- This post contains affiliate links. Read more here.
You have plenty of options when it comes to feeding your dog, so how do you choose? Do you shop by price or quality? Or can you find the perfect combination of both?
Dry pet food, or kibble, is typically considered a more convenient and cost-effective option than wet dog food because you can buy it in larger quantities and store it at room temperature. Canned dog food, on the other hand, has a limited shelf life once opened—it’s often higher in moisture and protein but lower in carbohydrates.
Advertising
Before you default to the more convenient option, we encourage you to consider the benefits of canned food for dogs.
Why Canned Dog Food?
Pixabay
While there is certainly a great deal of low-quality canned dog food out there, products that are properly formulated and made from quality ingredients offer some significant benefits.
Here are some of the benefits of canned dog food:
- Higher concentration of meat ingredients than most dry foods
- Lower concentration of grains and other carbohydrates
- Fewer preservatives—ingredients are naturally preserved through the canning process
- More palatable and closer to the texture of a dog’s natural diet
- Higher moisture content to support hydration and healthy digestion
- Easier to chew for puppies and senior dogs
Whether canned or dry, dog food gets more expensive as you increase the quality, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t affordable options available. Before we get into our list of the best affordable canned dog food options, let’s take a moment to talk about how to tell the good from the bad.
What Makes Dog Food Good?
All dogs have the same basic requirements for protein, fat, fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals. Protein provides the foundation for strong muscles and lean mass while fats provide a concentrated source of energy as well as essential fatty acids for healthy skin and coat. Fiber and moisture support regular digestion while vitamins and minerals keep your dog’s body working properly.
High-quality dog food will contain whole-food sources for these essential nutrients with minimal processing and no artificial additives. Here are some key things to look for on a dog food label:
- Identifiable animal proteins like chicken, eggs, beef, and fish
- Easily digestible carbohydrates like whole grains and vegetables
- Healthy sources of animal-based fat like chicken fat and salmon oil
- Fresh fruits and vegetables to provide natural sources of key micronutrients
Avoid any dog food that doesn’t list a quality source of animal protein as the main ingredient, or that has a high concentration of carbohydrates (especially grains like corn and wheat). Dog foods made with byproducts, fillers, and artificial additives should be left on the shelf, and you should purchase the highest quality dog food you can consistently afford—your dog deserves it! For more information about choosing a high-quality dog food brand, check out Dog Food Advisor. We also recommend checking with your vet before making major changes to your dog’s diet.
Read on to learn about some of the best affordable canned dog foods on the market.
Most Affordable Canned Dog Food Options
Below you’ll find a list of our top 12 picks for the most affordable canned dog food brands. These products are priced at or under $0.20 per ounce and have received at least a 4-star rating from Dog Food Advisor. Please note that prices are averaged and subject to change.
Chewy
Created in 1993, Newman’s Own offers holistic dog food formulas made with a unique blend of organic ingredients including premium proteins, digestible whole grains, and fresh fruits and vegetables.
Buy Now on Chewy for $0.20/ounce
Whole Earth Farms provides goodness from the earth with their all-natural, protein-rich recipes available in traditional and grain-free formulas.
Buy Now on Amazon for $0.19/ounce
The Wellness brand creates wholesome, holistic recipes for dogs centered around quality proteins and slow-cooked for exceptional flavor and balanced nutrition.
Buy Now on Amazon for $0.19/ounce
Chewy
To support healthy digestion and maximum nutrient absorption, Natural Balance Original Ultra Premium canned foods are formulated with high-quality proteins, digestible carbohydrates, and key nutrients.
Buy Now on Chewy for $0.19/ounce
Made with real meat as the first ingredient in every recipe, this brand offers a wide variety of protein options in hearty, flavorful stews including tender vegetables.
Buy Now on Amazon for $0.18/ounce
Taste of the Wild utilizes a wide range of premium roasted meats in protein-packed, grain-free recipes designed for maximum flavor and nutrition.
Buy Now on Amazon for $0.17/ounce
Chewy
With the ideal balance of protein and digestible carbohydrates, Blue Buffalo’s homestyle recipes provide wholesome nutrition and extraordinary flavor.
Buy Now on Chewy for $0.17/ounce
Chewy
This recipe features premium protein fortified with omega fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to support your dog’s whole-body health and wellness.
Buy Now on Chewy for $0.16/ounce
Chewy
Designed to nourish your dog’s body from the inside out, Chicken Soup for the Soul dog food is formulated for balanced nutrition with real animal proteins and wholesome fruits and veggies.
Buy Now on Chewy for $0.16/ounce
Packed with premium protein and cooked in a flavorful gravy, this Purina grain-free stew is made with real chicken and is free from by-products, fillers, and artificial additives.
Buy Now on Amazon for $0.15/ounce
Chewy
Chewy’s in-house brand, American Journey dog food, features premium proteins as the star of every recipe with wholesome vegetables to ensure complete and balanced nutrition.
Buy Now on Chewy for $0.13/ounce
Amazon’s own brand of dog food, Wag, utilizes real meat as the first ingredient in every recipe with no grains or artificial additives.
Buy Now on Amazon for $0.13/ounce
Money-saving Tips for Canned Dog Food
Your dog’s nutrition is well worth the cost of high-quality dog food, but that doesn’t mean you need to empty your wallet each time you go to the pet store.
Shopping online can save you a great deal of money, and you can save even more with subscription purchases. If you really want to give your dog the best of the best, consider making your own homemade dog food or buy raw dog food. Regardless of whether their food is homemade or purchased online, your pup will thank you for investing in their health and wellbeing.