The best puppy wet food in Australia is the one that gives your pup the right amount of nutrients for their growing body and, of course, one they can’t get enough of! We’ve compiled a list of the top wet food for puppies just for you.
Dig in to learn more about the benefits of puppy wet food, our top picks and tips for choosing puppy wet food.
Benefits of Puppy Wet Food
So, why should you choose wet puppy food over dry food?
- Wet food is higher in moisture content. This means extra hydration which is crucial for puppies.
- It has a strong aroma and is highly palatable, which increases your pup’s appetite.
- It’s generally easier to chew and digest, especially for small pups.
- You can mix it with dry dog food. This means you can give your pup the benefits of both dry and wet dog food.
Best wet food for puppies
Advance Puppy Wet Food
Advance Puppy Wet Food is a chicken- and rice-based wet food for puppies, proudly all-natural and Australian-made!
This premium wet puppy food contains brain-supporting ingredients like DHA and choline, along with prebiotic fibre for healthy digestion so your pup won’t have a hard time pooping.
Many dog owners mention that this wet puppy food may have a strong smell and mushy texture, but still noted that their pups loved the taste. Some even went as far as using it as training treats.
To make your dog’s meal a bit more interesting, you can try the Lamb and Rice alternative.
Here’s more information about this premium puppy wet food:
Ingredients:
Chicken, Sheep; Rice; Minerals; Gelling Agents; Vegetable Oil; Fish Oil; Vegetable Fibre; Vitamins; Taurine; Amino Acids; Antioxidants; Plant Extracts
Nutritional composition:
| Per 100 grams | Per 1000 kcal | |
| Crude protein | 8.6% | 72 g |
| Crude fat | 9.4% | 78 g |
| Omega 3 (min.) | 0.1 g | 0.8 g |
| DHA (min.) | 0.03 g | 0.25 g |
| Choline (min.) | 60 mg | 500 mg |
| Average metabolisable energy | 120 kcal/100 g |
Ivory Coat Holistic Nutrition Puppy
Ivory Coat Puppy Wet Food is packed with high-quality protein extracted from chicken or lamb (depending on the recipe), crucial for your pup’s growing muscles.
Beyond that, it contains Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids that help keep your pup’s skin and coat healthy. Plus, brown rice and carefully selected vegetables (carrots, peas and sweet potatoes) offer complex carbohydrates and fibre for smooth digestion and a happy tummy.
Ivory Coat also cares about keeping things natural, avoiding artificial colours, flavours and preservatives. They even include yucca extract — a natural deodoriser — to keep those puppy bathroom odours under control.
Paw parents find it easy to portion and mix this wet puppy food with other dog foods thanks to its meaty loaf texture.
More information about this wet dog food follows:
Ingredients:
Meats (Chicken and/or Beef and/or Lamb), Vegetables (Carrots, Peas, Sweet Potato), Vitamins & Minerals, Amino Acids, Cereals (Including Brown Rice), Oils (Including Fish Oil), Gelling Agents, Inulin, Flavour
Nutritional composition:
| Metabolisable energy | 100 kcal/100 grams |
| Crude protein (min.) | 6.5% |
| Crude fat (min.) | 5.0% |
| Crude fibre (max.) | 1.0% |
Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Wet Food
While not locally made, Hill’s Science Diet puppy wet food has a good reputation among hundreds of pup owners in Australia. Moreover, it’s trusted by a lot of US vets according to CM Research 2021.
The vitamins C and E contained in this wet puppy food make your pup’s developing immune system stronger and more resilient. It also contains DHA from fish oil, making your dog’s brain and eyesight always sharp.
This puppy food has a ‘meaty stew’ texture rather than a mushy paste, which many pups find more appealing according to dog owners.
Below are more details:
Ingredients:
Water, Chicken, Whole Grain Corn, Cracked Pearled Barley, Pork Liver, Soybean Meal, Hydrolyzed Chicken Flavor, Dicalcium Phosphate, Ground Pecan Shells, Iodized Salt, Fish Oil, Flaxseed, Dried Beet Pulp, Dried Citrus Pulp, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Ascorbic Acid (source of Vitamin C), Niacin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K), Biotin, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Pressed Cranberries, Taurine, minerals (Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Iodate), Beta-Carotene.
Nutritional composition:
| Crude protein (min.) | 7% (70 g/kg) |
| Crude fat (min.) | 4.5% (45 g/kg) |
| Crude fibre (max.) | 1.5% g (15 g/kg) |
| Moisture (max.) | 71% (710 g/kg) |
Ivory Coat Grain Free Puppy Wet Food
If you’re looking for puppy wet food that skips the grains, Ivory Coat Grain Free is the perfect choice. It has 32% protein content which exceeds AAFCO’s minimum requirements and gives your pup the muscles and energy for their playtime adventures.
It includes Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to keep your pup’s skin and coat shiny and healthy. Plus the high-fibre and quality carbohydrates obtained from carefully selected vegetables aid in your pup’s digestion — perfect for sensitive tummies.
More information about this wet puppy food is listed below:
Ingredients:
Meats (Chicken, Beef), Vegetables (Carrots, Potatoes, Peas, Carrots), Pea Flour, Amino Acids, Vitamins & Minerals, Oils (including Fish Oil, Flaxseed Oil), Gelling Agents, Flavours, Inulin, Natural Colour, Honey, Blueberries
Nutritional composition:
| Metabolisable energy | 105 kcal/100 grams |
| Crude protein (min.) | 8.0% |
| Crude fat (min.) | 4.0% |
| Crude fibre (max.) | 1.0% |
What to consider when looking for wet puppy food
Appropriate for its life stage (puppy, obviously)
A toddler wouldn’t be happy munching on the same food as their grandma, right? The same goes for your puppy.
Puppies are in their crucial growth phase. They are building strong bones, developing their skills and training their minds. Generally, this means that they need more nutrients and different proportions of protein, fat and vitamins compared to adult dogs.
You wouldn’t have a hard time picking these out since wet puppy food is usually labelled with ‘puppy’.
High-quality protein and fat
You must choose a wet puppy food that contains protein from animal sources — chicken, lamb, salmon and so on. These suit dogs better than proteins from plant sources (e.g. corn, peas, potatoes).
Apart from that, make sure to look for dog food that’s rich in healthy fats, such as omega 3 and omega 6. These are good, especially for puppies who need to gain a healthy weight, and whose coats need a bit of shine.
Nutrients matching your pup’s needs
All puppy wet food may look and feel the same — mushy with a powerful smell — the nutritional content can vary wildly. One might pack twice the fat as another, and that may lead to a serious imbalance in your pup’s diet.
On the flip side, if there’s a deficit in your pup’s diet, they might develop the odd — and gross — behaviour of consuming faeces. And once this behaviour becomes habit, it becomes hard to stop a dog from eating poop.
Head over to the ‘guaranteed analysis’ section on the puppy food. There, you’ll see a breakdown of the amounts of protein, fat and fibre and see if it’s suited for your pup’s nutritional needs (your vet will usually give you the numbers).
Brand reputation
Look for wet puppy food with labels like “formulated to meet AAFCO nutritional levels” or anything similar. This will tell you that the puppy food meets the international standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).
Also, a little research can benefit you and your pup. Check online reviews from other pet parents or explore the brand’s website to know things like their manufacturing process and brand story.
Want more puppy tips and recommendations?
Dive into our quick reads to give your dog the best care and keep that tail wagging happily!
- The Best Dog Food in Australia
- Black Hawk Dog Food Review
- How to Stop a Dog From Eating Poop: Home Remedies
Puppy Wet Food FAQs
How often do puppies need to eat?
Typically, puppies below 6 months need to eat at least three times a day. If your puppy is 6 months above, you may start transitioning to two times a day.
More importantly, you must take into consideration the amount of food you serve your puppy. Make sure you are feeding them ‘just enough’ — no more or no less — keeping in mind their size, breed, and any medical or health conditions, if any.
How much wet food should my puppy eat?
Premium brands like Advance usually have a feeding guide on their label, so you’ll know how much wet puppy food you should feed your pet. The numbers below show the appropriate servings (cans / day):
| Weight | 2 months | 4 months | 6 months | 9 months | 12 months |
| < 5 kg | < 1/2 | <3/4 | < 1 | Adult | Adult |
| 5 kg | ½ – ¾ | ¾ – 1 | 1 | Adult | Adult |
| 10 kg | 1 | 1 ½ | 1 ⅔ | 1 ⅔ | Adult |
| 25 kg | 2 | 2 ¾ – 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 50 kg | 2 ¾ – 3 | 4 – 5 | 5 | 5 ¼ | 5 |
| > 50 kg | > 2 ¾ | > 4 | > 5 | > 5 ¼ | > 5 |
While other sources tell you general rules of thumb, we recommend seeking professional advice from your vet. They’ll take into consideration other areas like your puppy’s allergies and breed to come up with the best wet food for your furry friend.
Should I feed my puppy wet or dry food?
Premium dog food, whether dry or wet, will provide your puppy with the nutrients they need for growth and development.
You may begin with dry dog food as they have a greater shelf-life and is generally good for your pup’s oral health.
However, a puppy can have wet food if they:
- don’t find dry food appetising (wet food is generally more aromatic and appetising)
- find it hard to chew on dry food
- need more hydration (due to not drinking water often)
How much wet and dry food is needed to feed a puppy?
If you’re trying to mix wet and dry food when feeding your puppy, keep in mind that wet food has lesser calories per gram.
The proportions will vary based on the specific dog foods you’re mixing.
Regardless, a general rule is to make sure the total amount of dog food satisfies your puppy’s calorie requirement, which is dependent on their weight and activity levels.