Best Wet Dog Food: Top 7 Nutrient-Rich Picks for Your Pup

Kibble is easy to store and holds up well for shipping, but it’s a little… boring. Many dogs lose interest in kibble, and for some puppies and seniors, kibble can be needlessly complicated to chew and digest.

Wet food can be just the answer for your picky dog and for dogs who have dental and jaw problems. Not all canned food is created equal, however.

While some canned food brands use quality ingredients to make meals that are densely nutritious and satisfying for even the pickiest dog, there are also manufacturers that churn out food made up of a bit of broth and a few loose pieces of undefinable meat. 

How do you choose then?

Since there are so many choices in the market that it can get quite overwhelming, we’ve put together a list of what we think are the best dog foods based on ingredients, reviews, and the company’s practices. And from our short selection, we chose the best wet dog food overall. Let’s take a look.

Why Quality Food Matters for Your Dog

Your dog needs food with premium ingredients to help stave off weight issues, allergies, and a host of other health problems.

The problem with many dog foods is that they use cheap fillers to bring down the cost of the food. Your dog can have poor reactions at worst, and at best, those ingredients are nothing but empty calories making it difficult for you to control your pet’s weight.

Dogs that receive well-balanced nutrition from their food often live longer, have a better quality of life, and usually retain their energy even into their senior years.

Choosing better food may add a bit to your budget in the short term, but overall, you may experience fewer vet visits because of poor health and food allergies.

 

Best Wet Dog Food Brands

1. Nom Nom Tasty Turkey Fare

Nom Nom was created by a veterinarian who wanted to make feeding a balanced and nutritious diet much more manageable. The recipes are based on a wealth of knowledge and research by board certified veterinary nutritionists.

The brand lets you customize a feeding plan from the website based on your dog’s age, breed, and other information. It will then deliver a balanced meal or meals for your pup that are pre-portioned (your dog’s weight is also taken into consideration) so that there is no guesswork needed when feeding time comes around.

Nom Nom creates gently-cooked wet dog food as a balance between feeding canned food and a raw food diet. The proteins and vegetables are recognizable, and there are never any fillers added.

The brand’s Tasty Turkey Fare uses very few but fresh ingredients to provide your dog with all the nutrition he needs. Though it’s not a grain-free dog food, many pet parents have reported that their pooches who suffer from a sensitive stomach, IBS, and other digestive problems are thriving on this diet. 

Because it’s free from fillers and additives, this wet dog food recipe has helped previously sickly pups regain their energy, beautiful fur, and general zest for life.

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2. Merrick Grain Free Real Chicken

Merrick uses whole, quality ingredients for all of its food options. Its recipes are created right in test kitchens before ever being sent out so that the company can ensure optimal nutrition and safety. The company uses locally sourced ingredients from trusted farmers right in the United States.

The brand’s first wet dog food formula is a grain-free chicken option that uses whole, deboned chicken for a quality protein source. Chicken broth adds tasty moisture while added vitamins and minerals support the immune system and lend joint and bone support. It also has essential fatty acids to support a healthy skin and shiny coat.

This wet dog food formula is suitable for sensitive tummies because there are no cheap fillers or artificial ingredients that can trigger allergic reactions or digestive issues.

It doesn’t contain peas or potatoes. It’s a complete and balanced meal, but you can also use it as a complement to your dog’s dry dog food.

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3. Nutro Hearty Stew Meaty Lamb, Green Bean & Carrot Cuts

Nutro provides quality wet and dry dog foods so your dog can live its best life. It uses locally sourced ingredients and premium proteins and carbohydrates to help support your pet from puppyhood all the way to senior living.

Nutro’s grain-free wet dog food formula uses a high-quality protein (whole lamb) to provide most of the building blocks for healthy muscle and growth. Added vitamins and minerals support healthy bones and immune system while glucosamine supports joints.

This specific Nutro formula is a limited ingredient diet so it could be suitable for sensitive digestion. It has plenty of fatty acids from natural sources to support a healthy coat and skin.

It has no cheap fillers and no artificial flavors or preservatives. It can help you control your pet’s weight as long as portions are the correct amount, and it’s suitable as a meal by itself or as a complement to dry dog food.

The wet food diet has an almost shredded-like quality that allows it to mix with kibble nicely, if you wish to use it as a mixer or topper. The real meat pieces are very generous and even the veggies are recognizable. 

Be careful, though. Although it says lamb on the label, there’s a lot of proteins here from different animal sources. If your dog does not have a sensitive stomach or food allergies, it should be fine. Otherwise, make sure your pup is not allergic to any of the listed ingredients.

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4. Nulo Freestyle Turkey, Cod & Sweet Potato 

Nulo food was inspired by what fuels athletes after the founder, an athlete himself, began looking for food that could support his dog’s active lifestyle.

The brand uses only responsibly-sourced ingredients tested in Nulo’s kitchens to provide excellent nutrition for your dog no matter the life stage or breed type.

Nulo Freestyle uses a grain free recipe with whole animal protein sources to give your puppy the best start in life. This puppy food is a complete and balanced meal suitable for all breeds and will help your puppy grow at the proper rate.

Turkey is a lean protein source that won’t add a lot of extra pounds, while cod has essential fatty acids for brain development, a shiny coat, and healthy skin.

It doesn’t use any corn or soy for cheap fillers and has no artificial ingredients that can irritate your little fur baby’s tummy. It has added vitamins and antioxidants to promote a healthy immune system. It’s a great way to transition from weening or as a complement to encourage your puppy to transition to dry food.

Dog owners say that one can of this will last your little furry friend a long time. The food promotes a healthy digestion, particularly in puppies whose sensitive tummies (and sometimes, skin) usually can’t handle other kinds of food. 

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5. Nutro Ultra Chicken, Lamb & Whitefish Pate

Nutro has been in the dog food business since the 1920s, providing dogs with complete, dense nutrition to aid them in any activity they choose.

The brand uses premium ingredients for both its dry and wet foods, allowing dogs to live their best lives. Nutro’s extensive experience allows the brand to create meals that dogs love while providing a complete and balanced diet.

Senior dogs sometimes have trouble with dry foods, but the pate style of this recipe may be just the thing to keep your older pup in perfect health without stressing any tooth issues.

This senior wet dog food should satisfy even picky older pups with its three protein sources that include chicken, lamb, and whitefish. It helps control weight and isn’t as messy as traditional canned foods. 

Pet parents say that the trays are very convenient for feeding older canines who don’t eat as much as they used to when they were younger. There is no more need to open a can and put half in the fridge. This means that your dog’s food is always fresh.

For pooches who no longer have teeth, it is quite easy to cut the food into more manageable bites because of its pate texture. The only problem with it is that can get quite pricey.