Choosing the right food for your pet starts with understanding what is actually available. The pet food market has expanded dramatically over the past decade, and the number of categories, sub-categories, and hybrid products can make the selection process feel impossible. This guide breaks down every major type of commercially available pet food, what distinguishes each one, and which animals tend to do best on each approach.
Raw feeding encompasses commercially prepared raw meals (frozen or freeze-dried) and home-prepared raw diets. Proponents point to shinier coats, cleaner teeth, smaller stools, and higher energy levels. Critics raise legitimate concerns about bacterial contamination, nutritional imbalance in home-prepared versions, and the lack of long-term controlled studies.
Raw diets tend to appeal to owners of working dogs, breeds with sensitive stomachs, and pets that have not responded well to processed foods. If you pursue raw feeding, commercially prepared and AAFCO-compliant options significantly reduce the risk of nutritional gaps compared to DIY recipes.
Handling raw meat requires strict hygiene protocols. Immunocompromised household members, very young children, and elderly individuals face elevated risk from pathogens like Salmonella and Listeria that can be present in raw pet food.
Kibble remains the most widely purchased pet food format worldwide, accounting for roughly 60% of the dog food market by volume. Its advantages are practical: long shelf life, relatively low cost per serving, dental abrasion benefits, and simple portion control.
The difference between a budget kibble and a premium one is not just price. Look at the first five ingredients. Whole named proteins (chicken, salmon, lamb) should lead the list rather than vague terms like “meat meal” or “animal by-products.” Fat sources should be identified (chicken fat, not “animal fat”).
Kibble manufacturing requires high temperatures that can degrade certain heat-sensitive nutrients. Most manufacturers compensate by adding synthetic vitamin and mineral premixes after extrusion. Grain-free kibble gained popularity in the 2010s but came under FDA scrutiny after reports of a potential link to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs, particularly formulas heavy in legumes and potatoes.
Wet food offers significantly higher moisture content (typically 75-85% water) compared to kibble (around 10%). This makes it particularly valuable for cats, which evolved as desert animals and often do not drink enough water on their own. Higher palatability also makes wet food useful for picky eaters and senior animals with reduced appetite.
Cost per calorie is substantially higher than kibble. Once opened, canned food must be refrigerated and used within a few days. Exclusive wet feeding can contribute to dental tartar buildup since it provides no mechanical abrasion against teeth.
Many veterinary nutritionists recommend a combination approach: kibble as the primary base with wet food added for moisture and palatability. This balances cost, dental health, hydration, and nutritional variety.
Freeze-dried pet food occupies the middle ground between raw and kibble. The freeze-drying process preserves nutrients more effectively than high-heat extrusion while eliminating most pathogen risk. Dehydrated food uses low-temperature air drying to achieve a similar result.
Both formats are lightweight, shelf-stable, and reconstitute with water before serving. They tend to be the most expensive option per serving but offer nutritional profiles closer to whole food than heavily processed alternatives.
Pet supplements have grown into a multi-billion dollar category covering joint support (glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM), digestive health (probiotics, digestive enzymes), skin and coat (omega-3 fatty acids, biotin), calming formulas (L-theanine, chamomile), and multivitamins.
Supplements are most justified when a pet has a diagnosed deficiency, a chronic condition that responds to specific nutrients, or when feeding a diet that may not be nutritionally complete. Adding supplements to an already balanced commercial diet can sometimes cause excess intake of certain nutrients, which carries its own risks.
Look for supplements that carry the National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) quality seal, list specific ingredient quantities rather than proprietary blend totals, and have been tested by independent labs.
No single food category is universally superior. The right choice depends on your pet’s species, breed, age, activity level, health conditions, and your household’s budget and handling comfort. A working sled dog and an apartment-dwelling Persian cat have radically different nutritional needs, and the best food for each reflects those differences.