10 Best Dog Foods of 2026, Recommended by Vets
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All products in this article have been reviewed by our trusted vets and experts. PetMD is owned by Chewy.
With hundreds of options—and labels that can be difficult to understand—finding the right food for your dog can feel overwhelming.
The best dog food comes from a reputable manufacturer, is complete and balanced, and meets your dog’s specific nutritional needs and taste preferences.
To help simplify your search, our veterinary panel selected the best dog foods across several categories, including dry food, wet food, and food for sensitive stomachs. Use these vet-recommended picks as a starting point, and consult with your vet before changing your dog’s diet.
How To Pick the Best Food for Dogs
As you compare dog foods, look for complete and balanced diets that come from brands with strong quality-control practices and research or feeding trials to support their formulas. Then consider your dog’s specific health needs, taste preferences, age, and size. Your veterinarian can help you weigh these factors and identify appropriate options for your individual dog.
Choose a Complete and Balanced Diet
For everyday feeding, choose a dog food labeled as complete and balanced for your dog’s life stage. Look for the nutritional adequacy statement on the packaging that indicates it meets nutritional standards established by Association of American Feed Control Officials.
Research the Manufacturer
Reputable manufacturers should follow strict quality-control and food-safety procedures and test their products for nutrient content and contaminants. Look for manufacturers that employ qualified experts, such as board-certified nutritionists, to formulate their foods. Research or feeding trials supporting a formula can provide additional reassurance.
Match the Food to Your Dog’s Unique Needs
Choose the best dog food designed for your pet’s life stage, size, and overall health. Puppies require specially formulated food to support their growth, while healthy adult dogs should eat a complete and balanced diet for adult maintenance. Senior dogs may benefit from diets tailored to changes that come with aging, but their specific nutritional needs vary based on body condition, activity level, and overall health.
Breed-size formulas can offer appropriately sized kibble and tailored nutrient levels. Dogs with obesity, a sensitive stomach, or other health conditions may benefit from a special diet recommended by your vet.
Consider What Your Dog Will Eat
A good dog food can provide proper nutrition only if your dog will eat it consistently. Your dog’s preferences for certain flavors, textures, or dry versus wet food can help guide your choice.
Work Within Your Budget
Finally, it’s important to keep price in mind, especially since this will be a recurring purchase and it’s not ideal to frequently switch your dog’s food. The diet you choose should be affordable, but also nutritious. Most of the diets on our list come with premium price tags, but they offer high-quality nutrition backed by research.
How We Evaluated the Best Dog Foods
This list of the best dog foods was meticulously curated by a panel of veterinarians and veterinary technicians who are employed by Chewy, the publisher of PetMD.
They were asked to choose the best dog foods in their honest opinion, across multiple categories, based on the following:
- Brand reputation
- Clinical trials and science-backed research
- Ingredients (nutritional value)
- Palatability
- Price
Opinions and product recommendations in this article belong solely to the review panel of veterinarians and animal health experts. Manufacturers and vendors cannot pay for placement in Vet Verified articles or exert influence on our panelists as they evaluate products.
Our sole goal with this program is to provide you with the information you need to make the best decision for your pets.
Our PetMD Veterinary Advisory Panel:
- Veronica Higgs, DVM
- Stephanie Howe, DVM
- Tiffany Tupler, DVM, CBCC-KA
- Molly Price, DVM
- Heather Zarrella, DVM
- Katherine Kast, LVT
Best Dog Food FAQs
Which brand of dog food is best?
The best dog food brands are those with research-backed formulas developed with veterinary nutritionists that meet AAFCO nutritional guidelines for dogs of different life stage and health needs. Top picks include Hill’s Science Diet, Purina Pro Plan, and Royal Canin.
What is the No. 1 healthiest dog food?
There is no single official healthiest dog food. What’s healthiest for your dog depends on their specific needs. Generally, vets recommend a complete and balanced dog food with research-backed formulas. Our panel of vet experts recommends Hill’s Science Diet Adult Chicken & Barley Recipe Dry Dog Food as a top choice for adult dogs.
What is the highest-rated, fresh dog food?
High-rated, fresh dog foods are minimally processed, highly digestible, and come from reputable companies with board-certified veterinary nutritionists on staff. As with regular dog food, they should adhere to AAFCO nutrition guidelines. Fresh dog food brands that meet these requirements are JustFoodforDogs JustFresh, Freshpet Homestyle Creations, and Nom Nom Freshly-Made.
What dog food is best as recommended by vets?
Veterinarians prefer a dog food that comes from a reputable brand, with a formula backed by research that meets not only AAFCO nutrition guidelines but also the specific nutritional requirements of your unique pet, with a taste and texture your dog loves. Top vet-recommended dog foods are made by Hill’s Science Diet, Purina Pro Plan, and Royal Canin.