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Best Wet Dog Food 2025
Written by Adam Lee-Smith
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 06/14/2023, edited: 02/28/2025
The Wag! team conducts independent research and consults pet experts to curate our recommendations. This content is supported by our affiliate pet partners and we may receive a commission on the links provided.
Wet food is popular with pet parents and pups for many reasons. Its high moisture content helps dogs stay hydrated, and its soft texture is ideal for small mouths or dental issues like missing teeth. Plus, wet food works great as a topper to encourage picky eaters to eat their dinner.
Many pet parents prefer wet food to fresh food as it has a much longer shelf life and can be stored in a cabinet rather than a fridge or freezer.
Tips for choosing the best wet dog food
- Choose a food that lists a high-quality, named meat source as the top ingredient.
- Avoid fillers like maize, soy, and wheat, and watch out for artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.
- Always check the food is 100% complete and balanced and meets the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutrient profile guidelines for your dog's age range (puppy, adult, or all life stages).
- Chat with your vet if you're unsure whether a wet food is right for your dog.
Picking the right wet food for your dog can be tricky — to help you make the best possible choice for your fur-family, we've rounded up five of the best wet dog foods on the market.
Overview
The Honest Kitchen Wet Dog Food
5
Vet recommended
The first commercial human-grade dog food brand, The Honest Kitchen produces some of the finest wet dog food around. The brand offers a range of 10 wet food flavors in two textures: chunky stew and a smooth pâté. All of The Honest Kitchen's wet foods list a quality meat source as the first or second ingredient.
The Honest Kitchen uses non-GMO produce, no rendered meats, and no artificial preservatives or flavors — only whole, human-grade ingredients here! Common ingredients include sweet potato and carrot, which help with digestion and are high in essential vitamins.
Wag!'s own pet nutrition expert and veterinary consultant, Dr. Georgia Jeremiah, personally recommends The Honest Kitchen to her own clients:
"The Honest Kitchen offers convenient dry, dehydrated, and wet food options that use high protein meat sources and are fortified with fish oils and essential nutrients such as taurine."
The Honest Kitchen wet foods meet the AAFCO nutrient profile for all life stages, including growth in large dogs over 70 pounds.
Read our full review of The Honest Kitchen to discover why we give this food five paws up!
The Honest Kitchen Slow Cooked Chicken One Pot Stew
Why Wag! loves The Honest Kitchen
- Lists quality protein sources as a top ingredient
- Vet recommended
- Environmentally conscious production
- Generous refund policy
Considerations & concerns
- More expensive than some alternatives
- No recipes specifically for small breeds
What pet parents say about The Honest Kitchen Wet Dog Food
"We use this as a topper & he is one happy boy. I feel good about feeding him this quality of food."
"My dogs love this food. I use the food in combination with their kibble and it makes mealtime much more enjoyable for them. I also trust The Honest Kitchen and all the wholesome ingredients they include in their food. My dogs like the chicken and the turkey the best."
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Product image sourced from Chewy. Copyright The Honest Kitchen.
Open Farm Wet Dog Food
5
Vet recommended
Open Farm produces six grain-free wet foods in the form of rustic stews. Each recipe is completely human-grade and made from ethically sourced meats. All ingredients in Open Farm wet food are fully traceable, with each ingredient's point of origin listed on its website.
Open Farm wet food recipes contain no artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors. Open Farm wet recipes incorporate superfoods like pumpkin, which is high in beta-carotene, and spinach, an excellent source of vitamins, iron, magnesium, and potassium.
Open Farm is another brand that Dr. Jeremiah recommends:
“Open Farm dog food is formulated with high-quality ingredients and does not contain any artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors. The company also prioritizes the use of ethically sourced and humanely raised ingredients.”
Open Farm wet dog foods meet the AAFCO Nutrient Profile for maintenance (adults), except the Wild-Caught Salmon and Herring & Mackerel recipes, which are only suitable for supplemental feeding.
Check out our full Open Farm dog food review to learn why we think it's one of the best wet foods around!
Open Farm Grass-Fed Beef
Why Wag! loves Open Farm
- Contains 100% human-grade ingredients
- Sustainably sourced meats
- Fully traceable ingredients
- No artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors
Considerations & concerns
- Pricier than some alternatives
- No recipes for all life stages
- Two recipes are not 100% complete and balanced
What pet parents say about Open Farm wet dog food
"My senior chihuahua LOVES THIS. Since she's missing teeth, eating
something that doesn't require to chew kibble really makes excited for
her mealtimes. She's lost weight and is now a healthy weight, and her
poops have become smaller and don't smell at this point. She enjoys the
rustic stew wet dog food line so much!"
"My 9 year old Lab/Pit mix Loki absolutely loves this. I use a small
amount as a topper over the Open Farm Dry kibble and he is doing great
on it. Weight is stable. Coat is shiny and healthy. He has a lot more
energy since we switched to Open Farm and we are very happy with it.
Great company! No issues with shipping time, etc. Will continue to
purchase from Open Farm."
Read more reviews on the Open Farm.
Product image sourced from the Open Farm website. Copyright Open Farm.
Halo Wet Dog Food
5
Vet recommended
Halo offers a unique range of classic wet dog food. One of the brand's offerings is a completely vegan dog food with a 100% complete and balanced nutritional value. Halo has both grain-free and grain-inclusive wet food recipes.
Halo's meat-inclusive recipes list the top three ingredients as a quality meat source or broth. Chickpeas and peas are the primary protein sources in the Vegan Plant-Based recipe. All recipes contain no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. Common ingredients like pumpkin, celery, and carrot are rich in nutrients.
Dr. Jeremiah also recommends Halo to pet parents searching for the best wet food — check out her thoughts:
“Halo’s science-based recipes are geared towards your pet’s breed size and life stage. Their food contains high-quality protein sources, and they offer a money-back guarantee if you or your pet are not completely satisfied.”
All Halo wet food recipes meet the AAFCO nutrient profile for maintenance (adults).
For a closer look at the Halo wet food range, check out our in-depth Halo dog food review.
Halo Chicken Recipe
Why Wag! loves Halo
- Only contains whole meats — no meat meals
- Only uses non-GMO vegetables
- No artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors
- Excellent money-back guarantee
Considerations & concerns
- Pricier than some alternatives
- Lack of flavor varieties and recipes for different life stages
- A vegan diet may not be suitable for all dogs
What pet parents say about Halo Wet Dog Food
"This is really good food. I have an elderly dog who has a bad stomach and can't tolerate many foods. She is doing very well on this food. So thankful to have found it!"
"I was looking for a better food (not grocery store offerings) for my 2 year old toy poodle. This food appears highly rated and contains reasonable ingredients. She gobbles it down!"
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Product image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Halo Pets.
Merrick Healthy Grains Wet Dog Food
4.5
Vet recommended
Merrick's grain-inclusive dog food range ranks among the best in the business. Each recipe lists real deboned meat as the first ingredient. All recipes are made with whole foods, including carrots, potatoes, and peas. Brown rice is the primary grain included in each flavor. Merrick uses no artificial additives, preservatives, or colors in its wet dog foods.
The Healthy Grains range features 4 Kitchen Comforts wet food recipes, and two Limited Ingredient recipes that are perfect for dogs with allergies and sensitivities.
Merrick claims its dog foods contain industry-leading omega-3 and omega-6 levels, as well as exemplary levels of glucosamine and chondroitin to support joint and bone health. Each recipe comes in a rich gravy to encourage fussy eaters.
Merrick is another dog food brand that gets Dr. Jeremiah's seal of approval:
“Merrick products are made with high-quality, whole food ingredients, and they use no artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors.”
Merrick Healthy Grains wet dog food meets the AAFCO nutrient profile for maintenance (adults).
Merrick Real Turkey Limited Ingredient Recipe
Why Wag! loves Merrick Healthy Grains
- Real deboned meat as first ingredient
- Free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives
- Industry-leading levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
- Limited ingredients options for dogs with sensitivities
Considerations & concerns
- Pricier than some alternatives
- Only meets the nutrient profiles for adults
What pet parents say about Merrick Healthy Grains wet dog food
"This Merrick Kitchen Comforts Beef & Brown Rice Wet Dog Food was a total hit with my dogs they absolutely love it I'm so glad I found something that they like because they are picky eaters and we have had such a time finding something good for them that they enjoy and I am so glad we ran across this food you will be too try it I promise your dogs will love it."
"My boys absolutely loved the Merrick Healthy Grain kitchen comfort beef tips and rice flavor wet dog food. I divided the can between the two German Shepards as a topper for their dry food and they DEVOURED it all. I will be purchasing this canned food for them again. I feel good giving them something they enjoy so much knowing its made of quality real Whole Foods."
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Product image sourced from the Chewy website. Copyright Merrick Pet Care.
Redbarn Rolled Dog Food
4.5
Best for single-protein diets
Redbarn's wet food options are unique as they come. Instead of being packaged in cans or cartons, Redbarn's rolled foods can be sliced and diced for easy serving. They have a shelf life of 18 months, which makes them easy to store. Grain-free and grain-inclusive options are available.
Redbarn rolled foods contain 40% meat and are cooked at low temperatures to preserve nutrients. The top five ingredients of all recipes list one quality meat source and two types of organ meats.
These single-protein wet foods are a grrreat choice for dogs with sensitivities and allergies. However, Redbarn Rolled Foods contain some controversial ingredients, including sucrose, whole wheat flour, and pea protein, which is why we've rated them 4.5 stars instead of 5.
All Redbarn Rolled Foods meet the AAFCO nutrient profile for all life stages, including the growth of large dogs over 70 pounds as an adult.
For a deep dive into this furrific dog food, check out our Redbarn dog food review.
Redbarn rolled dog food
Why Wag! loves Redbarn
- Three quality meat sources are listed as the top ingredients
- Each roll consists of 40% meat
- No artificial preservatives
- 18-month shelf life
Considerations & concerns
- Contains several controversial ingredients
- On the pricier side
What pet parents say about Redbarn Rolled Dog Food
"My dogs went crazy over this food! I have a very picky German Shepherd, and I used this as a topper. He couldn't eat fast enough!"
"We have a 10yr old Saint Bernard that we have to coax to eat! Each day is a challenge but since we've tried this, he's eaten every day since! Very pleased! The other dogs beg for it too!"
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Product image sourced from the Redbarn website. Copyright Redbarn Pet Products LLC.
FAQ
What's the difference between wet and fresh dog food?
Should I mix my dog's wet food with dry kibble?
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