What’s the Best Wet Dog Food?
In addition to meeting our 9 guidelines for finding superior brands, the best wet dog foods contain:
- No cancer-causing chemical preservatives
- No anonymous meat ingredients
- No high risk coloring agents
- No generic animal fat
- Above-average meat content
- Favorable fat-to-protein ratio
- Modest carbohydrate content
Best Wet Dog Food Brands
December 2018
Here are The Dog Food Advisor’s top 15 best wet dog foods for December 2018:
Taste of the Wild Canned Dog Food
Rating: 
- Example: Taste of the Wild High Prairie
- First 5 ingredients: Beef, lamb broth, vegetable broth, lamb liver, dried egg product
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: All dogs including large breed puppies
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 44%, a fat level of 22% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 25%.
Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical wet dog food.
Highly recommended.
Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipes
Rating: 
- Example: Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Beef Dinner
- First 5 ingredients: Beef, beef broth, beef liver, parrots, peas
- Profile: Maintenance
- Best For: All adult dogs
Label analysis of example reveals a dry matter protein content of 39%, a fat level of 27% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 26%.
Near-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical wet dog food.
Highly recommended.
Instinct Original Canned Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Instinct Original Duck Recipe
- First 5 ingredients: Duck, duck broth, turkey liver, ground flaxseed, dicalcium phosphate
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: All dogs excluding large breed puppies
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 48%, a fat level of 39% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 6%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical wet dog food.
Highly recommended.
Nature’s Recipe Grain-Free Wet Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Nature’s Recipe Grain-Free Chicken and Venison
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, chicken broth, sweet potatoes, venison, green beans
- Profile: Maintenance
- Best For: All adult dogs
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 61%, a fat level of 11% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 20%.
Above-average protein. Below-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical wet dog food.
Highly recommended.
Whole Earth Farms Canned Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Whole Earth Farms Chicken and Turkey
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, chicken broth, turkey, chicken liver, peas
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: All dogs including large breed puppies
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 43%, a fat level of 27% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 22%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical wet dog food.
Highly recommended.
Wellness Core Canned Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Wellness Core Turkey, Chicken Liver and Turkey Liver
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, turkey, chicken liver, chicken broth, chicken meal
- Profile: Varies per recipe
- Best For: Varies per recipe
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 55%, a fat level of 36% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 1%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical wet dog food.
Highly recommended.
Crave Wet Dog Food Trays
Rating:
- Example: Crave Turkey and Lamb Recipe
- First 5 ingredients: Turkey, chicken broth, chicken, chicken liver, lamb
- Profile: Maintenance
- Best For: All adult dogs
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 55%, a fat level of 32% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 6%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical wet dog food.
Highly recommended.
Merrick Classic Canned Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Merrick Classic Grain-Free Cowboy Cookout
- First 5 ingredients: Deboned beef, beef broth, chicken broth, beef liver, peas
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: All dogs including large breed puppies
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 47%, a fat level of 16% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 29%.
Above-average protein. Below-average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to a typical wet dog food.
Highly recommended.
Weruva Canned Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Weruva Bed and Breakfast Recipe
- First 5 ingredients: Chicken, water sufficient for processing, egg, pumpkin, sweet potato
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: All dogs excluding large breed puppies
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 60%, a fat level of 12% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 20%.
Above-average protein. Below-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical wet dog food.
Highly recommended.
Halo Canned Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Halo Lamb Recipe
- First 5 ingredients: Lamb, chicken broth, beef liver, barley, carrots
- Profile: Maintenance
- Best For: All adult dogs
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 50%, a fat level of 28% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 14%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical wet dog food.
Highly recommended.
Canidae Grain-Free Pure Wet Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Canidae Grain-Free Pure Elements Formula
- First 5 ingredients: Lamb, lamb broth, turkey, turkey broth, chicken
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: All dogs including large breed puppies
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 41%, a fat level of 36% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 15%.
Near-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical wet dog food.
Highly recommended.
Earthborn Holistic Moist Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Earthborn Holistic Pepper’s Pot Roast Stew
- First 5 ingredients: Beef broth, beef, dried egg product, beef liver, pea protein
- Profile: Maintenance
- Best For: All adult dogs
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 44%, a fat level of 22% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 25%.
Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical wet dog food.
Highly recommended.
Zignature Canned Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Zignature Lamb Formula
- First 5 ingredients: Lamb, lamb broth, lamb liver, peas, carrots
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: All dogs excluding large breed puppies
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 43%, a fat level of 25% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 24%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical wet dog food.
Highly recommended.
I and Love and You Stews
Rating:
- Example: I and Love and You Gobble It Up Stew
- First 5 ingredients: Turkey, turkey broth, vegetable broth, turkey liver, dried egg whites
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: All dogs excluding large breed puppies
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 44%, a fat level of 17% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 31%.
Above-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to a typical wet dog food.
Highly recommended.
Holistic Select Grain-Free Canned Dog Food
Rating:
- Example: Holistic Select Grain-Free Beef Pate
- First 5 ingredients: Beef, beef broth, pork liver, whitefish, ground dried peas
- Profile: All life stages
- Best For: All dogs including large breed puppies
Label analysis of our example recipe reveals a dry matter protein content of 55%, a fat level of 27% and an estimated carbohydrate share of about 10%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical wet dog food.
Highly recommended.
