Becoming a dog parent comes with a lot of responsibility, and one of the top priorities is your dog’s diet. Naturally, we want the best for our furry friends and provide them with a well-balanced, nutritious and delicious meal to keep them strong, healthy, and satisfied.
We have gathered our 11 top picks and reviewed their pros and cons, the best value for money, and some helpful guidance when buying your companion’s food.
A Quick Comparison of Our Winners (2023)
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets
Limited ingredients
Highly digestible
Contains antioxidants
Check Price
Best Value
Purina ONE SmartBlend
Easy to digest
Provides a balanced meal
Value for money
Check Price
Premium Choice
Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials
23 essential vitamins and nutrients
Real chicken is the first ingredient
High in protein
Check Price
Best for Puppies
Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe
Chicken provides high-quality protein
No by-products
Suitable as a treat or stand-alone meal
Check Price
Vet’s Choice
Purina Pro Plan Adult Large Breed
Made with real beef
High in protein
Contains 23 essential vitamins and minerals
Check Price
The 11 Best Moist Dog Foods
Natural Balance LID Dog Food is suited for both adults and puppies of all breeds and is a healthy, complete, and balanced formula that uses limited ingredients, making this recipe our choice for overall best moist dog food. It is also highly digestible, so your dog can absorb all the nutrients. This food is packed with antioxidants, and duck is the first ingredient
Check Price on Chewy
This formula is grain-free, which is suitable for dogs with allergies. Grains can be beneficial for most dogs, and it’s best to check with your veterinarian before serving a grain-free diet.
Pros
Limited ingredients
Highly digestible
Contains antioxidants
No by-products
Cons
Some dogs don’t enjoy the smoky duck flavor
Purina ONE SmartBlend Adult Canned Dog Food is our best choice for the money. You can feel confident that you’re giving your dog the nutrition they need to support a lifetime of good health because it is made from carefully chosen, high-quality ingredients, vitamins, and minerals. This formula Includes two times the recommended antioxidant levels with zinc, selenium, and vitamins A and E. Your pet will love the flavor of real lamb and brown rice in a flavorful gravy, which will keep its diet well balanced and satisfy your dog.
Limited ingredients
Highly digestible
Contains antioxidants
No by-products
- Limited ingredients
- Highly digestible
- Contains antioxidants
- No by-products
Some dogs don’t enjoy the smoky duck flavor
- Some dogs don’t enjoy the smoky duck flavor
If your dog has allergies to chicken, this recipe is not ideal. Some dog owners have reported that their dog experiences excessive flatulence after eating ONE.
Pros
Easy to digest
Provides a balanced meal
Value for money
Cons
May cause gas
Contains chicken
Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Dog Food is a delicious combination that nourishes and satisfies your dog. The first ingredient, which is a source of high-quality protein, is chicken. Rice and other premium ingredients are added to create a delicious wet paté dog food. Every serving provides the optimum amount of protein to support your dog’s lean muscles, support the immune system, and nourish healthy skin and coat. This extra premium dog food loaf has the tasty flavor and soft texture your dog loves. This recipe contains meat by-products and is low in fiber which may affect your dog’s stools.
Easy to digest
Provides a balanced meal
Value for money
- Easy to digest
- Provides a balanced meal
- Value for money
May cause gas
Contains chicken
- May cause gas
- Contains chicken
Pros
23 essential vitamins and nutrients
Real chicken is the first ingredient
High in protein
Cons
Contains meat by-products
Low fiber
Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Natural Puppy Wet Dog Food will energize your puppy. Tender chicken pieces provide the first source of high-quality protein, which is combined with fresh fruits and vegetables from the garden and boosted with vitamins and minerals. Omega fats contribute to a silky, lustrous coat and aid in the development of the eye and brain function. This paté-style puppy food can be given to your dog as a treat, as an addition to dry food to make it more appetizing, or as a stand-alone meal. This formula is produced with nutritious ingredients and doesn’t contain any by-product meals, corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, or preservatives.
23 essential vitamins and nutrients
Real chicken is the first ingredient
High in protein
- 23 essential vitamins and nutrients
- Real chicken is the first ingredient
- High in protein
Contains meat by-products
Low fiber
- Contains meat by-products
- Low fiber
While this recipe is well-reviewed, there have been some instances where dogs haven’t enjoyed the taste.
Pros
Chicken provides high-quality protein
No by-products
Suitable as a treat or stand-alone meal
Cons
Some dogs don’t enjoy the taste
Nourish your furry friend from nose to tail with Purina Pro Plan Adult Large Breed dog food. This vet’s choice recipe is made with real beef, and it is packed with high-quality protein to promote lean muscle. It is a fully balanced formula that includes 23 essential vitamins and minerals, calcium and phosphorus for healthy bones and teeth, and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat. This recipe will support our dog’s immune system and contains highly digestible rice for a healthy gut. It is free from preservatives, artificial flavors, and colorants.
Chicken provides high-quality protein
No by-products
Suitable as a treat or stand-alone meal
- Chicken provides high-quality protein
- No by-products
- Suitable as a treat or stand-alone meal
Some dogs don’t enjoy the taste
- Some dogs don’t enjoy the taste
This recipe contains chicken, and it should be avoided if your dog is allergic. Some dog owners who have purchased this product mention that the recipe contained too much rice.
Pros
Made with real beef
High in protein
Contains 23 essential vitamins and minerals
Cons
Contains chicken
Too much rice
Wellness Turkey Stew Dog Food is the perfect way to spoil your dog. This recipe contains soft pieces of premium protein and nutrient-rich vegetables simmered in a flavorful gravy for a flavor that dogs adore. It doesn’t have wheat, poultry by-products, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. Wellness was created to provide a completely balanced diet for daily feeding, mixing, or nibbling.
Made with real beef
High in protein
Contains 23 essential vitamins and minerals
- Made with real beef
- High in protein
- Contains 23 essential vitamins and minerals
Contains chicken
Too much rice
- Contains chicken
- Too much rice
Some dog owners have reported this recipe causes unpleasant gas in their dogs.
Pros
Can be used for feeding, mixing, or snacking
Made with premium protein
No poultry by-products
Cons
Can cause gas
- American Journey Stews Grain-Free Canned Dog Food Check Latest Price
Main ingredients: Chicken & Vegetable Stew: Chicken, chicken broth, beef broth, chicken liver Beef & Vegetable Stew: Beef, beef broth, chicken broth, chicken
Protein content: 8%
Fat content: 5%
Calories: 306–338 kcal per can
American Journey Stews are available in a variety of flavors that uses whole meat as the primary ingredient. Its recipes include beneficial omega fats, vitamins, and minerals to support your dog’s immune system and promote muscle growth and healthy skin and coat. While the recipes are packed with flavor, they are free from poultry by-products, artificial flavors or colors, and preservatives.
Can be used for feeding, mixing, or snacking
Made with premium protein
No poultry by-products
- Can be used for feeding, mixing, or snacking
- Made with premium protein
- No poultry by-products
Can cause gas
- Can cause gas
While grain-free foods are beneficial for dogs with allergies, you should consult your vet before deciding if a grain-free diet is suitable for your dog.
Pros
Whole meat is the main ingredient
No poultry by-products
Balanced meal using quality ingredients
Cons
Bad smell
Some dogs don’t enjoy it
Nature’s Recipe Chicken Dog Food is made with a palatable blend of homestyle ingredients with rice and barley. This recipe contains real animal protein with added antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to support a healthy immune system. It is 100% balanced with ingredients that are easy to digest, and it doesn’t contain animal by-products, artificial flavors, or preservatives.
Whole meat is the main ingredient
No poultry by-products
Balanced meal using quality ingredients
- Whole meat is the main ingredient
- No poultry by-products
- Balanced meal using quality ingredients
Bad smell
Some dogs don’t enjoy it
- Bad smell
- Some dogs don’t enjoy it
Some dog owners have commented on the food’s unpleasant smell after opening the can and claimed the food was too soft.
Pros
No animal by-products
Real animal protein
Easily digestible
Cons
Has a weird smell
Too soft
Hills Prescription Diet Digestive care dog food is designed by vets and nutritionists and formulated to support your dog’s digestive wellness. It is a low-fat recipe created with highly digestible protein that ensures proper nutrient absorption. Activbiome+ technology regulates a healthy gut bacteria and microbiome balance, while a prebiotic blend assists regular bowel movements and gastrointestinal health. Ginger is added to soothe the GI tract, and omegas promote healthy skin and fur.
No animal by-products
Real animal protein
Easily digestible
- No animal by-products
- Real animal protein
- Easily digestible
Has a weird smell
Too soft
- Has a weird smell
- Too soft
Hill’s can only be purchased with a veterinarian’s prescription and comes with a higher price tag.
Pros
ActivBiome+ technology
Contains prebiotics
Developed by vets and nutritionists
Cons
Needs veterinary authorization
Costly
Canidae All Life Stages dog food is a vet-formulated recipe made with real chicken, simmered in a tasty, savory broth. It is suited for dogs of all breeds and ages and made with wholesome grains to support your dog’s digestion and provide all the energy your pup needs and does not contain soy, wheat, or corn.
ActivBiome+ technology
Contains prebiotics
Developed by vets and nutritionists
- ActivBiome+ technology
- Contains prebiotics
- Developed by vets and nutritionists
Needs veterinary authorization
Costly
- Needs veterinary authorization
- Costly
Some dog owners are concerned about the texture of this recipe, saying it sticks to the can and is too mushy. Unfortunately, some dogs don’t care for the taste.
Pros
Suitable for homes with multiple dogs
Made with real chicken
Formulated by veterinarians
Cons
Too runny
Some dogs don’t enjoy it
Eukanuba Adult Canned Dog Food is scientifically formulated for active dogs. It is made with high-quality protein to help build strong and lean muscles. This recipe is made with nutritious beef and vegetable stew that delivers a healthy balance of vitamins and minerals, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. This food can be fed to your dog as a stand-alone meal or as a tasty topper to its kibble.
Suitable for homes with multiple dogs
Made with real chicken
Formulated by veterinarians
- Suitable for homes with multiple dogs
- Made with real chicken
- Formulated by veterinarians
Too runny
Some dogs don’t enjoy it
- Too runny
- Some dogs don’t enjoy it
Some dog owners who have purchased this food have mentioned that the consistency is too runny.
Pros
Complete and balanced recipe
Can be a meal or meal topper
Ideal for active dogs
Cons
Too much liquid
Complete and balanced recipe
Can be a meal or meal topper
Ideal for active dogs
- Complete and balanced recipe
- Can be a meal or meal topper
- Ideal for active dogs
Too much liquid
- Too much liquid
Buyer’s Guide: Picking the Best Moist Dog Food
It can sometimes be overwhelming to choose the best food for your dog, but we have put together a buyer’s guide to help you choose the best moist dog food for your companion.
Moist vs Dry
Moist food is usually preferred by dogs because of its rich and meaty flavor. It has a much higher moisture content than dry food, which may be beneficial if your dogs don’t drink enough water. It is usually more palatable than dry food due to its flavor and smell. Moist food usually gives your dog a fuller feeling which is helpful for weight management. It is also more suitable for dogs with dental issues as it is easier to chew.
Flavor
It may take some time to discover what flavors your dog enjoys best, and the best way to do this is by purchasing variety packs so your dog can experiment. If your dog enjoys a specific flavor, then variety packs should be avoided.
Size
Consider the size of your dog when purchasing its food. Bigger breed dogs naturally require more food, and larger cans are more suitable. A smaller dog will only need smaller cans so they don’t end up sitting in the fridge for too long. The size of can you end up purchasing will be relative to the size of your dog.
Ingredients
Evaluating the label and ingredients is crucial to understanding what your dog is eating. A label, for example, that reads “salmon and rice” means that 95% of the recipe is made from those ingredients.
The ingredients listed on the label are in weighted order, and it’s important to check the first five ingredients. Knowing more about certain ingredients you are unfamiliar with is also helpful. They can include:
Meal: Usually, organ meat with the fat and water removed.
Natural Flavor: This can come from any plant or animal source, but it does not mean that it is organic.
Ingredients that sound like chemicals are often vitamins, minerals, and other supplements.
You should look for an AAFCO statement on the label to say that the food is complete and balanced. Most balanced diets contain protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals.
Final Thoughts
Natural Balance LID Dog Food is our best overall pick for its limited ingredients and balanced formula. Purina O.N.E. SmartBlend Adult Canned Dog Food is our best choice for the money. Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Dog Food gets the premium choice spot. Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Natural Puppy Wet Dog Food is our best pick for your pup, and Purina Pro Plan dog food is our vet’s choice.
We hope our top picks and reviews have helped you feel more confident in choosing the best moist food for your dog!
Featured Image Credit: Alejandro rodriguez, Shutterstock
