Wet Puppy Food

Essential Nutrients

Wet food for puppies also contains essential nutrients while also helping your puppy switch from their mother's milk, and keeping them hydrated all in one.

They also receive fresh water so that they can stay active and healthy in the process, too, which is what we always want to see.

Flavours

Due to this, including dedicated puppy food in their daily meals is ideal for their growth, as this type of dog food offers you a lot of very tasty flavours and texture variety to choose from, giving your puppy all the important nutrients they need at the same time.

Large Selection

We also have a very diverse selection of popular ingredients, such as puppy food with lamb, vegetables, superfoods, and many more. So start shopping online today to find the best wet food for your new puppy.

Here to help

If you then need some assistance with how to choose the best wet food for your pup, then our helpful team are available 7 days a week at your local Pets & Friends.

Alternatively, you can call our customer care team for our recommendations for your puppy as well if you prefer - we are here to help.

How to Nurture Your New Best Friend In the Best Way

As you know all too well, or you soon will, bringing a new puppy home is one of life’s greatest joys.

Those playful paws, happy yaps, and endless cuddles just fill your home with so much love - let's face it.

Consequently, as a new puppy parent, you want to do everything you can to ensure your little one grows up to be a strong, healthy, and happy dog.

Due to this, you will soon find out, or already know, that one of the biggest cornerstones of their health and wellbeing is their diet.

As a result, choosing the right food here is more than key, and here at Pets & Friends, we have curated a fantastic selection of wet puppy food options from some of the leading manufacturers to give your furry friend the very best start in life as is possible.

But how do you know which is the best one to pick for your furry friend?

Well, we are here with this guide to wet puppy food to help you understand the brilliant benefits of wet food, how to choose the perfect one for your pup, and what makes it such a popular choice for puppies across the country.

So, do not worry, as we understand that the world of puppy food can seem a bit overwhelming to start with; that is why we are here to make it as simple as possible for you.

Why is Wet Food the Best Choice for Your Growing Puppy?

When you're standing in front of shelves filled with different types of puppy food, you might wonder what makes wet food stand out?

While dry puppy kibble is a great option for many, wet food does offer you a unique set of advantages, especially for a young, developing puppy whose needs are very different from those of an adult dog.

For instance, here these can be:

Feature	Wet Food	Dry Kibble
High Moisture Content	✔	✖
Highly Palatable	✔	✖
Gentle on Gums & Teeth	✔	✖
Supports Dental Health	✖	✔
Convenient to Serve	✖	✔

Excellent for Hydration

One of the most significant benefits of wet food is its high moisture content. Puppies are just bundles of energy, constantly playing, exploring, and learning.

As a result, all of this activity means they need to stay well-hydrated, and sometimes, a puppy might not drink enough water from their bowl throughout the day.

Wet food, which typically contains around 75% moisture, is a fantastic way to supplement their water intake to make sure this doesn't happen.

As here, this extra hydration is a great way to support their kidney function and promote their overall health, keeping them happy and active as an end result.

Incredibly Palatable and Appetising

Let's be honest, puppies can sometimes be fussy eaters, especially when they are settling into a new home, as like all of us, they will be a little bit nervous.

However, the rich, meaty aroma and succulent texture of wet food can be incredibly appealing to a puppy's senses.

So if you have a picky pup who turns their nose up at dry dog biscuits, offering them a delicious bowl of wet food can be a game-changer for them.

Here, the intense flavour can encourage a healthier appetite, making sure they get all the calories and nutrients they need during this key growth period that they are going through.

It will also tend to make mealtimes a way more exciting event for them that they'll look forward to every single day, too.

Gentle on Little Mouths

Another thing that tends to go overlooked is that a young puppy’s mouth is still developing.

Here, especially their baby teeth are very delicate, and their jaws aren't as strong as an adult dog's.

As a result, the soft, easy-to-chew consistency of wet food really is perfect for them, as it requires minimal effort to eat, making it ideal for puppies who are just weaning or for smaller breeds who might struggle with large, hard puppy kibble.

As a result, this gentle texture really does make sure that they become comfortable and just have an enjoyable eating experience overall, preventing any potential discomfort for your little friend as a direct result.

Do I Need to Understand the Nutritional Needs of a Puppy?

Puppies actually grow at an incredible rate, and their bodies are working overtime to develop strong bones, healthy muscles, and a sharp brain.

As a result, their nutritional requirements are far more demanding than those of an adult dog.

As a good quality puppy food is formulated specifically to meet these intense demands, so ideally, if you want to give your dog the best, there are several things that you ideally need to understand.

High-Quality Protein, Their Building Blocks

For instance, first up, we have Protein, which is absolutely vital for your puppy to have in large quantities.

This is because Protein is the main building block for their muscles, organs, and tissues.

Due to this, our selection of wet puppy foods features recipes with high-quality, easily digestible protein sources like chicken, turkey, lamb, and fish, for instance, which are the sources you want to keep an eye out for.

You want to look out for these proteins as they will give your puppy the essential amino acids their body needs to build everything from strong muscles to a glossy coat.

So, when you look at the ingredients, you want to see a named meat source listed right at the top of the list here, ideally.

Fats and Carbohydrates, The Energy for Play

Fats are a concentrated source of energy for your little adventurer.

They also play a key role in brain development and in absorbing essential vitamins into the body as well.

Due to this, you want to look for foods containing healthy fats, such as Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, which are brilliant for supporting healthy skin, a shiny coat, and cognitive function overall.

Then ideally you want to have carbohydrates from sources like sweet potatoes, peas, or brown rice to provide them with a sustained energy to fuel all that playtime and exploring fun they have each day.

Vitamins and Minerals, For a Strong Body

Then, no complete and balanced wet puppy food will be complete without being fortified with all the necessary vitamins and minerals they need.

For instance, here you want to look for foods rich in Calcium and Phosphorus are essential for developing strong bones and teeth.

Then you want to make sure that they also get Antioxidants like Vitamin E and Vitamin C as well, as this will help to support a robust immune system, protecting your puppy from common illnesses.

As a result, every can, pouch, or tray really is designed to be a complete meal for them, meaning it contains everything your puppy needs to thrive, with no need for extra supplements unless advised by your vet.

How Do You Choose the Right Wet Food from Our Range?

We really pride ourselves on offering a diverse range of high-quality wet puppy foods from trusted brands.

But with so many choices, how do you pick the right one for your unique puppy?

Well, some ways that you can narrow down the right ones for you are by factoring in things such as:

Consider Your Puppy's Breed and Size

For instance, a tiny Chihuahua puppy will have different energy needs from what a lanky Great Dane puppy will have.

Due to this, many of our puppy food brands offer formulas specifically designed for small, medium, or large breed puppies.

Large breed formulas, for example, often have carefully controlled levels of calcium and calories to support a slower, steady growth rate, which will then help to protect their developing joints.

All while small breed formulas may have smaller chunks and a more calorie-dense profile to suit their faster metabolism, for instance.

Look for Special Dietary Formulations

Just like people, some puppies just have sensitive stomachs or allergies.

So, if you notice your puppy has an upset tummy or itchy skin, a special diet might be the answer for them.

As a result, we also stock a fantastic selection of hypoallergenic and grain-free wet puppy foods.

Here, Hypoallergenic puppy recipes typically use a single, novel protein source (like duck or salmon) to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction to the food.

Grain-free options can then be brilliant for puppies who are sensitive to common grains like wheat or corn, all while helping to promote better digestion and overall comfort for them.

Reading the Label

After your dog, your next best friend is understanding the label, as this is really key to choosing a great food.

Here are a few simple tips you can do here:

Complete vs. Complementary

Look for the term "complete" on the packaging, as this means the food contains all the nutrients your puppy needs for a balanced diet.

"Complementary" foods, on the other hand, are designed to be served as a tasty topper or a dog treat alongside a complete food, not as a meal on their own.

Named Meat Source First

The ingredients will also be listed by weight.

As a result, a high-quality food will always list a specific meat (e.g., "Chicken," "Deboned Lamb") as the first ingredient.

If it's further down, it means it has less of a weighting to the overall meal.

Clear Ingredients

You also want to avoid foods with vague terms like "meat and animal derivatives" or artificial colours, flavours, and preservatives where possible.

As here the best puppy foods use natural, more wholesome ingredients that you can recognise easily.

How to Serve Wet Food and Transition Smoothly

Once you’ve chosen a food, it’s important to introduce it correctly to avoid upsetting your puppy's sensitive tummy.

Due to this, some tips to give you the best chance of doing this well that you can follow are:

Transitioning to a New Food

If you're changing your puppy's food, you should always do it gradually over a period of 7-10 days.

As a result, start by mixing a small amount of the new food (about 25%) with their old food (75%).

Then every couple of days, you want to slowly increase the proportion of the new food until you have fully transitioned them over.

This slow and steady approach then gives their digestive system much more time to adjust.

Feeding and Transitioning Chart

To help your puppy's tummy adjust smoothly to their new food, follow this gradual transition guide.

Please be aware that you should always serve wet food at room temperature and check the specific feeding guide on the product packaging for precise amounts based on your puppy's weight and age.

7-Day Transition Schedule

Days	Old Food	New Wet Food
1-2	75%	25%
3-4	50%	50%
5-6	25%	75%
7+	0%	100%

General Feeding Guide (Puppies)

Puppy's Weight	Daily Amount (Approx.)	Meals per Day
1 - 5 kg	100 - 400 g	3-4
6 - 10 kg	450 - 650 g	2-3
11 - 20 kg	700 - 1000 g	2
21 - 30 kg	1100 - 1400 g	2

Note: This is a general guide. Individual feeding amounts may vary based on your puppy’s breed, age, activity level, and metabolism. Always consult your vet if you have any concerns about your puppy’s diet.

Feeding Guidelines and Storage

You should also always follow the feeding guide on the packaging, but remember that it's just a guide.

Instead, you might need to adjust the amount you feed them based on your puppy's activity level, breed, and individual metabolism.

It is also best to serve wet food at room temperature to improve its aroma and flavour as well.

Then, once opened, store any uneaten food in an airtight container in the fridge and use it within two to three days.

Pro Tip: Never leave wet food sitting out in your puppy's bowl for more than an hour or so, as it can spoil.

Factoring in Sustainability and Packaging

As pet parents, we also don't just care about the health of our puppies; many of us care deeply about the health of our planet, too.

That is why we know that every purchase we make has an impact, and choosing your puppy's food is no exception.

That's why we're proud to see so many brands taking positive steps towards a greener future through their approach to sustainability and packaging.

Reducing Their Environmental Paw-print

Many of the wet puppy food brands we stock are actively working to reduce their environmental paw-print.

This often starts with the packaging itself, and you'll find an increasing number of options moving away from traditional materials towards more eco-friendly alternatives.

As a result, you want to keep an eye out for products that feature 100% recyclable packaging, making it easier for you to do your bit at home.

From sturdy steel cans, which are infinitely recyclable, to innovative 100% recyclable cartons, brands are making it simpler to make a sustainable choice.

Who Are Pets & Friends?

Pets & Friends is also more than just a pet shop; we're a community of pet lovers, backed by the experience of our parent company, Kennelgate, a family-run business that's been around for donkey's years.

Our whole approach is actually built on providing you with friendly, down-to-earth advice to help you give your pet the best life possible.

Furthermore, we believe that every pet is a friend, and as their owner, you're a friend of ours too. We're also passionate about what we do, and we're here to help you every step of the way.

Here to Help, However You Shop

So, whether you're shopping with us online or visiting a store, our customer service team is always ready to lend a hand.

Online, you can easily track your delivery or get in touch about returns.

In-store, our expert team can offer brilliant, practical advice on everything from finding the right food for a sensitive tummy to fitting your dog with the perfect harness.

We're also properly trained and genuinely love pets, so no question is too silly. So much so that we are committed to making sure you and your pet have a happy experience with us every single time.