The 7 Best Dog 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.
When it comes to buying food for your adult dog, the choices can be overwhelming, with hundreds of options seemingly all promising different things. Moreover, dog food labels aren’t exactly easy to understand. They lack the simple nutrition panel we’re used to on our own food, there may be unusual-sounding ingredients, and dogs have different nutritional requirements than we do.
“Reading a pet food label can be very confusing,” says Veronica Higgs, DVM, a Chewy veterinarian.
When you’re looking to pick the best food for your dog, your vet or a veterinary nutritionist is a great place to start. They can recommend the optimal diet based on your dog’s breed, health status, and life stage.
To come up with our list of best dog foods for healthy adult dogs, we mined sales data at Chewy to see which foods our millions of pet parents like the most, evaluated the ingredient list and nutrition panels of dozens of dog foods, looked at available research on dog food, and asked our panel of veterinarians for their clinical opinions.
The result is this selection of high-quality adult dog foods you can trust to provide excellent nutrition.
How to Pick the Best Food for Adult Dogs
When you’re shopping for adult dog food, there are a number of things to consider:
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Your veterinarian’s input. Your vet is a great resource to get information and advice on your dog’s individual nutritional and health needs. This is especially important if your pet has any existing health conditions, such as kidney disease or diabetes, or if they are overweight or have any other special needs. Consulting a board-certified veterinary nutritionist is a good resource as well.
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AAFCO standards. All dog foods should meet standards set by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), a nonprofit that ensures pet foods contain the necessary nutrient profiles.
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Your dog’s age. It’s important to choose a food designed for your pet’s life stage. Puppies require specially formulated food to support their growth; older dogs may benefit from senior formulas fortified with nutrients to support age-related health conditions. Adult dogs, meanwhile, benefit from a balanced food that offers a complete nutrition profile.
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Your dog’s size. Select a kibble that’s an appropriate size for your pet. Large kibble meant for large-breed dogs can present a choking hazard to small dogs.
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Your dog’s health. If your dog has conditions such as a sensitive stomach, obesity, or dental issues, consider a diet that supports their unique health needs.
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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.
How We Evaluated These Products
PetMD’s Vet Verified program offers unbiased, in-depth product reviews from vets and other animal health experts. The products in this article were selected by a panel of PetMD editors and veterinarians based on a few factors:
- Popularity with pet parents
- Cost
- Availability
- Scientifically backed, reputable veterinary brands and products
Once we selected the products, our panel of vets relied on their clinical and personal experience, available research, and real-world feedback to evaluate each food on a series of parameters including nutritional value, palatability, and cost.
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.
