- Home
- Best Products
- Dog Food
- Best Wet Puppy Food 2024
Best Wet Puppy Food 2024
Written by a Labrador Retriever lover Tim Falk
Veterinary reviewed by:
Published: 05/25/2023, edited: 02/08/2024
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.
You’ve just welcomed a new puppy into your home, and you want to do everything you possibly can to give them the best start in life. There’s a lot that goes into raising a healthy and happy puppy, but at the top of the list is good nutrition.
Puppies need protein for healthy growth, fat to meet their energy needs, and fatty acids for energy and skin and coat health. Carbohydrates also provide energy, while calcium is important to ensure they develop strong bones.
To help you find the right food for your fur-baby, we’ve put together this collection of the best wet puppy foods. From fresh and canned varieties to products designed to meet the needs of large-breed puppies, these nutritious formulas feature all the goodness your pup needs to put their best paw forward.
Looking for the best dry food for your growing canine? Check out our Best Dry Puppy Foods guide too!
Overview
NutriSource Puppy Chicken & Rice Formula
Vet recommended
If you’re searching for the best canned food for your puppy, there are lots of good reasons why you should check out NutriSource’s wet food range. As part of its selection of grain-inclusive recipes, NutriSource offers a Chicken & Rice Recipe Puppy Formula and Small & Medium Breed Puppy Formula. Both are high in protein, low in carbs, and designed to promote good gut health.
The NutriSource wet food range also includes 3 other grain-inclusive recipes and 7 grain-free recipes formulated to suit the nutritional needs of dogs at all life stages. There are single- and multiple-protein formulas available, and they’ve got all the goodness your pup needs to grow into a happy and healthy adult dog.
Dr. Georgia Jeremiah, pet nutrition expert and one of Wag!’s veterinary consultants, notes, “Nutrisource offers convenient and affordable kibble varieties for dogs of various life stages.”
NutriSource Puppy Food
Why Wag! loves NutriSource
- High-quality protein to help your pup build lean muscle mass.
- Easy to digest.
- Small-breed variety available.
Considerations & concerns
- Not as widely available as some other pet food brands.
- There are cheaper options available.
- No puppy-specific grain-free recipe.
What pet parents say about NutriSource
“My dog breeder recommend this dog food when we got another Shiba Inu puppy. I switched and my other Shibas preferred this one over others. Quality ingredients. Highly recommend.”
Read more reviews on Amazon.
Image sourced from the Amazon website. Copyright Tuffy's Pet Foods.
Wellness Complete Health Just For Puppy
Best for digestive health
First on our list of the best wet puppy foods is this Just For Puppy recipe from Wellness. Available in 12.5-ounce cans, this wet food features chicken broth, chicken, chicken liver, and salmon to help your pup grow big and strong.
It includes sweet potatoes, which are high in dietary fiber to support healthy digestion, while apples also feature to aid a thriving gut microbiome. Flaxseed and salmon provide omega fatty acids for skin and coat health, while the smooth texture and savory flavor will have your pup wagging their tail with excitement at every mealtime.
Wellness Wet Puppy Food
Why Wag! loves Wellness Complete Health
- Features DHA to support healthy brain development.
- Chicken and salmon are quality protein sources.
- Savory taste to have your pup licking their lips.
Considerations & concerns
- There are cheaper options available.
- Not a hit with some picky eaters.
- Some pet parents claim it caused an upset stomach for their pup.
What pet parents say about Wellness Complete Health Just For Puppy
“Bowie here. I'm a 6 month old Basenji. My mom just bought this Wellness Puppy canned food for me and she mixes it with my dry food and it is so yummy. I'm one happy little boy. My mom says it has all the ingredients for a healthy life so I'm sold. I just love it!”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Wellness Pet Food.
Diamond Naturals Chicken Dinner For Adult Dogs and Puppies
The great thing about this Chicken Dinner from Diamond Naturals is that it’s designed to meet the nutritional needs of puppies and adult dogs. So when your pup is ready to graduate to adult food, it’s perfectly OK for them to keep chowing down on this delicious recipe.
Diamond Naturals Chicken Dinner features real chicken as the first ingredient, and prebiotic fiber to assist proper digestion. Other ingredients like cranberries, blueberries, and pumpkin provide essential vitamins and minerals for your pet, and the easy-to-chew pate texture will have your pup begging for more.
Diamond Naturals Dog and Puppy Food
Why Wag! Loves Diamond Naturals
- Made in the USA.
- Your pup can keep eating it when they’re ready to transition to dog food for adults.
- Easily digestible ingredients.
Considerations & concerns
- Doesn’t meet the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profile for the growth of large dogs (70lb or more as an adult).
- Some picky eater pups don’t like the taste.
- Some pet parents complain that the consistency is a little dry for their dog's liking.
What pet parents say about Diamond Naturals Chicken Dinner for Adult Dogs and Puppies
“Diamond Naturals is a high quality dog food at a great price! We have fed it to our dogs for years and our 10 week old Doberman loves it.”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Diamond Pet Foods.
Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Puppy Food
Vet recommended
Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe is designed to offer wholesome nutrition for growing pups. It features chicken, chicken broth, and chicken liver as the first 3 ingredients, and is loaded with garden fruits and veggies like blueberries and carrots to provide all the nutritional goodness your pup needs.
Dr. Georgia Jeremiah says, “Blue Buffalo dog food products cater to different life stages, sizes, and breeds of dogs. They offer formulations containing limited ingredients, which may be beneficial for dogs with certain dietary sensitivities.”
There are no artificial flavors or preservatives in this recipe, but it does feature DHA to support cognitive development. So, if you’re searching for the best wet puppy food, there are lots of good reasons why BLUE Homestyle Recipe is worth a closer look.
Blue Buffalo Wet Puppy Food
Why Wag! loves Blue Buffalo
- No chicken or poultry by-product meals.
- Features the nutritional goodness of carrots, sweet potatoes, blueberries, cranberries, and more.
- Designed to support muscle growth and brain development.
Considerations & concerns
- There are cheaper options available.
- Some pet parents complain that it causes an upset stomach.
- Some buyers report that their pups don’t like the taste.
What pet parents say about BLUE Homestyle Recipe Puppy
“Our GSD pup loves his Blue Buffalo puppy! Very smooth, easy to digest, and has not impacted his gastrointestinal system at all.”
Read more reviews on Chewy.
Image sourced from Chewy. Copyright Blue Buffalo Company, Ltd.
Nom Nom
Honorable mention
Nom Nom isn't technically what most pet parents would consider a "wet" dog food. But fresh dog foods like Nom Nom are a grrreat alternative to cans and pouches.
There’s a lot to like about Nom Nom. This meal subscription service makes it easy to put together a meal plan based on your dog’s nutritional needs, and meals are then prepped and delivered fresh to your door.
Nom Nom recipes are developed by in-house Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionists to meet the levels established by AAFCO nutrient profiles. There are beef, chicken, pork, and turkey recipes to choose from, with real ingredients and no unnecessary fillers the name of the game.
Find out more about what Nom Nom has to offer in our guide to the Best Dog Food Delivery Service.
Nom Nom Dog Food
Why Wag! loves Nom Nom
- Recipes developed by veterinary nutritionists.
- Meats and veggies gently cooked in individual batches.
- Meals tailored to your pup’s nutritional needs and health goals.
- Prepared in USA kitchens and delivered to you.
Considerations & concerns
- Pricey.
- No recipe with fish as the main source of protein.
- Some buyers complain that meal packaging could be improved.
What pet parents say about Nom Nom
“My dogs absolutely love this food. The quality of the food is exceptional. Both of my dogs have more energy and better coats. Their poops are amazing, easier to clean up and very little smell. Friends have commented on how much better Molly and Charlie look, and I recommend this food to them.”
Read more reviews on ConsumerAffairs.
Image sourced from Nom Nom's website. Copyright Nom Nom.
FAQ
What wet food is best for my puppy?
Is wet dog food good for puppies?
Which is better for puppies, wet food or dry food?
Can I mix wet dog food with dry dog food?
When should I transition my puppy to adult food?
How does Wag! determine paw ratings for dog food?