A Complete Buying Guide on Best Canned Dog Food

  • By: Andrew
  • Time to read: 14 min.

The nutritional needs of dogs cannot be ignored if you want a healthy friend. Dogs tend to be more sensitive to new foods than humans, while also expending a lot of energy while running around the house or playing catch endlessly, highlighting a need for a great source of energy.

As a dog owner with little or no time to prepare home-cooked food for your pet, canned foods are a great go-to diet option. While there are a variety of dog food types, canned foods offer instant meals for your furry friend and contain all the essential nutrients required for growth. Surprisingly, most of the best canned dog foods are becoming healthier as a result of fewer artificial preservatives.

While there are a variety of canned dog food reviews all over the internet, this review offers in-depth, insightful, and informative information on some of the most popular canned food options. The goal of this review is to help you pick out the best diet for your dog regardless of age, size, and eating habits.

Top 10 Best Canned Dog Food

Before we dive into the best dog canned food for seniors, puppies, and so on, we should get an idea of what canned dog food is and how it differs from other dog diets.

Overall, canned dog food is one of the best dog diets available onthe market. Rich in protein and fat, this choice consists of raw and meaty ingredients like chicken broth, lamb, and beef. Surprisingly, most of the canned foods contain a tasty sauce which adds to its palatability for your pet, making it tempting and ideal for picky eaters.

Although canned foods can be given as the main meal to your pet, they can also be mixed with dry or kibble dog food for additional nutritional value.

Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe

With chicken being the primary ingredient, this adult dog food is capable of supplying your furry buddy with the right amount of minerals and vitamins. This canned dog food for seniors offers just the right amount of essential nutrients required without going overboard by offering more than is necessary. With no corn, soy, or other by-product meals, this happens to be one of the best canned dog foods for a sensitive stomach.

The presence of full grains in this meal can mean only one thing – it contains carbohydrates that are equally beneficial to the health of your dog. Generally, dogs require a large amount of carbohydrates to replenish lost calories while maintaining steady growth. In addition, the Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe dog meal contains cranberry, sweet potato, carrot mix, and blueberries, thus, offering your buddy a balanced diet.

The Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe ensures that your dog gets the right amount of fatty acids essential for growth. Furthermore, this canned dog diet contains the supplement glucosamine, a substance known to be capable of improving joint pain.

Specifications

  • Brand: Blue Buffalo
  • Weight: 11.10 pounds
  • Enriched with glucosamine
  • Vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals present
  • 425 ME per can
  • Meat ingredients like lamb broth, chicken broth, and lamb liver

Pros

  • An excellent choice for picky eaters
  • Ideal for dogs with a sensitive stomach
  • There are no by-product meals

Cons

  • Most of the cans are dented
  • It is expensive

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Whole Earth Farms Grain Wet Food

Currently one of the best canned dog food for puppies, the Whole Earth Farms Grain Wet Dog Food happens to be different from most of the other canned products available. Unlike any of the other canned foods, this dog food for puppies has been mixed with essential oils in its preparation stage to give your pup a modest amount of healthy fat.

The inclusion of essential oil gives this dog food type an edge over some of the other products. Aside from this, it’s also great for a healthy diet as it sources protein from high-quality raw meats like chicken, beef, lamb, and more. Overall, this dog meal contains 22% of estimated carbs, 41% of protein, and 30% of fat.

Unlike any other dog food, the Whole Earth Farms Grain Wet Food does not contain overly processed meat, grains, veggies, or berries.

Specifications

  • Brand: Whole Earth Farms
  • Weight: 11.33 pounds
  • Type: grain-free
  • Ingredients: chicken broth, chicken, salmon, chicken liver, turkey.
  • Dog type: all puppies regardless of breed and size
  • Antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals present
  • Fortified with essential oils
  • 398 ME per 12.7 ounces of food

Pros

  • It is an excellent choice for all puppies regardless of age, size, and breed
  • Contains essential oil
  • Core meat ingredient
  • It is grain-free

Cons

  • It is quite expensive

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Purina Beyond Grain-free, Natural, Adult, Dog Food

Primarily made of chicken, Purina Beyond Grain-Free Dog Canned Food is ideal for dogs suffering from Cushing’s disease. In addition to its full chicken ingredient, this option also contains peas and carrots as part of its complete recipe makeup, thus, making it a balanced meal for your dog.

Surprisingly, there are no artificial preservatives in this dog food, it is made from pure chicken without any by-product meal like corn or soy. This option also includes carrots which help to improve your dog’s eyesight, possibly due to the presence of vitamin A.

Purina’s mix consists mostly of the liver and chicken broth which does not only make this meal appealing but almost homemade and hearty in terms of nutritional value. This is an excellent mix if you’re already used to feeding your pet with chicken organs. Each of the ingredients of this dog food can be traced back to its raw source, which makes it one of the very few quality canned dog foods available.

Specifications

  • Brand: Purina
  • Pack: 12 cans
  • Flavors: chicken, sweet potato, spinach, beef, green bean, turkey, and beef.
  • Type: Grain-free
  • Antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals are present
  • Size: 13 ounce

Pros

  • It is made up of peas and carrots
  • There are no by-product meals in this diet
  • It consists of chicken organs, ideal for dogs that are already used to eating chicken
  • Chicken broth is the primary ingredient of the sauce
  • It is moderately priced when compared to other canned dog foods

Cons

  • Cans may occasionally be dented

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Taste of the Wild Canned Dog Food

Unlike any of the other canned dog meals, Taste of the Wild Canned Dog Food contains lamb as its main ingredient. This ingredient, according to various studies, is capable of helping dogs with acid reflux recover faster. Being a Sierra Mountain formula contains more than enough protein for dogs. In addition, this canned dog food contains minerals and vitamins that are healthy for both the skin and coat of your furry buddy.

This dog food does not contain preservatives or any form of artificial coloring or flavor, but it does have by-product meals like corn, wheat, and soy. For dogs with sensitive stomachs, this is one of the best canned dog foods. The prebiotic fiber mixed into this meal is ideal for dogs that find it difficult to digest food easily.

Aside from having a mix of meat ingredients, this dog food also has a mix of non-meat foods like blueberries, cranberries, and sweet potatoes. All this contributes to giving your dog a balanced diet.

If your pet is already used to organ meals, then this diet may be easy to adapt to. If you’re planning on transitioning from any other dog food type to canned food, then this could just be a perfect product to start with.

Specifications

  • Brand: Fast of the Wild
  • Type: grain-free
  • Sierra Mountain formula
  • Ingredients: lamb, lamb broth, chicken, turkey
  • Vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals present
  • Non-meat ingredients: cranberries, sweet potatoes, and raspberries

Pros

  • The prebiotic fiber included for easy digestion
  • There is no artificial coloring or flavoring
  • Grain-free
  • No corn, soy, or wheat
  • Complex carbs like sweet potatoes are included
  • Made from lamb organs

Cons

  • A few cases of corrosion on these cans have been reported

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Natural Balance Ultra Premium Wet Dog Food

If a veterinarian recommends that your pup feeds on low-fat food that is balanced, Natural Balance Ultra Premium Wet Dog Food may be the best canned food to try out. This canned dog food is intended for puppies and contains a mix of beef, potatoes, brown rice, and carrots in one special recipe. While the primary ingredient is beef, this dog food is balanced and offers your buddy all the required nutrients for growth. The brown rice mix is an excellent alternative to other commercial foods that may contain an excessive amount of wheat.

Carrots, which are also included, provide your dog with a complete vegetable portion while the sweet potato mix will provide carbs that are good for active dogs. Unlike most of the other dog foods, Natural Balance Ultra Premium Canned Dog Food offers you the option to choose depending on the size, age, and eating pattern of your dog, you may decide to settle for the 6-ounce or 13-ounce cans.

To make this a balanced meal for your pup, omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids have been included in the mix. These fatty acids help keep your dog’s coat healthier and brighter. This food has been made to be easy for your pup to digest, ensuring that all nutrients are absorbed as fast as possible. In addition to this, the Natural Balance brand is one of the most reputable brands in the industry, suggesting that all ingredients on the product label are actually present.

Specifications

  • Brand: Natural Balance
  • Type: grain-free
  • Antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals are present
  • Ingredients: beef, chicken, turkey, lamb broth
  • Non-meat ingredients: brown rice, carrots, sweet potatoes

Pros

  • It is a low-fat canned dog food
  • Carrots are included to provide your dog with vitamins
  • There is no wheat
  • It is available in two distinct sizes

Cons

  • It is not consistent. That is, from time to time the taste, appearance, and ingredients may change

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Purina ALPO Chop House Canned Dog Food

Manufactured by the Purina brand, you can only expect this dog food to be of the highest quality. Unlike most of the other products, the ALPO Chop House comes in 12 sets of 13.2-ounce cans that can last your pet for weeks while offering them great nutritional value.

To offer your pet that delectable meal, savory juices have been included in this special canned dog food for seniors or adults. This is ideal for dogs that may have their taste bud altered by various medications. Each of the ALPO Chop House cans contains meat obtained from natural ingredients that are then mixed by the unique technology of the Purina brand.

While this dog food is expensive, it’s worth every penny spent. According to reports from experts and users, each serving of this canned food contains about 22 different essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that help to support the overall wellness and health of your pet.

Specifications

  • Brand; Purina
  • Weight: 11.55 pounds
  • Type: grain-free
  • Vitamins and minerals are present
  • Flavors: roasted chicken, top sirloin, filet mignon, and bacon.
  • Ingredients: beef, chicken, lamb, chicken broth, meat by-products, and beef

Pros

  • It is palatable
  • More of its primary ingredients are meat-based
  • Ideal for fussy eaters
  • Contains more protein sources than most of the other products

Cons

  • It is quite expensive

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Pedigree Chopped Ground Adult Dog Food

Pedigree is one of the best brands in the industry and you can always count on them to produce some of the best-canned dog foods available. Its Chopped Ground Adult Dog food is not just the best-canned dog food for adults, it’s good for puppies as well.

With a combination or mix of some of the highest quality animal protein as part of its core ingredient, Chopped Ground Adult Dog Food provides your buddy with a balanced and complete diet. It is an excellent food choice for pups that need ample hydration. Currently available in 18-packs of 3.5-ounce cans, this canned food is enough to feed your pup for a couple of weeks while ensuring that he does not miss out on any dietary needs.

To offer dogs a better taste and appearance, the formulation is not finely ground.

Specifications

  • Brand: Pedigree
  • Weight: 1.98 pounds
  • Vitamins and minerals are present
  • Fatty acids are present
  • Ingredients: meat by-product, chicken by-product, beef, pork liver, and chicken

Pros

  • It is an excellent feeding choice for dogs that need ample hydration
  • It enriches your pup with vitamins and minerals
  • Protein is derived from natural ingredients
  • It is appealing to the eyes and ideal for picky eaters

Cons

  • When compared to others, its protein source is not purely derived from natural sources

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Hill’s Science Diet Canned Dog Food

Arguably one of the best-canned dog food choices, this dog food consists of brown rice, real meat, and a variety of vegetables including carrots and peas. Aside from offering your pet essential nutrients, this food has been mixed with gravy sauce which makes it more palatable and irresistible to even the pickiest eater.

The Hill’s Science Diet has been prepared to provide your pup with lean protein which in itself is essential for helping maintain your dog’s health as well as muscle build-up. Founded in 1939, this dog food has to be one of the oldest canned dog food brands in the world. Its use of science to create a wide range of meals that will suit your dog’s health regardless of size and stage is impressive.

The ingredients used in the making of this dog food diet has been carefully selected to provide optimum balance and immense health benefits to your dog. With primary ingredients like chicken, liver, lamb, beef, and other non-meat ingredients, this is one of the best-canned dog foods you can opt for right now.

Specifications

  • Brand: Hill’s Science
  • Type: grain-free
  • Flavors: turkey, chicken, beef.
  • Vitamins and minerals are present
  • Non-meat ingredients: brown rice, carrots, vegetables

Pros

  • Made by a reputable brand
  • It is one of the most recommended products
  • Enriched with essential nutrients capable of building muscle in your pet
  • It is irresistible and ideal for picky and fussy eaters

Cons

  • When compared to some of the other products reviewed here, it is a moderately priced canned dog food

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Halo Natural Wet Dog Food

The primary ingredient of this dog food is lamb which in itself is capable of offering your pup an increased protein level. With over 50% of this dog food made of protein, your dog will get a very healthy dose.

While this a grain-inclusive dog food, it still happens to contain the right amount of essential nutrients required. Grain still provides a good amount of carbohydrates needed to replenish lost calories though, so unless your dog is allergic there is little cause for concern.

It is ideal for both adults and puppies alike.

Carrots, barley, and oats also make up this dog diet mix.

Specifications

  • Brand: Halo Wet
  • Type: grain-inclusive
  • Multiple meal texture to choose from
  • Ideal for adults and puppies
  • Ingredient: chicken broth, lamb, and beef liver
  • Non-meat ingredients: barley, oats, carrots

Pros

  • It offers all the essential nutrients
  • Made with some of the best ingredients
  • Provides your pup with more protein than most of the other products

Cons

  • Grain-inclusive

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Merrick Classic Grain Free Grammy’s Pot Pie Canned Dog Food

Despite being one of the best grain-free canned dog foods on Amazon right now, Merrick Classic’s dog food is a high priced product, but worth every penny. The primary ingredient of this dog food is fresh beef. With over 47% of the diet mix consisting of protein, this is one of the most protein-filled canned dog foods available.

Aside from being grain-free, it is ideal for both puppies and seniors alike. While most of the primary ingredients are obtained from raw meat, there are also non-meat ingredients like peas and carrots. To make this palatable, the meat chunks are coated in gravy which makes it perfect for that fussy or picky eater of yours. Finally, this is a healthy dog food that is capable of offering your furry buddy all essential nutrients required.

Specifications

  • Brand: Merrick
  • Type: grain-free
  • Ingredients: beef, chicken broth, deboned beef, beef liver
  • Non-meat ingredients: peas, carrots

Pros

  • Ideal for dogs of all ages, sizes, breeds, and eating pattern
  • It is grain-free
  • Offers a sufficient amount of protein
  • Vitamins and minerals are present
  • Ingredients are derived from raw meat ingredient

Cons

  • Most expensive option

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Buying Guide

This canned dog food review includes some of the most sought after canned dog foods on the market. While picking one may be difficult for most potential buyers, we’ll help you out.

Budget-friendly

Your budget is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing the best canned dog food. One of the most budget-friendly products is Hill’s Science Diet Canned Dog Food.

Grain-free

This is another factor to take into consideration when picking canned dog food for your pup. Depending on the breed of your dog, it may not be essential to continue serving him grain-inclusive foods. The Merrick Classic Canned Dog Food is one of the best grain-free canned dog foods to pick from.

Conclusion

Canned dog foods in the last couple of years have become one of the best dog foods available. The reason for this is not far fetched – canned foods are easy to serve and incredibly nutritious. With a variety of these canned foods available for purchase in the market, it has become incredibly difficult for most potential buyers to pick the best one.

In this buyers’ guide, we have reviewed some of the best dog foods for seniors and puppies alike.