We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. The 12 Best Wet Dog Foods, According to More Than 400 Dogs and Their Humans For balanced nutrition and hydration By Anna Mejorada Anna Mejorada Anna Mejorada is an editor for The Spruce Pets and best friends with a Pomeranian named Gidget. She has tested hundreds of products, many with the help of Gidget, whose refined taste and cheerful nature continuously inspire Anna's work. Learn more about The Spruce Pets' Editorial Process Updated on 08/18/25 In This Article View All In This Article Top Picks Reviews How We Found the Best Wet Dog Foods What to Look For FAQ Why Trust The Spruce Pets Credit: The Spruce Pets Wet food for dogs is often referred to as canned, but it can also be packaged in a tray with either a sealed foil lid or a plastic top. Feeding your dog wet food in place of (or mixed with) kibble will add more moisture to their diet, and increasing a dog's daily intake of water will have a positive impact on their overall health. Wet food is also a good choice for dogs who are finicky or have dental issues, such as missing teeth. Top Picks Best Overall: Purina Pro Plan Classic Adult Complete Essentials Wet Dog Food at Amazon $35 Jump to Review Also Great: Blue Buffalo BLUE Homestyle Recipe Wet Dog Food at Amazon $36 Jump to Review Best Organic: Purina Beyond Organic Wet Dog Food at Amazon $38 Jump to Review Best for Puppies: Hill's Science Diet Puppy Wet Food at Amazon $45 Jump to Review Best Budget: Iams Proactive Health Wet Dog Food at Amazon $29 Jump to Review Another Great Budget Option: Purina One Entree Wet Dog Food at Amazon $27 Jump to Review Best for Weight Management: Hill's Science Diet Perfect Weight Wet Dog Food at Amazon $54 Jump to Review Best Variety Pack: Nutro Hearty Stew Wet Dog Food at Amazon $38 Jump to Review Best With Probiotics: Fromm Four-Star Entree Dog Food at Amazon Jump to Review Best Human-Grade: FreshPet at Amazon Jump to Review “Dry foods contain 6 to 12 percent moisture. Wet foods typically contain 65 to 78 percent water, which may have health benefits for some dogs,” Lindsey Bullen, DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition), a board-certified veterinary nutritionist at Friendship Hospital for Animals in Washington, D.C., told The Spruce Pets. “For example, wet food may help with hydration in senior dogs with orthopedic issues, which make it uncomfortable for them to get up and down, so they’re not drinking as much as they should.” To curate our list of the best wet dog foods, we sought feedback from 407 dog parents, polling them on the brand of dog food that works for their household while gleaning additional insights for canines of all sizes, ages, and breeds. While it's always advisable to check with your veterinarian before starting a dog on a new diet (especially if they have known digestive issues), our recommendations are from reputable manufacturers who guarantee complete nutrition with each serving of wet dog food and are in line with the criteria set forth by the American College of Veterinary Nutrition, the Association of American Feed Control Officials, and World Small Animal Veterinary Association, the Pet Food Institute. Discover the best wet food for dogs below. Best Overall Purina Pro Plan Classic Adult Complete Essentials Wet Dog Food Credit: Amazon $35 at Amazon $33 at Chewy $39 $35 at Petco What We Like Variety of flavors and formulations to address life stages, breed size, health needs, and palate preferences Contains no artificial colors or flavors Can be mixed with kibble Pull tab lid on cans and resealable lid on trays Manufactured in the United States What We Don't Like Some flavors and recipes are harder to find Made with real animal protein, fortified with 23 vitamins and minerals, and relatively affordable, Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Wet Dog Food is our top choice for most dogs. Among the 407 dog parents in our testing collective, the largest percentage fill their dog's bowl with a recipe from this brand, citing their vet's recommendation as the lead determining factor in their choice. Within the line of wet dog food, there is a wide variety of recipes to meet palate preferences, food sensitivities, lifestyle needs, and life stages, from puppy to senior. The Pro Plan Complete Essentials recipes include flavors such as Beef & Chicken, Beef & Rice, Beef & Salmon, Chicken & Carrots, Chicken & Rice, Turkey & Sweet Potato, Braised Beef & Rice, and Braised Chicken & Spinach. The moisture-rich and meaty foods are packaged in 13-ounce cans with easy pull-top lids, 10-ounce trays with resealable lids, and 3.5-ounce trays with foil lids for small breed dogs. All are made without artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives and are manufactured in facilities based in the United States. Purina closely sources and monitors the suppliers of their ingredients to ensure each batch of dog food is complete and balanced, according to AAFCO standards. Sizes: 3.5, 10-ounce trays; 13-ounce cans | Flavors: Beef and vegetables; chicken and vegetables; lamb and vegetables; turkey and vegetables; beef, green beans, and brown rice; chicken, carrots and barley; turkey, peas, and brown rice | Life Stage: Adult, senior, puppy Also Great Blue Buffalo BLUE Homestyle Recipe Wet Dog Food Credit: Amazon $36 at Amazon $36 at Chewy $3 at Target What We Like Made with human-grade ingredients All recipes are free of by-product meals, corn, soy, wheat, artificial flavors, and artificial preservatives Can be mixed with dry food What We Don't Like Not all flavors and recipes are readily available All of Blue Buffalo's meat-first recipes are made with human-grade ingredients and enhanced with vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that dogs need. Within the 400-plus dogs who pawticipated in our research team's survey, those who opted for Blue Buffalo food raved (via their human) about the appetizing flavors and easy-to-digest ingredients. Blue Buffalo's food for pets contains no by-product meals, corn, soy, wheat, artificial flavors, or preservatives. Blue Buffalo's Blue Homestyle Recipe wet dog food comes in four flavors—Chicken Dinner with Garden Vegetables, Beef Dinner with Garden Vegetables, Lamb Dinner with Garden Vegetables, and Turkey Meatloaf with Garden Vegetables. However, the brand has eight lines of wet food for dogs to meet the dietary needs, health issues, and flavor preferences of all dogs, including Freedom (free of grains and glutens) and Blue Basics (for skin and stomach care). The food comes in 12.5-ounce cans with pull-tabs and 3.5-ounce trays with easy-to-peel open foil lids for small breeds. Sizes: 3.5-ounce trays, 12.5-ounce cans | Flavors: Chicken dinner; beef dinner; lamb dinner; turkey meatloaf; fish and sweet potato | Life Stage: Adult, senior, puppy Credit: The Spruce Pets / Alexander Huang Best Organic Purina Beyond Organic Wet Dog Food Credit: Purina $38 at Amazon View on Chewy $33 at Walmart What We Like Non-GMO Project Verified ingredients Free of artificial preservatives, flavors, and colors Free-range chicken raised without antibiotics or growth hormones is lead source of protein What We Don't Like Chicken is the only certified organic protein source Only comes in a 13-ounce can Purina's Beyond line of dog food offers two wet food recipes made with USDA-certified organic ingredients: Chicken & Carrot and Chicken & Sweet Potato. Both recipes start with organic, free-range chicken that is raised without added antibiotics or hormones. These Beyond Organic canned dog foods are also Non-GMO Project Verified, so each ingredient is grown without the use of prohibited synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. The meaty canned dog food is high in protein and fiber, along with added vitamins, minerals, and nutrients adult dogs need. Each serving contains natural probiotics, and the organic recipes are free of common allergens, including corn, soy, and wheat. Purina Beyond Organic Wet Dog Foods comes in 13-ounce cans with pull-tab lids. The two certified organic flavors are often sold as a variety pack. Purina Beyond also offers other wet food recipes made with cage-free chicken, farm-raised beef, pasture-raised lamb, line-caught Alaskan cod, and cage-free turkey, but those are not made with ingredients that are certified organic by the USDA. However, all dog food within Purina's Beyond line is made without the use of artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives and will provide complete and balanced nutrition for your dog. Sizes: 13-ounce can | Flavors: Chicken and carrot; chicken and sweet potato | Life Stage: Adult Best for Puppies Hill's Science Diet Puppy Wet Food Credit: Amazon $45 at Amazon View on Chewy $4 $4 at Petco What We Like Provides DHA and calcium, both essential for a puppy's development Formulas for breed size and specific health needs No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives Packaged in three sizes What We Don't Like Larger cans (13 ounces) do not have convenient pull tab Hill's Science Diet Puppy Food is formulated to give your growing pup a meaty flavor they'll enjoy along with essential vitamins and minerals to support their development. The wet dog food is made without artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives and is packaged in three sizes: 13, 5.8, and 3.5 ounces. Depending on the size of your dog, one 13-ounce can might be a full meal, or it will provide multiple meals. For medium to small-breed puppies, you can also opt for 5.8-ounce cans equipped with a convenient pull tab or sealed foil top trays with 3.5 ounces of savory puppy food. You can also mix your puppy's favorite can of Hill's Science Diet Puppy Food with the same formula in a dry kibble form, like Hill's Science Diet Large Breed Chicken & Rice Dry Dog Food. Each serving of this wet food for young pups provides phosphate and calcium for strong bones, DHA omega-3 derived from fish oil for brain development, antioxidants and vitamins to support their immune system, and prebiotic fiber to keep their digestive system balanced. All four recipes for puppies are made with high-quality protein (chicken or beef), and an overwhelming majority of the 400-plus dog parents we consulted with feed their current or former puppy food from Hill's Science Diet—veterinarians recommend it, dogs love it, and dog parents find it convenient and reasonably priced. With larger breed puppies—which tend to have big appetites—feeding exclusively wet food can quickly add up in price, but that goes with the territory of having a big-pawed pal in your home. Sizes: 3-ounce trays; 5.8, 13-ounce cans | Flavors: Chicken and barley; chicken and vegetables | Life Stage: Puppy Best Budget Iams Proactive Health Wet Dog Food Credit: IAMS $29 at Amazon View on Chewy What We Like Made with human-grade ingredients Formulations for specific health needs Recipes for puppies, adults, and seniors What We Don't Like Recipes made with by-product meals Made with high-quality animal protein, vitamins, and minerals, Iams Proactive Health Wet Dog Food is formulated to help support digestion, energy, and overall health at budget-friendly prices. It is readily available at big box stores, supermarkets, online retailers, and other great places to buy dog food. Cases of 13-ounce BPA-free cans are available in packs of 12 or 24. For adult dogs over one year of age, there are six recipes made with rice, vegetables, and either beef, chicken, lamb, or beef as the main source of protein. There is also a formulation for puppies and for senior dogs. All recipes for Iams Proactive Health Wet Dog Food include fiber, grains, and omega-6 fatty acids. Sizes: 13-ounce cans | Flavors: Beef and rice; lamb and rice; chicken and rice; lamb chunks in gravy; beef in gravy; chicken chunks in gravy | Life Stage: Adult, senior, puppy Another Great Budget Option Purina One Entree Wet Dog Food Credit: Purina $27 $24 at Amazon $24 at Chewy $2 at Target What We Like Natural ingredients with added vitamins, minerals, and nutrients Two meaty textures: ground and chunks in gravy Made without fillers, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives What We Don't Like Only comes in one size, 13 ounces Purina One Entree Wet Dog Food comes from the same parent company as our pick for Best Overall, Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Wet Dog Food, and line of wet dog food offers a lot of the same attributes—vet-formulated, manufactured in the United States, and made without artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. The price per 13-ounce can of Purina One Entree Wet Dog Food is generally more affordable than others on our list, and Purina One is available at big box stores, supermarkets, and major online retailers. There are two textures to choose from, classic ground or chunks in gravy, and within those meaty categories, there are a variety of recipes, all made with real chicken, beef, or lamb as the main source of protein. The food is formulated to provide the essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients dogs need, and there are specialized formulas for weight maintenance, puppies, and senior dogs. Sizes: 13-ounce cans | Flavors: Chicken & brown rice; beef & brown rice; beef & barley; lamb & brown rice | Life Stage: Adult, senior, puppy Best for Weight Management Hill's Science Diet Perfect Weight Wet Dog Food Credit: Amazon $54 at Amazon $51 at Chewy $57 $54 at Petco What We Like Developed by scientists and veterinarians in the United States High moisture content to keep dog hydrated, satiated, and healthy Chicken is first ingredient Supports lean muscle with animal-sourced protein What We Don't Like Not suitable for dogs with sensitivity to poultry If your vet has recommended a weight management plan for your dog, Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight canned dog food offers complete and balanced nutrition in flavors they will enjoy. The high moisture content—84 percent—makes it highly beneficial for all dogs, but especially those that are dehydrated because they aren't drinking enough water. According to feeding trials conducted by Hill's Pet, the majority of dogs lost weight within ten weeks on this food, and according to the 400+ dog parents we polled, the guaranteed analysis in each batch of food from Hill's Science Diet makes this our top recommendation for adult and senior dogs who need to lose a few pounds. The Perfect Weight wet canned food is available in two flavors—Hearty Vegetables & Chicken Stew and Chicken & Vegetable Entree. Both recipes are made with chicken as the first ingredient, along with added vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants to keep internal processes, like the digestive tract and the immune system, functioning properly. But if your dog is sensitive to poultry, this dog food might not work for you. Hill's Science Diet Perfect Weight dog food is also available as a dry kibble, and you can mix the two per the serving size guidance on the packaging to keep things interesting. Sizes: 12.5-ounce cans | Flavors: Hearty vegetables and chicken stew | Life Stage: Adult, senior The 9 Best Dog Foods For Weight Management, According To More Than 400 Dogs And Their Guardians Best Variety Pack Nutro Hearty Stew Wet Dog Food Credit: Nutro $38 at Amazon View on Chewy What We Like Made with non-GMO ingredients Two flavors with similar recipes unlikely to cause gastrointestinal issues No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives Free of common allergens: corn, wheat, and soy What We Don't Like 12.5-ounce can is too large for small breeds Mixing up your dog's food at mealtime is not recommended because it usually leads to an upset stomach and loose stools, but when recipes are similar, you can incorporate different flavors. A variety pack makes it easy (and less risky) to place a different flavor in your dog's bowl, and it's particularly useful if you have a picky eater. Many of our top picks for wet dog food are available as part of a variety pack, but we also recommend Nutro Hearty Stew Wet Dog Food Variety Pack, which combines two of the brand's popular wet food flavors into one case. The wet canned food comes in 12.5-ounce cans that are packaged in cases of 12 or 24, and each case has an even amount of Tender Chicken, Carrot & Pea Stew, and Chunky Beef, Tomato, Carrot & Pea Stew. Nutro Hearty Stew Wet Dog Food is made without by-product meals, corn, wheat, or soy, so it's likely okay for dogs with food allergies to consume. It's also completely free of artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives. Within the Hearty Stew line of canned dog food, Nutro also offers two additional flavors: Meaty Lamb, Green Bean & Carrot Stew, and Roasted Turkey, Sweet Potato, & Green Bean Stew. Sizes: 12.5-ounce cans | Flavors: Tender chicken, carrot & pea stew; chunky beef, tomato, carrot & pea stew | Life Stage: Adult, senior The 8 Best Natural Dog Foods, According to More Than 400 Discerning Dogs Best With Probiotics Fromm Four-Star Entree Dog Food Credit: Fromm View on Amazon View on Gofromm.com View on Petflow.com What We Like No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives Made with shredded muscle meat Balanced for all life stages High-hydration formula Cooked in small batches at a fifth-generation family-owned-and-operated facility in Wisconsin What We Don't Like Available in one can size Fromm is a pet food brand often recommended by veterinarians and praised for creating recipes that provide complete and balanced diets. Their Four-Star line of canned dog foods is no exception. Made in small batches at the fifth-generation family-owned and -operated facility, their meat in gravy entrées includes high-quality protein featuring a primary meat source. There are four shredded meat varieties: beef, chicken, pork, and turkey. Each formula consists of shredded meat muscle cooked in meat broth with potatoes, carrots, and beans, along with salmon oil, minerals, vitamins, probiotics, and digestive enzymes to support digestive health. They're also made with no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. Its higher moisture content is designed to help dogs with hydration and feeling full without increasing their calorie intake, and it is great paired with dry food from the Four-Star line. We should note that food only comes in 12-ounce cans, so while the recipes are formulated for all breeds and all life stages, the large amount can be inconvenient for smaller breeds. Sizes: 12-ounce cans | Flavors: Shredded beef; shredded chicken; shredded pork; shredded turkey | Life Stage: All Best Human-Grade FreshPet Credit: Walmart View on Amazon View on Freshpet.com View on Walmart What We Like Features other formulations with protein-packed ingredients, including turkey, beef, and salmon Offers different flavors for dogs with food allergies or ingredient sensitivities Crumble-like texture doesn’t leave residue in the bowl Resealable bag allows for easy storage What We Don't Like Not available at every major retailer Freshpet offers a wide array of semi-moist wet food formulated with fiber-packed vegetables, antioxidant-rich fruits, and protein sourced from ethically raised poultry, beef, and fish. Yet, Freshpet’s Roasted Meals Tender Chicken Recipe with Roasted Vegetables stands out as a great option for supplementing dogs’ diets. It boasts just five ingredients: chicken, spinach, eggs, oats, and carrots, all of which are steam-cooked to lock in moisture and freshness. The result is a firm yet malleable crumble meant to entice even the pickiest eaters. This specific formulation is intended for adult dogs without gluten sensitivities, yet Freshpet offers a grain-free formula that doesn’t include oats. All of Freshpet’s wet food varieties are free of artificial flavors, chemical preservatives, and potentially harmful animal byproducts. Its ingredients mirror the same ones in most in-home refrigerators, and it’s odor-free, making it convenient to store next to your own temperature-sensitive food. Freshpet’s Roasted Meals Tender Chicken Recipe with Roasted Vegetables is ideally intended for storage between 35 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. To ensure optimal freshness, use within seven days of opening. The packaging offers portion sizes based on your dog’s size and weight, although you may make adjustments based on their specific needs. Sizes: 1.75-pound, 5.5-pound resealable bags | Flavors: Tender chicken & garden vegetables; tender chicken & garden vegetables (grain-free) | Life Stage: Adult Best Sustainable Open Farm Pâté Variety Pack for Dogs Credit: Open Farm View on Openfarmpet.com What We Like Dense, gelatinous texture great for dogs with brittle teeth Variety of flavors keeps picky dogs engaged Boasts an array of nutrients necessary for coat health, bone and joint support, and brain function What We Don't Like May not be cost-effective based on your dog’s eating habits Would you want to have the same meal for dinner every night? No? Neither would your dog. Enter Open Farms’ Pâté Variety Pack, a 12-can bundle featuring a combination of chicken and salmon, chicken and beef, and whitefish and beef. These soft, protein-rich formulations feature a host of vitamins and minerals intended to optimize various bodily systems, along with helping your dog maintain a healthy weight. This variety pack empowers dog owners to create “rotations” that keep dogs interested in mealtimes, all while promoting their health from the inside out. Open Farms’ Pâté Variety Pack is intended for adult and senior dogs, although Open Farm offers a pâté option for puppies available for individual purchase. Its portion sizes depend on your dog’s age and activity level. The pâté is best served at room temperature, either by itself or in combination with kibble. Unopened cans do not require refrigeration. Sizes: 12.5-ounce cans | Flavors: Chicken & salmon; chicken & beef; whitefish & beef | Life Stage: Adult, senior Best Subscription The Farmer’s Dog Credit: The Farmerâs Dog View on Thefarmersdog.com What We Like Offers flexibility with selection Customized portions based on each dog’s individual needs Made with human-grade food that exceeds veterinary nutritional standards Formulations are free of fillers, preservatives, and animal byproducts What We Don't Like Cost of subscription increases after first delivery The Farmer’s Dog leads the pack regarding wet dog food subscriptions, allowing owners to personalize their shipments based on their pet’s breed, eating habits, and energy level. You have two options when customizing your dog’s meal plan: filling out a short questionnaire or building your own plan based on your dog’s flavor preferences and healthcare goals. Each protein-based formula is enriched with the vitamins and minerals needed to support your dog’s longevity and bolster their energy levels. Meat sources include poultry, beef, and pork, while other ingredients include vegetables and nutrient-blended oils. By running data about your dog’s activity level, healthcare considerations, and breed, The Farmer’s Dog subscription service takes the guesswork out of calculating portion sizes. You’ll receive the exact amount of food needed to feed your dog daily, along with other valuable resources to create an appropriate feeding schedule. With a personalized subscription, you can also elect to have multiple types of wet food delivered monthly, allowing you to rotate your food’s meal types and keep them guessing what’s for dinner next. Sizes: Based on weight and breed | Flavors: Turkey, beef, pork, chicken | Life Stage: Puppy, adult, senior Final Verdict Our top pick is Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials for its palatable texture, reasonable cost, range of flavors, and availability. But Hill's Science Diet Puppy Food is our choice for growing pup who have different nutritional needs to help them develop into healthy dogs. How We Found the Best Wet Dog Foods To evaluate the incredible range of available dog foods, our research panel put together a comprehensive questionnaire, asking dog owners to describe the qualities that matter most to them when they choose a dog food. We learned which brands and products were recommended by veterinarians and which had the most trustworthy list of ingredients. We also looked for high-value brands that can fit in people's budgets and brands with wide retailer availability. We gathered details about each dog's size, breed, and age, which helped us make picks tailored to a wide range of dogs since the best dog food for an overweight French Bulldog won't be the best dog food for a mixed-breed puppy. In total, 407 respondents described how they and their dogs felt about the dog foods they used at home, using a combination of numerical scores and detailed feedback. What to Consider When Shopping for Wet Dog Food AAFCO Nutritional Adequacy Statement The Association of American Feed Control Officials, or AAFCO, identifies safe ingredients and recommends nutrient profiles for pet foods based on the most recent research. However, they do not inspect, approve, certify, or regulate pet foods. Instead, the organization provides a standard for each state’s feed laws. In order to be marketed as “complete and balanced,” foods must meet nutritional standards outlined in AAFCO’s minimum requirements. The statement is based on either meeting AAFCO’s minimum standards or doing animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures. Complete and Balanced No matter the dog food brand, the label should state that any food is ‘complete and balanced’ for the life stage the diet is designed to feed. Life Stage Pet foods are developed for specific stages in your dog’s life. Diets are formulated for Growth and Reproduction (puppies and pregnant dogs), Adult Maintenance (adult dogs), or All Life Stages. Raw According to the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American College of Veterinary Nutrition, raw food is not recommended for any dog. Although some advocates say they’ve had positive experiences with raw food diets, there’s no scientific evidence to suggest raw pet food is better than any other kind. Raw food may also contain pathogens such as listeria or salmonella, which can make both pets and people sick. Grain Free While proponents of grain-free foods claim they’re healthier, there’s no reliable evidence or nutritional studies that support the use of grain-free foods in dogs that haven’t been diagnosed with food allergies. In addition, it’s not recommended to give your dog a grain-free diet because it has been associated with an increase in dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs, a potentially fatal condition. In fact, the FDA and other organizations are now investigating an increase in dilated cardiomyopathy associated with grain-free diets. If your dog has been diagnosed with food allergies and you prefer to feed them wet food, your vet can recommend a limited-ingredients option that eliminates a lot of common allergens. Common Allergens Merck Veterinary Manual reports that the most common food allergens for dogs include beef, chicken, soy, milk, eggs, corn, and wheat. To comply with AAFCCO’s standards, complete and balanced dog food must feature a list of ingredients, allowing owners to make informed decisions based on their dog’s possible allergies. Dog food manufacturers must also list these ingredients in descending order based on the amount. For example, if a wet food features beef as the first ingredient, it comprises at least 95 percent of the ingredients’ total weight. Note that it’s never safe to feed your dog food containing a possible allergen, even in small amounts. If your dog is allergic to chicken (among the most common ingredients in wet food), you could offer protein-rich recipes made with venison, fish, and lamb. Serving Size All dog food in the United States must have feeding instructions on the label, including information about portion size and feeding frequency. It must also specify whether it’s intended for puppies, senior dogs, or adults. AAFCCO notes that for dog food labeled “all life stages”, it must differentiate appropriate portions based on whether a dog is pregnant, lactating, growing, or maintaining its weight. While some wet dog food comes in prepackaged serving sizes, others will require owners to scoop out portions. Your dog’s life stage, weight, and overall health profile will determine how much they should consume on a regular basis. Proper Storage To make storing your dog’s food easier, you may choose to remove the food from its original container and store it in a reusable one. Not only could this ensure your dog’s food lasts until its expiration date, but it can lock in freshness, prevent mold growth, and keep it moist. Look for products with lids that snap shut, are dishwasher-safe, and are made of food-grade materials. There are also dog food storage products that are collapsible, making them ideal for on-the-go feeding. Our top pick for storing wet food is Messy Mutts Stainless Steel Dog Bowls with Lids. Not only are they extremely durable, but they’re dishwasher-safe and don’t leach harmful chemicals into your dog’s meals. FAQ Is wet food good for dogs? Both wet and dry foods must meet the same nutritional standards, as determined by AAFCO, in order to be labeled “complete and balanced.” As long as you’re feeding a food that’s a complete and balanced diet and appropriate for your pet’s life stage (Growth and Reproduction, Adult, or All Life Stages), wet food is nutritionally sound, says Dr. Bullen.Some dogs, such as those who don’t tend to drink enough water or dogs with underlying health issues such as kidney disease, may benefit from the increased moisture content in wet foods. For the highest moisture content—wet foods that are more than 78 percent water—look for descriptive words like “stew,” “gravy,” “broth,” or “in sauce.” Or look under the “Guaranteed Analysis” line on a dog food’s label for a listing of moisture content alongside protein, fat, and fiber levels. How long can wet dog food sit out? While many commercial pet foods do contain some preservatives, uneaten food should not be left out for more than an hour to prevent the growth of organisms that could make your pet sick. “As it dehydrates, wet food also becomes dry and unappealing, which leads to a decline in aroma and palatability,” says Dr. Bullen. For refrigerated or frozen foods that contain no preservatives, pick them up as soon as your dog stops eating. Is it okay if my dog only eats wet dog food? It’s fine for your dog to eat only wet food, as long as it’s labeled as ‘complete and balanced’ and is designed for your pet’s specific life stage, such as Growth and Reproduction, Adult Maintenance, or All Stages, says Dr. Bullen. Does wet dog food need to be refrigerated? Read the package label, but many unopened cans or pouches do not need to be refrigerated until opened. Once opened, use a can lid cover designed specifically to fit snugly on the top of the can to make an airtight seal and store in the fridge. Discard opened food within 3 to 5 days, says Dr. Bullen. How long does an open can of wet dog food last in the fridge? Like human foods, refrigeration slows but doesn’t prevent all microbial growth. For this reason, toss an open can if it’s been in the fridge for more than 3 to 5 days, says Dr. Bullen. Jot the date on the label to keep track of when it was opened. What’s the safest way to transition a puppy to adult dog food? Sudden dietary changes can cause an upset stomach in puppies, making it critical to slowly transition to adult food over time. The American Kennel Club (AKC) recommends feeding your puppy three-fourths of their original food and a quarter of new food. Monitor your puppy for vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite afterward. In the absence of these signs, gradually increase the amount of adult food until it eclipses the puppy food entirely. What type of bowl is best for wet dog food? There are a few considerations when getting a suitable wet dog food bowl, from your dog’s size to whether the food itself leaves behind a residue. We recommend the Max and Neo Stainless Steel Dog Bowl because of its durable, easy-to-clean material. The bowl’s rim prevents spillage, and it remains anchored to the floor with a non-slip grip. Why Trust The Spruce Pets? This story has contributions from Colt Dodd, a freelance writer for The Spruce Pets, who lives with his Italian greyhound mix in Washington State. His work has been featured by the American Kennel Club, PetMojo, and Cuteness. Anna Mejorada, a writer for The Spruce Pets, previously contributed to this article and shares her home with a happy pomeranian named Gidget. The Spruce Pets also interviewed Lindsey Bullen, DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition), a board-certified veterinary nutritionist at Friendship Hospital for Animals in Washington, D.C. The 21 Best Dog Foods of 2026 Explore more: What to Buy Dog Products Dog Food Advertisement