Food guide

What to feed adult dogs

For most healthy adult dogs, the goal is a complete and balanced diet in the right amount to keep an ideal body condition. Portion size matters as much as which food you pick.

Work out how much to feed

What to look for

A pack statement that the food is complete and balanced for adult maintenance (or all life stages).
Portions based on daily calories, not the cup or scoop alone. Neutered dogs typically need fewer calories than intact dogs.
Body condition checks: you should feel ribs under a light fat covering, and see a waist from above.
Treats kept to a small share of daily calories, since they add up quickly.

Common mistakes

Slow weight gain: it is the most common nutrition problem in adult dogs.
Frequent diet hopping, which often leads to stomach upset.
Grain-free marketing. It isn't automatically better, and regulators have investigated links between some grain-free diets and heart disease in dogs. Ask your vet before choosing one.

Ask your vet first if

Any diagnosed condition (kidney, heart, diabetes, allergies, pancreatitis, urinary problems): these need a vet-chosen diet, not a generic pick.
Sudden appetite loss, vomiting, diarrhoea or weight change.

How we will pick specific foods

We aren't publishing product picks yet. Before we list any food, it has to meet each of these, checked against the manufacturer's own label:

Complete for the life stage. The pack carries an adequacy statement (AAFCO or FEDIAF) for the stage the page is about.
Named animal protein first. The first ingredient is a named animal protein, with protein and fat percentages listed.
Maker transparency. The maker publishes recall history and says who formulates the diet, ideally a qualified veterinary nutritionist.
Real availability and price. Sold in India, with price per 1,000 kcal so packs can be compared fairly.

Criteria are based on WSAVA's public guidance on choosing a pet food. Rankings are our editorial judgement and we don't accept payment to place a food.

Other guides

General information only, not veterinary advice. Feeding needs vary between individual animals.