Best Soft Dry Dog Food For Older Dogs

When it comes to dog food and pet food in general, there are a lot of nuances that pet owners don’t think about. Not only is there an abundance of different types and brands of food, but many different dog breeds have unique dietary needs. Simply picking up the cheapest bag of dog food at the grocery store won’t do you or your pup any favors. There is something for everyone, whether you have a large dog breed like a Great Dane or even a tiny dog breed like the Chihuahua. Many factors go into figuring out what the best soft dry dog food is for your furbaby. You want something you and your dog can both enjoy and benefit from.

Do not stress! Our team at We Love Doodles has compiled a list of the 14 best soft dry dog food options for you without all the hassle of sorting through thousands of brands.

Purina Pro Plan High Protein Shredded Blend Dry Dog Food — Vet’s Choice

Main ingredients: Chicken, rice, whole-grain wheat, poultry by-product meal, soybean meal
Protein content: 26%
Fat content: 16%
Calories: 387 per cup

Real chicken is the first ingredient in Purina Pro Plan High Protein Shredded Blend Dry Dog Food. Combined with rice, this food is a great option for high protein and energy. Hard kibble pieces are mixed with tender shredded bites for a texture variety.

Vitamin A and omega fatty acids keep coats and skin healthy and soft. Live probiotics are included for digestive health and immune support. This formula has a protein-to-fat ratio that is designed to help your dog maintain their ideal weight and body condition. This recipe also contains glucosamine for joint health.

Some of the tender pieces in this bag get smashed under the weight of the kibble. Dog owners have noticed crumbs at the bottom of the bag. Pros

  • High protein content
  • Probiotics and glucosamine in the formula
  • Designed to promote an ideal body condition
  • Cons

  • Kibble and tender pieces crumble in bag
  • Puppy Chow Tender & Crunchy Dry Dog Food — Best for Puppies

    Main ingredients: Whole-grain corn, corn gluten meal, poultry by-product meal, whole-grain wheat, beef fat
    Protein content: 27.5%
    Fat content: 12%
    Calories: 387 per cup

    The high protein content in Puppy Chow Tender & Crunchy Dry Dog Food promotes healthy and strong muscle development. It includes real beef in the recipe along with the essential vitamins and nutrients that growing puppies need. Many of these are naturally found in a mother dog’s milk, like DHA for healthy brain development. The recipe has a “Healthy Start Blend” for puppy development that is highly digestible and full of protein, antioxidants, and flavor.

    Calcium is added to the formula to promote teeth and bone health. If your puppy enjoys gravy, adding warm water to this food will make a tasty sauce for the tender pieces. If your puppy is just learning to eat solid food, they may pick out the softer pieces and only eat those. Pros

  • Made with real beef
  • Completely balanced and crafted for puppy development
  • Promotes easy digestion
  • Cons

  • Puppies may only eat the soft pieces
  • Meat is not the first ingredient
  • Purina Dog Chow Tender & Crunchy Dry Dog Food

    Purina Dog Chow Tender & Crunchy Dry Dog Food is another brand manufactured by a popular company that has stood the test of time. This food contains hard and soft bits and three sizes of kibble to help clean teeth better and make it easier for different size dogs to eat. With a crude protein-to-fat ratio of 21/10%, it provides a complete and balanced meal with 23 important vitamins and minerals and no harmful preservatives. It’s highly digestible and shouldn’t give your dog stomach cramps or diarrhea.

    We didn’t like that Purina Dog Chow doesn’t have chicken listed as its first ingredient. In fact, several other ingredients come before any meat is listed. While most of our dogs did eat this food, they would pick out the bits they wanted and leave the rest behind. This left behind food would inevitably go in the garbage, which added up to quite a bit of waste in the short time we reviewed it.Pros

  • Soft and crunchy bits
  • Three kibble sizes
  • A complete and balanced meal
  • 23 vitamins and minerals
  • Highly digestible
  • Cons

  • Corn is the first ingredient
  • Dogs pick out the parts they like
  • FAQ

    Is soft dog food better for senior dogs?

    As your dog gets older, their teeth may become more sensitive, which can make chewing kibble more difficult and even uncomfortable. Switching to a soft food can help to alleviate your pet’s oral discomfort when eating.

    What is the best soft food for a dog?

    1. The Best Overall: Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Senior Wet Dog Food Chicken. We found the brand Blue Buffalo to have the best choice when it comes to soft dog food. This brand features soft, wet dog food in a pate style that is a great source of high-quality protein made from real chicken.

    Is wet or dry dog food better for senior dogs?

    Senior dogs, puppies, and dogs with dental issues may benefit from soft dry dog food because it’s easier to chew than just hard kibble. If you prefer not to feed your dog canned food, soft dry dog food is a good option.