How to Choose the Best Dog Food: A Veterinary Evidence-Based Guide

Selecting the Best Food for Your Dog: An Evidence-Based Clinical Checklist

Selecting a diet can feel overwhelming. New dog foods seem to hit the shelves every week with exuberant claims of allowing your dog to live longer and happier, as long as they eat ‘that’ food. From boutique ingredients to exotic proteins, we are here to help sift through the marketing claims and provide some evidence-based recommendations on suitable diets (German et al., 2025; Cline et al., 2021). 

When choosing a diet, a few factors to consider are:

• Is it nutritionally balanced? 
• What are the goals of the diet?
• Is it appropriate for any underlying medical conditions? 
• Is it safe? 
• What is the cost?
• Is it palatable?

There are many more, but these are generally the big factors. For the sake of brevity, we will focus on these domains.

How to Tell if a Food is Nutritionally Balanced

Different life stages of dogs have different energy and micronutrient requirements; these are broadly divided into growth (puppy) and maintenance (adult) stages (German et al., 2025). Fortunately, there is an association called AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) that has provided guidelines and regulations for pet foods. The AAFCO minimum standards are a set of nutritional standards that must be met for a food to be considered balanced (AAFCO, 2014). If a food does not meet these minimum standards, it cannot be recommended to be provided on a long term basis as the primary diet.

So, the simple way to determine if a food is nutritionally balanced? Look at the package label for the Nutritional Adequacy Statement that states the food is complete and balanced and/or that it meets AAFCO minimum standards for a given life stage. This statement indicates the food is complete and balanced for a particular life stage, such as growth, reproduction, adult maintenance or a combination of these, or whether it is intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only.

If a food does not have the claim of being either complete or balanced, or that it meets AAFCO minimum standards, then it likely does not meet minimum nutritional requirements (Kanakubo et al., 2015; Zafalon et al., 2020).

Importantly, home cooked diets have been evaluated in multiple studies and often do not meet the AAFCO minimum standards (Stockman et al., 2013). Or conversely, they may over-supplement certain nutrients to a negative effect. A home cooked diet should therefore only be used under the direct guidance of a veterinarian if it is to be on a long term basis.

Above and Beyond - the WSAVA Guidelines

Meeting AAFCO minimum requirements is a must for any long-term diet. While meeting these standards is necessary for long-term health, there are more rigorous guidelines for pet food manufacturers to follow to earn the “best of the best” in quality assurance. Enter the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) guidelines (WSAVA, 2011).

The WSAVA, specifically the Global Nutrition Committee, is a group of dedicated veterinarians who have developed comprehensive guidelines based on high-level clinical standards, such as those established by the American Animal Hospital Association (Cline et al., 2021). These guidelines are designed to help pet owners and veterinarians determine how to select the best food for each pet (WSAVA, 2021). When looking for a pet food manufacturer, WSAVA guidelines suggest the following for a pet food manufacturing company:

• Employ at least one full-time qualified nutritionist: Typically a PhD in animal nutrition or a board-certified veterinary nutritionist.
• Expert Formulation: Have recipes formulated by experienced pet food specialists.
• Strict Quality Control: Exercise rigorous measures, including ingredient testing and final product analysis.
• Research and Trials: Conduct and publish peer-reviewed research or clinical feeding trials (beyond just laboratory analysis).
• Transparency: Be transparent about where their food is manufactured.

At the time of writing this article, five pet food manufacturers have consistently met these criteria (Purina Institute, 2025). They include Royal Canin, Hill’s Science Diet, Purina, Iams, and Eukanuba.

Importantly, the WSAVA does not certify or endorse any specific pet food or company, but rather provides guidelines it deems appropriate for pet food safety and optimal pet health.

Goals of the Diet - Food as Fuel

Perhaps you are looking into switching foods to help your dog lose a bit of extra weight, or they have hit an age milestone and are now officially an “adult” or “senior” dog (German et al., 2025). Whatever the reason, a goal-minded approach to dog food selection can help narrow the results. Consider what objectives you are trying to achieve as a first step, and then research within that realm. For example, a slightly overweight senior dog with early-stage osteoarthritis and no other significant health concerns would likely benefit from weight loss to ease the strain on the arthritic joints (Cline et al., 2021). Alternatively, an energetic large-breed puppy may simply require a complete and balanced puppy food from a reputable manufacturer to keep up with the metabolic demands of growth and a boisterous lifestyle (AAFCO, 2014).

As you consider switching foods, discuss the goals of your dog’s diet with your veterinarian to ensure that you, as a team, have the same goals in mind (WSAVA, 2011). Some of the reputable pet food manufacturers have dog food selector tools on their websites, which can help narrow the selection process, or at least pose some additional questions to ask yourself (WSAVA, 2021).

Some examples include: Purina Pet Food Finder, Royal Canin Pet Food Finder, and Hills Science Diet Pet Food Finder.

Is the Food Appropriate for Underlying Medical Conditions

As our dogs live longer, they may be more likely to develop an illness, or unfortunately have developed an illness earlier in life (Cline et al., 2021). There are many dietary considerations for different disease states, and selecting the right (or wrong) diet in this setting can have a significant impact on health and longevity. A prescription diet is often required for specific diseases and can be advised by a veterinarian familiar with a dog’s medical history. Some health conditions that warrant special dietary consideration include:

• Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
• Food Allergies/Food Sensitivities
• Inflammatory Bowel disease
• Skin Disease (especially if related to a food allergy)
• Pancreatitis (or history of)
• Arthritis/Joint Disease
• Obesity
• Urinary Tract Disease/Urolithiasis (bladder stones)
• Liver Disease
• Cognitive Dysfunction

It is important to point out the research in this area regarding home cooked diets performed by owners. Evaluation regarding the nutritional profiles of home-cooked diets for dogs with kidney disease and cancer both demonstrated widespread nutritional deficiencies in both studies (Larsen et al., 2012; Heinze et al., 2012). While it may seem like a beneficial lifestyle change to begin home cooking when a pet develops an illness, these studies highlight the need for this to be done carefully and with veterinary nutritionist guidance. There is the potential to do more harm than good, even when trying to do a good thing.

Is the Food Safe?

Food safety has unfortunately become a major issue in the pet food industry, mostly relating to the recent increase in raw food diets (also termed raw meat based diets, or RMBD), though other diets including grain-free and home-cooked diets carry risks. 

Raw Diets - Bacterial Contamination

Pathogenic salmonella and other bacterial species have been frequently isolated from raw diets, both commercially available and home prepared (Kiprotich et al., 2025; Davies et al., 2019; Fredriksson-Ahomaa et al., 2017). Furthermore, raw diets have been associated with transmission of pathogenic and multi-drug resistant salmonella from dogs to humans, even when the dog is asymptomatic (Bernaquez et al., 2025). That is, a dog may have no signs of illness and still pass this potentially deadly bacteria to a human. The most commonly affected portion of the population were infants and immunocompromised people. Raw diets also pose a risk of toxoplasmosis, a dangerous parasite that can infect humans and result in abortions in pregnant women(Davies et al., 2019). With the demonstrated potential of disease transmission related to raw food diets, these unfortunately cannot be considered safe (Vecchiato et al., 2022; Weese et al., 2005).

Although there are some means of attempting to reduce the pathogen load in raw diets, such as freeze-drying or air-drying, these methods have yet to demonstrate elimination of these potentially harmful bacteria (Lyu et al., 2025). Furthermore, a benefit to feeding a raw food diet vs. a traditional high quality commercial diet of extruded kibble has also not been demonstrated. Thus, raw diets pose a high risk of adverse effects without a documented benefit. For more information on the evidence regarding raw meat based diets, you can visit our page here.

Grain Free Diets - the Risk of Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Other food safety considerations also exist. Grain-free diets have been associated with the development of a nutrition-related dilated cardiomyopathy, particularly in larger breed dogs (Zhang et al., 2025; Mornard et al., 2025). Recent alterations to some of the foods are hypothesized to have reduced this risk, though not eliminated (Walker et al., 2022). Long term benefits of feeding a grain-free diet have also not been demonstrated, though these may be appropriate for certain dogs with grain sensitivity and under veterinary guidance (Verde et al., 2023; Vastolo et al., 2023). For more information on grain-free diets, visit our page here.

Home-Cooked Diets and Nutritional Imbalances

Unfortunately, home-cooked diets have been associated with frequent nutritional imbalances, which can lead to health problems over time (O'Brien et al., 2025). While home-cooked diets may seem enticing from an ingredient-source perspective (you know exactly what you are putting in the food), multiple studies have demonstrated that without veterinary nutritionist oversight, these diets may do more harm than good for the average adult dog (Stockman et al., 2013). In fact, research evaluating over 100 owner-submitted recipes found that 0% met all essential vitamin and mineral requirements (Morris, 2021).

Home-cooked diets are especially concerning in growing dogs, particularly large or giant breeds where the ratio and amount of calcium and phosphorus are crucial for appropriate bone development. If a mistake is made in diet formulation during these years, the resulting bone deformities cannot be undone, leading to lifelong skeletal health issues. Furthermore, even when provided with a balanced recipe, owners often inadvertently introduce imbalances by modifying ingredients or failing to use precise weight measurements (Oliveira et al., 2014).

Certain dogs may benefit from home-cooked diets when recommended and supervised by a veterinarian (often a board certified veterinary nutrition specialist) for conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, or certain types of skin disease (Pignataro et al., 2024). However, for the healthy pet, these diets are associated with higher odds of hepatic, renal, and gastrointestinal disease compared to extruded kibble (Ortiz et al., 2025). Plus, these tend to be much more expensive than commercially prepared high-quality dry kibble (Vendramini et al., 2020).

What is the cost?

All aspects of pet care have become more expensive and food is certainly no exception. With commercially available foods ranging from boutique brands and designer food to common household names of extruded kibble, and everything in between. Then there are home cooked diets using fresh ingredients.

One study evaluated the cost of home cooking vs. commercially available diets and found that on average, home cooked diets were more expensive (Vendramini et al., 2020). Furthermore, home cooked diets were often associated with nutrient deficiencies (Stockman et al., 2013). On an economic-only basis for the average dog, home cooked diets do not quite add up and may carry some risks of nutrient imbalances.

Expensive Boutique Food Brands - Is the Cost Worth it?

As long as a diet is complete and balanced, there has not been a demonstrated advantage of the more expensive boutique and “designer” dog foods compared to commercial kibble. Similarly, fresh dog foods (pre-prepared) have also yet to demonstrate a significant, long-term benefit. Few small studies have compared digestibility and found small benefits in the fresh foods compared to commercial kibble, though these studies were often funded by the manufacturer of the product and had a high risk of bias present (Bridglalsingh et al., 2024).

So, it is unclear if these more expensive boutique foods are worth the extra cost. At present time, demonstrated evidence to suggest they provide a significant health benefit compared to complete and balanced commercial kibble has not been proven.

Is the Food Palatable

What good is food if a dog doesn’t like the taste? Some dogs are indiscriminate eaters (we see you, labradors and beagles), while others have stronger preferences. As long as a food fits all of the above requirements, a trial and error approach is recommended to determine if the new food “passes the test.”

When transitioning to a new food, some dogs may not immediately like the taste or even develop GI upset with the new ingredients. A slow transition over 5-7 days with gradually increasing amounts of the new food is often recommended. To help with palatability, “toppers” can be added. These can include small portions of canned/wet food, plain cooked chicken breast, small amounts of low sodium chicken broth, low-fat cottage cheese, low fat greek yogurt, and even some brands of probiotics, to name a few. When adding a topper, ensure the calories are being considered and that dietary sensitivities are taken into account.

Monitoring Your Dog’s Response to a New Food

After introducing a new food, it’s important to monitor your dog’s response to ensure they’re thriving on their new diet. Watch for any signs of food sensitivities, such as itching, skin issues, or digestive upset, as these can indicate that the food isn’t the right fit (Verde et al., 2023). A slow transition over 5-7 days from the current food to the new food may reduce the risk of GI upset as your dog’s body adjusts to the new diet. Maintaining a healthy weight is another crucial aspect of your dog’s well-being, so keep an eye on their body condition and consult your veterinarian if you notice any significant changes (Cline et al., 2021).

Final Thoughts - What to Feed

Since there is no one-size-fits-all approach to pet nutrition, we hope this article can help to select the right food for your dog. We recommend a discussion with your veterinarian and being informed beforehand by reviewing the WSAVA guidelines (WSAVA, 2021) to help best inform your decision. High quality kibble (or canned food) from a reputable brand continues to be the standard for optimal quality, safety, and likely overall pet health for the average dog. Look for the AAFCO standards statement on each label to ensure it is appropriate for the life stage. 

For further reading, please check out the source material below.

As always, thanks for reading.