More Than 400 Dogs and Their Pet Parents Agree, These Are the 10 Best Dog Food Brands (2025)

Developed by veterinarians and manufactured in the United States, Hill's Science Diet dog food comes in a variety of flavors that dogs seem to enjoy and formulations to meet the nutritional needs of dogs of every shape, breed, size, and life stage. We particularly like that Hill's Science Diet offers special formulations for specific needs, including food sensitivities, dental cleaning, weight management, and more. Moreover, the dry kibble and wet canned food are readily available and meet or exceed the nutrient profiles and manufacturing guidelines of the AAFCO and the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), with safety standards modeled after those of human food manufacturers.

With real animal protein as the first ingredient and human-grade ingredients providing essential vitamins and nutrients, we've found consistent feeding of Hill's Science Diet dog food has led to straightforward potty sessions and fewer dietary issues. However, the price of this dog food has increased as of late, and the canned variety could benefit from an improved pull tab lid to make it easier to open without a can opener. And, while the brand does offer Hill's Prescription Diet for dogs with specific medical needs, the food within that line is only available with a prescription and should be served under the direction of a veterinarian.

_{Life Stage: Puppy, adult, senior | Food Type: Dry, wet | Breed Size: Mini, small, medium, large}

For dogs that prefer the texture of wet food, Blue Buffalo offers an assortment of formulations designed to support a dog based on their size and life-stage needs. From the dogs involved in our research team's survey, we found that Blue Buffalo's wet food is not only appetizing and easy to digest, but it's also unlikely to upset a sensitive stomach and can help improve the condition of a dog's skin and coat. Additionally, all of Blue Buffalo's meat-first recipes are made with human-grade ingredients and enhanced with vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that dogs need, with zero byproduct meals, corn, soy, wheat, artificial flavors, or preservatives.

Blue Buffalo has eight lines of wet food for dogs to meet the dietary needs, health issues, and flavor preferences of all dogs, including Wilderness (high in protein), Freedom (free of grains and glutens), Baby Blue (for puppies), and Blue Basics (for skin and stomach care). Plus, the wet food can be mixed with the brand's dry food to make each serving more cost-effective—just be sure to adjust the portion size according to the directions listed on the product label to avoid overfeeding your dog, which can lead to weight gain.

_{Life Stage: Puppy, adult, senior | Food Type: Dry, wet, refrigerated | Breed Size: Toy, small, standard, large}

Ollie stands out not only for its focus on using high-quality, human-grade ingredients in its vet-formulated recipes but also for providing great customization options through its subscription service. Users can choose fresh food, gently baked dry kibble, or a combination of both to give their dogs textural variety. They can also add supplements, dental chews, and treats to their order.

Once you fill out a questionnaire on your dog’s age, weight, breed, activity level, allergies, and current food habits and set up your subscription, you're given complimentary access to virtual consultations with licensed veterinary health professionals through the Ollie app. Additionally, unlike some other subscription-based dog foods, Ollie food is also sold in select Petco locations, which can make staying consistent a little easier. However, all these options do come at a higher price, with plans starting at around $4 per day for smaller dogs—but if you have a large active dog, your daily cost will be substantially more.

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When shopping for affordable dog food, it's best to look at brands that can cover your dog's lifespan and specific health needs. Within Iams's collection of dog foods, there are varieties to meet the needs of dogs according to their age, lifestyle, and size, including formulations to address specific health needs that are common among dogs, such as weight management, joint and bone support, and digestive maintenance. Plus, its budget-friendly kibble and canned dog food are widely available at big box stores, supermarkets, and online retailers.

Meat or fish is the first ingredient in all Iams dog food, followed by fiber, grains, and omega-6 fatty acids to help support digestion, energy, and overall health—though the recipes also include byproduct meals and fillers. While dogs enjoy the flavors and textures, their human guardians participating in our testing collective would like to see more vegetables added to Iams's recipes.

_{Life Stage: Puppy, adult, senior | Food Type: Dry, wet | Breed Size: Extra small, small, medium, large, extra large}

FreshPet offers the freshness, flavor, and nutritional value of making home-cooked meals for a dog, all conveniently packaged in resealable bags of either chunks or small morsels or soft, easy-to-chew slice-and-serve rolls. We've found that it's more likely to appeal to picky eaters—plus the brand's quality ingredients received high marks among our home testers putting FreshPet on par with our Best Overall pick, Hill's Science Diet. All recipes are made with human-grade ingredients, including farm-raised chicken, fish, beef, eggs, fruits, and vegetables, all sourced and manufactured within the United States.

Within FreshSelect's dog food offerings, there are grain-free recipes and puppy-specific formulations, but it can be more difficult to find some of the flavors. And, for large breed dogs, feeding your dog FreshPet will likely be more expensive than dry or canned food, which typically has a longer shelf life. What's more, FreshPet food must be refrigerated at all times, and once a package is opened, it should be consumed within seven days.

_{Life Stage: Puppy, adult | Food Type: Refrigerated | Breed Size: Small, medium, large}

Purina Pro Plan offers a curated budget-friendly, readily available selection of puppy food designed to meet the evolving needs of a developing dog in a variety of flavors puppies enjoy. More than 50 dog parents in our testing collective fill their dog's bowl with a recipe from this brand, citing their vet's recommendation as the lead determining factor in their choice.

Both large and small breed-size formulas are packed with protein to meet the caloric expenditure of an energetic puppy as they learn and explore, with meat or fish as the first ingredient. For strong bones, teeth, brain, and vision development, each serving provides calcium, phosphorous, and DHA, which is derived from fish oil, along with antioxidants, probiotics, vitamins, and minerals to keep the immune system and digestive tract functioning properly. However, the recipes often include byproduct meals, corn gluten meal, and pea protein, which is suitable for dogs in small doses and is primarily used in Purina Pro Plan's Sensitive Skin and Stomach recipes.

_{Life Stage: Puppy, adult, senior | Food Type: Dry, wet | Breed Size: Small, medium, large}

Fromm Family Pet Food has been making food for dogs using human-grade ingredients since 1904 and it continues to be family-owned and operated out of Wisconsin, sourcing meat, fish, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables from fully vetted farms. All dog food from Fromm Family Pet Food provides probiotics for digestive regularity, omegas for a shiny coat, amino acids for proper muscle function, and high-quality complex carbohydrates for energy and fiber. Absent are fillers with no nutritional value, such as artificial flavors, corn syrup, and white flour, commonly added to dog food to cut costs.

This brand offers wet and dry dog food for puppies, adults, and seniors with recipes and textures formulated to address the needs of small breeds and large breeds along with weight management, food sensitivities, and protein preferences. Fromm dog food is typically carried by specialty pet food stores, so for some, it might be more laborious to find.

_{Life Stage: Puppy, adult, senior | Food Type: Dry, wet | Breed Size: Small, medium, large, giant}

Tender & True uses USDA-certified organic ingredients to create its dog food and works closely with third-party certification experts to guarantee ingredient sourcing from farms and fisheries that raise animals humanely and do not use antibiotics, hormones, or GMOs. There are two organic recipes for kibble optimized for small breed dogs, two organic recipes for dogs of all sizes and life stages in dry and canned wet food, and a freeze-dried formula made from raw ingredients including chicken, turkey, fruits, and vegetables. All recipes are free of corn, soy, and wheat, and are manufactured in the United States without the use of artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors.

The wet food only comes in three sizes, 5.5-, 12.5-, and 13.2-ounce cans, but the sizing options vary among the flavors. All cans are equipped with a pull tab and any leftovers can be refrigerated. The kibble is available in bags weighing 4, 11, and 20 pounds, so if you have a large dog you’ll likely want to keep more than one bag on hand at all times.

_{Life Stage: All | Food Type: Dry, wet, treats | Breed Size: All}

Due to their size, bigger dogs tend to put a lot of stress on their heart and their joints, so giving them food designed to support their needs with taurine, glucosamine, chondroitin, and omega fatty acids (EPA and DHA) enhances their overall well-being. Royal Canin has dog food formulated to address the needs of large (56-100 pounds) and giant dogs (over 100 pounds), using science-led nutrition to create wet and dry dog foods with tempting flavors, aromas, and textures.

In addition to giant and large dogs, Royal Canin has formulas and variations for dogs of all ages and sizes, and to address particular health issues, like sensitive skin and coat, digestive ailments, and dental concerns, as well as the specific needs of select breeds and purebred dogs, including golden retrievers, boxers, and German shepherds. The nutritionally balanced food does use meat byproduct meal as the first ingredient—which is still rich in protein and nutrients—though some pet parents prefer to avoid it. Also, the size of each piece of kibble varies between batches of the same recipe.

_{Life Stage: Puppy, junior, adult, mature, senior | Food Type: Dry, wet | Breed Size: Very small, small, medium, large, giant}

Costco's Kirkland brand provides premium dog food for all stages of your dog's life, including puppies, adult and mature dogs, small dog breeds, and dogs needing to maintain a healthy weight, all at a fair price. The Kirkland Signature Adult Dog Food, in particular, comes in several flavors, like chicken, rice, and vegetables; salmon and sweet potato; lamb, rice, and vegetables; and turkey and ancient grains, as well as a turkey and pea stew canned formula for those who favor wet food. Most formulas contain probiotics and prebiotics to assist in digestion for dogs with sensitive stomachs, and glucosamine and chondroitin help support healthy joints.

While the company offers little transparency on ingredient sourcing, reviewers report healthy results with long-term use, assuring a quality product. Plus, buying this product directly from Costco guarantees freshness. Be advised, however, that other online retailers and outlets also offer this exclusive Costco brand, which may equate to a more expensive product and a shorter shelf life, so always check the freshness date to be sure.

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From general maintenance and support to addressing specific health and wellness concerns (e.g., joint issues, cognitive support, and skin sensitivities) Purina ONE has a vast selection of formulas, all made in the United States. with natural ingredients and fortified with vitamins, minerals, and nutrients, and without fillers. Over 40 real dog parents in our testing survey feed their dog Purina ONE to effectively alleviate their dog's health issues, including sensitive stomachs and weight management.

Purina ONE is more widely available—and at a lower price point—than Purina Pro Plan (they share Nestlé Purina PetCare as a parent company), and in terms of price and quality, it's also comparable to Iams, our Best Budget pick for dog food brands.

_{Life Stage: Puppy, adult, senior | Food Type: Dry, wet | Breed Size: Small, medium, large}

Final Verdict

Our top choice for most dogs is Hill's Science Diet. Within the brand's vast selection of recipes there is a formula designed to give each dog the nutritional support needed with a flavor and texture they'll enjoy. If you’re looking for more approachable priced dog food, Iams offers wet and dry dog foods made with meat or fish protein as the first ingredient, and formulations are specialized for dogs of all ages and sizes.

FAQ

• What is the best way to find out if a dog food brand is recalled?

  “Talk to your veterinarian if you hear a dog food may have been recalled,” says Dr. Frione. “The FDA website will also report recent recalls.” You can find a current list of FDA recalls and withdrawals, as well as the reason for the recall, on the agency’s website.

• Is it bad to mix dog food brands?

  “At Lakeside Animal Hospital, we recommend staying with one type of food, as switching food regularly has often led to gastrointestinal upset,” says Dr. Frione. If the dog food you’re feeding your pet is not a complete source of nutrition, you may want to talk to your vet about switching to a different food or supplementing your dog’s diet.

The 17 Best Places to Buy Dog Food, According to 407 Dogs and Their Humans