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Best High-Protein Dog Food* of 2023
Discover some of the best high-protein dog food for weight gain or muscle growth.
What to look for in high-protein dog food
Ingredients
Protein is one of the most important nutrients for dogs of all ages and stages. And while protein requirements will vary by breed, life stage and each dog’s unique needs, they’re necessary to help support growth, development and the immune system. Dogs with high energy and who are highly active can often benefit from a high-protein diet. Look for high-protein dog food with whole ingredients, the protein as the first ingredient and a combination of other nutrients to support your pup’s well-rounded diet.
Benefits
Discover many different recipes that might offer various benefits and functionalities to fit with multiple dietary preferences. For example, you can find a high-protein dog food with grain-free formulas, some suitable for all life stages, some appropriate for only adult dogs and some with limited ingredients.
Quality and Value
Discover the best high-protein dog food for your pet that includes all the specific nutrients your pup needs with a taste they love and a price you feel comfortable paying.
Pet parent faves
From minimally processed to scientifically formulated, these are the best-selling high-protein dog foods bought by Petco’s pet parent customers—ideal for pups with high energy levels.
ORIJEN
Original Grain-free High Protein Fresh and Raw Animal Ingredients Dry Dog Food
Help your pet thrive with this protein-rich recipe from ORIJEN. Made with 85% high-quality animal ingredients like free-run chicken and turkey, wild-caught fish and cage-free eggs, this food is made with the most nutrient-rich parts of the animal. With ORIJEN your dog gets the meal they deserve.
Features:
- Available in 12 oz., 4.5 lb., 13 lb. and 25 lb. bags
- First 5 ingredients are always fresh or raw protein using poultry and fish
- Coated with freeze-dried liver to provide even more delicious taste
- 100% grain-free
- Good for all stages of life
ACANA
Grain-free Red Meat Ranch-Raised Beef Yorkshire Pork Grass-Fed Lamb Dry Dog Food
The ACANA Red Meat recipe is balanced with 60% quality animal ingredients, like Yorkshire pork and ranch-raised beef, 40% vegetables, fruits and botanicals. Even better, this tasty recipe from ACANA is free of artificial colors, preservatives and flavors. It’s topped off with natural preservatives, vitamins, minerals and probiotics.
Features:
- Available in 4.5 lb., 13 lb. and 25 lb. bags
- Grain-free with no added soy, corn, tapioca or wheat
- Includes fresh and raw vegetables and fruits, like pumpkin, collard greens, apples and pears
- Coated with freeze-dried beef, pork and lamb liver for a great taste
- Crafted from a curated group of farmers in an award-winning kitchen in Kentucky
Merrick
Backcountry Grain-free Raw Infused Great Plains Red Meat Dry Dog Food
This natural, grain-free canine recipe is packed with protein that your dog will crave. The Raw Infused kibble recipes deliver a wonderful combination of protein-rich, grain-free kibble, plus whole pieces of raw, freeze-dried meat, poultry and fish. They give your dog the nutritional advantage that they would get in the wild.
Features:
- Available in 12 lb. bags
- The top ingredient is real deboned beef
- Grain-free with no gluten ingredients for easy digestibility
- Contains leading levels of Glucosamine and Chondroitin for hip and joint support
- Rich in omega fatty acids for skin and coat support
- For adult dogs
Instinct
Raw Boost Grain-free Recipe with Real Chicken Dry Dog Food with Freeze-Dried Raw Pieces
If you’ve been looking for a dog food to help your dog gain weight, consider this recipe from Instinct. This boosted nutritional option is made with bites of freeze-dried raw meat for a grain-free, high-protein meal. This delicious dry dog food will allow your dog to thrive and deliver more raw, wholesome nutrition into their life.
Features:
- Available in 4 lb., 10 lb. and 21 lb. bags
- Cage-free chicken is the first ingredient for strong and lean muscle development
- Natural, protein packed and minimally processed bites of real, raw chicken
- Made grain-free without corn, wheat, soy, potato, artificial colors or preservatives
- Boosted with probiotics, higher omega fatty acids and more antioxidants for digestion
ORIJEN
Regional Red Grain-free and Poultry Free High Protein Fresh and Raw Animal Ingredients Dry Dog Food
Help your dog thrive and grow with protein-rich recipes that nurture your pup as nature intended. Historically, dogs are ancestral carnivores so their natural diet is rich and varied in whole animal ingredients. This specific ORIJEN recipe is loaded with 85% high-quality animal ingredients, like ranch-raised beef, wild boar, Boer goat and grass-fed lamb. Because of the addition of Wholeprey animals, this recipe is made with the most nutrient-dense, luscious parts of the prey so your dog gets the nutrition they need.
Features:
- Available in 12 oz., 4.5 lb., 13 lb. and 25 lb. bags
- Derived from the unprocessed state of the ingredients
- First 5 ingredients are always fresh or raw protein including meat and organs
- Provides a strong source of essential protein, vitamins and minerals
- For all life stages
ACANA
Grain-free Free Run Poultry Chicken and Turkey and Cage-free Eggs Dry Food
ACANA foods always go beyond the 1st ingredient, constantly crafting their recipes from start to finish. This particular recipe is balanced with 60% fine ingredients, like free-range chicken and turkey, cage-free eggs, as well as 40%-plus fruits, vegetables and botanicals. And it’s free of artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. They only use ingredients from curated ranchers, farmers and fishers who have been working with ACANA’s kitchen for years. The end result is a nutritious, protein-rich and tasty dog food that can help your pup thrive.
Features:
- Available in 4.5 lb., 13 lb. and 25 lb. bags
- Fresh, raw chicken and turkey make the two main ingredients
- ACANA uses refrigeration as the sole method of preservation and their raw ingredients are frozen at their freshest state
- Contains fruits and vegetables, like whole pumpkin, collard greens, apples and pears
- Coated with freeze-dried chicken liver for taste
- Made for dogs of all life stages
Merrick
Backcountry Grain-free Hero’s Banquet Dry Dog Food
This natural, grain-free ancestral canine diet is full of protein that dogs love and need and is a good dog food to help gain weight. The infused kibble recipes of Merrick Backcountry deliver a punch of protein-rich, grain-free kibble with pieces of real, whole raw and freeze-dried meat, poultry and fish. The Hero’s Banquet recipes showcase the work of K9’s for Warriors, an organization that pairs specially trained rescue dogs with veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Features:
- Available in 12 lb. bags
- The first and main ingredient is real deboned beef
- Freeze-dried, raw meat pieces lock in fresh taste
- Promotes skin and coat with a dose of Omega fatty acids
- Contains high levels of Glucosamine and Chondroitin to help support the hips and joints
- Made for adult dogs
CANIDAE PURE
Real Salmon and Sweet Potato, Limited Ingredient, Grain-free Recipe Dry Dog Food
The limited ingredient formulas of CANIDAE PURE offer your pup a well-rounded meal that’s expertly crafted with your dog’s well-being in mind. This recipe is made grain-free and with a limited number of wholesome ingredients that your dog will love. And you’ll never find corn, wheat or soy in CANIDAE PURE’s recipes, making this a great mealtime choice for your adult dog.
Features:
- Available in 4 lb., 12 lb. and 24 lb. bags
- Hypoallergenic dog food for pups with a sensitive stomach
- Made with 10 ingredients or less
- Loaded with clean and premium protein sources
- Helps maintain coat and skin with Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids
- A dose of antioxidants help support a strong immune system
We’re here to help
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Learn More About High-Protein Dog Food
Yes. There are high-protein dog foods on the market that are made specifically for puppies. We do suggest consulting your veterinarian about what specific type, wet dog food or dry dog food, and brand would be the best dog food to gain weight and muscle.
Proteins are important for all dogs, no matter what age they are. They’re essential for supporting a dog’s development, growth, immune system and help them with healthy weight gain. However, if your pet is going through specific health conditions, like pregnancy or nursing or suffering from any negative health problems, more protein may be required in their diet. Consult your veterinarian to determine the best dry dog food for weight gain if that’s what your pup needs. While some high-protein dog foods that are grain-free or gluten-free can sometimes be great for weight loss.
Many dogs will be fine without high-protein dog food. However, feeding your dog a diet that exceeds the minimum amount of protein they need can sometimes be a way to ensure your dog doesn’t just survive but thrives. High-protein dog food can serve many purposes. Protein is a key macronutrient, and it’s vital to the growth and maintenance of almost all body tissues. And a higher protein diet may enable your dog to build and maintain strong hair, skin, muscles, cartilage, tendons and joints.
*Based on petco.com sales data.