The 8 Best Puppy Foods in 2025, 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.
Puppies are a lot of things—adorable, energetic, occasionally destructive—but one thing they’re not is smaller versions of adult dogs.
Just like human babies, growing puppies have unique nutritional needs to make sure they’re getting all the support they need to grow and develop.
To help you identify the best food for your puppy, our vets looked at dozens of foods designed for puppies and selected the eight best puppy foods.
Everything Our Vets Recommend
When shopping for puppy food, our veterinarians recommended focusing on foods that meet the standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials, or AAFCO. Dog foods carrying the AAFCO stamp are guaranteed to meet certain nutritional and labeling requirements, so you know that what’s on the label is accurate, and the food provides a complete and balanced diet.
Other factors to take into consideration include your dog’s breed, the nutritional profile, price, palatability, and if the manufacturer conducts rigorous research on its formula.
Read on to find out which foods are the best picks for your pup.
Our Vet Pick: Best in Show
Purina Pro Plan foods are consistently popular with our review panel. This puppy-specific option, with real shredded chicken and rice, earned high marks for being very palatable, highly digestible, and formulated by board-certified veterinary nutritionists.
It’s also fortified with probiotics to aid digestion and DHA to encourage healthy brain development.
The addition of chicken did raise one objection: Some pet parents may be inspired by the addition of chicken to add their own toppers, but that is unnecessary and may add extra fat to your puppy’s diet.
- Backed by research
- Offers crunchy and soft textures
- Very palatable
- Includes probiotics to help with digestion
Our Vet Pick: Best for Athletic Puppies
Eukanuba is a premium option—and the ingredient list proves it.
Our review panel identified supplements and additives designed to support gut health, joint development, brain development, and digestion.
The uniquely shaped kibble was formulated to promote slower chewing. This option was especially recommended for very active or working puppies.
- Lots of supplement support
- Good for active puppies
- Includes antioxidants
Our Vet Pick: Best for Sensitive Puppies
Purina Pro Plan’s Sensitive Skin & Stomach was created for puppies that have allergies or other skin and stomach problems.
It’s especially good for shelter puppies who arrive home and have issues with diarrhea or itchiness.
This option can help new pups transition to a more regular diet or be a great over-the-counter food for your pup as they transition to the adult version of this diet.
- Helps many puppies who have diarrhea, vomiting, or itchiness
- Formulated by board-certified veterinary nutritionists
- Backed by research
- Includes probiotics for digestion
- First ingredient is meat
- Adult formulation version available for easy transition
Our Vet Pick: Best for Small Breeds
Hill’s Science is consistently one of our favorite brands—and our panel was enthusiastic about Hill’s Healthy Development Small Bites food for puppies.
With small kibble that’s perfect for small-breed puppies, it’s formulated with fish oil and brown rice to support a healthy coat.
Our veterinarians recommended this food for puppies that will weigh less than 50 pounds as adults.
- DHA (fish oil) supports brain health
- Good for very small mouths
- Offers whole grains
- Not the best fit for larger-breed puppies
Our Vet Pick: Best for Weaning Puppies
This specialized food from Royal Canin earned high marks as the best option to help puppies transition from mothers’ milk to solid food.
Formulated specifically for puppies under two months of age, it satisfies the unique dietary needs of these very young puppies. It can also be given to mom in late pregnancy and throughout nursing or mixed with water to make a healthy gruel.
- Formulated for weaning puppies
- High-quality ingredients
- Supports rapid development
- Not for puppies over 2 months of age
