For all stages of life, personal dietary needs, and palate particularities
The right dog food provides balanced nutrition and dietary support for a dog's current needs, and those needs can change throughout their lifetime. Whether dry or wet, the food you put in their bowl should also appeal to their testbeds, using ingredients that are nutritious and digestible.
“There are numerous aspects to consider when evaluating dog foods,” Dr. Jennifer Frione, DVM, of Lakeside Animal Hospital told The Spruce Pets. “Factors to look at include the pet food label, ingredients, guaranteed analysis, the pet's age, and the pet's medical state or conditions.”
We evaluated a wide range of dog food brands, seeking advice from
We evaluated a wide range of dog food brands, seeking advice from veterinarians and selecting products that adhere to the standards set forth by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), the leading non-profit organization guiding state, federal, and international feed regulators to safeguard pet food.
We also sought feedback from 407 dog parents, polling them on the brand of dog food that works for their household, while gleaning additional insights for dogs of all sizes, ages, and breeds. You can learn more about our polling methodology below our recommendations, under the heading How We Found The Best Dog Food Brands. We also have additional tips on how to evaluate dog food brands for yourself in the What To Look For section, below.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall: Hill's Science Diet at Amazon
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Best Overall Wet: Blue Buffalo Wet Dog Food at Amazon
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Best Budget: Iams Dog Food at Amazon
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Best Refrigerated: FreshPet Dog Food at Amazon
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Best For Puppies: Purina Pro Plan at Amazon
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1.Best OverallHill's Science Diet Dog Food
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Developed by veterinarians and manufactured in the United States, Hill's Science Diet dog food comes in a variety of flavors and formulations to meet the nutritional needs of dogs of every shape and size.
It's our recommendation for most canines because dogs seem to enjoy it, and all products within the Hill's line of pet food meet or exceed the nutrient profiles and manufacturing guidelines of the AAFCO and the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA). The company employs over 220 Ph.D. nutritionists, veterinarians, and scientists, and its safety standards are modeled after those of human food manufacturers.
Hill's Science Diet is readily available as both dry kibble and wet canned dog food, and the brand offers formulas for puppies, adults, and seniors. Within those life stages there are size specific variations (e.g. small breed, large breed) that make the food more amendable to different sized snouts and caloric needs.
Hill's Science Diet dog food is always made with real animal protein as the first ingredient with human-grade ingredients providing essential vitamins and nutrients with each serving. They also offer special formulations to help manage and improve wellness issues and ailments, including weight management, joint discomfort, heart health, and food sensitivities that can have adverse effects on a dog's skin and coat and/or digestive system.
With the right flavor and formulation for a dog, we found that consistently serving Hill's Science Diet leads to straightforward potty sessions and less dietary issues. But the price of this dog food has increased as of late, and the canned variety could benefit from an improved pull tab lid to make it easier to open without the use of a can opener.
Hill's also makes a line of prescription foods for dogs with specific medical problems, Hill's Prescription Diet, but food within that line should only be served to a dog under the direction of a veterinarian and is only available with a prescription.
Life Stage: Puppy, adult, senior | Food Type: Dry, wet | Breed Size: Mini, small, medium, large
2.Best Overall WetBlue Buffalo Wet Dog Food
👉Check Price On Amazon https://amzn.to/3ZDbixB
For dogs that prefer the texture of wet food, Blue Buffalo offers an assortment of formulations designed to support a dog based on their size and life-stage needs. From the dogs involved in our research team's survey, we found that Blue Buffalo's wet food is not only appetizing and easy to digest, but it's also unlikely to upset a sensitive stomach and can help improve the condition of a dog's skin and coat
All of Blue Buffalo's meat-first recipes are made with human-grade ingredients and enhanced with vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that dogs need. And throughout Blue Buffalo's full selection of foods and treats for pets, you'll never find by-product meals, corn, soy, wheat, artificial flavors, or preservatives.
Blue Buffalo has eight lines of wet food for dogs to meet the dietary needs, health issues, and flavor preferences of all dogs, including Wilderness (high in protein), Freedom (free of grains and glutens), Baby Blue (for puppies), and Blue Basics (for skin and stomach care).
Wet food from Blue Buffalo can be mixed with the brand's dry food to make each serving more cost effective, but be sure to adjust the portion size according to directions listed on the product label to avoid overfeeding your dog which can lead to weight gain.
Life Stage: Puppy, adult, senior | Food Type: Dry, wet, refrigerated | Breed Size: Toy, small, standard, large
3. Best BudgetIams Dog Food
👉Check Price On Amazon https://amzn.to/3LAkywG
Within Iams collection of dog foods there are varieties to meet the needs of dogs according to their age, lifestyle, and size, and all recipes include fiber, grains, and omega-6 fatty acids to help support digestion, energy, and overall health.
Iams offers kibble and canned dog food at budget-friendly prices available at big box stores, supermarkets, and through online retailers. There are formulations to address specific health needs that are common among dogs, such as weight management, joint and bone support, and digestive maintenance.
Meat or fish is the first ingredient in all of Iams food for dogs, but recipes also include by-product meals and fillers. The flavors and textures are enjoyed by dogs, but their human guardians participating in our testing collective would like to see more vegetables added to Iams recipes.
Life Stage: Puppy, adult, senior | Food Type: Dry, wet | Breed Size: Extra small, small, medium, large, extra large
4. Best RefrigeratedFreshPet Dog Food
👉Check Price On Amazon https://amzn.to/48GM9q7
The preserving power of a refrigerator is the only preservative used to keep each serving of FreshPet food ready for your canine to consume, and we've found that it's more likely appeal to picky eaters. Plus, the brand's quality ingredients received high marks among our home testers putting FreshPet on par with our Best Overall pick, Hill's Science Diet.
All recipes are made with human-grade ingredients, including farm-raised chicken, fish, beef, eggs, fruits and vegetables, all sourced and manufactured within the United States. FreshPet offers the freshness, flavor, and nutritional value of making home cooked meals for a dog all conveniently packaged in a resealable bag or a slice and serve roll.
For large dogs, a resealable bag offers five pounds of food with protein-rich chunks, and for smaller dogs, each one pound bag is full of smaller-sized nutritionally balanced morsels. The sausage-shaped roll is easy to slice and cut into pieces that align with your dog's size, but it's also soft and easy for them to chew.
Within FreshSelect's dog food offerings, there are grain-free recipes and puppy-specific formulations, but it can be more difficult to find some of the flavors. And for large breed dogs, feeding your dog FreshPet will likely be more expensive than dry or canned food which typically has a longer shelf life. FreshPet food must be refrigerated at all times, and once a packaged is opened, it should be consumed within seven days.
Life Stage: Puppy, adult | Food Type: Refrigerated | Breed Size: Small, medium, large
5.Best For Puppies Purina Pro Plan Puppy Food
👉Check Price On Amazon https://amzn.to/3LDn7Ot
Giving a puppy the proper nutrition will help them grow into a healthy adult, and Purina Pro Plan offers a curated selection of puppy food designed to meet the evolving needs of a developing dog. More than 50 dog parents in our testing collective fill their dog's bowl with a recipe from this brand citing their vet's recommendation as the lead determining factor in their choice.
Both large and small breed size formulas are packed with protein to meet caloric expenditure of an the energetic puppy as they learn and explore. For strong bones, teeth, brain, and vision development, each serving provides calcium, phosphorous, and DHA, which is derived from fish oil. Antioxidants, probiotics, vitamins, and minerals are also included in each serving to keep the immune system and digestive track functioning properly.
Purina Pro Plan is budget-friendly, readily available, and comes in a variety of flavors puppies enjoy with meat or fish as the first ingredient. But recipes often include by-product meals, corn gluten meal, and/or pea protein. The latter of which (pea protein) is suitable for dogs in small doses and is primarily used in Purina Pro Plan's Sensitive Skin and Stomach recipes.
Life Stage: Puppy, adult, senior | Food Type: Dry, wet | Breed Size: Small, medium, large
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