How do I choose a dog food: dry, wet, raw or grain-free?

Short answer: choose a food that says "complete" (or "complete and balanced") on the label and suits your dog's age. Dry, wet or a mix are all fine for most dogs. Raw diets and grain-free foods need a conversation with your vet first. If you are unsure which food fits your dog, a quick call to your vet or vet nurse is the simplest next step.

Start with "complete"

A complete food has every nutrient your dog needs in the right amounts, so it can be their main meal. Look for the words "complete" or "complete and balanced" in the small print on the label. Treats, snacks and some wet foods are not complete on their own. The label will say if a food is meant to be a side or "complementary" food, and those need to be mixed with something else.

Ingredient lists and words like "premium" or "natural" tell you much less than the complete statement does. Next time you shop, turn the bag or tin over and check for that statement.

Match the food to your dog's age

Most foods are made for a life stage: puppy, adult or senior. Puppies need a food made for growing, and adults do better on an adult food. If your dog has a health condition, is very active, or needs to lose weight, there are foods made for that too. Your vet can point you to the right one. Please check with your vet before choosing a special diet for your dog.

Dry or wet

Both can be complete, and unless your vet has said otherwise, dry, wet or a mix are all fine. Wet food is mostly water, so the numbers on a wet label and a dry label are hard to compare side by side. If you mix the two, follow the feeding guide on each pack so the total is right for your dog. Our guide to how much to feed an adult dog goes through portions.

The simple step here: pick one complete food your dog enjoys, and let taste and your routine decide between dry and wet.

Raw diets

Raw food can carry bacteria such as Salmonella and Listeria. These can make dogs unwell, and people in the home can catch them too from handling the food and the bowls. Several vet bodies advise against feeding raw meat to dogs. Home-made diets, raw or cooked, are also very hard to balance, and an unbalanced diet can leave a dog short of something they need.

If you are thinking about raw, talk to your vet first. They can tell you what is involved for your dog and your household. If you would rather not take the risk, a complete commercial food is the easier route.

Grain-free

Grain-free is not a health upgrade. Grains give dogs energy and useful nutrients, and a dog can digest them well. Vets and the US FDA have also looked at whether some grain-free foods, especially those built mainly on peas, lentils or potatoes, may be linked to a heart problem in some dogs. The cause is not settled yet, so it is best to ask your vet before choosing a grain-free food.

If your dog already eats one, let your vet know at the next visit. Please call your vet sooner if your dog has a cough, breathing trouble or faints.

Changing foods and what to avoid

Switch to a new food gradually, mixing a little in with the old and building up over several days or longer. A sudden change can upset the tummy. If the upset lasts, our guide on vomiting and diarrhoea explains when to call your vet. Table scraps can unbalance a good diet, and some human foods are unsafe, so check our guide on which foods are unsafe for dogs before sharing. Our list of human foods dogs can eat covers the safe ones.

Sources: US FDA: complete and balanced pet food, raw pet food diets, diet and DCM questions and answers, DCM investigation. WSAVA: selecting a pet food, nutrition FAQs and myths. Merck Veterinary Manual, dog and cat foods. PDSA, your dog's diet. Blue Cross, feeding your dog. Dogs Trust, diet and nutrition. University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, diet-associated cardiac disease.

General education only, not veterinary advice or a plan for your individual dog. For advice on your dog's food, please contact your vet. See our legal page.