what is the best quality wet dog food uk

Best and worst dog food brands

There are hundreds of dog food options available, from dry to grain-free to raw, but which ones will have your furry friend licking the bowl clean?

We surveyed 2,304 dog owners about the pet food they buy to uncover the brands that customers (and their dogs) love and which offer the best value for money.

See how brands such as Burns, Harringtons and Royal Canin are rated by customers, as well as supermarket options from the likes of Aldi and Lidl.

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Dog food brands rated

Our top-scoring dog food brand achieved an impressive customer score of 82%, and five-star ratings for how much pets liked it, as well as their wellbeing when eating it.

At the other end of the scale, two brands scored less than 60%, with just two stars out of five each for how healthy the dog seemed when eating food from that brand.

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Make sure your furry friend is covered see our guide to the best pet insurance for your dog

How to choose the best dog food for your pet

Deciphering all the pet nutrition information on the internet can seem like an impossible task. It can range from confusing to completely contradictory.

We spoke to real pet nutrition researchers to understand what actually matters. Good news: it isnt as complicated as it seems.

The most important part of choosing a food is actually monitoring your pet, said Dr Teresa Hollands, senior lecturer in veterinary nutrition at the University of Surrey. If you're feeding your pet a particular brand of food, and they have plenty of energy and seem well in themselves, then you are on the right track.

Dr Nigel Kendall, lecturer in nutrition at the University of Nottingham, agreed: If your pet is on completely the wrong diet, then there will be physical signs.

Signs that your pet is eating a nutritious diet, and the right food for their needs, include:

• good overall health
• plenty of energy
• good sleeping habits
• regularly passing firm stools
• maintaining a healthy weight.

Also a cat owner? See our guide to thebest and worst cat food brands

How to feed your dog the best and healthiest diet

As well as choosing the right food, you can also maximise the nutritional value of your pets diet by feeding them in the right way.

We spoke with Dr David Gardner, professor of physiology at the University of Nottingham, to find out more:

Choosing a complete food

Start by making sure you are feeding your pet a complete food, he said. Thats really important, but it isnt always clearly labelled.

Complete foods are designed to give your pet all the nutrients they need, so you can feed them the same thing every day without causing a nutritional imbalance or deficit.

Weighing your pet food

David also highlighted the importance of weighing your pets food every time you feed them.

Remember, you may not notice that you're overfeeding your pet if you increase the size of their feed very slightly each day.

Varying your pet food

If you want to take additional steps to ensure your pet is getting the best nutrition, David also suggested varying the food you give them, provided that this doesnt upset their stomach.

These changes could be as small as varying the flavour of food that you give to your pet.

If you buy a bag of lamb dog food one month, try the chicken next time, David suggested.

If you do want to try changing the type or brand of your pet food, remember to do so gradually. Your pet's meal should be no more than 25% new food for the first couple of days, increasing over the course of a week.

Dogs can be fussy, so know that varying your pet food is not essential. The main thing is that they eat and enjoy their food and that it's nutritionally complete.

Best dog harnesses see our pick of the best and worst as tested by dog owners

Is wet or dry dog food better?

Both wet and dry foods can be nutritionally complete, meaning that they should contain all the nutrients your pet needs. That means there is no significant advantage to either food type.

David recommended feeding your pet a mixture of wet and dry food.

Evidence suggests that there are slight differences in the nutritional composition of wet and dry food. That means you are going to cover more nutrients if you mix them together.

If you want to feed your dog exclusively one type of food, then wet food does tend to be more appealing. However, it is often more expensive and it can predispose pets to dental disease.

In contrast, dry food is beneficial to dogs teeth and gums, and it is usually easier and cheaper to use and store. Just make sure that your dog has access to plenty of fresh water, as they will not be getting hydration from their food.

Best food and drinkwe've rated the tastiest food for humans too. Discover our top picks, from chicken soup to red wine

Can dogs be vegan?

Yes, provided you are careful about the type of food you give them.

There are commercial dog foods available that are vegetarian or vegan and nutritionally complete.

Some people may want to prepare homemade vegetarian or vegan meals for their dog, which is not typically recommended by experts.

This is because evidence suggests that homemade food (including meat-based diets) is typically not nutritionally complete even when people follow recipes labelled as such.

Is raw food good for dogs?

Raw pet food has become more popular over the past few years, especially for dogs, but experts don't generally recommend it.

I would not recommend a raw food diet due to the risk to human health, says Dr Heather Bacon, dean of veterinary medicine at the University of Central Lancashire.

Bacteria present in raw meat can include salmonella, listeria, campylobacter and E-coli. These cause significant illness in humans and animals, particularly young, old and immune-compromised individuals.

These can be spread around the house during food preparation and eating. They can also be passed from animals to humans if your pet kisses your face after eating.

All of these bacteria are destroyed when meat is correctly cooked.

How much should my dog weigh?

According to a 2022 survey by UK Pet Food, 50% of dogs (and 43% of cats) are overweight or obese.

Your pet being overweight can have a huge impact on its quality of life, including limiting their ability to exercise or sleep properly. According to the RSPCA, it also predisposes them to illness including:

• diabetes
• heart disease
• cancer.

How to if tell your dog is overweight

Dr Teresa Hollands recommends an easy method for checking your pets weight.

Create a fist with your hand, and feel your knuckles with your fingers, she said. If your pets ribs feel like that, they are underweight.

Then lay your hand flat, and feel your knuckles again. If their ribs feel like that, they are the perfect weight.

Finally, keep your hand flat, turn your hand over, and run your fingers over the pads on your palm at the base of your fingers. If their ribs feel like that, they are overweight.

Physical signs that your dog is overweight

• Very thin(more than 20% below ideal body weight) Ribs, spine and hip bones easily seen (in short-haired pets), obvious loss of muscle bulk, no fat can be felt under the skin.
• Underweight (10-20% below ideal body weight)Ribs, spine and hip bones easily seen, obvious waist and abdominal tuck, very little fat can be felt under the skin.
• IdealRibs, spine and hip bones easily felt, visible waist and abdominal tuck, small amount of fat can be felt.
• Overweight(10-15% above ideal body weight): Ribs, spine and hip bones are hard to feel, waist barely visible, broad back, layer of fat on belly and at base of tail.
• Obese (more than 15% above ideal body weight)Ribs, spine and hip bones extremely difficult to feel under a thick layer of fat, no waist can be seen and belly may droop significantly, heavy fat pads on lower back and at base of the tail.

How we rated dog food brands

To uncover the best and worst dog food brands, in July 2023 we surveyed 2,304 Which? members who had bought dog food recently, and asked all about their experiences with their chosen brand.

We asked them to rate the brand on various attributes including value for money, how their dog responded to the food, and its perceived wellbeing on the food.

Overall customer scores are based on how satisfied customers were with the brand overall and whether or not they would recommend it.

Discover the best head torches for taking your dog for a walk in the dark

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10 Best Wet Dog Foods in the UK 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

Dog food needs to be tasty and appealing but we also need to ensure that we give food that is nutritional. Wet dog food can meet all of these requirements and theres plenty of it available in most stores. However, not all mass-produced and readily available wet food meets the canine dietary requirements.

Below, you will find reviews of ten of the best wet dog foods in the UK, including what we believe to be the best wet food for puppies.

A Quick Glance at Our Favourite Choices in 2024

The 10 Best Wet Dog Foods in the UK

1. Forthglade Natural Complete Wet Dog Food Best Overall

With a consistency of pate chunks and filled with at least 75% meat, Forthglade Natural Complete Food uses natural ingredients and meets all of the daily nutritional requirements of your dog.

It is a complete food which means that you dont have to add any dry kibble or other ingredients to your dogs diet. Per gram, Forthglade is very well priced, and because it is so full of real protein, it fills your dog quickly, so you use less of the food, making it even cheaper. Because its high in protein, making up 11% of the meal, you will have to introduce the food gradually to avoid upset stomachs, and Forthglade does include carrageenan as a stabilizing agent. Carrageenan is an extract of seaweed but while it is natural, some studies have linked the ingredient to inflammation. Other studies suggest there is no link between the ingredient and any health concerns.

The combination of the low price and high-quality ingredients makes Forthglade Natural Complete Food our choice as the overall best wet dog food in the UK.

• Cheap
• No artificial ingredients
• 11% protein mostly from meat

• Contains carrageenan
• Will need a gradual introduction

2. Naturediet Feel Good Complete Wet Dog Food Best Value

Naturediet Feel Good Complete Wet Food is another complete food that is free from artificial ingredients and meets all of your dogs daily nutritional requirements. It has a similar pate-style texture to the Forthglade food, but it has a slightly lower 10% protein ratio, although this is still higher than most.

The Naturediet food contains 60% meat, compared to Forthglades 75%. While this is still much higher than most other foods, it uses carrageenan to hold the pate shape in the carton. Naturediet is a very good quality food, packed with nutritional meat protein and free from artificial ingredients, and while it doesnt quite meet the same high quality of the Forthglade food, it is marginally cheaper and is one of the best wet dog foods in the UK for the money.

Naturediet states that the food is suitable for senior dogs, as well as adult dogs, and because it is a white meat formula, it should also be suitable for dogs with sensitive digestion.

• Cheap
• 10% protein mostly from meat
• No artificial ingredients

• Not quite as good as Forthglade
• Contains carrageenan

3. Lilys Kitchen English Garden Canned Wet Dog Food Premium Choice

Lilys Kitchen English Garden Complete Food is a premium food, costing more than most on the list. However, it is made from 65% chicken and contains 10% protein, mostly from meat sources.

It uses natural ingredients and does not include any preservatives. The only controversial ingredient listed is alfalfa, but because this appears near the bottom of the ingredient list, it is not being used as a cheap filler and has been added for its macronutrients and nutritional benefit.

The food is quite low in fibre, making up just 0.4% of the food, but it is grain free and has chicken as its sole protein source, so it can be used in an elimination diet or for dogs with sensitive stomachs. It is an adult food, for dogs over 12 months, so you should look for a different food if your pup is under 12 months.

• No artificial ingredients
• 10% protein mostly from meat
• Grain-free, single protein source

• Expensive
• Only 0.4% fibre

4. Lilys Kitchen Puppy Recipe Wet Dog Food

Made from 67% chicken, Lilys Kitchen Puppy Recipe is another high-quality food from the premium manufacturer. It is grain free and doesnt use any artificial ingredients or additives. The food is made up of 10.6% protein but only 0.5% fibre.

The puppy food is low in carbs, which is beneficial because puppies eat more food by weight, than adult dogs. Puppies will usually eat a dedicated puppy food until they reach 12 months of age, and it is important that you offer a good quality food that meets the requirements of young dogs.

Lilys Kitchen Puppy Recipe includes extra vitamins and minerals, but the food is expensive, especially considering the amount your puppy is going to eat.

• 67% chicken
• 6% protein
• Free from artificial ingredients and grain

• Expensive
• Only 0.5% fibre

5. Harringtons Wet Dog Food

Harringtons Wet Food is a nutritionally complete food that contains at least 65% meat content, depending on the flavour in question.

It is free from artificial additives and contains 8.5% protein, which could benefit from being a little higher. The food is low in fibre, just 0.3%, and the recipes use carrageenan to maintain the shape and consistency of the food. One of the flavors of food is labeled as salmon with potato and vegetables but actually contains more chicken than any other ingredient, which is important to owners of dogs with allergies. Although the fibre levels are low, this can be beneficial if you are looking for food to give a dog with diarrhea or overly soft stools.

Harringtons is very affordably priced, and a decent quality food. Check the ingredients to determine what is actually in the different flavours, though, as some of the names are misleading.

• Cheap
• 65% meat content
• No artificial additives

• Misleading food names
• 5% protein could be better
• Contains carrageenan

Natures Menu is a wet food consisting of very limited ingredients. It is also guaranteed carrageenan free, so is suitable if you are looking to avoid this somewhat controversial ingredient.

It is moderately priced and contains 60% of the primary meat ingredient. Natures Menu specialises in raw foods and this complete meal is a packaged alternative that is made from similarly high-grade ingredients but is easy to store, convenient, and can be taken with you when youre away from home. Consisting of just 0.5% fibre, it shouldnt cause upset stomachs, but you may want to find a food with a higher fibre ratio.

• Carrageenan free
• 60% meat
• No artificial additives

7. Barking Heads Wet Dog Food

As well as being made from 60% chicken, Barking Heads Wet Food also contains 25% chicken broth, which gives the food extra appeal and palatability, while also containing essential vitamins and minerals. Other ingredients include fresh vegetables and herbs, offering a complete meal that meets a dogs dietary requirements.

It has 9% protein, which is around average, and 1.5% fibre, which is higher than a lot of the wet foods on this list. Guaranteed free from carrageenan, the Barking Heads pouches contain meat, vegetables, and herbs. They are free from artificial ingredients and free from common allergens.

The food is expensive, however, and it has a mousse consistency that makes it easy for dogs of all ages and conditions to eat but may not appeal to all fussy canines.

• 85% chicken and chicken broth
• Guaranteed carrageenan free
• No artificial additives

• Expensive
• Mousse consistency wont appeal to all

8. Pooch & Mutt Wet Dog Food

Pooch & Mutt Wet Dog Food is a complete wet meal consisting of 10% protein. Different flavours have different meat content. The turkey and duck recipe is made up of 65% meat, for example, while the turkey and chicken is less than 50% meat. However, all recipes use meat as the main protein source, which is better for dogs than plant and vegetable-based protein.

Other ingredients include fruit and vegetables, and all contain prebiotics and probiotics that should help maintain a healthy gut.

This is another wet food with a low fibre ratio, just 0.2% of some of the recipes, and it is an expensive food. Recent recipe changes mean that the food, which was once covered in a jelly, is now a looser pate. As is commonplace with pate-style foods, Pooch & Mutt does use carrageenan to maintain its form and consistency so if youre looking to avoid this ingredient, you will need a different food.

• Most recipes contain at least 60% meat
• 10% protein
• No artificial additives

• Quite a sloppy consistency
• Difficult to open pouches
• Contains carrageenan

9. Amazon Brand Lifelong Complete Food For Adult Dogs

Amazon Brand Lifelong Complete Pet Food is a wet food for adult dogs. It does get a lot of its protein from meat sources and is free from artificial additives. Less than 40% of the ingredients are meat ingredients, with the rest being vaguely listed vegetables, cereals, and minerals.

Although carrageenan is not listed as an ingredient, the food is not guaranteed carrageenan free, which means that it could be lurking in the background.

The food is reasonably priced, but its 8% protein is much lower than other foods, and it is difficult to assess the quality of the ingredients because they are very vaguely and loosely titled. The main ingredient in the poultry and lamb recipe is meat and animal derivatives. Its unclear which animals, or which parts of those animals, have been used. In fact, Amazon only guarantees that at least 4% of the ingredients are from the named protein. Similarly, the ingredients include vaguely listed cereals, derivatives of vegetable origin, minerals, and various sugars.

• Reasonable price
• No artificial additives

• Very vague ingredients
• Less than 40% meat
• Only guaranteed 4% named protein

10. Pedigree Chunks In Loaf Canned Dog Food

Pedigree is a well-known and very well-established dog food manufacturer, but well recognized does not necessarily equate to good quality. Pedigrees Chunks in Loaf is similar to Amazons own brand. It has a slightly low protein ratio of 7%, which would definitely benefit from being higher, and its ingredients list is vague, making it impossible to determine exactly what is in the food.

Like the Amazon brand food, it only contains 4% of the named protein in most recipes and it is not guaranteed carrageenan free. Pedigree is modestly priced, and most buyers recognize its name, but its low protein and questionable ingredients mean that there are plenty of other, better options, available.

• 7% protein needs to be higher
• Only consists of 4% named protein
• Very vague ingredients

Buyers Guide: Selecting the Best Wet Dog Food

We all want to give our dogs something they enjoy eating, but it is just as important that the food meets a dogs daily nutritional requirements. This means that they get the protein, fibre, carbs, and essential vitamins and minerals to keep them healthy.

The debate over whether wet or dry food is better, and whether raw food trumps both, will continue to wage on, but if you do opt for a wet food, read the label and ingredients and do your research to ensure that it is a good quality food that relies on high-quality ingredients.

What Is Wet Dog Food?

Wet dog food is made up of around 75% water and this is mixed with ingredients like meat and vegetables. Wet food can take various forms. The solid ingredients can be chunks, strips, pate, or mousse, and they might be surrounded by a wet gravy or jelly. Wet food usually costs more, because of the cost of transporting the heavier food, but it does provide moisture to ensure that your dog is hydrated as well as full.

Complete Dog Foods

The foods on our list are complete dog foods. Complete foods provide all of the essential nutrients that your dog requires. They do not require any additional food types or supplements and will keep your dog healthy and happy. Complementary foods are those that need to be added to a dry kibble or some other food and you are responsible for ensuring that your dog gets all of the required ingredients from the combination of foods provided.

Is It OK To Only Feed Your Dog Wet Food?

There are benefits to dry food and dog food, and as long as you buy a complete food, you can feed either as the sole food source for your dog. Because of the high moisture content in wet food, it can actually help ensure that your dog stays hydrated, too, although you still need to ensure that there is a fresh and regularly filled bowl of water available whenever your dog wants a drink.

Should You Mix Wet and Dry Dog Food?

Wet dog food should only be left down for an hour or two before you lift any leftovers. Dry food, on the other hand, can be left down all day. As such, if you go out to work, it can be beneficial to feed both wet and dry food. Give one or two wet meals a day and leave a measured bowl of dry food down for grazing. There is no need or benefit to combining wet and dry food in the same bowl.

Is Wet Food Easier for Dogs to Digest?

Wet food contains a lot of moisture, and this water can help your dog digest the ingredients more easily. A good quality dry food should not be too hard to digest, however, so the most important factor is checking ingredients and nutrient levels.

How Often Should I Feed My Dog Wet Food?

Ideally, your dogs daily wet food allowance should be broken down into two or more meals. This is better for digestion, ensures that your dog is fuller for longer periods of the day, and it ensures a steady supply of blood sugar and insulin to your dogs system. To determine how much wet food to give, accurately weigh your dog and feed according to the manufacturers guidelines. If you combine wet and dry food, adjust the weights of both accordingly, for example feeding half the recommended dry food and half the recommended wet food, each day.

Choosing the Best Wet Dog Food

There are hundreds of wet dog foods available, including those for puppies, adults, and even seniors. Choosing the right one means finding one that your dog enjoys eating, and that offers them all the nutritional goodness they require.

Life Stage

Dog foods are usually categorized as puppy, adult, or senior food. Puppies need more protein, fat, and other vitamins and minerals than dogs at other stages of their life. They will usually benefit from softer food that is easier to eat, too. Puppy foods are usually recommended for up to 12 months of age, but different dogs and different breeds do develop at different rates, which means that the 12-month stage is just a guide and not a hard rule.

Food Consistency

Wet food is wet food, right? With a variety of pates, mousses, jellies, and gravies, as well as different sizes and styles of solid chunks available, nothing could be further from the truth. And while some dogs will eat literally anything put in front of them, others have more discerning tastes. Pates and mousses can be beneficial for small dogs that might struggle with large chunks, but some dogs simply prefer gravy to jelly, or vice versa.

Read the Ingredients

It is important that you check ingredient labels on dog food. While you cant be expected to know every possible ingredient in a pouch or tin of wet food, there are some general things you should be looking for regarding nutritional values and ingredients.

As with human food, the ingredients are listed in order by dry volume. This means that there was more of the top ingredient than the second ingredient and by the time you get close to the bottom of the list, these ingredients are only present in small amounts.

Meat Content

Dogs are omnivores. They eat meat but can also gain nutritional benefits from plants and vegetables, herbs, and other ingredients. Similarly, their food should contain meat as the main protein source but may also contain ingredients like fruit and vegetables. Not all manufacturers do, but some will list the amount of food that is made up of the named meat.

Good foods boast being at least 60% of the named meat protein, modest foods have a meat content of more like 25%, and poor-quality foods that are packed with cheap fillers or vague and unnamed meat ingredients have a meat content of less than 10%.

Protein Ratio

Protein is the most important nutritional ratio in dog food, although they all play a part. Protein is used to promote good hair and skin, develop healthy muscles, and aid in tissue repair. A good protein ratio for wet food is 10%, and unless your dog has special dietary requirements, you should avoid those that are below about 8%.

Vague Ingredients

Ideally, the exact ingredients used should be clearly named, but this isnt always the case. Some cheaper foods use cheaper ingredients from unnamed sources. You might see meat derivatives as an ingredient. This does not identify the type of animal or the part of the animal that has been used to make the food and it could mean that the meat ingredients are nutritionally low value. The ingredient deboned chicken is clearly chicken and because it does not list by-products or derivatives, it means that it comes from recognizable sections of the chicken.

Carrageenan

Carrageenan is a common ingredient used in wet food as a binding agent. Binding agents are used to literally bind the food together. They ensure that pate retains its consistency, and that jelly keeps its shape. Carrageenan is actually a natural ingredient because it is an extract of seaweed. However, some studies suggest that it might be linked to inflammation and liver complaints. The ingredient has been listed as apparently safe but merits further investigation to make sure.

Because of the small amount required, it is likely that carrageenan is safe, and this small amount also means that it is not always included in ingredient lists. Some manufacturers will guarantee that their food is carrageenan-free, but others wont be drawn. If you are avoiding carrageenan, you must specifically look for those foods that state they are guaranteed carrageenan free.

Grains

Grains are sometimes used as a relatively cheap filler. They contain protein and other vitamins and minerals, but they are not as bioavailable as the nutrients in meat. Whats more, dogs with sensitivities and allergies will often react to grains. For these reasons, many owners avoid foods that contain listed grains. If a food does contain grain, it should ideally be whole grain.

Conclusion

Wet dog foods are palatable and appealing, filled with moisture to help hydrate a dog, and they dont have to cost the earth. They can also be combined in a daily feeding schedule with dry food or kibble for a full and balanced diet. There are hundreds of different wet food kibbles, but not all are of equal quality, so it is important that you choose a good one that is suitable for your dog.

Above, we have included reviews of ten of the best wet dog foods in the UK. We found Forthglade Just Poultry to be the overall best wet dog food because it contains at least 75% meat and is free from artificial additives. If youre on a budget, Naturediet is nearly as good and costs a little less. Hopefully, we have helped you find the best wet food for your dogs daily diet.

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Featured Image Credit to Mat Coulton, Pixabay