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- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
When it comes to food, it’s safe to say you and your dog have different tastes but there’s one thing you may agree on—everything is better with gravy.
Whether it’s food for humans or dogs, nothing takes a boring meal from drab to fab faster than a generous pour of thick, savory gravy. In fact, adding gravy or other food toppers is a surefire way to entice a picky eater to chow down on whatever is put in front of him.
The problem is that many sauces and gravies made for dogs contain unhealthy ingredients and artificial additives. If you’re looking for a dog food that combines the benefits of quality nutrition with the lip-smacking goodness of gravy, this post is for you!
Here we’ll talk about why some dogs become picky eaters and how switching to a dog food with gravy could help. You’ll also learn what to look for in a gravy-based dog food and see our picks for the best dog food with gravy.
Why Are Some Dogs Picky Eaters?
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Your dog doesn’t know what’s in the food you give him, nor does he care. All he knows is that it smells and tastes good. If one or both of those things stop being true, he may turn up his nose and stop eating until you switch it out for something more appealing.
But what causes a dog to suddenly become picky about the food he eats?
If your dog suddenly stops eating, your first concern should be for his health—loss of appetite could be a sign of an underlying health issue, so talk to your vet. It’s also possible that you’ve been feeding your dog too many treats and he’s waiting for something better to come along.
If your dog has been experiencing digestive issues, it may be related to his food and he might be avoiding it for that reason. Take a closer look at the ingredients in your dog’s food and think about when his symptoms started to see whether it might be connected to a recent change in diet.
Regardless of why your dog stops eating, it’s important that you remedy the problem as soon as possible. One of the easiest ways to entice your dog to eat is to offer him canned food full of meat and flavor.
What to Look For
There are a lot of low-quality dog foods on the market that rely on artificially flavored gravies to get your dog’s attention. Because your dog’s nutrition is always the utmost priority, you need to learn how to weed out those low-quality products to find a nutritious dog food that your dog will also find appealing.
Here are some things to look for in dog food with gravy:
- Real meat as the first ingredient
- Low in carbohydrates
- Cooked in broth instead of water
- Natural flavor (no artificial additives)
- No potentially harmful thickeners (like carrageenan)
- No artificial preservatives (like BHA and BHT)
In addition to these, you also need to keep your dog’s basic nutritional requirements in mind. Protein is the foundation of a healthy diet for dogs, but he also needs healthy fats, digestible carbohydrates, and essential nutrients.
You’ll want to make sure to look for the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) nutritional adequacy statement on the label, which establishes the minimum nutritional requirements for dogs, and not to purchase any dog food product without one.
For more general guidelines about what to look for on the dog food label, see our article, Decoding Dog Food: Your Guide to What You’re Really Feeding Your Pet.
Keep reading to see our top picks for the best dog food with gravy.
The 11 Best Dog Foods with Gravy
All dog foods are not created equal. If you’re not sure where to start your search for a high-quality wet dog food, we’re here to help! Here are our picks for the best dog foods with gravy:
I and Love and You Top That Tummy Chicken Recipe in Gravy
If you’re looking for a food topper to entice your picky eater or just want to boost his digestion, this recipe features real chicken as the first ingredient.
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American Journey Grain-Free Chicken & Vegetable Stew
Choose from chicken or beef in these delicious, grain-free stews cooked in thick gravy and studded with tender bites of carrots, peas, and potatoes.
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Nutro Hearty Stews Beef, Tomato, Carrot & Pea Stew
Featuring farm-raised beef as the first ingredient, this grain-free stew is rich in protein and essential nutrients but free from artificial additives and GMO ingredients.
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Blue Buffalo Wilderness Trail Toppers Wild Cuts Grain-Free Food Topper
To give your dog’s dinner a quick boost of flavor and nutrition, this hearty meal topper consists of delicious bites of real chicken cooked in irresistible gravy.
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Merrick Grammy’s Pot Pie Grain-Free Canned Food
Formulated for all breeds and life stages, this steak-studded entrée features hearty chunks of real beef cooked in thick gravy.
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Nature’s Variety Instinct Healthy Cravings Real Chicken Recipe in Savory Gravy
The perfect complement to any meal, this food topper is made with cage-free chicken in savory gravy with a hint of natural fiber to boost your dog’s digestion.
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Blue Buffalo Blue’s Stew Hearty Beef Stew
Loaded with real beef and veggies, this hearty stew is sure to satisfy your dog’s cravings for meat flavor while also providing a balanced source of nutrition.
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Purina Beyond Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe in Gravy
An affordable option in grain-free dog food, this chicken and sweet potato recipe is cooked in a delicious gravy and enriched with vitamin and mineral supplements.
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Weruva Paw Lickin’ Chicken in Gravy Canned Dog Food
Tender chicken breast is the main ingredient in this flavorful canned food from Weruva. This formula is completely free from gluten, grains, and carrageenan as well as artificial additives like flavors, colors, and preservatives.
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Rachael Ray Nutrish Natural Chicken Paw Pie Wet Dog Food
If you’re looking for something affordable that offers decent quality, Rachael Ray’s wet dog food is an option to consider. This chicken recipe is cooked in a savory gravy and studded with sweet potatoes and green beans for a nutritional boost.
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Wellness CORE Grain-Free Hearty Cuts in Gravy Beef Recipe
This beef recipe canned food features hearty cuts of fresh beef and venison cooked in a savory gravy. Formulated for complete and balanced nutrition, your dog can enjoy this canned food as a staple diet or as a food topper or mixer.
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If your dog has started turning up his nose at dinner time but you don’t want to change his entire diet, try adding a drizzle of bone broth or a spoonful of wet food to his kibble. Check out our top picks for the best affordable canned dog food options HERE.
Further Reading
- 12 Best Affordable Canned Dog Foods
- Gravy for Dogs: How to Make Healthy Gravy for Dog Food and Special Occasions
- The Best Wet Food for Puppies
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