Pets Food For Dogs

Last Updated on November 7, 2022 by

Pets food for dogs has been a major point of discussion these days amongst pet owners, vets and animal welfare groups. However, few companies have actually taken into consideration the importance of changing pet owners’ perception on how they look at dog food. The companies that do make the best dog food are doing it with a focus to not only making their brands more popular in the minds of customers but also with a resolve to make your pet healthier.

Pets food for dogs is an on-going website. I started collecting products that were good for dogs and added them to the directory.

The health and well-being of your dog depends on the food you feed it. If you don’t care enough to provide your dog with quality food, then competely disregard this blog post because we don’t want you as a customer.

Pets Food For Dogs

Purina Beyond Superfood Blend Wild-Caught Salmon, Egg, and Pumpkin Recipe (14.5-lb bag)
Salmon and chicken meal appear at the top of the ingredients list along with rice, whole barley, and pumpkin. Extras include omega fatty acids (fish oil) and probiotics. With a breakdown of 26% protein, 16% fat, and 4% fiber, we recommend this food for active, normal-weight dogs. Each cup contains 437 kcal.

$29.98 FROM WALMART
$29.98 FROM CHEWY

Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Real Beef and Brown Rice Recipe (25-lb. bag)
Beef and pork meal lead the ingredients list and there are a variety of carbohydrates, including brown rice, barley, oatmeal, quinoa, carrots, and apples. Health extras include omega fatty acids (flaxseed, salmon) along with glucosamine and chondroitin. With 26% protein, 15% fat, and 3.5% fiber, this is a good option for moderately active, normal-weight dogs. Each cup contains 386 kcal.

$64.98 FROM CHEWY
$64.98 FROM AMAZON
$64.98 FROM PETCO

Nature’s Logic Canine Chicken Meal Feast (25-lb. bag)
At the top of the list are chicken meal and chicken fat plus millet and eggs. Carbohydrates include pumpkin seed, kelp, almonds, carrots, apples, blueberries, and cranberries. Healthy extras like probiotics and digestive enzymes are included. We recommend this food for active, normal-weight dogs with a breakdown of 36% protein, 15% fat, and 5% fiber. This food has undergone feeding trials and each cup contains 418 kcal.

$79.99 FROM CHEWY
Best wet dog food for adults
two cans of wet dog food with text “wellness lamb and beef stew” and “Merrick Limited Ingredient” and a carton with text “go! solutions”
We recommend these AAFCO complete-and-balanced wet dog foods from Wellness, Go! Solutions, and Merrick. Chewy; Rachel Mendelson/Insider
Some dogs really prefer the taste or texture of wet food, says veterinarian Jamie Richardson, chief of staff at Small Door Veterinary in New York City. Of course, pet parents want their dogs to enjoy their meals, so it makes sense that this is a popular choice.

Other pros of wet food are that it tends to have a longer shelf life before it’s opened, and according to Richardson, some wet foods may be less “processed” or contain fewer preservatives, which can make them easier to digest.

Luckily, the same nutritional standards apply to both dry and wet food. But comparing their labels isn’t exactly apples to apples because wet food has much more water content. So in order to understand how a wet food’s nutrition compares to a dry food, you need to look at the percentages of protein, fat, and fiber on a “dry matter basis.” Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University has some handy instructions on how to calculate that yourself. Another option: Call the brand that makes the food or ask your veterinarian for help. For the foods we recommend in this guide, we contacted the manufacturer to get all the info.

Heads up: Keep an eye out for wet dog food that’s made from 100% meat. These won’t provide complete, balanced meals for your dog. “Dogs have evolved from wolves to become obligate omnivores,” explains Dodds. They need to eat more than just meat in order to be healthy. That doesn’t mean these foods are totally off-limits though. Consider them as supplements. You can even use small quantities of meat-only wet foods as delicious toppers to your dog’s dry food.

After doing our research, we chose wet foods that meet the same AAFCO complete and balanced standards that apply to dry food. It’s worth noting, though, that wet food often has more protein and fat and fewer carbohydrates. So before you swap dry food for wet food, it’s a good idea to talk to your vet so you can be on the lookout for any issues with digesting a lot of protein or fat.

Our picks for adult wet dog food:

Go! Solutions Skin + Coat Care Shredded Chicken Recipe (12.5-oz. cartons, 12-pack)
This wet food has protein sources of chicken, chicken and turkey broth, and chicken liver. Brown rice, carrots, peas, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin round out the list, plus flaxseed for omega fatty acids. It contains 48% protein, 28% fat, and 1.5% fiber and 320 kcal per 12.5-ounce carton, which is about 25.6 calories per ounce.

$45.48 FROM CHEWY
Originally $47.88Save 5%

Wellness Lamb and Beef Stew with Brown Rice and Apples (12.5-oz. cans, 12-pack)
At the front of the ingredients list are lamb broth, lamb, beef, and beef liver as protein sources. Carbohydrates include brown rice, apples, carrots, and spinach. This food consists of 41% protein, 26% fat, and 1% fiber. A 12.5-ounce can contains 359 kcal, or about 29 calories per ounce.

$47.88 FROM CHEWY
$46.56 FROM AMAZON

Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Real Turkey & Brown Rice Recipe (12.7 oz. cans, 12 pack)
This limited ingredient food has a single protein source (turkey) and two carbohydrates (brown rice and oatmeal). A limited-ingredient food may be good for dogs with allergies that need to avoid certain ingredients. It contains 36% protein, 27% fat, and 6% fiber. A 12.7-ounce can is 402 kcal, or about 32 calories per ounce.

$39.48 FROM CHEWY

Best fresh dog food
best fresh dog food packages with text “just food for dogs,” “ollie” and “the farmer’s dog”
Fresh dog food from Just Food For Dogs, The Farmer’s Dog, and Ollie can be delivered right to your door. Ollie; Just Food for Dogs; The Farmer’s Dog; Rachel Mendelson/Insider
“An increasing number of pet owners are asking us about fresh food for their pets,” Richardson says. That may be partly due to marketing, which has helped pet owners learn about the benefits of feeding your dog a fresh diet. Usually, these foods are minimally processed, made with wholesome, gently cooked ingredients, and often, they’re preservative-free.

Of course, because these foods are a bit fancier, they tend to be on the pricier side. Lots of fresh pet food brands are subscription-based, meaning they deliver fresh, individually customized meals right to your doorstep. So while you might end up spending more on this type of dog food, it’s also super convenient.

If you’re wondering how to choose a fresh dog food, the standards are much the same as for dry and wet food, Richardson says. It should have an AAFCO statement of nutritional adequacy and be appropriate for your dog’s size, life stage, breed, and activity level.

You should aim to buy fresh dog food from a reputable manufacturer that ensures good quality control. It’s also key to look for the same types of ingredients you would in other types of dog food: meat sources of protein, whole grains, fruits, and marine sources of fats — with bonus points for healthy extras like omega fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin.

We’ve tested all of our fresh food picks and can vouch for their quality.

Our picks for fresh dog food:

Just Food For Dogs Turkey and Whole Wheat Macaroni (18-oz. package, 7 pack)
Just Food For Dogs makes a variety of fresh, shelf-stable, and custom meals. Its fresh-frozen turkey and whole wheat macaroni contains ground turkey, broccoli, zucchini, carrots, cranberries, and cod liver oil for omega fatty acids. It consists of 35% protein, 13% fat, and 3% fiber (dry matter basis). The brand conducts feeding trials and uses human-grade ingredients and no preservatives. Save 35% on your first purchase and 5% on recurring autoship orders.

$59.15 FROM JUST FOOD FOR DOGS
$59.15 FROM CHEWY

The Farmer’s Dog Monthly Subscription
The Farmer’s Dog turkey recipe includes chickpeas, carrots, broccoli, parsnips, and spinach and omega fatty acids for fish oil and is made from human-grade ingredients without preservatives. It contains 38.2% protein, 26.2% fat, and 2.1% fiber (dry matter basis). This food is grain-free. The FDA continues to investigate a potential link between dogs fed grain-free diets and the development of dilated cardiomyopathy, so talk to your veterinarian before feeding your dog this food.

$60.00 FROM THE FARMER’S DOG

Ollie Chicken Recipe (monthly subscription)
Ollie’s chicken recipe includes chia seeds, carrots, peas, spinach, and blueberries, plus omega fatty acids from fish oil and cod liver oil. It’s also free of preservatives. It contains 37% protein, 11% fat, and 7% fiber (dry matter basis). Save 50% on your first box.

$108.00 FROM OLLIE

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