11 Best Salmon Dog Foods Including Kibble, Wet & Raw Formulas
Salmon is a fantastic protein to add to your dog’s diet, whether supplementing their dog food with salmon oil or feeding them a salmon-based formula. Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, an essential nutrient for neurological health, cardiac health, immune response, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory responses, skin and coat health, and more. Salmon is also an excellent source of protein, B vitamins, niacin, phosphorus, and other vitamins and minerals your dog needs to stay happy and healthy.
In this guide, I’ll share ten readily available salmon dog food formulas, spanning different categories and price points. Before we dive in, I’ll give you a little insight into what I’m looking for in good dog food nutrient profiles:
- High protein content
- Balanced fat content
- Whole ingredients
- Limited or no use of legumes, grains, starches, or “filler ingredients”
You’ll notice that a few options on this list break some of my “rules,” and that’s okay! The perfect dog food doesn’t exist, so I want to show you a wide selection of options to fit everyone’s needs. Don’t be afraid of starch or carbohydrates in dog foods—as long as they have enough protein, carbs are completely safe for dogs as facultative carnivores.
Additionally, don’t be afraid of ingredients with names you don’t immediately recognize. For example, the fermentation product dried enterococcus faecium might sound intimidating, but it’s safe and good for your dog. A dried enterococcus faecium fermentation product is a probiotic added to dog food to support healthy digestion. So have an open mind while you read ingredient lists until you know exactly what to look for.
Some other common ingredients that shouldn’t alarm you in dog food formulas include vitamins (vitamin E supplements, vitamin B, etc.), ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, menadione sodium bisulfite complex, and so on. Scientific names are safe, don’t be afraid of the nutrients—each is recognized as an essential and recommended nutrient by the AAFCO.
No more stalling, let’s jump into the best dog food salmon edition!
11. Purina ONE Shredded Blend Salmon & Rice Dry Dog Food
Buy On Amazon | $69.49 for 33 lbs
Product Details:
- First 5 Ingredients: Salmon, rice, whole grain wheat, poultry by-product meal, soybean meal
- Guaranteed Analysis (crude): 26% Protein — 15% Fat — 3% Fiber — 12% Moisture
- Price Per Pound: $2.11
- Food Type: Dry, kibble plus tender “shreds”
Of the many Purina dog food formulas, this Purina ONE salmon dog food is one of the best. While I don’t often recommend this brand if you have other options, Purina is one of the most accessible dog food brands and can be found at all major pet stores.
This salmon and rice dog food formula is high-protein with a good balance of fat, but it’s not as affordable as you might expect considering the fourth ingredient is poultry by-product meal. Still, this is a decent option, particularly if you don’t have access to a natural dog food store near you.
If you have a picky dog who doesn’t like kibble, they might like this recipe more since it includes tender “shreds” of salmon giving this food a meaty flavor and texture.
10. The Honest Kitchen Gourmet Grains Beef & Salmon Dehydrated Dog Food
Buy From The Honest Kitchen | $104.99 for 10 lbs (makes 40 lbs rehydrated)
Product Details:
- First 5 Ingredients: Dehydrated beef, organic barley, organic oats, organic flaxseed, dehydrated eggs
- Guaranteed Analysis (crude):
- Price Per Pound: $2.62 (rehydrated)
- Food Type: Dehydrated
One of the best things about dehydrated dog food is the chance to add extra hydration to your dog’s diet. You get to control how much water you add, so you can ensure your dog gets plenty of water even if they don’t like to drink from a bowl.
As you might have noticed, salmon isn’t in the top five ingredients of this formula—it’s the sixth, but don’t let that stop you from trying this recipe from The Honest Kitchen to dip your toe into fresh dog food. Dehydrated dog food is so convenient and easy to store and prepare, so it’s a great way to get used to prepping dog food ahead if you want to move on to fresh frozen or frozen raw.
9. Diamond Naturals Salmon & Potato Dry Dog Food Formula for Skin and Coat
Buy Diamond Naturals Near You | ~87.98 for 30 lbs
Product Details:
- First 5 Ingredients: Salmon, fish meal, potatoes, lentils, peas
- Guaranteed Analysis (crude): 25% Protein — 14% Fat — 5.5% Fiber — 10% Moisture
- Price Per Pound: $1.49
- Food Type: Dry, kibble
Diamond salmon dog food is a popular option, and it has a decent protein content, a good balance of fat, and is formulated specifically for skin and coat health. If you can avoid ingredients like fish meal, lentils, and peas, I recommend looking for dog foods without them. However, a formula like this one that includes these ingredients is still a good option, particularly if you need affordable salmon dog food.
8. Victor Grain-Free Yukon River Salmon & Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food
Buy On Amazon | $41.99 for 15 lbs
Product Details:
- First 5 Ingredients: Menhaden fish meal, peas, chicken fat, garbanzo beans, dehydrated salmon
- Guaranteed Analysis (crude): 33% Protein — 16% Fat — 3.8% Fiber — 9% Moisture
- Price Per Pound: $2.80
- Food Type: Dry, kibble
While not my top grain-free salmon dog food option (see more options below), Victor salmon dog food has a good protein content and uses zero grain as a protein source. One of the drawbacks of this formula is the presence of peas and garbanzo beans among other starches that aren’t as beneficial for dogs as other fresh veggies.
Remember how I mentioned not to be afraid of ingredients you don’t understand? This is a perfect example. Formulas like this one with chicken fat often list the ingredient as “fat preserved with mixed tocopherols.” While it might sound scary and artificial, ingredients like tocopherols help to keep dog food fresh!
7. Kirkland Signature Salmon & Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food
Buy Online From Costco | $52.99 for 35 lbs
Product Details:
- First 5 Ingredients: Salmon, salmon meal, sweet potatoes, potatoes, peas
- Guaranteed Analysis (crude): 27% Protein — 15% Fat — 4% Fiber — 10% Moisture
- Price Per Pound: $1.51
- Food Type: Dry, kibble
You might be surprised to learn that Kirkland salmon dog food sold at Costco is a good high-protein, especially for people who like to buy in bulk. You’ll need a Costco membership to purchase Costco salmon dog food, but at just $1.51 per pound, this is a super affordable dog food option. For large dog owners, buying food from Costco can save you a lot of money, but small dogs might not go through a whole bag before it goes stale.
Sam’s Club used to sell Member’s Mark salmon dog food, but it appears to have been discontinued following a recall on the formula.
6. Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Pacific Catch Salmon & Whitefish Dry Dog Food
Buy On Amazon | $84.98 for 20 lbs
Product Details:
- First 5 Ingredients: Deboned salmon, salmon meal, whitefish meal, sweet potatoes, potatoes
- Guaranteed Analysis (crude): 32% Protein — 16% Fat — 3.5% Fiber — 11% Moisture
- Price Per Pound: $4.25
- Food Type: Dry, kibble
Several Merrick salmon dog food formulas exist, but this one stands out for the pieces of freeze-dried raw dog food in every bag. A combination of traditional—but high protein—kibble plus a scattering of raw bits, this formula boasts an impressively high amount of protein at 32%. This option is also poultry-free, making it safe for dogs with chicken and turkey allergies.
5. Zignature Salmon Formula Wet Dog Food
Buy On Amazon | $46.40 for (12) 13 oz cans
Product Details:
- First 5 Ingredients: Salmon, fish broth, peas, chickpeas, alfalfa meal
- Guaranteed Analysis (crude): 9.5% Protein — 8% Fat — 1.5% Fiber — 78% Moisture
- Price Per Ounce: $0.29
- Food Type: Wet, paté
Zignature is a top brand for dogs with allergies since they specialize in a wide range of proteins including novel proteins like alligator and kangaroo. This salmon and pea dog food recipe is high in protein but contains ingredients like peas, chickpeas, and alfalfa meal in the first five ingredients. However, this recipe is fully grain-free and potato-free and is safe for dogs with chicken allergies because it contains zero chicken byproducts.
4. BLUE Buffalo Wilderness Salmon & Chicken Grill Wet Dog Food
Buy On Amazon | $33.65 for (12) 12.5-oz cans
Product Details:
- First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, fish broth, chicken liver, salmon, potatoes
- Guaranteed Analysis (crude): 10% Protein — 8% Fat — 1.5% Fiber — 78% Moisture
- Price Per Ounce: $0.22
- Food Type: Wet, ground/coarse paté
There are a handful of BLUE Buffalo salmon dog food formulas available, but I recommend the canned BLUE Wilderness salmon dog food. This formula includes whole ingredients like chicken and salmon, and it’s an affordable high-protein option found at most pet stores.
3. Spot & Tango Cod and Salmon UnKibble
Buy From Spot & Tango | Price dependent on subscription details
Product Details:
- First 5 Ingredients: Cod, salmon, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, sunflower seeds
- Guaranteed Analysis (crude): 27% Protein — 17% Fat — 3% Fiber — 4% Moisture
- Food Type: Dry
If your dog won’t eat kibble but you like feeding them a dry formula, I highly recommend Spot & Tango’s UnKibble. Made from fresh ingredients and processed to retain flavor and nutrients, UnKibble is the closest thing to fresh dog food while still being kibble. This formula contains a blend of cod and salmon with fresh vegetables, fruits, seeds, and added vitamins. 100% grain-free, gluten-free, and made from whole foods, this is a super healthy alternative to traditional dry dog food.
2. Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Salmon & Beef Recipe
Buy On Amazon | $58.99 for 25 oz (makes ~4+ lbs rehydrated)
Product Details:
- First 5 Ingredients: Beef, whole ground salmon, beef heart, beef liver, beef bone
- Guaranteed Analysis (crude): 45% Protein — 34% Fat — 5% Fiber — 5% Moisture
- Price Per Pound: $14.74 (rehydrated)
- Food Type: Dehydrated raw
If you’re interested in venturing into raw dog food but don’t have much freezer space, dehydrated raw dog food could be the perfect solution. Stella & Chewy’s is a reputable and widely available dehydrated raw dog food brand, so no matter where you live you’re likely able to find this on your pet store shelves.
This formula with salmon and beef is one of my top contenders for the best salmon dog food, particularly because of its stellar animal-protein-based ingredients, but there’s one major drawback: price. Stella & Chewy’s is pretty darn expensive, so if you can find a more affordable raw salmon dog food option in your pet store, I encourage you to give it a try!
1. Open Farm Wild-Caught Salmon Rustic Stew Wet Dog Food
Buy From Open Farm | $50.27 for (12) 12.5 oz cans
Product Details:
- First 5 Ingredients: Wild Pacific salmon, pumpkin, carrots, organic green beans, spinach
- Guaranteed Analysis (crude): 8% Protein — 6% Fat — 2% Fiber — 82% Moisture
- Price Per Ounce: $0.33
- Food Type: Wet, stew
Open Farm’s Wild Caught Salmon Rustic Stew is the number one best salmon dog food formula on this list! There’s so much to love about this dog food recipe that I can’t list it all, but I’m sure going to try.
First and foremost, I love that Open Farm is fully transparent with its manufacturers, suppliers, and processing techniques. Every ingredient listed on their website includes a country of origin plus detailed information on why that ingredient is included in the recipe. Since we’re discussing ingredients, look at the first five in this formula. Open Farm features whole, fresh ingredients and is setting the bar for ingredient quality in pet foods.
