Wet Food for Dogs – Benefits, Disadvantages and What to Look Out For

Which dog food is right for your dog? In the comprehensive LuckyChef Dog Food Check, we compare the most important feeding options and show you what matters when choosing the right one. In this article, you'll learn everything you need to know about wet food for dogs.

You can find a complete overview of all feeding options in our Dog Food Check.

After dog treats, wet food is the largest-selling segment of the German dog food market.

A high water content is typical of wet food. According to FEDIAF (European Pet Food Industry Federation), pet food with a moisture content of at least 60 percent is considered wet food. Depending on the product, the water content is often between 70 and 85 percent.

This makes wet food particularly juicy and gives it a consistency that is more similar to a “real” meal than dry food. The term wet food therefore initially describes a type of food with a high moisture content – not necessarily the way it is produced.

This generally refers to cooked and preserved products such as canned food, food in trays, jars or fresh menus. Raw food (BARF) is legally classified as a separate category.

In this Dog Food Check, we focus primarily on canned wet food.

Find out more about BARF in our Dog Food Check.

Our Dog Food Check on fresh food explains more about gently cooked dog food – and what makes it so special.

Wet food is not the same as wet food. We'll show you which types of wet food for dogs are available.

Simply expand the sections below to learn more.

By far the most familiar form of wet dog food is classic canned food. The ingredients are chopped, mixed, cooked and filled into cans. The cans are sterilized at high temperatures of around 110 to 130°C for a period of up to 90 minutes.

In addition to classic metal cans, the ingredients can also be filled into aluminum trays or pouches. In so-called sausage packaging, the mixture is filled into a casing (“skin”) made of heat-resistant multilayer plastics (most commonly) or fiber casings (cellulose/fiber) with a plastic coating.

Wet food can also be filled into jars. The principle is the same as with canned food: The mixture is preserved through heating. Heat-resistant packaging glass is used for this purpose.

The difference is therefore in the packaging, not in the production process.

Unlike cans, glass is flavor-neutral. The food is also visible through the glass. Many dog owners therefore consider dog food in jars to be of higher quality. However, this type of packaging plays only a minor role in the market and is mainly used for premium products.

Fresh food and fresh menus differ from canned food and wet food in jars. The ingredients are also cooked, but at lower temperatures. This is significantly gentler and helps preserve more freshness and nutrients.

Fresh food is stored refrigerated or frozen. This means preservatives can be avoided.

Find out more about fresh food and its benefits in our comprehensive Dog Food Check.

When people talk about wet food, they usually mean canned food. There are several hundred brands and thousands of different wet food products – from inexpensive supermarket options to specialized premium manufacturers.

While the varieties and recipes may differ considerably, the basic production process is the same: heat and pressure are needed to produce canned food.

During the production of canned food, meat, animal by-products, plant-based ingredients, oils, minerals and vitamins are processed into a mixture. To eliminate pathogens and ensure a long shelf life, the cans are sterilized in special pressure vessels, where the product is treated with heat.

The temperatures are usually around 120°C. This process preserves the product and, when unopened, often gives it a shelf life of 18 to 36 months.

• More important than a particular brand is taking a close look at the product declaration. High-quality wet food should clearly state which ingredients it contains and which protein sources they come from.
• Open or at least semi-open declarations are a good sign. Unlike closed declarations, they avoid vague descriptions such as “meat and animal by-products”.
• Knowing the exact ingredients is particularly important if your dog is sensitive, reacts to certain ingredients or has a known allergy or intolerance.
• Only when the composition is transparent can you make an informed decision about which ingredients and protein sources are suitable for your dog – and which food is the right high-quality choice for you.

• Shelf life: Unopened cans can be stored for several years and do not need to be refrigerated.
• Price: Wet food offers a wide price range – from inexpensive supermarket products to premium wet food from specialist retailers.
• Acceptance: Many dogs enjoy wet food. Its aroma and consistency are more appealing to dogs than dry food for many dogs.
• Practical for everyday use: Canned food is easy to portion and, thanks to its compact packaging, easy to transport. This makes wet food a practical choice for everyday feeding.
• Moisture content: With around 70 to 85 percent water, wet food supports your dog’s fluid intake. Does your dog drink too little? Find out more about the topic in our blog.

Canned wet food has many benefits. However, its long shelf life and relatively low cost also come at a price – especially when it comes to preserving natural nutrients.

Simply expand the section below to learn more.

“Canned food has given me a certain advantage: I’ve spent more than 10 years developing premium wet food, so I know pretty well what can go into a can and what you can achieve for a dog that way – and what can sometimes sound very convincing on the label.

In principle, I consider wet food a good form of dog nutrition. It provides plenty of moisture, is usually very palatable and can be formulated to resemble a fresh meal much more closely than many other types of food. A well-developed recipe can be high-quality, well tolerated and nutritionally complete.

However, the can itself is not a quality indicator. Not every wet food is a complete food, and not every “natural” recipe automatically provides a dog with everything it needs. Some manufacturers deliberately add vitamins and minerals later to make the nutrient profile fit the desired nutritional requirements. The downside: wet food is heated, which can alter or reduce sensitive nutrients.

Anyone who does not compensate for these losses remains consistently natural – but may also remain consistently incomplete. The recipe, the quality of the raw materials, a transparent declaration and the classification as a complete food are therefore crucial. Wet food can also be unbalanced, unnecessarily high in fat or simply poorly marketed. And from an environmental perspective, there is no getting around it either: A lot of food in a lot of cans ultimately means a lot of cans.

My conclusion: Wet food can do a lot. But not every can is good wet food.”

Here’s what you should consider when feeding your dog wet or canned food.

Simply expand the section below to learn more.

Here we answer important questions about wet food for dogs.  

Are you missing something? 

Then feel free to contact our editorial team! 

etrieba@luckychef.com

There is no single best wet food. Which food is most suitable depends on the dog’s age, activity level, any health conditions and individual needs. Look for a transparent product declaration, high-quality ingredients and whether the product is labeled as a complete food or a complementary food.

The LuckyChef Dog Food Check gives you an overview of the different feeding options. Discover the LuckyChef Dog Food Check.

It is always worth taking a close look at the product declaration. High-quality wet food is characterized by a transparent ingredients list, clearly named meat sources and a comprehensible composition. It should also be clearly stated whether the product is a complete food or a complementary food. The production method can also be an important quality feature, as it influences processing, shelf life and nutrient retention.

Many dogs prefer wet food because it has a more intense aroma and a softer texture. Both can be particularly appealing to their sense of smell and taste. However, if a dog suddenly eats only wet food and completely refuses dry food, this can also indicate dental problems or other health issues. If this behavior persists or occurs suddenly, your veterinarian should examine your dog.

Yes, in principle. The important thing is to adjust the total amount of food to your dog’s energy needs. From a nutritional perspective, however, many veterinarians recommend not mixing different feeding options within the same meal, but feeding them separately. Dry food and wet food differ significantly in their moisture content, composition and digestive properties. Keeping meals separate can reduce the strain on the digestive system and also makes it easier to assess how well your dog tolerates individual foods. For example, you can feed dry food in the morning and wet food in the evening.

If you switch between different feeding options, you should get your dog used to the change gradually and observe how well they tolerate the food.

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. A dog’s daily energy needs depend on factors such as age, weight, activity level, health status and neutering status. The energy density of the food also plays an important role. Start by following the manufacturer’s feeding recommendations and adjust the amount if necessary. Regularly weighing your dog can help maintain their ideal weight. If in doubt, consult your veterinarian to help avoid health risks such as obesity.

Nassfutter ist eine von vielen Optionen für den Hundenapf. Wenn du dir einen kompletten Überblick über alle Fütterungsarten verschaffen willst, lohnt sich ein Blick in unseren großen Hundefutter-Check.

• In unserem Hundefutter-Check Trockenfutter für Hunde erklären wir dir zum Beispiel, welche Arten von Trockenfutter es gibt und was du bei der Fütterung beachten solltest.
• Wie eine naturnahe, rohe Ernährung für deinen Hund aussehen kann, verraten wir dir im Hundefutter-Check zu BARF für Hunde.
• Wenn du wissen willst, wie du frisch und natürlich füttern kannst, ohne selbst zu kochen, lohnt sich ein Blick in unseren Hundefutter-Check in Sachen Frischfutter für Hunde.