wet dog food for elderly dogs

The 10 Best Wet Dog Food for Senior Dogs

How often should I feed my senior dog wet food?

You should feed your senior dog wet food as often as your vet recommends. Experts often recommend feeding dogs twice a day on a regular schedule, but senior dogs facing health challenges may need to be fed smaller meals more often. Your vet can give you good guidance on what to feed your senior dog and how often.

Is wet food better for senior dogs?

Wet food is often better for senior dogs due to its high water content, high palatability and how easy it is to chew. Wet dog food is often easier to digest, and many formulas are made with higher levels of protein and fewer carbs, which can help your dog maintain a healthy musculature and weight. Talk to your vet about whether feeding your senior dog a wet food formula may be a good choice.

11 Best Canned & Wet Dog Foods for Senior Dogs in 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

Senior dogs have unique dietary needs, just like humans. Depending on the size and breed of the dog, it may be considered senior after the age of five or seven. Each dog has unique nutritional needs according to its age, weight, activity level, and overall health, but generally, senior dog foods offer the nutrition aging dogs need to support their changing bodies and minds.

It can be difficult to choose the right senior dog food for your pet, however. Wet and canned food offers benefits over dry kibble, such as added moisture and a soft texture thats easier for older dogs to eat comfortably.

Weve compiled the best canned and wet dog food for senior dogs, based on reviews from real pet owners.

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The 11 Best Canned & Wet Dog Foods for Senior Dogs

1. Hills Science Diet Adult Dog Food Best Overall

Hills Science Diet Adult 7+ Chicken & Barley Entre Canned Dog Food is the best overall canned and wet dog food for senior dogs and offers balanced nutrition to promote healthy muscle mass and mobility in senior dogs. High-quality protein sources like chicken and pork liver help to maintain body weight and support the function of vital organs.

This food is canned with a minced texture and is ideal for adult dogs seven years old and older. Despite good reviews from pet owners with senior dogs, some reviewers had issues with quality control or commented that the food texture was too solid for their dogs to eat comfortably.

Pros

• Chicken as first ingredient
• Promotes muscle mass and vitality
• Supports immunity

Cons

• Solid texture, harder for dogs with dental issues

2. IAMS ProActive Health Canned Dog Food Best Value

IAMS ProActive Health Senior Canned Dog Food is the best canned and wet dog food for senior dogs for the money. The pate texture has slow-cooked chicken and rice thats appetizing to your dog, as well as omega fatty acids to promote a healthy coat and skin. Vitamins and minerals are added for balanced nutrition that supports your aging pets needs.

This food is designed for adult dogs seven years and older. It also has wholesome grains for healthy energy to keep your dog going into its golden years. Most reviewers saw good results with this food, but some mentioned that the food isnt calorie-dense, and you have to feed more of it. Others said their dogs didnt like it.

Pros

• Pate texture
• Meat as first ingredients
• Added vitamins and minerals

3. The Farmers Dog Personalized Wet Food Premium Choice

The Farmers Dog Personalized Wet Food Recipe is our premium choice option. The Farmers Dog provides customizable wet food recipes for your senior dog, allowing you to create the perfect meal plan for your pup. Various protein bases are available depending on your dogs needs, such as chicken, beef, pork, and turkey. Once you input your dogs information on The Farmers Dog website, they send you various recipes designed by veterinarians that best suit your dogs nutritional requirements.

The meals made by The Farmers Dog are crafted with minimal processing in USDA-quality kitchens. That means that the nutritional value of your dogs food will be higher quality than many other pet food brands on the market.

Since the meals are made fresh, they arent designed to be stored for prolonged periods. However, the benefits that the Farmers Dog can provide your dog far outweigh the storage concerns.

Pros

• Recipes are customized to suit your dogs needs
• The meal plans are designed by veterinarians
• Minimal processing
• Made in USDA-quality kitchens

Cons

• Not designed to be stored for prolonged periods

4. Purina Pro Plan Adult Wet Dog Food

Purina Pro Plan Adult 7+ Complete Essentials Turkey & Rice Entre Wet Dog food is designed to meet the nutritional needs of aging dogs. Real turkey is the first ingredient and offers a lot of high-quality protein to support a healthy body condition as your dog ages.

This food is made without soy or wheat with no artificial colors or flavors. Like other Purina foods, this wet dog food is manufactured in a Purina-owned US facility. Designed for dogs aged seven or older, this food also contains glucosamine and EPA, an omega fatty acid that supports joint health, and probiotics for healthy digestion. Some reviewers said their dogs didnt like the food, however.

Pros

• Our top vet-approved choice
• Turkey as first ingredient

Cons

• Adult 7+ only has two flavor options

5. Royal Canin Mature Adult Canned Dog Food

Royal Canin Mature Adult in Gel Canned Dog Food is designed specifically for the needs of aging dogs five years and older. This formula uses L-carnitine to help the body burn fat and plenty of protein to support muscle mass as your dog ages. The appetizing loaf-style food is in a rich sauce that whets appetites.

Fish oil, biotin, niacin, riboflavin, and other vitamins are added for skin and coat health, nervous system function, and overall health. Its complete and balanced, so it can be fed on its own or with a dry food. While many reviewers saw good results, others said their dogs didnt like the food or mentioned the hard, solid texture, which had to be chopped up to serve.

Pros

• Complete and balanced
• Plenty of nutrients

Cons

• Hard texture, some dog owners reported their dogs had a hard time chewing

6. Purina ONE SmartBlend Dog Food

Purina ONE SmartBlend Classic Ground Turkey & Barley Entre Adult Wet Dog Food is another good option for senior dog food. Real turkey is the first ingredient for high-quality protein that helps to preserve muscle mass in older dogs. It also contains medium-chain triglycerides for alertness and omega fatty acids for a healthy coat and skin.

Designed for older, picky eaters, the food has a savory poultry flavor with wholesome grains for energy support. Its made in the USA with antioxidants to help your aging pet. Many reviewers were pleased with this food, but some said it smelled strong and their dogs wouldnt eat it.

Pros

• Turkey as first ingredient
• Antioxidants for immune health

Cons

• Strong smell, may not be a good choice for small apartments

7. Blue Buffalo Senior Canned Dog Food

Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Natural Senior Wet Dog Food offers a rich mix of chicken, vegetables, and grains to support your senior dogs health. This wet food has chunks of real meat to make it appetizing for picky eaters and is enhanced with vitamins and minerals like glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health.

The pate-style food contains no byproduct meals, wheat, soy, or artificial flavors or preservatives. It offers whole nutrition, so it can be fed on its own or as a topper for dry food. All Blue Buffalo food is manufactured in the US and uses trusted ingredient sources. Several reviewers complained of quality control issues, however.

Pros

• Chicken as first ingredient
• Added vitamins and minerals

8. Evangers Classic Recipes Senior Dog Food

Evangers Classic Recipes Senior & Weight Management Dinner Canned Dog Food is ideal for older or less active dogs. It features meat as the first ingredient and wholesome grain to support energy needs. The food also contains chelated trace minerals and vitamins for optimal health.

The meat-based formula has balanced nutrition, so it can be fed on its own or as a topper for dry food. There are no preservatives, salt, fillers, or soy added. While many reviewers were satisfied, others said their dogs wouldnt eat it or mentioned inconsistencies across ingredients that altered the look and texture of the food.

Pros

• Meat as first ingredient
• Whole grains
• No preservatives or filler

Cons

• Inconsistency with ingredients across batches

9. Wellness Senior Formula Canned Dog Food

Wellness Complete Health Chicken & Sweet Potato formula is ideal for aging dogs and contains premium protein and nutrient-rich vegetables. This food offers complete and balanced nutrition in an easy-to-eat pate-style wet formula to support muscle mass, digestive function, energy, and a healthy coat and skin.

This food is made without meat byproducts, fillers, or artificial preservatives. Its also free of wheat, soy, and peas. Many reviewers were pleased with the results for their dogs, but some complained about the inconvenience of having to open the can with a can opener. Some other reviewers said their dogs didnt like the food.

Pros

• Real meat as first ingredients
• No wheat, soy, or peas

Cons

• Must be opened with a can opener

10. Nutro Ultra Grain-Free Trio Senior Wet Dog Food

Nutro Ultra Grain-Free Trio Protein Chicken, Lamb & Whitefish Pate with Superfoods Senior Wet Dog Food uses real meat like chicken, lamb, and whitefish to support your dogs protein needs. It also contains high-quality ingredients like apples, blueberries, yam, and chia seeds.

This food has no chicken byproduct meal, GMOs, wheat, soy, grain, or artificial additives. You can feed it on its own or as a topper for dry food. Its high in calories for dogs that struggle to maintain weight. Many reviewers had good results with this food, especially with picky eaters, but some said their dogs wouldnt touch it. Be sure to check with your vet to see if grain-free is appropriate for your dog, since most dogs benefit from grains in their diets.

Pros

• Real meat as first ingredients
• No chicken byproduct meal, GMOs, wheat, or soy
• High in calories

11. Halo Holistic Chicken Recipe Canned Dog Food

Halo Holistic Chicken Recipe Senior Canned Dog Food is a great choice for your senior dog. It contains whole chicken meat as the first ingredient and sustainably sourced ingredients from non-GMO producers. The food contains plenty of protein, fiber, and nutrients to support your senior dogs health needs.

This formula has no artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. Its designed to support sensitive digestion in older dogs, ensuring maximum nutrient absorption. You can feed this balanced recipe on its own or as a topper for dry food. Reviewers had good experiences overall, though some mentioned that its expensive for the amount.

Pros

• Whole chicken as first ingredient
• No artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
• Designed for sensitive stomachs

Cons

• Expensive, may be too much for multi-dog households

Buyers Guide: How to Select the Best Canned and Wet Food for Senior Dogs

Choosing the right food for your dog comes down to preference, but here are some things to consider:

• Protein: Protein is essential for all dogs, but its extremely important for aging dogs to maintain healthy muscle mass and strength. Look for animal sources of protein like chicken, beef, turkey, or fish.
• Digestibility: As your dog ages, it may not be able to absorb the nutrients it needs as easily. Some dog foods for senior dogs have added vitamins and minerals to ensure balanced nutrition, but you could also look for formulas designed for high digestibility.
• Texture: Older dogs may have lost teeth over time, making it more difficult to eat comfortably. A wet or canned food thats soft and easy to chew can ensure your dog doesnt struggle to eat all its food.
• Supplements: Supplemental ingredients arent a required part of your dogs diet, but they can help to support different health needs or fill in gaps in your dogs diet. Look for foods with added supplements like prebiotics and probiotics, medium-chain triglycerides, and omega fatty acids.

Conclusion

Senior dog food is a unique formula designed for the needs of aging pets. Our top pick is Hills Science Diet Adult 7+ Chicken & Barley Entre Canned Dog Food for its balanced nutrition. For value, choose IAMS ProActive Health Senior Canned Dog Food. The premium choice is The Farmers Dog Personalized Wet Food Subscription. Theres also Royal Canin Mature Adult in Gel Canned Dog Food is designed specifically for the needs of aging dogs five years and older.

Featured Image Credit: DegrooteStock, Shutterstock