12 Best Canned Dog Foods Options for Puppies to Seniors

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• Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.

From teething puppies to senior dogs with dental issues, many dogs prefer wet food over dry food. It’s not just about the soft, easy-to-chew texture. Canned dog food helps support your dog’s hydration and, depending on the ingredients, it might be easier for some dogs to digest. 

Wet dog food can be a nutritious option, but whether it’s the best choice for your particular pup depends on a variety of factors, like price, ingredient quality, your pup’s health needs, and their preferences for flavor and texture.

Your veterinarian is the best person to offer dietary advice—especially for dogs with ongoing health problems. To get you started, we’ve put together a list of the best canned dog food options on the market for all types of nutrition needs and palates.

Best Pâté: Merrick Real Chicken Dinner Grain-Free Wet Dog Food 

This Real Chicken Dinner recipe from Merrick is a simple, easily digestible choice made with 96% protein from animal sources. With its smooth pâté-style texture, it may be a good choice for dogs who have trouble chewing or for those who don’t enjoy shredded or chunky foods.

Salmon oil is the main source of fat in this formula, delivering a high concentration of animal-derived omega-3 fatty acids. Chicken liver and dried egg supplement the protein from deboned chicken, but the remaining ingredients are just texturizing agents and nutrient supplements. 

This line of Merrick canned dog food dinners includes three single-protein flavors—chicken, duck, and beef—as well as a multi-protein beef, bison, and lamb dinner. These recipes are much more energy-dense than Merrick’s chunky-style wet dog food dinners. The chicken formula, for example, contains nearly double the amount of dry matter fat and a comparable amount of protein. 

Key Nutrients: 

• 1,230 kcal/kg
• Protein: 9%
• Fat: 7%
• Fiber: 1.4%
• Moisture: 78%

Best Shredded: Weruva Paw Lickin’ Chicken in Gravy Grain-Free Canned Dog Food

For dogs who prefer a shredded texture, this Paw Lickin’ Chicken recipe from Weruva is a popular choice. It’s made with boneless, skinless chicken breast and little else besides supplements. Potato starch helps thicken the cooking liquid, giving it a gravy-like consistency. 

Because this recipe is largely animal-based, it’s highly digestible for dogs. It contains nearly 67% dry-matter protein and it’s rich in hydrating moisture. By comparison, Weruva’s Steak Frites Dinner contains only 46.2% dry-matter protein. 

The thing to keep in mind with this recipe is that it’s low in fat and calories. It could be an excellent choice for dogs who need to lose weight. However, dogs with high energy requirements may need large portions of this food. 

Key Nutrients: 

• 675 kcal/kg
• Protein: 10%
• Fat: 1.4%
• Fiber: 0.5%
• Moisture: 85%

Best Stew: Stella & Chewy’s Wild Red Grain-Free Chicken & Turkey Stew

Shredded chicken, chunks of turkey, and broth make up the majority of this stew-style wet food from Stella & Chewy’s. The food is free from peas and highly processed grains, relying on pumpkin, carrots, and potatoes as the primary carbohydrates. It also contains tapioca, but this ingredient serves primarily as a thickening agent rather than a nutrition source. 

Stella & Chewy’s stews come in three flavors: chicken & turkey, chicken & beef, and chicken & lamb. All three recipes have a similar nutritional breakdown, but the Chicken & Turkey Stew is the most energy-dense of the three. It contains about 26 calories per ounce. 

Compared to Stella & Chewy’s freeze-dried raw dog foods, these wet foods contain lower concentrations of protein. They’re rich in hydrating moisture, however, and ready to pour right into your dog’s bowl—no soaking necessary. 

Key Nutrients: 

• 922 kcal/kg
• Protein: 7%
• Fat: 2%
• Fiber: 2%
• Moisture: 85%

For Small Breeds: Purina ONE SmartBlend Classic Ground Chicken & Brown Rice Entree

Made with a short list of animal proteins, wholesome grains, and vegetables, this Purina ONE wet dog food is one of the best options for small breeds. It doesn’t hurt that it’s also a budget-friendly product, priced under $0.20 per ounce. 

Chicken muscle meat is the main ingredient, supplemented with protein from liver, pork lungs, and egg. This recipe contains 36.4% protein and 31.8% fat, both measured as dry matter. At about 33 calories per ounce, it offers moderate energy density with plenty of protein to support your dog’s lean muscle mass. 

Overall, this recipe is highly digestible. Most important for small breeds, however, is the focus on resistant starches like brown rice and oats. These can help prevent the constipation to which small-breed dogs are prone. 

Key Nutrients: 

• 1,143 kcal/kg
• Protein: 8%
• Fat: 7%
• Fiber: 1.5%
• Moisture: 78%

For Large Breeds: Instinct Original Grain-Free Real Chicken Recipe Canned Dog Food

Protein-rich chicken and turkey are the primary ingredients in this Instinct wet dog food. Measured as dry matter, it contains 43.2% protein. At 38 calories per ounce, it’s moderately energy-dense, so your large breed won’t need to eat excessive portions to meet their energy needs. 

While small breeds tend toward constipation, large breeds more commonly experience loose stools. A diet low in resistant starches like whole grains, potatoes, and peas can help support smooth digestion. 

This Instinct recipe does contain some peas, but it’s the ninth ingredient down. Ground flaxseed, the fifth ingredient, contains soluble fiber, which may help counteract any negative digestive effects. Overall, this is a hydrating formula with a smooth pate texture that is easy for dogs to digest. 

Key Nutrients: 

• 1,342 kcal/kg
• Protein: 9.5%
• Fat: 8.5%
• Fiber: 3%
• Moisture: 78%

Best for Puppies: Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Puppy Chicken Dinner 

To support rapid growth and healthy development, puppies require higher levels of protein and fat than adult dogs. This Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe wet dog food is formulated with these factors in mind. It also meets AAFCO guidelines for the optimal calcium-to-phosphorus ratio to support healthy bone development in puppies.

This wet puppy food features chicken muscle meat and chicken liver as the primary ingredients. A handful of vegetables and whole grains contribute to the food’s energy and nutrient content, while fish oil is the main source of added fat. This ingredient is particularly rich in the omega-3 fatty acid DHA which is essential for puppy brain development. 

Key Nutrients: 

• 1,190 kcal/kg
• Protein: 9%
• Fat: 6%
• Fiber: 1.3%
• Moisture: 78%

Best for Seniors: Chicken Soup for the Soul Mature Chicken, Turkey & Duck Recipe 

While it may not be necessary to switch your dog’s diet based on age alone, some senior dogs can benefit from dietary adjustments. This Chicken Soup for the Soul Mature recipe is protein-rich but moderate in calories and fat. A formula like this may help aging dogs maintain lean muscle mass without the risk of unhealthy weight gain. 

Compared to Chicken Soup for the Soul’s Adult Chicken, Turkey & Duck Recipe, this mature formula contains about 13.6% less dry matter fat. It contains about 31 calories per ounce, compared to 36 calories per ounce in the standard adult recipe.

Most of this food’s 34% dry matter protein content comes from poultry and fish. Chicken is the main ingredient, but it also contains turkey, chicken liver, fish, and duck. Given the multi-protein formulation, picky dogs may find this recipe appealing as well. 

Key Nutrients: 

• 1,071 kcal/kg
• Protein: 7.5%
• Fat: 4%
• Fiber: 1%
• Moisture: 78%

Budget Pick: Purina Beyond Beef, Potato & Green Bean Recipe 

Wet dog food comes in packages of various sizes, but large cans tend to be the most cost-effective option. This Purina Beyond beef formula comes in 13-ounce cans. When you buy it by the case, the per-ounce price works out to under $0.15. 

Not only is this Purina canned dog food an affordable option, but it’s a largely meat-based recipe that offers plenty of hydration and easy digestibility for dogs. It’s a grain-free formula but doesn’t contain the peas or legumes some grain-free food manufacturers rely on to keep costs down. 

Measured as dry matter, this recipe contains 36.4% protein and 27.3% fat. It contains 36 calories per ounce. 

Key Nutrients: 

• 1,264 kcal/kg
• Protein: 8%
• Fat: 6%
• Fiber: 1.5%
• Moisture: 78%

Best Brand Transparency: Open Farm Homestead Turkey Rustic Stew Wet Dog Food

This wet dog food recipe from Open Farm features turkey as the primary ingredient in a rustic-style stew. Pet parents who want to prioritize humanely raised and sustainably sourced ingredients will appreciate Open Farm’s commitment to transparency. 

Packaged in a resealable cardboard carton instead of an aluminum can, Open Farm wet food is nutritionally complete according to the Association of American Feed Control Officials’ (AAFCO) nutrient profiles for adult dogs. It contains 38.9% protein and 30.6% fat, both measured as dry matter. 

Though rich in protein and fat, this recipe is fairly low in calories. If your dog has high energy requirements, it may work well as a wet food topper rather than a staple diet. 

Key Nutrients: 

• 1,025 kcal/kg
• Protein: 7%
• Fat: 5.5%
• Fiber: 2%
• Moisture: 82%

For Sensitive Stomachs: Wellness CORE 95% Grain-Free Beef & Carrots 

The best dog food for sensitive stomachs is one made with easily digestible ingredients. This Wellness CORE recipe fits the bill, featuring beef muscle meat as the main ingredient and sole source of animal protein. The only other significant ingredient is carrots, which are a digestible source of essential nutrients and dietary fiber. 

If your dog doesn’t like the flavor of beef—or if they are sensitive or allergic to it—this line also includes a chicken or turkey option. All three flavors consist of 95% animal ingredients and provide plenty of moisture to support your dog’s hydration and healthy digestion. 

Wellness offers a second line of 95% meat-based wet foods. Unlike this Beef & Carrots recipe, however, they’re not nutritionally complete and are intended for use only as meal toppers or mixers.

Key Nutrients: 

• 1,207 kcal/kg
• Protein: 10%
• Fat: 9%
• Fiber: 1%
• Moisture: 78%

For Picky Eaters: Orijen Regional Red Stew with Shredded Beef & Lamb 

Inspired by Orijen’s popular line of dry dog foods, this Regional Red wet dog food is a popular choice among picky eaters. While beef muscle meat is the main ingredient, it contains other tasty proteins like duck, egg, lamb, sardines, and various organ meats. Rather than water, the added moisture in this recipe comes from flavorful beef and lamb bone broths. 

This canned dog food contains 61.1% dry matter protein, making it one of the highest-protein options on this list. It contains 30.6% dry matter fat and offers about 28 calories per ounce. It’s higher in protein, fat, and calories than Orijen’s Original wet food formula.

Key Nutrients: 

• 990 kcal/kg
• Protein: 11%
• Fat: 5.5%
• Fiber: 1.5%
• Moisture: 82%

For Food Allergies: Ziwi Peak Lamb Recipe Canned Dog Food 

Dogs with food allergies to common proteins may require a novel-protein diet. Ziwi Peak offers half a dozen recipes, including several unique flavors like lamb, tripe, and venison. Every Ziwi Peak wet dog food is formulated with over 90% meat, organs, and New Zealand green mussels. 

This lamb recipe features a biologically appropriate blend of lamb muscle meat, lamb organs, and lamb bone. New Zealand green mussels supply animal-derived glucosamine and chondroitin for joint support as well as some anti-inflammatory omega-3s. 

Because they’re made primarily with animal ingredients, Ziwi Peak wet foods are highly digestible. This particular recipe contains 43.2% dry matter protein and offers about 38 calories of energy per ounce of food. 

Key Nutrients: 

• 1,325 kcal/kg
• Protein: 9.5%
• Fat: 6%
• Fiber: 2%
• Moisture: 78%

How We Chose

We selected the products featured here based on a combination of our own hands-on testing, comprehensive analysis of customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms, and interviews with veterinary experts.

We selected wet dog foods formulated according to AAFCO’s nutrient profiles for dogs, prioritizing recipes made with easily digestible sources of protein, fat, and carbohydrates. Our picks are also influenced by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pets, who are never stingy with their feedback.

Further Reading

• The 11 Best Wet Foods for Growing Puppies, from Chihuahuas to German Shepherds
• What Is Dog Food Made Of and Where Does It Come From?
• The Best Dog Bone Broths in Carton, Pouch, Powder, and Food Form
• The 7 Best Soft Dog Treats