Hello, my name is Kearsten. I have owned a wide range of dog breeds from Miniature Australian Shepherds, Dalmatians, Labradors, Corgis, and a variety of other dogs.
One of the most important aspects of raising them has been in choosing the right dog food for each one of them.
For the most part, I feed my dogs dried dog food. However, I feel that mixing in wet or canned dog food tends to keep their tails wagging and their appetites up!
What is Canned Dog Food?
Canned or wet dog food differs from dry dog food in that it is generally found in a can, just like soups or canned vegetables.
The purpose of a tin can is to preserve the ingredients that help your pet thrive. Most canned or wet dog foods are packed with protein.
The protein sources are generally a mix of chicken, beef, salmon, or other fish, or turkey. Canned dog food usually also includes vegetables, and sometimes even fruit.
These ingredients help to give your dog the natural ingredients that their ancestors would have eaten out in the wild.
Dogs are, afterall, natural carnivores. Dry dog foods do not hold as much appeal to some dogs because of their lack of meat. Canned dog food may be the only food that some dogs will even touch.
Why Choose Canned Dog Food?
There are many reasons to choose canned dog food over feeding dry dog foods. One such reason, is that canned dog food keeps fresh longer.
If you like to stock up on food and do not want to go to the store constantly, you can easily pick up the tin cans of food at your local pet store. Canned dog food can last for years if it is properly stored!
Another reason that you may opt to buy wet dog food is that your dog may eat better or a larger amount than they will if they are on strictly dry dog food.
Wet dog food usually comes in a stew type texture. Dogs and puppies tend to love the flavor that the juices produce as well as the cuts of meat found in canned dog foods.
Picky eaters can become unhealthy if they do not get enough sustenance into their bodies. Wet dog food can help alleviate this problem.
I had a Dalmatian who was not only a picky eater, but that also had a very sensitive stomach. Giving him canned dog food was a blessing.
Once I began to add in canned dog food it helped him get his appetite up and also stopped his frequent trips to the backyard.
What Nutrition and Diet Does Your Dog Need?
Different sized dogs need different amounts of food each day.
The recommended feedings for dogs 3lbs to 100 lbs are below:
| Weight | Cups per Day |
| 3 lbs | ⅓ cup |
| 6lbs | ½ cup |
| 10 lbs | ¾ cup |
| 15 lbs | 1 cup |
| 20 lbs | 1 ⅓ cups |
| 30 lbs | 1 ¾ cups |
| 40 lbs | 2 ¼ cups |
| 50 lbs | 2 ⅔ cups |
| 60 lbs | 3 cups |
| 70 lbs | 3 ⅓ cups |
| 80 lbs | 3 ¾ cups |
| 90 lbs | 4 ¼ cups |
| 100 lbs | 4 ¾ cups |
This chart should help you figure out the correct amount of food for your dog. However, dogs are just like people and each one is different.
The chart isn’t necessarily a one size fits all. If you notice that your dog’s ribs or backbone become prominent, common sense should tell you that the dog probably needs more food.
If the dog is becoming chunky, you should try and reduce the amount of food slightly. You can adjust to each of your pet’s needs individually.
It is important to remember that some dogs will require special diets. Some dogs are prone to have various allergies.
If your dog is allergic to something in its current dog food, it is important that you consult with your veterinarian to figure out what is causing the issue.
For example, some dogs are allergic to gluten or wheat. Some canines are allergic to dairy products in food. Believe it or not, some dogs are even allergic to beef and poultry!
Dogs may also need to be on special diets if they are advanced in age, if they are underweight, or if they are obese.
Older dogs can have a harder time digesting foods that were once easy for them to handle. They may also need softer foods because their teeth are not as strong as they once were.
Pooches that are getting pudgy will need to be on special dog foods that help them to lose some of the unwanted fat on their body and convert it to muscle.
A dog or puppy could also be underweight or malnutritioned. If this is the case, you will need to find a very high calorie and nutritious dog food to help them thrive.
Is Canned Dog Food Good For My Dog?
Canned dog food can be extremely beneficial for your canine. Canned or wet dog food is packed full of the vital protein and nutrients that you dog needs to stay healthy.
This protein is often combined with antioxidants that help keep dogs from becoming ill. Canned dog foods are also lower in carbohydrates.
This is an important if your dog is overweight or is lacking the energy that you believe he or she should be exhibiting.
Most canned dog foods do not have artificial flavors and preservatives unlike dry dog foods. Canned dog food also has more healthy fats that your dog needs when compared to dry dog food.
Another reason that wet dog food is a good choice for your dog is that it usually doesn’t have the added chemicals that dry dog foods have either.
Does Canned Dog Food Have Any Bad Effects?
There are a lot of beliefs out there that canned dog food does have some negative effects. Then again there are a lot of people out there who swear by it. It is important for you to know that you will have to make your own judgement.
There probably is a real danger in feeding any type of food to your dog if you do not do your research.
I highly recommend that you try and find the dog foods that are of the absolute best quality for your dog.
Buying foods that are of low quality leads to getting foods that have preservatives, artificial colors, and other added substances that can be harmful to puppies and dogs. This will come at a cost, but is worth keeping your dog healthy.
What to Consider When Buying Canned Dog Food?
One of the things that you will need to take into account when buying canned dog food is that in comparison to dry dog food, it is relatively expensive.
You will need to make sure that the cost of wet dog food is within your budget every month before you decide to switch from a dry dog food.
You also need to be aware of any allergies that your dog may have. If your dog is allergic to many ingredients, make sure to buy the appropriate type of wet dog food.
There are many varieties of canned dog food such as gluten free or diabetic types on the market. You just have to find them.
You need to make sure that you are up to feeding canned dog food to your dog the rest of its life. Once you start it, it can be hard to get a dog to revert to going back to dry dog food.
Dogs would much rather have the moist and meaty wet dog food in comparison to dry food.
Below we will look at the best canned/ wet dog foods for different types of requirements, ranging from older dogs, to weight management food!
Top 5 Best Canned Wet Dog Foods for Older Dogs
1. Hill’s Science Diet Senior Wet Dog Food, Adult 7+ Beef & Barley Entrée
This dog food has tons of protein and is made to help your dog maintain muscle in its old age.
Hill’s Senior Wet Dog Food will also help your dog keep from becoming too fat. Dog’s will enjoy the delicious taste of beef.
Hill’s Science Diet Senior Wet Dog Food also has a limited amount of sodium as to keep their vital organs in check.
2. Cesar Classics Adult Wet Dog Food 3.5 Oz Poultry Trays
This dog food is mainly to be used on small dog breeds. It can also be used for other breeds, but the serving size may not be as sufficient for them.
Many pet owners have successfully used this as a topping when their canines refuse to eat.
The ingredients for this dog food include chicken liver, chicken, and an adequate amount of vitamins and minerals.
It is nutritionally balanced to help older dogs get the vitamins and minerals that they need to thrive.
3. Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Natural Senior Wet Dog Food, Chicken
This dog food is made from hearty and healthy deboned chicken and chicken liver! Blue Buffalo also uses a blend of fruits and vegetables such as blueberries, carrots, peas, cranberries, and sweet potatoes.
This dog food is packed full of minerals and vitamins. It also boasts no artificial flavors or preservatives.
There are also no chicken by-products used so you are getting strictly meat when you buy Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Natural Senior Wet Dog Food.
Some reports have mentioned that dogs will eat this dog food when they go off of other brands.
This is also a good food choice for dogs who no longer have teeth or who have dental problems.
4. Blue Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Senior Grain Free Turkey & Potato
The dog food is full of turkey, chicken liver, and chicken to help give your pet the added protein that it needs to function.
Blue Basics Limited Ingredient Diet Senior Grain Free Turkey & Potato Wet Dog Food contains no artificial flavors or preservatives.
There are also no meat by-products or corn in this dog food. Vitamins and minerals are used heavily to help your dog get the most out of life.
This is an easy way to give your dog the raw diet, without all of the preparation that comes with it!
5. Purina ONE SmartBlend Natural Classic Ground Entree Adult Wet Dog Food
This dog food also contains barley and oatmeal to help your pet maintain a healthy weight.
This dog food also contains omega fatty acids to help your dog have a gorgeous and shiny fur coat. Antioxidants help to keep your dog free of illnesses as well.
Older dogs love the taste and many have seen an improvement in their dogs energy level after being on Purina ONE for a couple of weeks.
This is a good alternative to the pricier dog foods out there.
Top 5 Best Canned Wet Dog Food for Puppies
1. Purina Pro Plan Focus Classic Chicken & Rice Entree Wet Puppy Food
The vitamins and minerals inside of it also help your puppy to develop good vision.
The main ingredient is chicken, which gives your puppy the needed protein to grow big and strong.
Salmon gives this puppy food an extra boost in not only protein, but also omega fatty acids that further help brain function and coat health.
This product has been known to help keep puppies from having diarrhea and constipation. It is also recommended to get a puppy back on food if it has incurred an illness.
2. Wellness Complete Health Natural Wet Canned Puppy Food
This dog food is extremely good in the fact that, like baby formula, it provides DHA. DHA is known to help the brain development in human babies, as well as animal babies.
Wellness Complete Wet Canned Puppy Food is made with only all natural ingredients. There are no by-products.
Some of the important nutrients that the food contains come from sweet potatoes, flax seeds, apples, pears, and bananas.
There have been a few reviews that have stated that the consistency of this particular puppy food can be lacking. This brand is also very expensive in comparison to other brands.
3. Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Grain Free – Turkey & Chicken
The brand believes in only using natural ingredients and focuses on using meat in dog foods, especially.
There is a good amount of turkey, chicken, chicken broth, and chicken liver located in this food.
This is a soy, corn, and grain free wet puppy food. This is a great way to feed puppies who have allergies or who are prone to skin irritations.
There is also no wheat or wheat thickening agents located in the food.
This food also includes DHA, Omega Acids, and other nutrients vital for your puppies development.
The brand has had some recalls in the past. Some of the cans have been dented if the dog food is shipped, which is to be expected.
4. Merrick Whole Earth Farms Grain Free Puppy Recipe
It is full of chicken, salmon, turkey, eggs, peas, and carrots. The formula is said to help dogs maintain a healthy coat and to even reduce shedding.
It is recommended that this wet puppy food be used along with a good dry puppy food.
Merrick Whole Earth Farms Grain Free Puppy Recipe is mixed in the United States to ensure the best quality and freshness.
Many users have had a concern because there is no way to contact the company that supplies the puppy food. If you have questions, You may be out of luck.
5. Avoderm Natural Chicken Meal & Brown Rice Formula Wet Puppy Food
The extra fat from avocados also helps your puppy to maintain a healthy weight as it grows.
This puppy food has also been known to help treat dogs with hot spots.
This food is soy, wheat, and corn free. The advantage of this is that puppies with allergies should thrive on it.
There are also no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives inside of the puppy food.
There are also added antioxidants, minerals, and nutrients to boost your puppy’s immune system.
Top 5 Best Grain-Free Canned Wet Dog Food
1. Weruva Grain-Free Canned Dog Food
There are no preservatives or artificial colors. Packed full of protein.
It has been processed less than some other dog foods on the market.
Weruva Grain-Free Canned Dog Food can help dogs that have gastric problems.
Most dog’s also find this food to be delicious.
One con is that this dog food is somewhat expensive.
2. Purina Beyond Grain Free Natural, Adult Wet Dog Food
This is a great choice for dogs that have certain allergies.
This food is made from real chicken and the correct amount of protein with no preservatives, artificial colors, or poultry by-product meal.
This dog food is much more affordable in comparison to other brands.
You can mix it with dry dog food for added value. Dogs love the taste of this one!
3. Taste Of The Wild Grain Free Real Meat Recipe Premium Canned Dog Food
There are no fillers, artificial flavors/colors, or preservatives in Taste of The Wild Grain Free Real Meat Recipe Wet Dog Food.
The unique ingredient in this canned dog food is duck.
Taste Of The Wild Grain Free Wet Dog Food is moderately priced for a dog food of its quality.
There are a few concerns with dogs having gas with this brand however.
4. Wellness Thick & Chunky Natural Wet Grain Free Canned Dog Food
The meat pieces are larger than some of the other wet dog foods on the market.
Thick & Chunky Natural Wet Dog Food has no preservatives or artificial flavors.
5. Hill’S Science Diet Adult Sensitive Stomach & Skin – Wet Dog Food
Special antioxidants help to boost your pets immune system and keep it there.
Hill’s Sensitive Stomach Canned Dog Food is made from real Salmon and vegetables such as broccoli and carrots.
Some users have even seen a significant improvement in their pet’s coat health, digestive health, and improved activity levels as well!
Top 5 Best Canned Wet Dog Food For Weight Management
1. Purina Pro Plan Focus Weight Management Turkey & Rice Entree Morsels
The protein in this dog food helps to keep the fat off of your pooch and the muscle tone lean.
Unlike other dog foods, this wet dog food from Purina has 23 vital vitamins and nutrients that your dog needs.
Reports have shown that canines love the taste of this food.
The real meat in it draws canines to it. This dog food is great to mix with dry dog foods to help your dog clean its bowl by making its food more palatable.
Some of the cons of this dog food would be that it is not gluten free, includes meat-by products, and some of the cans of food can be too liquidy.
A lot of people have also reported that the cans come in dented when ordering online.
2. Hill’S Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight – Hearty Vegetable & Chicken Stew
It was the number one veterinary recommended wet dog food product for weight loss in dogs.
The dog food not only has a great protein source of chicken and vegetables for weight loss, but also has prebiotics included to help your dog’s tummy stay in working order.
This dog food does not contain artificial flavors or any preservatives.
A study shows that within 10 weeks of using this product, 70 percent of the dogs fed Hill’s Science Wet Dog Food lost weight!
The only complaint that some users have is that there are by-products in the food.
3. Wellness Core Natural Wet Grain Free Canned Weight Management Dog Food
It is made from whitefish, lamb, venison, turkey, and chicken, so your dog is getting the optimum amounts of protein.
Along with the fish is a large amount of flax seed that helps keep the coat glistening.
This dog food is great for dogs with allergies or who have sensitive tummies.
The downside to feeding this food is that it tends to be on the rather pricey side of the spectrum.
A few people have reportedly found plastic in the food, but overall, the product has largely positive reviews.
4. Nutro Ultra Adult Weight Management Chunks In Gravy Canned Dog Food
This high protein source helps your inactive dog lose fat, while maintaining the healthy muscle. It also includes sun-ripened vegetables as a main ingredient.
This dog food is also packed full of antioxidants to help keep fido well.
The amino acids and fatty fish tissues help to give your dog healthy skin and hair.
Many people report that it looks much more palatable than other dog foods that they have tried.
Others say that the gravy content is too watery.
5. Pedigree Chopped Ground Dinner Weight Management With Beef & Liver
Real Beef and Liver do make this a canned food to try.
Pedigree Chopped Ground Dinner Weight Management is a low fat dog food. It doesn’t taste like one though!
The flavor is unbelievable as reports show that dogs gobble it right up. This dog food is pretty cheap compared to many others listed.
A downside to this food is that it contains a lot of water in the product.
Many people have reported that the smell is pretty bad when you open the can as well.
Final Thoughts
Woah, that was a long article! I won’t keep you much longer!
Overall, canned or wet fog food can be a good choice for your dog or puppy.
Just make sure to do the research before you decide if it is right for you.
I hope that my article was useful and helped you decide on the perfect food for your dog!
If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to leave them below!
