Top 10 Best Dog Food in the UK
Gone are the days of limited dog food choices. As owners have become more attuned to canine nutritional requirements and have access to a wealth of information on ingredients, both good and bad, the range of dog food has expanded massively.
As well as dry and wet dog foods, you can access freeze-dried, fresh food, and air-dried foods. There are also foods that are tailored to the size of your dog, its activity levels, and whether it has any food sensitivities or other dietary requirements. While this varied selection means that you can find suitable food for any dog, even the most finicky, it also makes the choice overwhelming.
Below, you will find reviews of 10 of the best dog foods in the UK to help you find one that best meets your dog’s requirements.
The 10 Best Dog Foods in the UK
Skinner’s Field & Trial Dog Food – Best Value
| Food Type: | Dry |
| Volume: | 15 kilograms |
| Flavor: | Chicken & Rice |
| Protein: | 25% |
| Fat: | 10% |
Skinner’s Field & Trial Chicken And Rice is a complete dry dog food that is designed for sensitive stomachs but suitable for all appetites. The brand primarily targets working dogs, but if your dog is active and healthy and especially enjoys spending a lot of time outdoors, this food will help maintain good energy levels without putting on excess weight.
The main ingredients are brown rice, poultry meat meal, and naked oats. Yucca has been added to help reduce bad stool odors, while seaweed acts as a probiotic to maintain good gut flora.
The quality ingredients and a low price make this our choice as the best dog food in the UK for the money. However, the main meat protein could be better quality as poultry meat meal can include all parts of the bird, so you can’t be sure of the quality of the protein that your dog is getting.
James Wellbeloved Adult Dog Food – Best Overall
| Food Type: | Dry |
| Volume: | 15 kilograms |
| Flavor: | Turkey & Rice |
| Protein: | 23.5% |
| Fat: | 10.5% |
James Wellbeloved Adult Turkey dog food is a completely dry dog food for adult dogs. Its main ingredients are turkey meal, brown rice, and white rice. As well as being free from artificial colors, flavors, and antioxidants, it does not contain any common allergens like beef, pork, soya, or dairy. It is suitable for dogs with sensitivities. Because it uses a single animal protein source, it can also be beneficial for dogs with allergies on an elimination diet.
Additional ingredients include yucca to improve stool smell, linseed as a source of omega-3, and chicory extract, a prebiotic that helps encourage good gut health.
The James Wellbeloved food is very competitively priced and is not only a good food choice for adult dogs with sensitive stomachs but for any adult dog. Its natural ingredients and lack of artificial additives also make it our choice as the best overall dog food in the UK. The only real downside is that the kibble is quite large when compared to other dog foods.
Royal Canin Digestive Care Wet Dog Food
| Food Type: | Wet Food |
| Volume: | 85 grams |
| Flavor: | N/A |
| Protein: | 8.6% |
| Fat: | 1.3% |
Royal Canin does a wide variety of dog foods, especially targeting those with special dietary requirements. The Royal Canin Digestive Care Wet Dog Food is expensive, but it is especially beneficial for those dogs with digestive problems and sensitive stomachs. If your dog suffers diarrhea or struggles to keep wet food down, this food contains a good amount of soluble and insoluble fiber, as well as prebiotics and probiotics to help settle stomachs and maintain good digestive health.
The food is expensive and doesn’t list the specific meats. Instead, they are listed as meat and animal derivatives. Also, the texture of the food may not be appealing to all dogs. However, if you are looking for something to help solidify poop and settle stomachs, this could be a good choice for you and your canine friend.
IAMS For Vitality Senior Dry Dog Food – Best For Seniors
| Food Type: | Dry |
| Volume: | 12 kilograms |
| Flavor: | Poultry |
| Protein: | 27% |
| Fat: | 12% |
In the same way that puppies have specific dietary requirements, so do senior dogs. As a dog ages, it becomes less active and is unable to burn off as many calories. These dogs don’t require much protein as an adult or puppy. Older dogs can also suffer from sensitive stomachs that cause diarrhea and other gastrointestinal complaints.
IAMS For Vitality Small/Medium Breed Senior Dry Dog Food consists of 27% protein and 12% fat. It has primary ingredients of dried chicken and turkey, maize, and maize grits. The kibble is designed to improve and maintain good dental health, while antioxidants and vitamin E offer good immune system support.
The food is reasonably priced, but you do need to make sure that you buy the right food for the right breed size, or the kibble pieces might be too large or too small for your dog, and the protein and fat content can be a little high for senior dogs with sensitive stomachs.
Lily’s Kitchen Puppy Recipe Dog Food – Best For Puppies
| Food Type: | Dry |
| Volume: | 1 kilogram |
| Flavor: | Chicken & Salmon |
| Protein: | 29% |
| Fat: | 16% |
Puppies have different dietary requirements than adult dogs. They are active and growing, which means they need more protein and can benefit from a higher fat content. They also need higher levels of calcium and phosphorus to ensure good bone growth and support. Lily’s Kitchen Puppy Recipe With Chicken & Salmon consists of 29% protein and 16% fat and meets the recommended required levels of calcium and phosphate. Its primary ingredients are fresh chicken, freshly prepared salmon, and chicken liver, and it has a high meat content when compared to a lot of other foods on the market.
The ingredients do not contain any added sugar, and Lily’s Kitchen doesn’t use cheap fillers. This means that your puppy is getting a healthy and nutritional diet, but it also means that the food is expensive compared to other dry foods. The high concentration of meat ingredients and relatively high protein ratio can cause an upset stomach, so you may need to introduce the food gradually to ensure a healthy, happy pup.
Ziwipeak Daily Dog Air Dried Dog Food
| Food Type: | Air dried |
| Volume: | 4 kilograms |
| Flavor: | Lamb |
| Protein: | 35% |
| Fat: | 33% |
Ziwipeak Daily Dog Air Dried Cuisine Lamb is a premium dog food with very high meat content and contains mussels and a superfood mix to ensure that your dog gets the required vitamins and minerals. The food is very rich with 35% protein and 33% fat, but the air-drying process means that the ingredients retain more of their nutritional ingredients while also staying fresh and tasty. Because the food is highly concentrated, you won’t need to feed as much as you would with dry kibble or even wet food, but the artisanal air-drying approach does still come with a heavy price tag.
This food is a good choice for those that want to feed a raw diet but lack the time to prepare it and its single protein source means that it is also a good choice for dogs with sensitive stomachs or that suffer from food allergies.
Harrington’s Grain Free Mixed Flavor Wet Dog Food
| Food Type: | Wet Food |
| Volume: | 16 x 400g |
| Flavor: | Chicken, salmon, turkey, or duck |
| Protein: | 8.5% |
| Fat: | 6%– 8% |
Harrington’s Grain Free Mixed Flavor Wet Dog Food is a multi-pack of wet foods containing a variety of chicken, turkey, salmon, and duck-based foods. The ingredients do differ according to flavor but consist of 65% meat content with added vegetables, fruits, and ingredients like mussels, seaweed, and chicory. There are also vitamin and mineral additives. The food is reasonably priced for wet dog food and its ingredients are grain-free, so it can be fed to dogs with sensitive stomachs and gastrointestinal issues.
However, it does have a strong smell, and the high meat content can prove too rich for some dogs. If you are moving from another meat brand, you should gradually make the change by introducing the food over the course of two weeks to give your dog’s stomach time to get used to the new food.
Nature’s Menu Canned Dog Food
| Food Type: | Wet Food |
| Volume: | 400 grams |
| Flavor: | Chicken & Salmon |
| Protein: | 10.5% |
| Fat: | 6.5% |
Nature’s Menu Dog Food is a wet food that comes in cans and has a good protein ratio for wet food, ranging from 10.2% to 12.3%, depending on the flavor of the food and its primary ingredients. The multi-flavored pack is good for those dogs that can eat anything as it offers variety in their diet thanks to a selection of appealing ingredients. The ingredients typically contain a minimum of 50% meat with minimal added ingredients, all of which are natural.
The food has been gently cooked so that it retains nutrients and flavor. Designed as a more convenient alternative to raw feeding, the food is more expensive than basic wet food alternatives. It comes in cans, which are convenient, and its ingredients are high quality.
Pooch & Mutt Complete Adult Dry Dog Food
| Food Type: | Dry Food |
| Volume: | 7.5 kilograms |
| Flavor: | Chicken |
| Protein: | 24% |
| Fat: | 11% |
Pooch & Mutt Complete Adult Dry Dog Food is a dry kibble that contains 26% dried chicken as its main ingredient. It also contains superfoods like sweet potato, salmon oil, camomile, and cranberries.
Probiotics are designed to maintain good gut health and a healthy digestive system, while omega-3 fatty acids help alleviate joint pain and protect the joints. Camomile is added as a calming ingredient. The food is free from grains, cereals, gluten, and artificial additives.
Lily’s Kitchen World Dishes Multipack Dog Food
| Food Type: | Wet Food |
| Volume: | 150 grams |
| Flavor: | Multiple |
| Protein: | 10.6% |
| Fat: | 7.4% |
The Lily’s Kitchen World Dishes Multipack contains 6 trays of wet food. All of the trays contain 60%– 65% meat content and additional vegetables, vitamins, botanicals, and herbs to ensure a healthy amount of nutrients and macronutrients. The food is considered suitable for dogs aged 4 months and older, and all the recipes are made with proper protein—no meal and no rendered meat.
The food is expensive but there is a good variety of flavors in the multipack, all of which have high meat content and nutritional ingredients.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Pick the Best Dog Food in the UK
Buying dog food that suits your dog well is essential to keep them in good shape. Not only does their age change the kind of dietary support that they need, but their breed and size can also have an impact. Consider all of these things and more as you look for just the right food choice.
Ingredients You Want in Dog Food
Certain ingredients greatly benefit your dog and should be included in every recipe. Keep an eye out for dog food with these kinds of ingredients.
Carbohydrates in Dog Food
- Carbohydrates are an essential aspect of a dog food recipe because they convert directly into athletic pups’ energy. However, a dog doesn’t need too many carbohydrates, so seeing them appear early on in the ingredients list can be a sign that it is more of a filler food than a healthy recipe.
- Most veterinarians agree that it is best to avoid gluten if possible in a dog food recipe because it is often more of a challenge for your dog to digest. Often, healthier carb sources include things like rice and sweet potato.
Healthy Protein Source in Dog Food
- The protein source is perhaps one of the most important ingredients in any recipe. There is a great deal of wiggle room that is allowed for this ingredient as well. Depending on how it is listed in the ingredients on the back, the protein source type will change.
- For example, if it says that it comes from meat derivatives, the company is using the lowest grade parts of whatever animal they use as a protein. These are often not palatable to think about, but more importantly, they do not digest easily. It can make it difficult for your pup to process the protein.
- Look for recipes that are clear about what animal they get the protein from and preferably what part of the animal they use.
Omega Fatty Acids in Dog Food
- Omega fatty acids are important in your pup’s diet and should be added in a good ratio. There does not need to be too many of any of these acids, but their presence is beneficial. Omega-3 and omega-6 acids are the most influential and encourage the growth of healthier skin and fur.
- Often, ingredients include all these, so they might not be listed. For example, salmon oil is a great source of omega fatty acids, and that is what you will see listed, not the fatty acids themselves.
Probiotics and Prebiotics in Dog Food
- Probiotics and prebiotics are organisms that can be added to a recipe to help your pup digest better. They don’t only help during that one meal either. They also aid in the development of a healthy gut, bringing in beneficial bacteria.
- If your dog has issues with digestion or doesn’t seem interested in eating anymore, try to find a food with one or both of these supplements. It can make digestion a much easier experience for them.
Glucosamine, Taurine, and Chondroitin in Dog Food
Glucosamine, taurine, and chondroitin are also hugely beneficial additives in any dog food. These help encourage bone and joint health, as well as heart and vision health in aging dogs.
Ingredients You Don’t Want in Dog Food
Unfortunately, there are plenty of things that are included in dog food that shouldn’t be allowed. Without these ingredients being restricted, they are still included in recipes.
Gluten in Dog Food
Gluten is often quite difficult for a dog to digest. It is not recommended to give your pup food with carbohydrates containing a large amount of gluten. This is especially true if they have any digestion issues.
Dairy Products in Dog Food
Dairy products are not good for dogs in any way. A piece of cheese could be an infrequent treat but should otherwise not be included in your dog’s diet. Some dog recipes include dairy products. Gratefully, these have become few and far between.
Dog Food Bag Size
If you have a large dog or even more than one, then getting food that only comes in small packages can add up quickly.
Think about how often you want to order your food and about how much your pup eats every day. If you need to stick to an ordering schedule, consider food that comes in large enough bags.
Final Thoughts
- Getting the right food for your dog not only encourages good general health but it provides them with the protein and nutrients they need to be active. The wrong dog food can cause gastrointestinal upset and may even lead to poor coat and skin health.
- Above, we have listed 10 of the best dog foods in the UK so that you can choose the one that meets your requirements, and those of your dog. We believe James Wellbeloved Adult Dog Food offers the best combination of value for money and quality ingredients, while Skinners Field & Trial Sensitive is a good, low-cost alternative that is especially suited to working dogs but also suitable for dogs of all activity levels.
