My pup will be becoming a senior next year so I understand the importance of ensuring the right nutrition for dogs. As pet parents, we just want to keep our dogs healthy and happy for as long as possible.
I set about researching the best wet dog food for senior dogs and wrote my findings below. I have ranked them based on ingredients, palatability, and nutritional support for aging pups.
My hope for this guide is that you will be able to choose a food that supports your dog as they age. Let’s break it down together so you can make the best choice for your senior dog.
Brief Overview
In case you’re in a hurry, I’ve included a quick round-up of the top products below.
- Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Senior – Best Overall
- Purina Pro Plan Adult 7+ Complete Essentials – Best High Protein Wet Senior Food
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ – Best for Overall Health Support
- Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition Small Aging 12+ – Best for Small Senior Dogs
- Iams ProActive Health – Best for Skin and Coat Health
5 Best Wet Dog Food for Senior Dogs
1. Best Overall – Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Senior
Key Features
- Main ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Carrots, Peas
- Calorie content: 396 kcal/cup
- Texture: Pate
- Breed Size: Suitable for all
- Price per oz: $0.24
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Helps to promote healthy joints and better mobility
- Natural ingredients with no hidden nasties
- Comes in both a case of 12 or a case of 24, which is better value for money
- Can be used on its own, mixed with dry food, or as a treat
- Pate style is easy to eat for senior dogs with missing teeth
Cons:
- Slightly lower moisture content than other options – makes it less hydrating
Product Overview
The Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Senior Chicken Dinner with Garden Vegetables is a great all-rounder for senior dogs. It’s suitable for all breeds and sizes of dogs.
This wet food provides a balanced diet full of vitamins and minerals to help keep your dog healthy as they age. It’s made with high-quality ingredients with no hidden nasties or fillers. The tasty chicken flavor is palatable for fussy dogs, and the soft texture makes it easy to eat even for dogs with no teeth.
My Review
If you’re considering switching your dog to senior dog food, the Blue Buffalo wet food is top of my list. Made with real chicken and vegetables, I felt rest assured that my dog would be getting the best!
This food contains no by-products unlike some of our other options. It’s also free of corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, or preservatives so it’s gentle on your dog’s digestive system.
One of my favorite parts about this food is the amount of vitamins and minerals included. In particular, the food contains glucosamine and chondroitin which some sources show can help keep your dog mobile and keep their joints healthy.
However, senior dogs can be prone to dehydration and there is slightly less moisture in this wet food than some other options on our list.
Product Summary
Overall, the Blue Buffalo senior wet dog food has some amazing benefits including:
- High-quality ingredients: This food contains natural ingredients with no artificial ingredients or fillers so you know your dog is getting the quality they deserve.
- Vitamins and minerals: The nutrients to support your dog’s health as they age.
- Plenty of protein: There’s a good amount of protein to support healthy muscles and joints.
The only drawback I found with this product was the slightly lower moisture content. So, if your dog struggles to drink enough you might want to add some extra water to this food.
The Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Senior
The Blue Buffalo Homestyle senior food is an excellent choice for owners who want a high-quality food to help maintain their dog’s health as they age. It’s palatable, easy to digest, and contains natural ingredients most dogs will love.
2. Best High Protein Wet Senior Food – Purina Pro Plan Adult 7+ Complete Essentials
Key Features
- Main ingredients: Chicken, Water, Liver, Meat By-Products, Rice
- Calorie content: 415 kcal per can
- Texture: Pate
- Breed Size: Suitable for all
- Price per oz: $0.23
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- High protein content promotes healthy muscles and improved mobility
- More affordable than some other options
- Two flavor choices
- Pate texture is easy for dogs to eat
Cons:
- Contains some meat by-products along with higher-quality protein
Product Overview
If you’re looking for a high-protein diet for your senior dog, the Purina Pro Plan Adult 7+ Complete Essentials is a great choice. This wet food contains 9% protein, the highest on our list.
The protein is real chicken, so you know it’s high-quality. The food has a soft pate texture, so it’s easy to eat for senior pups who are missing some of their teeth.
My Review
My favorite thing about this food is that it’s full of high-quality protein at much higher levels than our other choices. Senior dogs can lose lean body mass as their body changes the way it processes proteins. A diet with plenty of protein is key to preventing this, as well as giving them more energy.
I particularly liked that there were two flavors to pick from – chicken or turkey. If you have fussy dogs, you’ll know that the flavor makes all the difference. However, there are also some meat by-products that I wish were left out.
Summary
I found the Purina Pro Plan Adult 7+ Complete Essentials had some great features including:
- High protein levels: The high protein levels provide excellent support for aging dogs.
- Quality ingredients: The ingredients offer all the nutrients dogs need in their senior stage.
- Soft texture: The pate texture is easy to chew even for senior pups with no teeth.
Although the food includes some meat by-products, the rest of the ingredients are good quality with real chicken being the main ingredient.
Purina Pro Plan Adult 7+ Complete Essentials
If you’re looking for a high-protein diet for your senior dog, the Purina Pro Plan Adult 7+ Complete Essentials should be your top choice! It’s packed full of ingredients to give your seniors a balanced diet that is tasty and helps to maintain their health.
3. Best for Overall Health Support – Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+
Key Features
- Main ingredients: Water, Chicken, Pork Liver, Brown Rice, Carrots
- Calorie content: 305 kcal per can
- Texture: Stew/gravy
- Breed Size: Suitable for all
- Price per oz: $0.26
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Available in two flavors and two case sizes to suit owner’s needs
- Lean protein helps dogs maintain a healthy weight
- Easily digestible fiber to promote healthy digestion
- Plenty of moisture to help keep senior dogs hydrated
Cons:
- Less protein than other options
- Slightly more expensive than some other options
Product Overview
The Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ provides excellent all-around health support for aging dogs. It contains lean protein to support healthy muscles and prevent weight gain. This is very handy as dogs tend to become less active as they age so they don’t burn as many calories.
There’s plenty of gentle fiber such as peas, carrots, and brown rice to support your dog’s digestion. There’s a high moisture content of 82% maximum to prevent dehydration, which is among the highest of my choices.
My Review
When it comes to ingredient quality, the Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ is rightfully near the top of the list. It’s made with real chicken or beef and plenty of additional minerals.
Since senior dogs can struggle with constipation, I was a big fan of the fiber content to help keep the digestive system functioning well. I liked that this food was more of a stew texture with gravy rather than a pate like many of the other options.
There is lower protein in this food than other options and it’s also slightly more expensive than some other choices, although I feel it’s worth the money.
Summary
The Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ has some fantastic features for senior dogs including:
- Lean protein: The high-quality lean protein helps to maintain your dog’s weight as well as supporting overall health.
- Gravy texture: The gravy texture may be more palatable for some dogs.
- Good for digestive health: Contains fiber which is gentle on your dog’s digestive system while also keeping it functioning optimally.
I do wish there was slightly more protein in this food, However, you could choose to add some additional protein if you felt it was needed.
Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+
The Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ is the perfect choice if you want a quality senior dog food that provides good all-round health support for your dog as they age. The brand is well-known and loved for good reason!
4. Best for Small Senior Dogs – Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition Small Aging 12+
Key Features
- Main ingredients: Water Sufficient For Processing, Pork By-Products, Chicken, Pork Liver, Brewers Rice Flour
- Calorie content: 76 kcal per pouch
- Texture: Meat chunks/gravy
- Breed Size: Small breeds up to 22 lb
- Price per oz: $0.87
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Specifically formulated to suit the needs of aging small breeds over 12
- Plenty of additional ingredients to promote overall health
- Made to pair with the matching dry food or can be served alone
- Easy to open and serve pouches for ease at meal times
Cons:
- More expensive than other options
- Contains some by-products
- Only suitable for toy or small breed dogs
Product Overview
The Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition Small Aging 12+ provides all-round nutritional support for small-breed senior dogs in their later years. It’s full of ingredients to keep them active and healthy. It’s also really palatable which is handy as I know from personal experience how fussy small dogs can be!
Unlike the other choices on this list, this food is formulated for toy and small breeds over 12 years old only.
Product Review
I loved that this food contains omega-3 fatty acids including EPA and DHA to keep your dog’s coat and skin healthy. Older dogs are more prone to kidney issues, so I appreciated that this diet has adapted phosphorus levels to support their kidney health. I also liked that this food contains antioxidants which are proven to help with cognitive function.
My favorite part about this food is the easy open pouches. If you struggle to open cans, this could be a huge benefit!
There are some by-products in this food, and I do wish the protein was more high-quality. It’s also the most expensive food on our list, but it’s also the only food targeted towards a specific breed size.
Summary
The Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition Small Aging 12+ has several features that make it ideal for small senior dogs including:
- Vitamins and minerals: This food contains nutrients to keep senior dogs as healthy as possible.
- Taste and texture: The meaty chunks and gravy are palatable and easy to eat for older dogs with no teeth.
- Easy open pouch: The pouches are easy to tear open.
This food is only suitable for small breeds up to 22 lbs, so make sure you know your dog’s weight before choosing this option.
Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition Small Aging 12+
If you have a small dog over the age of 12, the Royal Canin Size Health Nutrition Small Aging 12+ could be the best choice for you. Its taste and texture appeal to dogs, while the balanced nutrients promote good health.
5. Best on a Budget – Iams ProActive Health
Key Features
- Main ingredients: Sufficient Water for Processing, Meat By-Products, Chicken, Chicken By-Products, Brewers Rice
- Calorie content: 262 kcal per can
- Texture: Ground meat/pate
- Breed Size: Suitable for all
- Price per oz: $0.20
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Affordable if you’re on a budget
- Contains omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat
- High moisture content helps to keep senior dogs hydrated
- Formula supports a healthy immune system
Cons:
- Contains some by-products
- Harder texture than some other pates – harder to eat
Product Overview
If you’re on a budget but still want to give your senior dog good quality wet food, the Iams ProActive Health has got you covered. This is the cheapest option on our list but is still tasty and full of ingredients to support your dog’s health.
My Review
I loved that this food was so affordable, costing only $0.20 per oz. That’s at least 2 or 3 cents cheaper per ounce than the other foods on the list!
I liked that the food contained omega fatty acids for skin and coat health. However, it does contain by-products and doesn’t provide as high-quality protein as other choices.
Summary
The Iams ProActive Health has some great benefits including:
- Low price: This is the most budget-friendly option on the list.
- Skin and coat support: Omega fatty acids promote good skin and coat health.
- High moisture content: A maximum of 84% moisture helps to keep senior dogs hydrated.
There are lower quality ingredients in this food than our other options, but it still provides a balanced senior diet.
Iams ProActive Health
If you are on a tight budget, the Iams ProActive Health might be the right choice for your needs. It provides a balanced senior diet for an affordable cost.
How to Choose the Best Wet Dog Food for Senior Dogs
There are a few things you’ll want to consider to help you choose the best senior dog food that’s wet.
1. Complete Food
Any food you choose for your senior dog should be complete, which simply means it contains all the nutrients they need for a balanced diet.
Dog foods that are complete will state somewhere that they are ‘complete’ or ‘balanced’. Some may state that they meet the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) recommendations.
2. High-Quality Ingredients
Natural ingredients like real meat and vegetables are best, with as few artificial ingredients and by-products as possible. Most senior dogs need lots of protein so you should check the percentage of protein on the ingredients list.
3. Weight Maintenance
If your dog is less active than before, it’s best to choose food with reduced fat, carbohydrates, and calories to prevent weight gain.
4. Breed Suitability
A lot of senior dog foods will be suitable for all dog breeds. However, some will be specifically formulated for certain breed sizes or types, so always check it’s suitable for your dog.
5. Additional Benefits
Lots of senior dog foods will have additional ingredients with health benefits. Think about what would benefit your dog.
If your dog has existing health conditions, it’s best to talk to your vet to find out exactly what type of food will best support them.
6. Flavor
Of course, you want your dog to enjoy the food they eat so take your time to choose a flavor you think they’ll like.
7. Price
Lastly, choose a dog food that’s within your budget. It needs to be affordable and realistic for you so that your dog can stay on their senior diet long term.
Considering Dry Dog Food?
If you are also interested in learning about dry dog food for senior dogs then you can check out my list: Best Senior Dog Food.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the best dog food for your senior pup helps to keep them healthy as they age so you can have many more adventures together! If you’re looking for the best food overall, I highly recommend the Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Senior.
You can’t go far wrong with any of the options on this list. Let me know which one you end up choosing!
References
- Silvia Fernández-Martín, Antonio González-Cantalapiedra, Fernando Muñoz, et al., (2021), “Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate: Is There Any Scientific Evidence for Their Effectiveness as Disease-Modifying Drugs in Knee Osteoarthritis Preclinical Studies?—A Systematic Review from 2000 to 2021”. Animals 2021, 11(6), 1608.
- Tamberlyn Moyers, (2015), “Canine nutrition for a healthy old age”. The Veterinary Nurse, Volume 6 · Issue 8.
- AKC Canine Health Foundation, (2014), “Optimal Nutrition for Senior Dogs Starts with Avoiding Obesity”.
- The Association of American Feed Control Officials, (2023), “Ingredient Standards”.
