Best Dog Food With Vitamins And Minerals In 2022

Vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients are absolutely vital for dogs. The best way to ensure that your furbaby receives all of the vitamins and minerals it needs is to feed it good quality dog food. Choose a “complete and balanced diet” appropriate for your pup’s life stage, weight, breed, health, and activity level.

Choosing foods specifically catered to certain dog breeds and life stages is especially important for large and giant breed puppies, who need to eat specially formulated food with lower amounts of calcium and other minerals to help prevent joint and health problems that occur due to their rapid growth.

Dog parents, who prefer to feed their pups with varied homemade dog food, may need to add some veterinary-approved vitamin or mineral supplements. Or in some cases, dogs may have health issues and deficiencies which may require the addition of specific essential minerals and vitamins to their diets. Your veterinarian will tell you if you need to give such dietary supplements or not.

Unlike us, who eat different foods daily, most dogs eat a relatively consistent diet. So, chances are that if your furry companion has been eating high-quality complete, balanced dog food all its life, it probably doesn’t need any added vitamins and minerals to its diet.

If you are still determining which the best dog food with vitamins and minerals is for your pup and how to choose it, then read on.

We have included our handpicked selection of top-rated complete and balanced dog foods containing all the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients your furry companion needs.

What Makes A Good Dog Food?

There is a vast choice of complete and balanced dog foods that offer all the nutrients, minerals, and vitamins needed to keep your pup healthy, happy, fit, and energetic and provide it with all essential nutrients.

But with such abundance, many dog parents feel overwhelmed when selecting the best commercial food for their four-legged companions.

Good dog food generally has high-quality ingredients that provide the proteins, carbohydrates, fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals your pup needs. And its specific needs depend on its age, weight, overall health, and breed and activity level.

Various dry and wet dog foods are made for dogs of different ages, sizes, and activity levels and with different health issues and needs.

Last but not least, the food should be palatable and enjoyable for your four-legged companion.

The 6 Best Dog Foods With Vitamins And Minerals

Here are our top selections for the best dog foods with vitamins and minerals on the market.

Best Overall: Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Adult Dry Dog Food

• First 5 ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Barley, Oatmeal
• Sizes available: 5, 15, 30, 34 lbs.
• Flavor options: Beef and brown rice, chicken and brown rice, fish and brown rice, lamb and brown rice
• Diet: dry food for adult dogs of all breeds, vitamins, and minerals, immune support, skin and coat health, no soy, no corn
• Calories: 377 kcal/cup

The Life Protection Formula kibble with Life source bites is our top selection for the best dog food. It offers the perfect mix of all essential nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and supplements to keep an adult dog of any breed healthy and well.

The main ingredients are real chicken, wholesome brown rice, and added whole grains and nutrient-packed veggies and fruits.

According to its ingredient list, the recipe contains absolutely all of the vitamins, chelated minerals, glucosamine, and antioxidants a dog needs.

The kibble is designed for adult dogs of all breeds. It is formulated to boost energy, healthy muscle development, the immune system, and the joint, bone, and tooth health of your dog.

You can buy it in several flavors, with real meat or fish as a primary ingredient.

Pros:

• The kibble contains a wide range of minerals and vitamins from natural ingredients and real protein and fat sources
• It contains the manufacturer’s Exclusive LifeSource Bits
• It has glucosamine and omega fatty acids, which are vital for your pup’s joint health and mobility and healthy skin, and a shiny coat
• The food contains no corn, wheat or soy or artificial fillers, or chicken by-product meals

Cons:

• The kibble may be too small-sized for some dogs

Editor’s Choice: Merrick Grain Free with Real Meat + Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food

• First 5 ingredients: Deboned Beef, Lamb Meal, Salmon Meal, Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes
• Sizes available: 4, 10, 22, 30 lbs. bags
• Flavor options: Real Texas Beef, Real Chicken, Real Duck, and Real Salmon
• Diet: adult dry dog food, gluten-free, grain-free, chicken-free, for hip and joint support, skin and coat health, and digestive health, with no artificial preservatives or fillers
• Calories: 379 kcal/cup

This high-quality dry dog food by Merrick is a superb option if you want to ensure that your furbaby gets all the nutrients, minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, glucosamine, omega fatty acids, and chondroitin it needs.

The first ingredient in all four available flavors is real meat or fish from trusted sources. The ingredient list consists of natural products, 65% of which provide healthy protein and fat, and 35% provide the vitamins, minerals, fiber, fatty acids, and other elements essential for health and well-being.

It is an excellent choice if your furry companion has a grain, gluten, or chicken allergy or sensitivity.

Pros:

• Made of high-quality, real ingredients from trusted sources
• The food offers an ideal balance and combination of protein, fat, fiber, minerals, vitamins, and other vital natural ingredients for an adult dog of any size or breed
• It is suitable for allergic dogs, dogs with food intolerances, and those with joint and mobility problems
• You can buy it in 5 different variants, each of which has a premium-quality protein source as its first ingredient

Cons:

• It can be expensive for some dog parents on tight budgets

Budget Pick: Iams Proactive Health Minichunks Small Kibble with Lamb & Rice

• First 5 ingredients: Lamb, Brewers Rice, Chicken By-Product Meal, Ground Whole Grain Barley
• Sizes available: 7, 15, 30, 38.5, 40 lbs. bags
• Flavor options: Lamb and Rice, Chicken and Whole Grains, Healthy Weight, and Large Breed
• Diet: small dry dog food for adult dogs, muscle care, immune support, dental and breath care
• Calories: 382 kcal/cup

This small-sized kibble by Iams is an excellent choice if you want to feed your adult pup with complete and balanced food without breaking the bank. It costs a fraction of what other dry dog foods do and yet has all nutrients, vitamins, and minerals your furbaby needs.

The food also contains healthy prebiotics and antioxidants to boost your dog’s digestive and immune system health.

It is packed with vitamins A, B, D, and E from natural ingredients and supplements, such as minerals like selenium, potassium, calcium, manganese, and more.

The small-sized kibble also contains healthy omega-6 fatty acids and is available in other affordable variations and flavors.

Pros:

• Offered at a very reasonable price
• Available in different flavors, diets, and sizes
• Contains all nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, as well as omega fatty acids, to keep your four-legged companion healthy and well

Cons:

• It contains grain, and one of its primary ingredients is chicken by-product meal, so it is not the best food for dogs with intolerances or allergies to these ingredients.

Best For Sensitive Stomach: Hill’s Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult, Sensitive Stomach & Skin Recipes

• First 5 ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Yellow Peas, Cracked Pearled Barley, Brown Rice
• Sizes available: 4, 15.5, 30 lbs.
• Flavor options: Chicken and Barley, also available for small breeds, large breeds, grain-free and small bites
• Diet: dry dog food for adult dogs of all breeds, with grain, for sensitive digestion and for skin and coat health
• Calories: 394 kcal/cup

Hill’s Science formulated this dry dog food, especially for adult dogs with skin or stomach problems or sensitivities. It has chicken as its primary ingredient, protein and fat source, and wholesome brown rice and beet pulp with natural prebiotic fiber for improved digestion.

The kibble also contains added vitamins C and E and omega-6 fatty acids and amino acids.

You can buy it in other options, such as for mini and small breeds, for large breeds, and in a grain-free version.

Pros:

• The kibble will help support and improve the sensitive stomach, skin, and coat of your pup
• It contains natural sources and is fortified with additional vitamins, minerals, and other essential nutrients
• It is veterinary-approved and made by a reputable manufacturer
• Real chicken is the first ingredient
• The food offers great value for money

Cons:

• It contains liver flavors instead of real liver

Best For Puppies & Adult Dogs: The Honest Kitchen Human Grade Dehydrated Whole Grain Dog Food

• First 5 ingredients: Dehydrated Chicken, Organic Barley, Dehydrated Potatoes, Organic Flaxseed, Organic Oats
• Sizes available: 2, 4, 7 lbs. boxes (the food expands to double the size when hydrated)
• Flavor options: Beef, Chicken, Fish and Oats, Turkey
• Diet: high-protein, human-grade, natural, raw, dehydrated dog food, no fillers, soy, GMO, wheat, soy, corn, or by-products, suitable for puppies and adults of all sizes and breeds
• Calories: 485 kcal/cup

This top-quality dog food is perfect for those looking for an all-natural, less processed food for your puppy or adult dog.

The Honest Kitchen has produced this excellent human-grade food which is easy to prep with some added warm water. The high-quality dehydrated chicken and whole grains will expand and double their quantity after a few minutes when the water is added.

The food is made with non-GMO, human-grade chicken and natural products of the highest quality.

You can also buy it in other variations and use it as your pup’s full meal or as a snack or topper.

Pros:

• It is made of organic and natural ingredients
• It is much less processed than other dry or wet dog food
• The food is easy to prepare and doubles in size once hydrated
• It has a high protein content and has all the essential minerals and vitamins for your dog

Cons:

• Some pups do not like the texture of the food when it is hydrated

Best For Weight Management: Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food

• First 5 ingredients: Chicken, Cracked Pearled Barley, Brown Rice, Pea Fiber, Corn Gluten Meal
• Sizes available: 4, 15, and 28.5 lbs. bags
• Flavor options: same flavor but for large dog breeds or as small bites
• Diet: weight control dry dog food for adults of all breeds, vitamins and minerals, immune support, and digestive health
• Calories: 299 kcal/cup

If your furry companion needs to lose some weight or is prone to weight gain, this food is an excellent choice for you. It is formulated with fewer calories and with ingredients and supplements which boost weight loss without compromising the taste or the content of all essential nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids.

The kibble is made entirely of natural ingredients, with real chicken as the number one ingredient. It has 24% crude protein and 9% fat and added L-Carnitine, which helps promote healthy and quick weight loss.

The Diet food is veterinary-approved and is created in a way in which your four-legged companion will lose excess weight while retaining its energy, strong muscles, and healthy immune system.

Pros:

• Low calories, but contains all nutrients, vitamins, and minerals your dog needs
• It can help promote healthy weight loss or prevent weight gain in pups
• The added amino acids will help keep the muscles strong as the dog loses the extra pounds

Cons:

• It is more expensive than other options on the market

Related: Best Weight Loss Dog Food 2022

Best Dog Food With Vitamins And Minerals Buying Guide

How exactly did we pick these top dog foods with minerals and vitamins? And what to look for when shopping for the best food for your furbaby?

Here are the main features to remember when choosing the best dog food with vitamins and minerals for your four-legged companion.

Further below, you can read about the essential vitamins and minerals for dogs.

Remember that your pup’s diet is vital for its health, well-being, and longevity.

Selecting The Right Nutrients

Commercial dog foods come in different types, forms and prices. The main types you can choose from include Veterinary Prescription Diets, Natural/Holistic Commercial Diets, Generic/Economy Dog Food, Premium Dog Food, Whole food cooked diets, and Raw dog food or BARF diets.

Some dog parents prefer to prepare their own dog food and treats at home.

In any case, you should select or prepare a dog food that contains a mix of healthy proteins, fats, carbs and vitamins, minerals, and water, which corresponds to your pup’s age, weight, health, activity level, and other dietary requirements.

Senior dogs require fewer calories than growing puppies or active adult dogs.

Some pups have sensitivities and are allergic to common ingredients such as grain, gluten, chicken, peas, and more, so keep that in mind when selecting the most suitable food for your furbaby.

Breed Specific Requirements

Some breeds have specific nutritional and dietary requirements at certain life stages. For example, fast-growing large or giant breed puppies need specially formulated dog food to help slow down excessive growth, which can cause severe joint and bone problems.

Large adult dogs need less calorically dense food than smaller ones.

Also, dogs prone to joint problems will benefit from food with added glucosamine, omega fatty acids, and chondroitin.

Related: Best Dog Food For Joint Health

Pups with sensitivities or allergies should never be given foods that contain the allergen.

Luckily, many dog foods are made without certain common ingredients like chicken, grain, gluten, peas, or others. Other dog foods have limited ingredients and a single protein source.

Value For Money

In these challenging times for the economy and with the growing inflation, spending wisely and getting the best value for your money is important.

Select the food with the best ingredients and nutritional content suitable for your furry companion.

A rule of thumb is to calculate the number of servings you are buying and the cost of each serving. This will give you an idea of what you will be spending per week, month, or year.

It is always advisable to buy higher quality dog food for your pet if possible. But if you are on a tight budget, you can still find some excellent dog food as well.

Ensure that the dog food doesn’t contain any ingredients you don’t want to feed your pet, such as allergens, meat by-products, artificial preservatives, or fillers.

Flavors

Some dogs will eat food with any flavor happily and without hesitation. However, some picky eaters only like certain tastes, textures, and types of food.

If your furbaby is a finicky eater, choose a dog food with a flavor and texture you know it likes. But buy a smaller bag, or only a few cans or boxes, so you can test it first and see whether your pup eats it before stocking up.

Luckily, many dog foods come in different flavors, so you can experiment with mixed or sample packages first to find the one which your fussy pup likes the most.

Important Vitamins And Minerals For Dogs

As noted at the beginning of this article, if you are already feeding your pup with dog food that is labeled “complete and balanced nutrition” or “Meets/Exceeds the nutritional requirements of the AAFCO,” then unless your dog has some other health issues or deficiencies, and your veterinarian prescribes adding supplements, you do not really need to give it more vitamin and mineral supplements.

Suppose you prefer cooking your own dog food. In that case, you should consider the types of minerals and vitamins your dog needs and try to incorporate ingredients that contain them naturally or add supplements to its diet.

Here is a list of the essential vitamins and minerals the average dog needs.

Vitamins

Vitamin A

It is found naturally in pumpkins, carrots, eggs, sweet potatoes, fish oil, spinach, turnips, and others. This vitamin is essential for the pup’s immune system, cell function, growth, and vision.

B-complex vitamins

Vitamin B 6 is vital for the dog’s immune system, nervous system, and red blood cells.

Vitamin B12 boosts healthy enzyme function.

The vitamin B found naturally in liver, beans, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, brewer’s or nutritional yeast, and spirulina supports high energy levels in canines.

Vitamin C

Although most dogs synthesize their own vitamin C, adding vitamin C, which contains powerful antioxidants, can help reduce cognitive aging and inflammation, especially in senior pups.

You can add some vitamin C to your pup’s diet by including foods such as fruits, veggies, or organ meats.

Vitamin D

This vitamin comes from the sun and is essential for your dog’s bone and muscle health and strength.

The foods which contain it are beef, fish oil, liver, and dairy products.

Vitamin E

This essential vitamin is found in whole grains, plant oil, liver, wheat germ, seeds, and green veggies. It is beneficial for your pup’s muscle and eye function and can help combat obesity and reproductive problems.

Vitamin K

This vitamin contained in the leafy green vegetables, cabbage, milk, fish, and liver ensures proper blood clotting. This can be life-saving if your dog gets injured or needs surgery.

Minerals

• Calcium: Found in raw bones, green beans, milk, tofu, yogurt, Bok chow, sardines with bones, cauliflower, and broccoli.
• Phosphorous: It is found in eggs, milk, fish, and all animal tissues.
• Potassium, chloride, and sodium: In milk, fruits, grains, and veggies.
• Magnesium: Found in seafood, spinach, beans, tofu, whole grains, broccoli, and tomato juice.
• Zinc: Found in broccoli, spinach, beef, poultry, yogurt, and vegetables.
• Iron: Sourced from red meats, shellfish, fish, eggs, poultry, and legumes.
• Iodine: From dairy products and seafood.
• Sulfur: It is contained in all meats, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, and legumes.
• Copper: Found in nuts, seeds, seafood, legumes, and whole grains.
• Selenium: In seafood, whole grains, legumes, and nuts.
• Cobalt: In kidneys, liver, vegetables, and fruits.
• Chromium: Found in brewer’s yeast, vegetable oils, and lean meat.
• Manganese: In whole grains, nuts, and leafy vegetables.
• Fluorine: From the water.
• Silicon: In cereals, peas, beans, and vegetables.
• Molybdenum: In cereals, legumes, and organ meats.

FAQs

Do dogs need vitamin supplements?

According to the FDA, as long as you feed your dog life stage and breed-appropriate commercial food labeled “complete and balanced diet,” and one which meets the AAFCO nutritional requirements, it is getting all of the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients it needs.

But if you are cooking and preparing the food yourself, your veterinarian may prescribe some vitamin and mineral supplements to add to your furry friend’s diet.

What is the Best Dog Food with Vitamins and Minerals?

The best dog food depends on your dog’s breed, weight, age, activity level, and health.

Our top pick for the best one comprising all the essential vitamins, minerals, and all nutrients for an average adult dog is the Blue Buffalo Life Protection Dry Dog Food.

What Vitamins Should I Put In My Dog’s Food?

Your dog food should contain ingredients that are natural sources of Vitamins A, B-complex, D, E, and K. And, in some cases, Vitamin C.

Unless your veterinarian has prescribed a specific supplement, there is no need to give your furbaby vitamin and mineral supplements as long as it is eating high-quality complete, and balanced dog food.

What Vitamins and Minerals Are Bad for Dogs?

In normal amounts, vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K, as well as minerals such as calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, or sodium, are essential for your dog’s well-being and health. But too much of any of them can lead to adverse effects or can be toxic for your pup.

Too much calcium in the diet of large and giant breed puppies can lead to joint and skeletal problems.

Overdosing vitamin A can lead to joint pain, dehydration, and blood vessel damage in canines.

In any case, we recommend speaking to your veterinarian before adding any new multivitamins or other supplements to your pup’s diet.

How to Select the Right Dog Food with Vitamins and Minerals?

You can choose the most suitable dog food which contains all the vitamins and minerals to keep your furbaby healthy, fit, and happy by checking its ingredient list.

Look for food containing real protein sources as the first ingredients and ingredients containing the essential vitamins A, B, D, E, and K, and minerals like calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and more. Some of these foods are fortified with minerals and vitamins, which are not available naturally in the ingredients.

Always buy food that is appropriate for your pup’s age, weight, breed, and activity level, and with any health issues, it may be having.

If you make your four-legged companion homemade food, you need to ensure that he is eating a properly balanced and complete diet with the right mix of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, and water.

An animal nutritionist or a recipe book by a professional should be able to help you make sure you are feeding your pup right with homemade food.

If your veterinarian prescribes or recommends adding a specific vitamin, mineral, or mixed supplement to your pup’s daily regimen, then make sure to ask about the best supplement or the foods that contain them.