Last Updated on November 7, 2022 by
Have a small dog? I bet you take good care of and enjoy your little friend, right? Well, vegan or not, we both know our beloved furry friends need to eat. In this article, I will share with you the best brands of wet dog food for small dogs. There is nothing worse than a sick or unhappy pet — I want to provide you with all the information needed to choose the best brand.
Your small dog is an adorable furball that you’ll do anything for. But what kind of dog food is best for your little guy or gal? There are so many options available that it can be confusing and daunting to choose. So, I want to share my personal favorite wet dog food for small dogs that I feed Hercules and Persephone – this way, you can decide if it works for you and your pets. As a pet blogger and dog lover, I’m the ideal person to help with this task because I want the best for my furry babies.
After sharing my list of top five dry dog foods for small breeds, a few people questioned whether wet food is good for their dog or not? People also asked me whether there was a good dog food for small dogs that’s also in a can. I went ahead and did some research, as well as talk to some of TheDogPress staff members who have smaller breeds. My buddy Josh suggested I write up a quick post about the best wet dog food for small dogs because this question came up more than once. So let’s get into it, because you’re here aren’t you?
Best Wet Dog Food For Small Dogs

If you’ve ever brought a new puppy home, you know how much fun it can be. Everything about them is cute — from the way they waddle around the house and tip over to the look on their face when they’re about to fall asleep — plus their paws smell like tortilla chips. But owning a puppy also leads to a million questions. You’ll wonder what’s okay to let them eat. Grass? A little. Your roommate’s CBD gummies? Definitely not. CBD for dogs? Maybe, after talking with your vet. And just know that they’re gonna try to eat another animal’s poop. (It’s okay if you don’t catch them in time. They can handle it.)
One question you should definitely know the answer to before bringing your puppy home is what dog food you are going to feed them. And because there are a million different brands with fancy marketing campaigns poised to play on your emotions — and a lot of strong opinions on the subject — the decision can be complicated. To help you narrow the field, we asked nine veterinarians to help us find the best of the bunch for all kinds of puppies.
Best overall dry food for small-breed puppies | Best (less-expensive) dry food for small-breed puppies | Best overall wet food for small-breed puppies | Best overall food for large-breed puppies | Best (less-expensive) food for large-breed puppies | Best food for puppies of all sizes with sensitive stomachs | Best human-grade food for puppies | Best (less-expensive) human-grade food for puppies
What we’re looking for:
Meets AAFCO nutritional standards: “What to feed your puppy is a question I get almost every single day,” says Dr. Karie Anne Johnson, a mobile veterinarian and co-founder of VIP Vet Visit. She and the other vets we spoke to all recommend choosing puppy food that has been thoroughly researched and tested for nutritional adequacy by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and meets AAFCO’s nutritional standards. All of the puppy food recommended below meets or exceeds AAFCO standards.
Formulated for growing puppies: If you have other dogs at home, you might assume it’s okay to feed your adult dogs and your puppy the same food. But according to Dr. Jamie Richardson, chief of staff at Small Door Veterinary in NYC, “Puppies have different dietary requirements compared to adult dogs.” They need higher levels of protein and certain vitamins and minerals. Because of this, Richardson recommends feeding them a formulation that is specific to puppies until they are skeletally mature — around one year for small- and medium-breed dogs or between 14 and 18 months in large- and giant-breed dogs. Still, even among the foods specifically made for puppies, there are hundreds of brands to choose from. Richardson suggests confirming that whatever food you buy says that the diet “meets the nutritional profiles for growth or all life stages.” And veterinarian Dr. Shelly Zacharias, vice-president of medical affairs for Gallant, adds that all good puppy foods should contain some sort of grain, because grain-free diets have been linked to an increased risk of dilated cardiomyopathy (a kind of heart disease), especially in large-breed dogs. All of the dog foods on this list have been recommended by veterinarians with growing puppies in mind.
High-quality ingredients: Zacharias also stresses that the ingredients should name the exact type of meat included (instead of “meat” or “meat by-products”) and they should not contain white flour, preservatives such as BHA or BHT, propylene glycol, or rendered fat. If you’re among the people who see their dog more as a member of their family than as a pet, you may want to give them minimally processed food that looks more like your own dinner than traditional kibble or wet food. Richardson says that a growing number of the pet owners she sees are interested in human-grade or fresh pet foods. As this is a relatively new concept in the pet-food world and definitions vary a bit by brand, but generally speaking, something labeled “fresh pet food” is minimally processed, does not use preservatives, and is gently cooked to retain nutrients and reduce the risk of harmful bacteria present in some raw diets. These foods usually come frozen and need to be thawed before each meal.
Breed size: Large- and giant-breed puppies like malamutes, Great Danes, German shepherds, and Saint Bernards have different dietary needs than, say, a Yorkshire terrier or dachshund puppy. Veterinarian Dr. Leslie Brooks, an adviser at Betterpet, says large-breed puppies should eat food that is specifically labeled for “large-breed puppies.” According to Brooks, the mineral and calorie content in those foods is tailored to prevent large-breed puppies from growing too fast and developing bone or joint abnormalities as they grow.
When it comes to small and toy dog breeds, the main difference in their food, Richardson says, is that it’s made in smaller chunks. Because little dogs have smaller mouths and teeth, you want to give them something that’s easy for them to bite and chew. But that’s not the only reason to get food made specifically for small-breed puppies. According to Zacharias, small-breed puppy food also has nutrient differences that are important for small dogs.
Wet versus dry food: For some dog owners, the decision to feed their puppy a wet-food diet rather than a dry-food diet is one of convenience and personal preference. But if you have a puppy who’s reluctant to drink enough water, serving them wet food can be a sneaky way to help them stay hydrated. In addition to puppy foods that come in a can, fresh and human-grade dog foods can be considered wet food since they are lightly cooked to retain the food’s original moisture.
Best overall dry food for small-breed puppies
Royal Canin Small Puppy Dry Dog Food
Royal Canin Small Puppy Dry Dog Food
$55
First ingredients are brewers rice, chicken by product meal, and chicken fat | Small breed | Dry food
Three of the vets we consulted recommend Royal Canin puppy foods. Zacharias raised six of her own dogs on Royal Canin, and Dr. Sara Ochoa, a Texas-based veterinarian and a veterinary consultant for doglab.com, likes the brand because it is specifically formulated not only for a dog’s size but also for certain breeds, such as Chihuahuas or French bulldogs. If your small dog’s breed is a bit of a mystery, Royal Canin also makes food for small, medium, and large puppies that isn’t specific to their breeds.
$55 AT CHEWY
$55 AT AMAZON
Best (less-expensive) dry food for small-breed puppies
Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain Chicken & Pomegranate Recipe Mini Puppy Dry Dog Food
Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain Chicken & Pomegranate Recipe Mini Puppy Dry Dog Food
From $28
First ingredients are boneless chicken, dehydrated chicken, and whole spelt | Small breed | Dry food
Richardson says that the Italian brand Farmina is a great choice for puppies. Not only does the company use high-quality ingredients, it also works directly with an Italian veterinary nutritionist to create foods formulated to the highest of standards, whereas many other brands simply formulate their food based on information found in existing studies. Also, this dry food is clinically tested to have a low glycemic index, which helps your puppy get all the nutrients it needs.
FROM $28 AT CHEWY
Best overall wet food for small-breed puppies
Royal Canin Small Puppy Wet Dog Food
Royal Canin Small Puppy Wet Dog Food
$35 for 10
First ingredients are water, pork by products, and chicken | Small breeds | Canned wet food
In addition to recommending small-size kibble for little dogs, Zacharias suggests exposing young dogs of all sizes to both wet and dry foods to help them develop a taste for both. “This helps prevent having a picky pet who doesn’t like one or the other,” she says. Plus, if a specific health condition dictates one or the other type of food, you won’t have a hard time introducing it, she says. “I personally mix dry kibble with a little canned, so they get the benefit of the added moisture,” says Zacharias. This wet food is for small breeds, but Royal Canin also makes wet food for medium- and large-breed dogs.
$35 FOR 10 AT CHEWY
Best overall food for large-breed puppies
Purina Pro Plan Focus Puppy Large-Breed Formula Dry Dog Food
Purina Pro Plan Focus Puppy Large-Breed Formula Dry Dog Food
$50
$52 now 4% off
First ingredients are chicken, rice, and corn gluten meal | Large breeds | Dry food
Four of the veterinarians we talked to recommended Purina Pro Plan puppy foods for large breeds because all of the company’s foods for specialized diets have been researched and tested by veterinary nutritionists. Johnson also likes that Purina stands by its food and does not shy away from issuing voluntary recalls. “This means they test their product often and only allow food on the shelves if it passes their strict quality-control measures,” she says. Purina Pro Plan Focus is typically a hit with most puppies, she says. Even the pickiest eaters.
$50 AT AMAZON
$53 AT PETCO
Best (less-expensive) food for large-breed puppies
Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Large Breed Dry Dog Food
Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Large Breed Dry Dog Food
$39
$43 now 9% off
First ingredients are chicken meal, whole grain wheat, and whole grain oats | Large breeds | Dry food
Hill’s Science Diet comes recommended by three of the experts we spoke to, including veterinarian Dr. Jessica Kirk, who likes that “this food has gone through AAFCO feeding trials, is readily available at many pet-supply stores, and is affordable to most puppy owners.” Whichever large-breed-puppy dog food you buy, Kirk suggests making sure it has been tested in AAFCO feeding trials as opposed to simply having been designed using AAFCO guidelines. “The wording on the packaging can be misleading,” she warns.
$39 AT CHEWY
$39 AT AMAZON
Best food for puppies with sensitive stomachs
Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Puppy Dry Dog Food
Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach Puppy Dry Dog Food
$50
$52 now 4% off
First ingredients are salmon, rice, and barley | All breed sizes | Dry food
Dr. Chyrle Bonk, a veterinarian with the pet-health website Doggie Designer, is also a fan of Purina Pro Plan — the brand she “raised my last two puppies on” — and recommends this food in particular for puppies with sensitive stomachs. “It is a good-quality food made with real meat and probiotics to help nourish and regulate those developing tummies,” Bonk explains. She notes that the size of the dry kibble is “just right for any mouth, no matter how small,” adding that the food is generally easy to find.
$50 AT CHEWY
$50 AT AMAZON
Best human-grade food for puppies
NomNomNow Subscription Dog Food
NomNomNow Subscription Dog Food
First ingredients are ground beef, russet potatoes, and eggs | All breed sizes | Frozen wet food
According to Richardson, many of the fresh pet food brands on the market currently don’t sell food specifically formulated for puppies. She’s also cautious about fresh pet foods because they tend to contain a higher fat content than other dog foods. Still, if you’re looking to go the fresh-food route, Richardson recommends the subscription brand Nom Nom (the direct-to-consumer brand was recently purchased by Mars Petcare with plans to integrate it into its Royal Canin division). Like other brands on this list, Nom Nom works with a veterinary nutritionist to create diets that follow AAFCO standards. To order, you fill out a survey about your pet’s breed, age, activity level, and weight goals. “There are not a lot of other companies who do that,” she says. Nom Nom says its plans start at around $3 a day for the smallest breeds with few dietary restrictions. If you want to try before you subscribe, you can buy a variety pack with four of the brand’s foods for a flat $15.
REQUEST PRICE AT NOMNOMNOW
Best (less-expensive) human-grade food for puppies
The Farmer’s Dog Subscription Dog Food
The Farmer’s Dog Subscription Dog Food
First ingredients are chicken liver, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage | All breed sizes | Frozen wet food
Veterinarian Dr. Joe Martins of Belle Mead Animal Hospital is another fan of fresh-food diets. “The best foods for puppies are breed- and size-specific foods that are gently cooked with fresh, natural protein, vegetables like carrots, and added fatty acids, providing higher critical levels of EPA and DHA that puppies need in their most critical developmental age, which starts at six to nine weeks,” he says.
If you want to try a (slightly) cheaper option, homeopathic veterinarian Dr. Christina Chambreau recommends the Farmer’s Dog, which also makes its food using fresh meat and vegetables. (That food, according to the brand, exceeds AAFCO recommendations for nutritional value.) Like Nom Nom, the company asks each customer to fill out a series of questions about their dog’s age, breed, and weight as well as any food concerns they might have. Each diet — chicken, turkey, beef, or pork — is customized to your dog and shipped to your house, ready to serve. According to the Farmer’s Dog, their plans start at around $2 a day for the smallest dogs with few dietary restrictions — but the actual cost of any plan will depend on the specific information you provide when signing up.