Best Dog Food with Vitamins and Minerals: Complete Nutrition for Dogs

As dog owners, we all want to give our dogs the best care and nutrition that we can afford.

The good news is that there are so many commercially available dog food products on the market that have all the nutrients that dogs need according to their life stage, breed size, and even their specific dietary needs.

In this article, we have reviewed some of the best dog food with vitamins and minerals in both dry and wet categories.

OUR TOP CHOICES

Essential Vitamins and Minerals in Dog Nutrition

Dogs have different nutritional requirements than humans.

Aside from proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and water, here are the nutrients that dogs can get from meals that are nutritionally complete and balanced:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin K
• Vitamin B complex 
• Calcium
• Phosphorus

Dogs are capable of producing vitamin C in their bodies and do not require it in their diets. However, some dog foods still contain vitamin C either from the ingredients or from vitamin supplements added after processing. This is not harmful to the dog as vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin.

On the other hand, fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K can become toxic when dogs are given more than the recommended daily amount. The same is true for minerals such as phosphorus, calcium, copper, iron, etc. It is challenging to ensure that dogs get the nutrients they need if they are on a homemade diet unless you are a vet or a nutritionist.

Vitamin supplements can be given, but it is still better if they get daily meals that provide the appropriate amount of nutrients that they need. It is important to note that too much of a fat-soluble vitamin is just as detrimental to a dog’s health as a deficiency.

Best Dog Food with Vitamins and Minerals

 

1. Ollie Fresh Beef Dog Food

First 5 ingredients: Beef, Peas, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, Carrots

Ollie Fresh Beef is a fresh-cooked dog food that is customized to your dog’s needs using a proprietary recipe developed with a board-certified vet nutritionist. The food is pre-portioned according to your dog’s ideal weight and is free from artificial enhancers and other less-than-ideal ingredients.

Ollie’s beef recipe uses fresh beef and organ meats such as beef liver and beef kidney.

Liver is high in soluble vitamin A, glycogen, potassium, copper, B vitamins, and vitamin D, K, and E.

Kidneys are also high in vitamins and minerals such as vitamins A and B, and iron. These organ meats add richness and flavor to the food that dogs just enjoy.

Chickpeas, spinach, and sweet potatoes are all nutritious ingredients that are included in the recipe.

Chickpeas are a good source of protein, fiber, and vitamins.

Spinach is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, as well as iron and antioxidants.

Sweet potatoes are a great source of dietary fiber, vitamins A and C, and potassium.

According to the dog owners, even their older dogs have displayed renewed vitality since being put on a fresh-cooked diet.

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2. Whole Earth Farms Grain-Free Chicken & Turkey Recipe

First 5 ingredients: Chicken Meal, Potatoes, Canola Meal, Peas, Chicken Fat

This grain-free dry dog food is suitable for adult dogs of all breeds and sizes. It contains high-quality ingredients such as real chicken, turkey and easy to digest carbs instead of corn or wheat.

The recipe is packed with multiple health benefits, including promoting better digestion, healthy skin and coat, and healthy joints.

It contains real chicken, chicken meal and turkey as the top ingredients, providing high-quality sources of protein that are easy to digest. At 27% protein, it is suitable for adult dogs who live a more relaxed lifestyle at home.

This dog food is labeled as a chicken and turkey recipe, making it a dual-protein formula. Turkey adds not just amino acids but also a lot of flavor to the kibbles. Chicken fat gives it another boost of flavor as well as essential fatty acids that support healthy skin and coat.

The main carb and fiber sources in this recipe are sweet potatoes, potatoes, flaxseed and dried beet pulp. These are packed with fiber that promotes better digestion and helps dogs feel fuller for longer. They also have more nutrients than cheap fillers.

This recipe is supplemented with all the nutrients required by AAFCO to maintain the health of adult pups. It also has probiotics that promote a healthy microbiome for better nutrient absorption.

This Whole Earth Farms kibble supports eye and heart health with the inclusion of taurine, glucosamine and chondroitin are also added to promote healthy joints

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3. American Journey Puppy Lamb & Sweet Potato Recipe

First 5 ingredients: Deboned Lamb, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Peas, Chickpeas

American Journey Puppy Lamb Recipe is a grain-free kibble suitable for growing puppies of all breeds including large breed ones. This recipe is packed with nutrition to help young pups grow into healthy adults.

The recipe contains deboned lamb, chicken meal, turkey meal, and menhaden fish meal as the main sources of protein, offering a high-protein meal at 30% protein. The multi-protein recipe also means that it is loaded with a lot of flavors from different meats to help stimulate young puppies’ appetites.

While not too high in fat at only 12%, it features some of the best natural sources of essential fatty acids. It has chicken fat which is rich in omega 6 fatty acids and salmon oil which is high in omega 3s. These healthy fats are all vital in puppies’ brain, heart, skin, and coat health, as well as the development of their organs.

Instead of cheap fillers, this recipe has peas, chickpeas, sweet potatoes, and tapioca starch as the main sources of carbs and fiber. These complex carbs are easy to digest and also provide proteins, vitamins, and minerals.

Superfoods like blueberries, carrots, and kelp are all packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals such as vitamin E, vitamin D, and vitamin B complex that help strengthen pups’ immune and nervous system function.

To support puppies’ digestive health, probiotics are also included to promote the growth of good bacteria in the gut. This promotes a healthy immune system by helping your dog’s body absorb more essential vitamins and minerals from the food

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4. Evanger's Classic Recipes Senior & Weight Management Dinner

First 5 ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Brown Rice, Guar Gum, Dried Kelp

Evanger’s Senior & Weight Management Dinner is a grain-inclusive wet food formulated specifically for older dogs and those who require weight management. This wet dog food is soft and easy to chew – perfect for older dogs who no longer have all of their teeth.

This single-source protein senior dog food has real chicken as its first ingredient. No other animal proteins are included in the recipe, making it ideal for dogs sensitive to other meats such as beef.

Chicken broth is added to make it a hydrating pet food that is soft, smooth, and requires little effort to chew. This pate can be served on its own as a complete meal as it is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO nutrient profiles for maintenance. It can also be served as a kibble topper to help entice picky senior pups to eat.

This limited-ingredient meal has brown rice as its main source of fiber and carbs. The nutrient and fiber-rich brown rice is gentle on sensitive stomachs and is also filling, which helps in weight management for less active dogs.

Aside from the vitamin supplements such as vitamin E, vitamin D, and vitamin B complex added to this wet food, superfood dried kelp is also included for its high nutritional value. This recipe also has L-carnitine to support a more efficient fat utilization

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5. Dr. Tim's All Life Stages Kinesis Formula

First 5 ingredients: Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Pearled Barley, Whole Oat Groats, Chicken Fat

Dr. Tim’s All Life Stages Kinesis Formula is a grain-inclusive dry dog food that provides complete and balanced nutrition to dogs of all breeds, sizes, and ages (including large breed puppies). This recipe is appropriate for all dogs with less active up to moderate activity levels.

The most plentiful ingredient in this recipe is chicken meal. It is a high-quality protein source made of chicken muscle meat that has been rendered to remove the moisture. Supplementary sources of protein in this recipe are dried egg product, ocean herring meal, catfish meal, salmon meal, and chicken liver meal.

Whole grains are less processed and provide dogs the fiber that they need to help aid digestion. This dry dog food has brown rice, pearled barley, and whole oat groats. It also has dried beet pulp with the sugar removed, rice bran, psyllium husk fiber, and flaxseed which provide additional fiber and nutrients to this recipe.

Fiber improves digestion by helping food move through the digestive tract. It also improves stool quality. Further improving dogs’ digestion are the probiotics in this recipe.

They promote a healthy intestinal flora that promotes better absorption of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin E, vitamin D, and vitamin B complex as well as other nutrients in dogs.

To help maintain the cognitive health of young dogs up to senior ones, omega 3 fatty acid sources such as menhaden fish oil are included in this recipe. These essential fatty acids along with omega 6 from chicken fat also promote skin, coat, and heart health in dogs 

This recipe includes L-carnitine to support a more efficient fat utilization, which is especially beneficial for less active dogs and those in need of weight management. It also has folic acid which is needed for normal metabolic functions such as DNA synthesis and the production of red blood cells

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6. CANIDAE PURE All Stages LID Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe

First 5 ingredients: Salmon, Fish Broth, Vegetable Broth, Peas, Pea Protein

This Canidae LID recipe is a grain-free wet dog food that is formulated to provide balanced and complete nutrition to dogs of all ages, breeds, and sizes. With just 6 key ingredients, it is less likely to trigger allergies or food intolerances in sensitive dogs.

This pate has salmon as the only animal protein source. It is an excellent source of omega 3s that have anti-inflammatory properties beneficial to dogs with allergies. It is also highly flavorful and easy to digest, great for skin and coat health.

Fish broth and vegetable broth make this wet dog food soft, smooth, and easy to chew for both young and mature dogs alike. It can be served on its own as a complete meal, or as a topper for dry food. Using wet food as a topper adds gives your pup more moisture on top of her daily water intake.

In this recipe, sunflower oil is included as a source of omega 6 fatty acids, which play an important role in many aspects of a dog’s health such as skin health and blood clotting.

Free from corn, wheat, or soy, only peas and sweet potatoes are included as sources of carbs and fiber. These complex carbs are loaded with vitamins and minerals that nourish dogs’ bodies

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7. Solid Gold Fit & Fabulous Weight Control

First 5 ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes, Peas

Solid Gold Fit & Fabulous Weight Control recipe is a dry dog food specially formulated to help adult pups maintain a healthy weight. It meets the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO nutrient profiles for maintenance.

Made of cage-free chicken and chicken meal, this weight management formula is lower in calories and fat compared to most of Solid Gold’s other dry food recipes. 

Dried eggs serve as a bioavailable supplementary source of protein, while ocean fish meal adds a richer flavor, omega fatty acids, and more easy-to-digest proteins.

Highly digestible sweet potatoes and peas are healthy veggies that have been selected to be the main sources of carbs and fiber in this recipe. Other superfoods rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that are included in this recipe are green beans, carrots, blueberries, and cranberries.

Antioxidants in superfoods help your dog fight disease and boost the immune system. Another superfood that is packed with vitamins and fiber is pumpkin. Pumpkin is included in this recipe for its soluble and insoluble fiber.

They help food move through the digestive tract and also help dogs feel fuller for longer. Dogs in need of weight management can definitely benefit from this so that they do not gorge on their food or beg for food all the time.

This low-fat food contains live probiotics to support dogs’ digestive and immune systems. Probiotics promote a healthy intestinal flora which improves digestion. A healthy digestive system allows the body to absorb more nutrients which strengthens the immune system 

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Things to Consider

Not every dog is the same. Just like us humans, your dog may have different needs from another dog. But to make picking the right food for your pup much easier, we have listed some general factors to consider before buying dog food.

Life Stage

Puppies’ developing bodies have different nutritional requirements than adult pups. As they age, dogs’ nutritional needs start to shift again as they go into their senior years. 

Make sure that the food that you get is appropriate for your dog’s corresponding life stage. Look for the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) statement on the dog food. It will state whether the food has met all the minimum amount of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals required by the AAFCO for a specific life stage. 

The life stages are divided into two groups by the AAFCO:

• Adult maintenance – dog foods that are nutritionally complete and balanced for fully grown adults.
• Growth and reproduction – dog foods that are nutritionally complete and balanced for puppies, pregnant, and lactating dogs. If you have a large breed puppy, look for the AAFCO statement that includes the phrase, “including the growth of large size dogs (70 lbs. or more as an adult)”. 

Some foods are labeled as suitable for all life stages as it provides balanced nutrition to dogs of all ages. It should have a statement that includes that it meets the AAFCO standards for adult maintenance, growth, and reproduction.

There are many brands that do not cover the growth of large breed dogs or large breed puppies in their “all life stages” formulas, so make sure that you get the right one if you have a large breed puppy.

 

Lifestyle and Activity Level

A dog who lives a chill, relaxed lifestyle at home has very different nutritional needs from working, athletic dogs, or those who live in more active households. 

Farm dogs, herding, dogs, and those who compete in agility competitions need a lot of high-quality animal proteins and fat to fuel their very active lifestyle. Both proteins and fats contribute to the caloric content of the food. So a dog who has a more sedentary lifestyle can gain excess weight if fed the same diet as those of highly active pups.

The activity levels of senior dogs are also generally lower than puppies and adults in their prime. You will find that there are dog meals formulated for dogs 6 or 7 years old and above. According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), younger senior dogs may struggle with being overweight, whereas older dogs may struggle with being underweight. 

The Dog’s Dietary Needs

Your dog’s specific health needs are some of the most important factors to consider when selecting meals for your dog’s diet. If you have a sensitive dog with allergies or food intolerances, it is crucial that they be given food that is free from ingredients that could trigger any allergic reactions or other health issues.

Some dogs have developed allergies to different components of the food, from the animal protein source to carb and fiber sources like wheat or corn. Allergies commonly manifest in dogs’ skin or ears. They can trigger itchy skin and paws, or get ear infections.

Food intolerances also cause gastrointestinal problems. Vomiting, gas, diarrhea, and loose stools are some of the most common symptoms of food intolerance or sensitivities.

Pet owners of sensitive dogs are advised to always check the list of ingredients of everything that is meant to be consumed by the pet. For example, dog foods labeled “chicken and rice” may not necessarily have just chicken and rice. A lot of them also contain meat proteins from other animals.

Putting your pup on a limited-ingredient diet can help make the elimination of trigger foods much easier for you. The fewer ingredients your dog is exposed to, the lesser the risk of getting an allergic reaction.

Aside from allergies, other aspects of your dogs' health should also be considered when buying dog food. You can get foods with added joint health benefits for older or large breed dogs, low-calorie ones for those in need of weight management, and breed-size specific formulas tailored for the nutritional needs of the corresponding breed size.

If your dog has health conditions, consult your vet on the best type of diet to help improve your pup’s health and wellbeing.

Ingredient Quality

Unless otherwise recommended by your vet, pick dog foods that have high-quality animal proteins as the first ingredient. Proteins or amino acids are the building blocks of animal tissues so it is one of the most important components of a dog’s diet. 

In wet food, it is quite common to find the animal protein source as the second ingredient, next to ”water for processing” or broth. This is ok for wet foods as long as they still meet the AAFCO standards.

High-quality animal protein sources are named ones such as chicken, lamb, salmon, venison, etc. Named meat meals such as chicken meal, beef meal, menhaden fish meal, etc are also considered high-quality protein sources. 

Meat meals are muscle meat with or without skin that has been rendered. They are highly-concentrated protein sources as most of the moisture content has been taken out.

Unnamed animal ingredients are considered subpar. Examples are “animal fat”, “liver”, “meat by-product meal”, etc. If you have a sensitive dog, dog food with such ingredients should be avoided as there is no way of knowing whether the food has components sourced from an animal protein your dog is allergic to. Pick ones with named ingredients such as lamb fat, chicken liver, whitefish meal, etc.

Raw bones are sometimes included in the ingredients. They are a good source of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous. The bones are usually processed with the meat so they are pulverized when included in the food.

The debate rages on between grain-free and grain-inclusive dog food. While no conclusive evidence suggests that one is better than the other at this time, many agree that cheap fillers such as corn, wheat, or soy offer less nutritional value compared to whole grains or vegetables that are higher in vitamins and minerals.

Select food with the following qualities:

• High-quality animal proteins
• Non-GMO natural ingredients
• No artificial colors, flavors, preservatives
• No cheap fillers

Palatability

You can buy the most premium dog food available but if your dog turns his nose up on it, he won’t get any of its many health benefits. Find food that appeals to your dog. Try starting with protein sources of brands that you know your pup likes.

Palatability is especially important when caring for senior dogs or those with special dietary requirements. This is why prescription dog foods are typically made to be highly palatable. 

As dogs get older, they start getting pickier with the flavors, smells, and texture of their food. It is common for them to stop eating foods they used to like. If they start rejecting their kibbles, try offering wet foods as they may be starting to find harder to chew crunchy kibbles due to dental problems or the loss of some of their teeth.

Cost

Having pets is not cheap at all, so cost is definitely an important factor to consider. Instead of looking at the cost of each bag of dog's food, try calculating the cost per day to feed your dog. Every dog food has a different feeding guide. One may recommend 3 cups per day for your dog’s weight, while another may require less. 

Bigger bags of food usually work out to be cheaper than getting a smaller bag. A big bag can likely feed your dog for a month or two depending on the recommended serving. If you have multiple dogs in your household, it may be more economical to get food that is formulated for all ages so that they can all share the same big bag.

Our Final Say

When selecting the best dog food rich in vitamins and minerals, it's essential to consider both the quality of the ingredients and how well they align with your pet's specific needs.

A balanced dog food formula fortified with vitamins and minerals can contribute to a healthier immune system, better coat and skin health, improved digestion and overall vitality. Look for formulas that feature whole-food sources, such as real meat, fish, fruits and vegetables, to ensure that the nutrients are bioavailable and easily absorbed.

However, not all “fortified” dog foods are created equal. It's important to be mindful of the source of these nutrients. Whole-food-derived vitamins and minerals tend to be more beneficial compared to synthetic versions, which might not offer the same nutritional quality. Always check for transparency in the ingredient list and research the brand’s sourcing and manufacturing practices.

Ultimately, the best food is one that delivers a complete and balanced diet while catering to your pet’s unique lifestyle, age and health conditions.

Consulting with your veterinarian can help tailor your choices to your dog’s needs, ensuring that you select a high-quality product that promotes long-term health.