential vitamins and minerals, and all recipes contain meat as the first ingredient for high-quality protein. It comes in convenient little trays with sealed tops that are easy to peel away, and it is complete and balanced. A downfall is the sauce is more of a gel consistency, which may not be appetizing to some dogs.

Disclaimer: We recommend consulting your veterinarian before feeding grain-free, as the inclusion of grains is beneficial unless your dog has a grain allergy.

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7. Purina Beyond Ground Entrée Grain-Free

Purina Beyond Chicken, Carrot & Pea Recipe is another grain-free option in a chicken, carrot, and pea recipe. If your dog is not keen on chicken or has a chicken allergy, you can choose other flavors, such as salmon and sweet potato, beef potato and green beans, or turkey and sweet potato.

All recipes are crafted in US facilities, and the chicken recipe is made from cage-free real chicken raised without hormones or antibiotics. It’s packed with natural ingredients and offers high protein for strong muscles. Every natural ingredient is purposeful, and all ingredients can be traced back to trusted sources in the United States. A downside is the formulas may not agree with every dog and may cause excessive gas and diarrhea.

Disclaimer: We recommend consulting your veterinarian before feeding grain-free, as the inclusion of grains is beneficial unless your dog has a grain allergy.

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8. Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Chicken Dinner

Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Chicken Dinner comes in a 12 count of 12.5-ounce cans. It’s made with natural ingredients, with high-quality, tender chunks of protein-rich chicken. The recipe includes chicken liver, carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, brown rice, barley, and oatmeal. This recipe also includes essential fruits, such as blueberries and cranberries for antioxidants.

You can serve this wet food as a special treat or as a complete meal. It’s also free from by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, or preservatives for dog parents who prefer all-natural ingredients for their dogs. This formula also supports healthy skin, coat, and immune health and contains vitamins and minerals. However, some consumers state the formula is too runny and watery, and the food may be mushy.

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9. Iams ProActive Health Classic Ground

Iams ProActive Health Classic Ground with Chicken & Whole Grain Rice includes real chicken as the first ingredient, and it contains no fillers. It provides omega-6s for healthy skin and coat, and it’s 100% complete and balanced. The natural ingredients are slow-cooked in broth for a burst of flavor, and you can serve this alone or mix it with your dog’s dry kibble.

It contains brown rice, flaxseed, oatmeal, and meat by-products combined with the vitamins and minerals your dog needs. This food has more of a ground texture rather than pâté style, resulting in less moisture, and some customers said their dogs turned their noses up at the food.

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10. Pedigree Choice Cuts in Gravy with Beef

Our last pick is the Pedigree Choice Cuts in Gravy with Beef. Complete and balanced, this wet food offers complete nutrition and is highly digestible. It features real meat in gravy for a tasty treat, and it contains plenty of oils and minerals for healthy skin and coat. It’s suitable for all life stages and is made in the US.

It does contain wheat and will not be suitable for doggies with wheat or gluten allergies. A downfall is that this food may cause watery stool in some dogs, and it may be filled more with liquid than having a meaty consistency. This food comes in a 12 count of 13.2-ounce cans.

Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Wet Dog Food

Choosing a wet dog food can be overwhelming, as there are many options available on the market today, with new brands coming out constantly. That said, how do you choose the best option for your doggie? Let’s break it all down and look at specifics to help you further.

Differences Between Wet Canned Food and Dry Kibble

Keep in mind that both dry and wet food can provide nutritionally-balanced diets, but there are some differences:

Wet Food

Wet food is typically more expensive than dry kibble. It also has a higher moisture content, which is excellent for doggies that need a little more hydration, such as dogs with kidney or urinary diseases. Wet food is more appealing and easier to chew than dry kibble, which makes the consistency an excellent option for dogs with dental issues. Wet food may also make your dog feel fuller as opposed to eating dry kibble.

Wet food often contains more protein than kibble with fewer carbs. It generally has no artificial flavors or preservatives, and the cans are airtight for freshness.

Dry Kibble

Dry kibble is often cheaper in price compared to wet canned food, and dry kibble is more convenient to serve, allowing for more portion control. Dry kibble also keeps longer and doesn’t spoil, allowing you to free-feed. It also works well used as treats or for stuffing into puzzles and games. Dry kibble also lasts longer, whereas wet canned food needs to be refrigerated after opening.

Some believe dry food is better for dental hygiene due to its crunchy texture; however, much debate surrounds this topic about whether dry kibble is better for keeping plaque and tartar at a minimum.

Ingredients

The ingredients in wet food are extremely important and knowing how to read the label will help you choose a wet dog food suitable for your particular pooch.

The first ingredient should be quality meat, such as chicken, beef, turkey, or lamb—this is the main protein source in the food. Healthy veggies and fruits should follow, such as carrots, green beans, sweet potatoes, blueberries, and cranberries, to name a few. Omega fats should also be present as they play an important role in immune health and healthy skin and coats.

Manufacturers are required to list the ingredients on the labels in order of weight, meaning the first few ingredients listed will have the higher quantity—if meat is listed first, the food has more of that ingredient than the others, and so on.

Ensure the wet food has no added artificial flavoring or preservatives, and if your dog has a food allergy, such as an allergy to gluten, ensure the food does not contain those ingredients.

By-Products

Quite a few wet canned foods are made with by-products, and some people feel by-products are bad ingredients that can harm your dog. In reality, by-products contain mainly meat organs and entrails that offer vital nutrients for your dog.

People often think of by-products as leftover hooves, hair, horns, and teeth from the slaughtering process, but this is not the case. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) regulates the slaughtering process and does not allow these types of materials into pet food during processing. Rather, by-products are non-rendered clean parts of the animal such as the spleen, liver, brain, kidneys, blood, bone, and lungs.

Some pet food manufacturers work around listing “by-products.” Instead, they will list that the food has “chicken liver,” which provides many nutrients—it’s still liver, which would be considered a “by-product.” In short, do not shy away from dog foods that include by-products, as these are not harmful to your dog and can provide terrific nutrients. When in doubt, you can always consult your veterinarian for advice.

Mixing Wet Canned Food With Dry Kibble

Combining wet food with dry kibble can be beneficial. As we’ve mentioned, wet canned food is often more expensive than dry kibble and doesn’t store nearly as well. That said, you can mix a bit of wet food in with dry kibble for an added burst of flavor.

Combining wet food with dry kibble adds moisture to your dog’s meal, providing him with more hydration during mealtime—this can also help if you have a picky eater—the wet food will give a different flavor and texture that may entice your dog to eat. However, consult your veterinarian before mixing the two to ensure you have an appropriate ratio for a complete and balanced meal.

Conclusion

We hope our reviews have helped you make an informed and healthy decision for your pooch.

For our best overall choice, The Farmer’s Dog provides fresh, human-grade ingredients for optimal nutrition. For the best value, Purina One Smartblend is high in protein and nutrient-dense. For a more premium choice, Hill’s Science Diet Perfect Weight offers excellent weight control while providing a tasty meal. For puppies, Purina One +Plus is complete and balanced with essential vitamins and minerals, and finally, Royal Canin Joint Care is excellent for bone and joint support in large breeds.

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Featured Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock