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The Top 10 Best Wet Dog Food Brands for 2021

By Elma | Last Updated January 15, 2021

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Many dog lovers have a difficult time choosing what kind of wet food is best for their canine. With many options come many questions – namely, which wet food brand is best for your dog? To help ease your concerns, we thoroughly researched what moist dog foods provide your pup with the appropriate balance of nutrients to enrich their diet. To find out the benefits of wet dog food versus dry dog food and view our recommendations, take a look at our comprehensive list of the top ten best wet dog foods and brands on the market.

Contents

  • 1 What is the Best Wet Dog Food in the Market Today?
  • 2 What is the Best Grain Free Wet Dog Food in the Market?
  • 3 What are the Best Wet Dog Food Brands?
  • 4 Dry food vs. Wet food
  • 5 Canned food vs Wet food: Is there a difference?
  • 6 Why and When Should I Buy Canned Dog Food?
  • 7 What are the Ingredients to avoid in wet dog food?

What is the Best Wet Dog Food in the Market Today?

Now let’s look at which moist dog food products are some of the best today’s market has to offer:

  • Taste of the Wild – High Prairie
    • Top 6 Ingredients: Beef, Vegetable broth, Lamb broth, Lamb liver, Dried egg, Potato starch
    • Other: Contains inulin, a starch-like compound that serves as a prebiotic to help with your dog’s digestive tract. Contains flaxseed oil, which is one of the best non-fish sources of Omega-3 fatty acids.
  • Wellness Core – Grain-Free Turkey, Pork Liver & Duck Formula
    • Top 6 Ingredients: Turkey, Pork liver, Turkey broth, Duck, Chicken meal, Carrageenan (seaweed based additive).
    • Other: Carrageenan has undergone recent controversy, it’s biological safety being called into question despite being used as an additive for hundreds of years.
  • Weruva – “Funk in the Trunk” with Chicken & Pumpkin
    • Top 6 Ingredients: Chicken broth, Poultry, Pumpkin, Sunflower oil, Xanath and locust bean gums
    • Other: Locust bean gum and xanthan gum are used to both flavor and preserve the products.
  • Whole Earth Farms – Grain-Free Adult Recipe
    • Top 6 Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken broth, Turkey, Chicken liver, Whitefish, Peas
    • Other: Products contain alfalfa which, while containing high amounts of protein and fiber, is an unusual ingredient for moist and semi-moist dog foods.
  • Merrick Classic – Grain-Free Turducken in Gravy Classic Recipe
    • Top 6 Ingredients: Deboned turkey, Chicken broth, Duck, Chicken, Turkey broth, Sweet potatoes
  • Holistic Select – Chicken Pate Recipe
    • Top 6 Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken liver, Chicken broth, Chicken meal, Whitefish, Ground flaxseed
    • Other: Contains pea protein, which has less biological value than meat-based proteins. Additionally, their products have added caramel coloring. While caramel is considered safe to consume by the FDA, added coloring to pet food is still not ideal.
  • Zignature Zssential Formula – Multi-Protein Version
    • Top 6 Ingredients: Turkey, Turkey liver, Turkey broth, Salmon, Lamb, Chickpeas
    • Other: The Zssential formula is made from turkey from the Midwestern United States, Northeastern salmon, duck imported from France, and mutton from New Zealand.
  • Chicken Soup for the Soul – Adult Recipe
    • Top 6 Ingredients: Chicken, Turkey, Chicken broth, Turkey broth, Duck, Salmon
    • Other: The best canned dog food you can get for its price, and its also available to order online. Contains antioxidants to improve your pet’s overall health and vigor.

Best Wet Dog Food Brands

What is the Best Grain Free Wet Dog Food in the Market?

With the exception of Chicken Soup for the Soul, all of the products mentioned above are grain-free – meaning no wheat, rice, barley, or other grains are used in the recipes for these products. The effects of grains on your dog, and the nutritional value of grain-free food, is contentious. Grain-free wet foods are more likely to contain more protein than grain-based products. However, many moist dog foods are made using some combination of animal and plant-based proteins. Since vegetable proteins can perturb the balance of nutrients in the finished food product, the best canned dog food will have an above average amount of animal proteins and a reasonable amount of vegetable proteins.

Therefore, if you are looking into more of the best grain-free wet food available on the market, here are a few more brands you may want to consider checking out:

  • AvoDerm Natural Grain Free
    • Comes in five different flavors, including beef, turkey, chicken, and salmon.
    • Contains avocado oil, which can be good for your dog’s skin and coat.
  • Blue Buffalo Family Favorites
    • Comes in six different flavors, including Turducken, Backyard BBQ, Shepherd’s Pie, Turkey Day Feast, Mom’s Chicken Pie, and Sunday Chicken Dinner.
  • Canidae Grain Free Pure
    • Comes in five different flavors, including Pure Sky, Pure Sea, Pure Land, Pure Elements, and Pure Foundations.

What are the Best Wet Dog Food Brands?

  1. Taste of the Wild

Overview: Taste of the Wild is some of the best canned dog food that you can get on the market today. Taste of the Wild uses animal meat as its main source of protein, but uses other healthy, easily digestible starches to provide your pup will a well-balanced meal. This brand contains no artificial preservatives or additives, and every recipe is intended to be a close representation of your dog’s ancestral diet, closely adhering to what they ate in the wild (hence the name!). While the brand does not have many options in terms of flavors, every product is of a high quality and is guaranteed to satisfy your dog’s taste.

Grain-Free?: Yes

Good for: All dogs, including large breed puppies. Can be given at any life stage.

  1. Wellness

Overview: Wellness canned dog food is specifically designed for dog lovers who want to supervise and transform their dog’s eating habits. Their moist and semi-moist recipes are designed by animal nutritionists, and each product is only comprised of animal-based proteins, whole grains, and fresh fruits and vegetables. They have four product lines that can be used as either their sole source of food, or as a supplement to their diet, depending on their specific needs.

Grain-Free?: Yes

Good for: Depends on the type of product you choose. Some lines target specific health concerns, while others can be used as a mix-in, topper, or sole food source.

wet dog food

  1. Weruva

Overview: Weruva is a brand that has a unique approach to dog food. Coining the phrase “people food for pets,” Weruva prepares their food in human food amenities, and use many of the fresh ingredients that would go into preparing food for you or I. Weruva uses the highest quality proteins alongside fruits and vegetables to create their wet food, and each recipe can serve as your dog’s sole food source, or as toppers or mix-ins.

Grain-Free?: Yes

Good for: All dogs, except large breed puppies. Can be given at any life stage.

  1. Whole Earth Farms

Overview: Sourced in the United States, Whole Earth Farms packs its wet dog food with plenty of animal protein and protein-based products such as beef and chicken broth. However, Whole Earth also prides itself on giving your dog a healthy dose of vegetables and easily-digestible carbohydrates, such as sweet potatoes, peas, and carrots. There are no corn, wheat, or soy in their products

Grain-Free?: Yes

Good for: All dogs, including large breed puppies. Can be given at any life stage.

  1. Merrick Classic

Overview:  Merrick offers 11 flavors of grain-free wet food, and each flavor lists meat as the first ingredient. They also use a host of fresh fruits and vegetables, including potatoes and apples, to give added fiber. Though approved by the FDA, Merrick does have added caramel coloring to its food, which is something to be aware of if you are concerned about the added use of coloring agents.

Grain-Free?: Yes

Good for: All dogs, including large breed puppies. Can be given at any life stage. Merrick also has special lines of canned food made specifically for puppies.

  1. Holistic Select

Overview: Holistic Select is a company dedicated to providing your pup with natural and high quality ingredients in all of their recipes. Their Select Grain-Free wet dog food product line includes six different flavors, each featuring a different protein. They use a balance of animal protein and protein enriched vegetables, such as potatoes and peas, for variety.

Grain-Free?: Yes

Good for: All dogs, including large breed puppies. Can be given at any life stage.

  1. Zignature

Overview: Zignature is one of the more varied and sophisticated brands on this list. This unique brand carries wet dog food packed with protein, from beef, to duck, to Australian imported kangaroo (seriously!). The combination of fresh fruits and veggies, as well as alfalfa meal, gives their recipes a significant amount of plant-based proteins and fibers as well.

Grain-Free?: Yes

Good for: All dogs, except large breed puppies. Can be given at any life stage.

I and Love and You

  1. I and Love and You

Overview: Comprised of 5 different flavors of grain-free dog food, I and Love and You is a company that balances animal proteins with a hearty amount of vegetables and fiber-based products. Their recipe also includes salmon oil, which contains the EPA and DHA types of Omega-3 fatty acids – two types of fats that are considered to be of the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans, and can promote healthy development of the eyes and brain.

Grain-Free?: Yes

Good for: All dogs, except large breed puppies. Can be given at any life stage.

  1. Instinct Original

Overview: Instinct Original’s product line includes 8 different canned dog food varieties. The first few ingredients of each recipe are meat, broth, or organ meats from different animals. Instinct products also contain montmorillonite clay, a compound rich in minerals used to help combat irritable bowel syndrome, and other upset stomach issues your dog may experience. Menhaden oil provides the same EPA and DHA types of Omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon and other fish oils, with the added benefit of being less likely to contain traces of mercury.

Grain-Free?: Yes

Good for: All adult dogs. Good for maintenance, not as a sole food source.

  1. Earthborn Holistic

Overview: With five unique, grain-free flavors, Earthborn Holistic Moist foods have animal protein listed as their number one ingredient. However, they do use a significant amount of pea protein (what remains when removing the starchy part of a pea); while this contains a lot of protein, it is considered less biologically valuable than meat-based proteins, meaning that it will make your dog feel fuller without the same nutritional benefits. Still, Earthborn provides your dog with a notable amount of meat and easily digestible vegetables, which makes it above-average when compared to other wet food products.

Grain-Free?: Yes

Good for: All adult dogs. Good for maintenance, not as a sole food source.

Dry food vs. Wet food

Just like wet food, not all kibble are created equally – some dry dog foods are more nutritiously viable options for your dog than others. While some wet foods can be mixed with dry food to give your dog a well-balanced meal, other wet foods are better off being eaten by itself. But what are the key nutritional differences between dry and wet dog foods?

The most obvious answer is that wet dog food has a higher water content than dry food, and this can be beneficial for your dog in numerous ways. Firstly, the water content in wet food can help your dog stay hydrated. This is especially helpful for dogs who do not drink enough water, or older dogs who have difficulties getting in their daily water intake. Additionally, having food with a higher water content means that your dog can eat more food without adding extra calories to their diet. Therefore, your dog may be more satiated eating wet food rather than just eating kibble alone.

In general, wet food is also more palatable to your dog. Since the proteins in wet dog food are closer to their original form, it might smell and taste more appetizing to your furry friend, which is especially helpful for dog owners with picky eaters. Furthermore, older dogs and dogs with dental issues may find certain wet foods easier to digest than dry food.

Wet food, in some cases, can also be healthier than dry foods. Because wet foods are packaged in air-tight cans, pouches, and trays, they do not require the same added preservatives that dry food does. If you are concerned about additives in your pet’s dry food, you may want to consider mixing the two different types of food, or transitioning to an all-wet food diet.

wet food

Canned food vs Wet food: Is there a difference?

Wet food can come in a variety of packages, but the most common type are cans. Generally, wet food and canned food are interchangeable. There are no known differences between canned and other packaged wet food in terms of the way the food tastes, or its nutritional value. However, quality canned food may be a bit more pricy than food that comes in plastic packaging. Tetra and pouch packaging are also made from more raw, recyclable materials, which is appealing for environmentally conscious pet owners.

Why and When Should I Buy Canned Dog Food?

In addition to the higher water content and the palatability, dog lovers should consider buying canned dog food to top or mix into their kibble. Mixing foods can allow your dog to get a variety of essential nutrients that they are lacking in their diets, such as more protein, or a proper balance between protein and veggies, such as peas and potatoes. Canned food can also provide your dog with fats and vitamins essential for heart-health, such as Omega-3 fatty acids, B12 vitamins, riboflavin, and more. There are a variety of canned foods that can suit the needs of your dog at any stage of its life, whether puppy or adult, or even be beneficial for certain breeds. Reading the label before buying canned dog food can give you a better idea of it’s nutritional adequacy, and whether or not the product is complete and balanced based on your dog’s needs. It can also give you an idea of how much to feed your dog.

Mixers and toppers can be a great way to transition your dog into eating more moist and semi-moist based dog foods. If your dog has a sensitive stomach, start off by slowly introducing wet food into their diet by mixing it in with your dog’s preferred dry food.

What are the Ingredients to avoid in wet dog food?

Reading the label can also help you avoid purchasing wet foods that have less-desirable ingredients. When deciding which wet food is best for your dog, try not to select food loaded with carbohydrates that are not highly digestible, and foods with little fiber. Ingredients like corn, wheat, and soy are often used as fillers that make your dog feel fuller, but are not nutritious options, and can even make your dog gain weight. You want to avoid foods that have carbohydrates or plant proteins as the first ingredient. Animal proteins contain all of the nutritious amino acids your dog needs – therefore, meats like beef, chicken, liver, etc. should be one of the first listed ingredients. Additionally, foods that have artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives are less than ideal to serve up to your pup.

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