10 Healthiest Dog Foods – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

The pet food industry has grown and expanded over the decades, and you can now find many kinds of dog food that come in different forms. When facing a wide variety of options, it can feel overwhelming trying to find genuinely healthy meals to feed your dog. Factors like misleading labels and fancy packaging can end up causing people to purchase expensive yet low-quality dog food.

Diet and nutrition play a strong role in a dog’s overall health and well-being, so it’s important for dog owners to find high-quality dog food for their dogs. Our reviews are here to help you in your search for the best dog food for your unique dog. We’ll also go over key things to look for when shopping for healthy dog food. By the end, you’ll have a good grasp of how to find healthy and nutritious food for your dog.

A Glance at Our Winners in 2024

The 10 Healthiest Dog Foods 

1. The Farmer’s Dog Chicken Recipe – Best Overall

The Farmer’s Dog Chicken Recipe is the best overall healthiest dog food for many reasons. First, it’s made fresh with whole natural ingredients. USDA chicken and USDA chicken liver are the first two ingredients, and the recipe contains other nutritious vegetables, like broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts. The recipe formula is also fortified with essential vitamins and minerals to ensure that your dog gets all its daily nutritional needs met.

All The Farmer’s Dog recipes are prepared in USDA kitchens and cooked at low temperatures for higher nutrient retention. Then, they’re immediately frozen and conveniently shipped to your door.

The only downside to The Farmer’s Dog meals is that you can only get meals by signing up for a subscription plan. So, you won’t be able to make a quick run to your local pet store if you happen to run out of meals.

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2. Merrick Healthy Grains Real Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe – Best Value

In general, healthy dog food is going to cost more than the average price of dog food, but you can still find some options that are more affordable without significantly compromising quality. This Merrick Healthy Grains Real Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe with Ancient Grains is the best healthy dog food for the money, and it uses high-quality ingredients. The first ingredient in this recipe is deboned salmon, which is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids. The recipe also incorporates a blend of nutritious whole grains and ancient grains, which support digestive health.

While this recipe contains a lot of nutritious natural ingredients, it does contain chicken meal, turkey meal, and chicken fat. So, while the name only mentions salmon, it contains a good amount of poultry and isn’t for dogs with chicken or turkey allergies.

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3. The Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Whole Grain Beef Dog Food

The Honest Kitchen Dehydrated Whole Grain Beef Dog Food provides a complete and balanced meal for adult dogs. The recipe uses human-grade ingredients that pass FDA and USDA requirements for human food. It also incorporates tasty and nutritious fruits and vegetables that dogs enjoy eating, like apples, carrots, and potatoes.

Each batch of food goes through a gentle dehydration process to maximize flavor and nutrient retention. You can also serve this food as a meal topper, or you can rehydrate it with warm water and feed it to your dog as a standalone meal. However, with the significant amount of oatmeal in this recipe, pickier dogs may not enjoy the flavor or consistency when the food is rehydrated.

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4. JustFoodForDogs Chicken & White Rice Puppy Food

 

Finding a nutritious diet for puppies is essential for healthy growth and development. JustFoodForDogs is a fresh dog food brand that creates a couple of recipes specifically for puppies, including the Chicken & White Rice Puppy Food.

This puppy food lists chicken as the first ingredient, and it also contains chicken gizzard and chicken liver. This use of high-quality proteins supports strong muscle development. The ingredient list only has one source of animal protein and uses easily digestible ingredients, so it’s a considerable option for puppies with extra sensitive stomachs or food allergies. The formula is also fortified with DHA and EPA, which support brain and vision development.

You can purchase this recipe both online and in select chain pet supply stores. However, the one inconvenient thing about it is its packaging. It doesn’t come in a resealable bag, and the food can spill out easily and cause a mess. 

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5. Castor & Pollux ORGANIX Organic Chicken & Oatmeal Dog Food

Castor & Pollux is one of the few pet food brands that produce USDA-certified organic dog food. The ORGANIX Organic Chicken & Oatmeal recipe has one of the cleanest ingredient lists, and you don’t have to worry about feeding your dog low-quality food containing added growth hormones, antibiotics, chemical pesticides, or synthetic fertilizers. Organic chicken is listed as the first ingredient, and it also contains a blend of organic superfoods that dogs typically enjoy eating. All batches of this food are carefully prepared in an organically certified USA kitchen.

Considering how much care is put into creating this recipe, it’s no surprise that it’s more expensive than many other dry dog food options. However, it still can be a more budget-friendly alternative to fresh dog food.

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 6. Freshpet Vital Chicken Recipe Fresh Dog Food

One of the best things about Freshpet is that it makes healthy fresh meals widely available and accessible. You can find Freshpet meals both online and at major pet supply retailers. Some grocery chains also carry Freshpet.

The Freshpet Vital Chicken Recipe has a non-GMO formula and is free of preservatives. It lists chicken as its first ingredient and uses other nutritious natural ingredients, like eggs, green beans, and carrots. It also contains rice bran for fiber. However, some dogs, particularly those with gastrointestinal issues, may have a difficult time digesting it.

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7. Wellness Bowl Boosters Freshly Frozen Fresh Beef & Carrots Dog Food

This fresh dog food created by Wellness has a relatively simple ingredient list that consists of beef, a few vegetables, and a vitamin and mineral blend. While it isn’t necessarily a limited-ingredient diet, it’s still a considerable choice for dogs with food allergies or sensitive stomachs. It can also be served as a meal topper or a complete meal.

The formula contains omega fatty acids to support skin and coat health and bone and joint health. It also has antioxidants to boost the immune system. This dog food is an overall healthy choice for most dogs, but dog owners with pre-diabetic or diabetic dogs may want to look for a different option. One of the main ingredients is potatoes, and feeding dogs potatoes may cause their blood sugar levels to spike.

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8. Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Chicken Meal & Brown Rice Dog Food

Hill’s Science Diet creates many veterinarian-recommended recipes for pets. This Adult 7+ Chicken Meal, Barley & Brown Rice recipe is an excellent option to consider if you have a senior dog. Dogs have different nutritional needs as they age, and this dog food contains ingredients to support healthy aging. It includes antioxidants and vitamins that support the immune system and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat. It also uses easily digestible ingredients to prevent upset stomachs for older dogs.

You can find a version of the recipe formulated for smaller dogs, and it also has small-sized kibble. However, if your senior dog has dental issues, it may still have a difficult time chewing the kibble. You may have to blend it with wet dog food to soften it before feeding it to your dog. 

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9. Purina Pro Plan Adult Salmon & Rice Dog Food

Purina Pro Plan has one of the widest selections of high-quality dog food, so it’s pretty easy to find a formula that fits your dog’s unique needs. The Adult Shredded Blend Salmon and Rice Formula is a nutritious option for most dogs that don’t have any specific dietary needs or health issues. It uses real salmon as the first ingredient, and the formula contains a blend of live probiotics to support gut health and healthy digestion.

The formula also contains vitamin A and omega-6 fatty acids to nourish the skin and coat. The kibble is prepared by incorporating soft, shredded pieces, so it’s easy for dogs to chew and has a palatable texture for them.

While the name of this recipe only mentions salmon, it contains other animal proteins, like poultry by-product meal, beef fat, and dried egg product. So, this food isn’t for dogs with certain protein allergies. It’s also worth mentioning that poultry by-product meal is an ambiguous ingredient, and it’s unclear what this ingredient consists of.

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10. Stella & Chewy’s Raw Blend Kibble Grains Dry Dog Food

Stella & Chewy’s creates many delicious and nutritious meals for dogs. This Red Meat Recipe is no exception and contains a combination of savory meats, including beef, pork, lamb, bison, venison, and goat. This blend can be more palatable to picky dogs, but keep in mind that it may not be easily digestible for dogs with food allergies or intolerances.

The ingredient list also uses healthy grains and many organic fruits and vegetables, like beets, broccoli, blueberries, carrots, ground pumpkin seeds, and spinach. However, despite the incorporation of a variety of vegetables, this recipe has a high protein content. So, it’s a viable fit for active, athletic, or working dogs. However, it may be too rich in protein for more sedentary dogs or senior dogs.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Select the Healthiest Dog Foods

It’s important to remember that every dog has its own unique diet and nutritional needs. Diet and nutritional needs are influenced by a dog’s age, breed, lifestyle, and health risks and issues. So, it’s beneficial to consult your veterinarian before switching to new dog food. Your veterinarian will be familiar with your dog’s dietary needs and will be able to determine which types of dog food are both nutritious and safe for your dog to eat.

It can take a significant amount of time to thoroughly examine every type of dog food to see if it’s beneficial for your dog. An easier way to look for healthy dog food that your dog will also enjoy eating safely is to focus on just a few key factors.

Dry Dog Food vs Wet Dog Food

Both dry dog food and wet dog food have their advantages and disadvantages. Dry dog food is much easier to store and has a longer shelf life after opening the package. It’s also easy to incorporate into enrichment activities as you can simply put pieces into enrichment toys and treat puzzles.

Most dogs prefer eating wet dog food over dry dog food. Wet dog food is also a great way to help your dog stay hydrated since it has a much higher moisture content than dry dog food. However, wet dog food has a much shorter shelf life and usually doesn’t last more than a week after being opened. It’s also important not to let wet dog food sit out for more than 4 hours at room temperature, as it can become contaminated by bacteria that cause food poisoning.

It’s also important to note that dry dog food isn’t always inferior to wet dog food or “fresh” dog food. So, consider your dog’s eating preferences and choose the type of food that’s most palatable to your dog’s unique tastes.

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High-Quality Ingredients

Dog food labels can claim that their recipes use all-natural ingredients. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re using nutritious ingredients. So, make sure to review the ingredient list for high-quality, nutrient-dense foods.

Look for natural sources of protein, like deboned beef or chicken. Keep in mind that specified meat meals, like chicken meal or fish meal, are generally healthy and safe ingredients that are incorporated in many dry dog food recipes. They’re often used to incorporate more protein into food because whole cuts of meat lose a significant amount of volume when they’re dehydrated and mixed into dry dog food. It’s more concerning if dog food contains more ambiguous ingredients like meat meal or poultry by-product meal because it’s unclear what’s inside these types of meals.

Dog food also doesn’t need artificial flavors and colors. Some dog food brands may try to convince you to avoid other dog food brands that use corn or rice because they’re not nutritious. However, corn and rice have beneficial value in dog nutrition. It’s more important to avoid foods that use low-quality filler ingredients like corn syrup and MSG.

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Food Preparation

It’s also important to consider how the dog food has been prepared. Reputable dog food brands will be transparent about ingredient sourcing and share how their food is made. They’ll list any certifications or quality assurance requirements their batches of food must pass before distributing them to retailers and customers. Some companies may work with a third-party quality control organization for added accountability.

It’s also helpful to look for information on how the food is cooked. Food that’s been minimally processed or cooked at low temperatures has lower risks of losing nutrients. Some fresh dog food companies will also create meals to order or meals in small batches so that their meals can be inspected more closely.

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Misleading Labels

Make sure to pay attention to how pet food brands market their food. They can use favorable and appealing words like “human-grade,” “holistic,” and “all-natural.” However, food labels for pets aren’t as strictly enforced as human food, so these types of marketing words can hold loose meanings. You’ll get more information by visiting the brand’s website and seeing how they source their ingredients and prepare their recipes. Rather than getting caught up in buzzwords, look for actual certifications that the recipes have received from reputable organizations.

Conclusion

To summarize our reviews, The Farmer’s Dog Chicken Recipe is the healthiest dog food because it uses nutritious natural ingredients and has a preparation process that maximizes nutrient retention. Merrick Healthy Grains Real Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe With Ancient Grains is a budget-friendly option that still uses high-quality ingredients.

If you’re looking for trustworthy human-grade dog food, The Honest Kitchen is an excellent choice. JustFoodForDogs has a nutritious and easily digestible formula for puppies, and Castor & Pollux ORGANIX has one of the cleanest ingredients lists that incorporates many nutritious foods.

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 Featured Image Credit: Chendongshan, Shutterstock