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Are you looking for the best wet food for your canine buddy? For those who can afford it, the advantages of wet food make it a better choice than kibble.
For starters, fussy eaters find wet food more palatable, as they contain ingredients closer to their “natural state,” particularly animal meats.
Wet food is richer in protein and fat. The processing method used for wet food allows for better retention of nutrients. This also explains why the flavors and aromas are better preserved, thus making the food more appetizing.
However, wet food is more expensive than dry dog food and they spoil easily once opened. So, if you’re switching to wet food, you better ensure your dog eats his meal with gusto!
It’s important to note that even with an eager participant, conducting food trials at home can get very expensive and may pose health risks to your pooch.
That’s why we urge you to choose top-rated, tried-and-true wet food recipes from trusted brands to minimize risks and ensure that you get your money’s worth and your dog receives a nutritionally balanced diet that he truly enjoys.
What Makes a Good Wet Food?
As with kibble, there are criteria that wet food should meet to ensure they provide the necessary nutrition and benefits for our canine companions.
AAFCO-Approved
First off, good wet food meet the strict AAFCO guidelines for nutrition. The wet food featured in this article review are labeled “complete and balanced,” which means they provide all the essential macro- and micronutrients a healthy adult dog needs to thrive.
If you have a senior or an adult with a chronic illness, it would be best to consult expert guidance before making dietary decisions. In some cases, dogs may require prescription wet food to address certain issues.
You may also check our dog food recommendations for allergies.
More Protein, Less Carbs
A good wet food uses high-quality sources of animal protein, like beef, chicken, or lamb. Ideally, the number one ingredient in the recipe should be meat—even better if the top five ingredients comprise protein sources.
Legumes are good, but they don’t provide the necessary amino acids for muscle development and tissue repair, among other functions. While grains and starches provide a practical source of energy, dogs don’t have a strict requirement for dietary carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates aren’t inherently bad for dogs, but the issue lies in their quantity. Some dog food manufacturers use grains as bulking agents, as they make food cheaper per calorie than protein or fat.
Know that dogs fed on a cheaper carb-rich diet look less healthy and require a correspondingly higher percentage of poop-scooping.
Looks Good, Smells Great, Tastes Even Better
Good wet food looks like a homecooked meal prepared with love by grandma. They don’t leave your house smelling like a landfill after feeding your dog.
When wet food are made using high-quality meat proteins (sourced responsibly) in addition to whole, natural ingredients, you can expect them to have an appetizing appeal and salivating aroma.
A good wet food is free from artificial flavors and cancer-causing preservatives, like BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin. Dogs don’t need these chemical cocktails!
Best Wet Food for Dogs Reviewed
The following are some of the highest rated, most loved wet food for dogs. These eats have ticked all the boxes, particularly the criteria we discussed earlier. Let’s take a closer look at what makes them stand out.
Blue Buffalo Blue’s Stew Grain-Free Wet Food [Country Chicken Stew, Hearty Beef Stew (12.5 oz. x 6 Cans)]
Best Wet Food for All Breeds 🏆✨
Shake up mealtimes with these paw-licking pâté-style wet dog food by Blue Buffalo. This variety pack features two luscious recipes: Country Chicken Stew and Hearty Beef Stew, both loaded with real meat and a good amount of veggies.
Gone are the days of watery sauce! These wet food recipes are rich with a thick gravy, bite-sized meat chunks, real potatoes, peas, and carrots. The consistency of the wet food allows you to serve it as a lip-smacking treat, a delectable dry food mixer, or as a satisfying meal on its own. The choice is yours, and your furbaby will enjoy every single bite.
But it’s not just about the flavors. Blue Buffalo knows that quality matters, which is why these wet food are made with natural ingredients that are enhanced with vital vitamins and minerals.
Say goodbye to chicken or poultry by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, and artificial flavors or preservatives. This is nutrition done right!
Reviews:
Petey Cat | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Yummy snack for all! I don’t usually give my dogs canned food, but I was feeling guilty because the cats get it. I was pleasantly surprised by how this food looked and smelled. Medium-sized chunks of meat that even a very small dog could handle. My boys were not disappointed and even the cats tried to eat it!”
Kim | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Good ingredients at a reasonable price. I can use the beef stew and it does not upset my older dog’s digestive tract, which she is prone to. She really likes it and does well on it. I also use the chicken just for variety. Not as expensive as the other high-quality brands, but just as good. Will continue to buy.”
CESAR Breakfast and Dinner Wet Food [Grilled Steak & Eggs Flavor, Chicken & Liver Recipe (3.5 oz. x 12 Easy-Peel Trays)]
Best Wet Food for Small Dogs
Is your furbaby a picky eater? Worry no more! Cesar Breakfast and Dinner is the solution you’ve been looking for. These savory meals are carefully crafted to please even the fussiest eaters while ensuring dogs get all the nutrients they need to stay bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
Sniffer can start the day with mouthwatering Grilled Steak and Eggs. Packed with high-quality protein, this meal will give your pooch the energy he needs to tackle any adventure that comes his way. And when it’s time to wind down and relax, the Chicken and Liver recipe is the perfect way to end the day.
With Cesar Breakfast and Dinner, you don’t have to choose between taste and nutrition. Give your beloved pet the best of both worlds with these delicious and nutrient-packed meals.
Reviews:
Patty T. | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“My dog will only eat this pate now. Picky, picky, picky! The food smells decent and is pretty solid. It is densely packed and chops to softish clumps. It must taste pretty good because my dog is very picky and she has no problem walking away from any food I give her and not eating anything at all for days. She isn’t one of those dogs that will eat it if she gets hungry enough.”
Bama100 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Dogs love it! I usually buy a couple of different flavors and my dogs eat dry dog food with some wet food on top for variety. They love almost all the flavors of Cesar as long as I switch them up so they do not get bored. I also warm them in the microwave for about 15 seconds as one of my dogs is pretty picky about not liking any canned dog food that is congealed. The food looks better and smells better than most wet dog foods and I am happy they are getting something they like.”
Rachael Ray Nutrish Super Premium Wet Food [Chicken Paw Pie, Hearty Beef Stew, Savory Lamb Stew (8 oz. x 6 Tubs)
Best Budget-Friendly Wet Food
American celebrity cook Rachael Ray teamed up with pet nutrition experts to create a line of yummy, high-quality dog food. And let me tell you, they’ve hit the jackpot with these savory stews and gravy-laden entrées!
This variety pack includes two 8-ounce tubs of the Chicken Paw Pie, Hearty Beef Stew, and Savory Lamb Stew. These resealable tubs make it easy to serve up just the right amount of goodness while keeping the rest fresh for later.
Each recipe contains real meat as the top ingredient, followed by veggies, gluten-free grains, and heart-healthy fats conducive to optimal doggie nutrition. You won’t find any questionable fillers or mystery meat in these tubs, only wholesome and nutritious ingredients that your pet will love.
No squishy mush or strange smells here, folks. You’ll see real chicken, beef, lamb, and other wholesome ingredients. It’s a feast for the Sniffer’s eyes and tastebuds.
Reviews:
Donna | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Like homecooked! My picky dogs like this wet food when they are in the right mood. It looks like it is table food. It’s not a pureed mess like so many canned dog foods. Looks like homecooked stew.”
Jim | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Great chunky food with gravy for your dog. Almost good enough for me! I mix it in her food for a treat a few times per week. She loves it and it is great for her.”
Weruva Meals ‘N More Wet Dog Food [Belly Belly Nice! Variety Pack (3.5-oz x 10 count cups)]
Best Wet Food for Sensitive Stomachs
Is Sniffer picky? Does he have a sensitive tummy? Do you want to feed your doggos human-grade food that won’t break the bank? Try Meals ‘N More Belly Belly Nice by Weruva!
This variety pack features four scrumptious recipes that are specially designed to support digestion, maintain a healthy weight, and vibrant skin and coat.
But first, can we take a moment to appreciate the cute, quirky names of these recipes? Grandma’s Chicken Soup Plus, Amazon Livin’ Plus, Bed and Breakfast Plus, and Wok the Dog Plus—they sound so mouthwatering! But it’s not just about the names.
While each recipe has its flair, they use pulled chicken breast as the primary ingredient. Also, they’re called Plus because they contain twice as much pumpkin as the original recipes. More impressively, they contain inulin for a happy tummy.
Reviews:
Stephen | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“My eight-year-old Tibetan Terrier adores this food! My dog was getting pickier and pickier about eating. We were topping off his high-end kibble with lightly cooked grass-fed beef—it was good food! But apparently, too much of the same, so I tried the Weruva. He’s in love with this food, and getting a wide variety of flavors to enjoy (Who doesn’t want that?). Sometimes we mix this with kibble, other times it stands alone, and he gobbles it up either way. There’s even a new ritual, where we put the emptied container down for him to lick while we’re getting his bowl ready like he gets to enjoy a foretaste of what’s coming. We’re all extremely happy now!”
Barbara | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“This is great! We have a French Brittany prone to acid tummy and vomiting. When we offer her better-for-tummy canned foods, she doesn’t even eat. I got this variety pack to see if it would stimulate her appetite, and wow! Blended in with her tummy-safe dry food, this is really getting her attention. She eats and hasn’t had any vomiting. Woot woot!”
Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Wet Dog Food [Turkey & Vegetables Entrée, Lamb & Vegetables Entrée (13 oz. x 12 cans)]
Best Wet Food for Protein
If you’re in search of a nutritious, protein-packed wet food for a young doggo or active adult, Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Wet Dog Food is an excellent choice. This wet food provides your canine buddy with all the necessary nutrients he needs for overall health, including a high protein content that promotes muscle growth and development.
Both the turkey and lamb recipes are made with real meat, along with a carefully selected blend of veggies, legumes, and starches that add flavor and provide additional nutrients. In addition to its great taste, Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Wet Dog Food is also fortified with essential vitamins and minerals that help support your dog’s immune system, skin, and coat.
One of the things we love about these recipes is that they look and smell like actual human food. The gravy has a rich, satisfying consistency, and the meat chunks are soft and easy to chew, making it an ideal option for senior dogs. However, they’re not so soft that they become unappetizing.
Reviews:
Diane | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Yummy and filling! We have two Shelties and an Aussie. We mix a bit of wet food with their standard dry food. All three dogs loved the Purina Pro Plan. The addition of this wet food added moisture and flavor to their dishes. It seemed to fill them up more than their normal wet food. They gobbled it up as usual, but did not seem hungry after they did.”
Kiki Pea | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Our puppers’ new favorite! My daughter and I have two dogs that both loved the Purina Pro Plan food! We used it to supplement their kibble, usually during their evening feeding, and it made their day! The consistency is perfect for blending with dry food but has large enough pieces of meat that they have something to munch. And to be honest, I liked that the smell didn’t turn my stomach—I’ll stick with people’s food (LOL), but I appreciate that it smells more like stew than your typical puréed pet food.”
Best Wet Food Comparison Table
| Food | Flavor | Calories | Protein/Fat | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Country Chicken Stew Hearty Beef Stew |
326 kcal/can 326 kcal/can |
8%/4.5% 8%/4.5% |
🏷️$16.70 on Amazon 🏷️$17.58 on Chewy |
 |
Steak and eggs Chicken and Liver |
90 kcal/can 87 kcal/can |
9%/4% 8.5%/4% |
🏷️$14.10 on Amazon 🏷️$14.10 on Chewy |
 |
Chicken Paw Pie Beef Stew Savory Lamb Stew |
235 kcal/tub 252 kcal/tub 237 kcal/tub |
9%/2% 9%/5% 9%/5% |
🏷️$13.29 on Chewy |
 |
Grandma’s Chicken Soup Amazon Livin’ Plus Bed and Breakfast Plus Wok the Dog Plus |
69 kcal/cup 67 kcal/cup 74 kcal/cup 69 kcal/cup |
8%/1% 8%/1% 8%/1% 8%/1% |
🏷️$24.89 on Chewy |
 |
Turkey and Vegetables Lamb and Vegetables |
316 kcal/can 320 kcal/can |
9%/2.5% 9%/2.5% |
🏷️$32.40 on Chewy |
Conclusion
If you’re going to spend a little bit more on dog food, Sniffer better actually enjoys his meal! But as you can see, these wet food recipes taste delicious, smell wonderful, and look so good they almost pass for human food. Choose one from any of the five, and you can feel confident that you’re providing the best for your canine bestie.
While these wet food recipes are great on their own, you can also mix them with kibble. Just remember that these formulas deliver complete and balanced nutrition, so you will have to minimize the amount. You may also check our recommendations for dog food toppers.
That’s it for our review today. I hope you find this article helpful! 🐶💖