Dry, wet, fresh, raw or freeze-dried: how to choose dog food in Canada (2026)

PawTrace is not a vet. This guide shares what we found in the sources listed below; ask your vet about your own dog.

Key takeaways

• CFIA states that pet food “is not a comprehensively regulated commodity in Canada” and that its oversight is limited to import and export requirements (CFIA page, modified December 13 2022).
• The Competition Bureau’s pet food labelling guide is a voluntary code, not law. It names four life stages for nutritional adequacy claims: all life stages, gestation/lactation, growth and maintenance (Competition Bureau).
• The Merck Veterinary Manual (U.S.) lists dry foods at 10% water and canned foods at 68% to 78% water, and says foods of different types should be compared on a dry-matter basis (Merck, updated June 2025).
• PHAC does not recommend feeding raw pet food or treats (PHAC, September 27 2024). The CVMA position of October 16 2023 says the evidence of risk to pets and people outweighs the purported benefits (CVMA).
• Freezing and freeze-drying do not destroy all pathogens, Merck states (U.S.). PHAC says outbreaks in the past 20 years have also been linked to kibble, so wash your hands after handling any dog food (PHAC).
• We found no dated Canadian price source for each food type for a 20 kg dog. This guide compares the types without prices and shows you how to work out cost per day yourself.
• Ask your vet before you change your dog’s food type, and before you feed a home-prepared diet.

Who checks pet food in Canada

CFIA’s page on oversight of pet food, treats and chews (modified December 13 2022) says: “Pet food is not a comprehensively regulated commodity in Canada compared to food for human consumption or livestock feeds.” CFIA’s oversight is limited to the import and export rules for animal products and by-products. The page lists other bodies that may be involved depending on an ingredient or product: Environment and Climate Change Canada (new substances), Health Canada (pesticides, veterinary drugs and veterinary health products) and the Competition Bureau (pet food labelling). The Competition Bureau’s 2001 labelling guide adds that Health Canada administers legislation prohibiting unsubstantiated health claims in pet food labelling and advertising.

The Competition Bureau’s Guide for the Labelling and Advertising of Pet Foods (September 21 2001, page modified January 19 2022) says it is “not law”. It sets best practice for labels and advertising, and the Bureau treats it as a benchmark when it looks at false or misleading claims. The guide lists three label items as mandatory under the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act: the common name, the net quantity in metric units and the dealer name and address. The Act also bars false or misleading representations on the label. Our label-reading guide walks through the rest.

The Pet Food Association of Canada (PFAC), an industry body, says on its Learn About Pet Food page (modified January 7 2026) that pet food “is not regulated in the same way in Canada as it is in other countries” and that its members “generally follow the AAFCO guidelines” when they create recipes. AAFCO is the U.S. Association of American Feed Control Officials. PFAC also says CFIA inspects pet food facilities regularly to ensure they meet regulatory and export requirements. The CVMA’s 2023 position statement explains the split: CFIA “does not regulate the manufacture of pet food, including RMB pet food products, for domestic sale in Canada”, and it provides inspection and certification services for pet foods made in Canada for export. Our reading: the inspections PFAC describes relate to export, not to food made for sale in Canada.

PHAC’s pet food and treats page and its 2025 outbreak notice make the same point from the public health side: “pet food products aren’t subject to the same regulations as food intended for humans.” The practical result is that the label, the company’s answers to your questions and your vet’s advice carry more weight than any government stamp.

Dry, wet, fresh, raw and freeze-dried: side by side

The table uses only what Canadian public health bodies, the CVMA and the Merck Veterinary Manual (U.S.) state. Where we found no source, the cell says so. Read the maximum moisture on the “guaranteed analysis” of any product you are considering.

Type	Moisture	Storage and handling	Safety notes from the sources
Dry (kibble)	10% water and 90% dry matter (Merck, U.S.)	Store according to the package guidelines, in a dry area away from human food (PHAC).	PHAC lists kibble among the products linked to outbreaks in the past 20 years. Wash your hands after handling any dog food.
Wet (canned)	68% to 78% water (Merck, U.S.)	Store according to the package guidelines (PHAC).	Compare protein and fat on a dry-matter basis, not as fed. Wash bowls and utensils separately from your own (PHAC).
Fresh, cooked	We found no source for a typical figure. Read the label.	Store according to the package guidelines (PHAC).	PHAC contrasts raw-fed animals with animals fed only kibble or cooked food, which are less likely to spread germs in their stool. Check that the label says cooked, and that it carries a nutritional adequacy statement if it is the whole diet.
Raw (frozen or fresh)	We found no source for a typical figure. Read the label.	PHAC: thaw on the bottom shelf of the fridge in a sealed container, thaw only what you need and do not refreeze leftovers. Quebec government: discard uneaten raw food 30 minutes after serving.	PHAC does not recommend raw pet food or treats. The CVMA says the risks to pets and people outweigh the purported benefits. Higher-risk people: adults over 65, pregnant people, children 5 and under, people with weakened immune systems (PHAC).
Freeze-dried	We found no source for a typical figure. Read the label.	Follow the package directions. PHAC advises checking whether a product is raw or cooked.	The CVMA counts freeze-dried raw products as raw meat-based products. Freezing and freeze-drying do not destroy all pathogens (Merck, U.S.).

Merck also lists semi-moist foods at 25% to 40% water. The CVMA position names freeze-dried, dehydrated, raw frozen and high-pressure pasteurized (HPP) products as forms of raw meat-based food and says HPP products “should not be considered to be pathogen-free” (CVMA).

What the type does to the numbers on the label

Water changes how a food looks on paper. The “guaranteed analysis” lists nutrients “as fed”, and Merck says comparisons across different food types “should be made on a dry-matter or caloric basis” (Merck). A canned food with a low protein percentage can hold more protein per unit of dry matter than a dry food with a higher percentage. Our label-reading guide shows the arithmetic step by step.

Merck makes a second point that applies to every type: a laboratory analysis “does not address the issue of bioavailability of nutrients”. The numbers on a label tell you how much of a nutrient the food contains, not how well your dog absorbs it. Your vet can tell you whether your dog is thriving on a food by checking body condition, coat, stool and energy.

Working out cost per day without a price list

Food prices change by product, store and province, and this guide names no brand or store. We looked for a dated Canadian source that prices each food type for a 20 kg dog and found none, so we publish no per-day figures. You can get your own number in four steps:

1. Convert the bag or case weight to grams (1 kg is 1,000 g).
2. Divide the price you pay by the grams in the package. That is your price per gram.
3. Read the feeding chart for your dog’s weight and note the grams per day. Treat the chart as a starting point and let your vet set the amount (WSAVA and our puppy feeding guide both say to adjust to body condition).
4. Multiply price per gram by grams per day. Repeat for each food you are comparing, using the same adequacy claim and a similar calorie level.

WSAVA (updated March 10 2021) notes that calorie information is required on pet food labels only in the U.S., so ask the company for calories per cup or per 100 g before you compare. For wider budget planning, see A realistic monthly budget for a dog in Canada.

Check the adequacy statement before the type

A food can be the whole diet only if the label says so. The Competition Bureau guide gives the wording a manufacturer may use when a food passes an animal feeding protocol or meets a nutrient profile, and it names the PFAC, the CVMA and AAFCO as North American bodies that run such programs (guide, section 5). It also sets two limits you can use at the shelf:

• A product that is “intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only” is not meant to be the sole source of nutrition.
• A product marked “Use only as directed by your veterinarian” is meant for use under veterinary supervision.

WSAVA adds that foods labelled for short-term, intermittent or complementary feeding should make up 10% or less of the diet unless a vet is supervising a therapeutic diet. AAFCO (U.S.) says the adequacy statement is almost always on the back or side of the package in small print, so read it before you treat any food as a complete diet.

Raw feeding: what Canadian public health and vets say

PHAC states: “The Public Health Agency of Canada does not recommend feeding raw pet food or treats to pets.” Its pet food and treats page (modified September 27 2024) says harmful germs such as Salmonella and E. coli have been found in commercially prepared raw pet food and treats, and that animals eating raw meat are more likely to spread germs in their stool. PHAC counts uncooked meat, bones, organs, eggs, unpasteurized dairy and dehydrated treats such as rawhide, pig ears and bully sticks as raw.

The CVMA’s position statement (October 16 2023) says there is “compelling evidence for health risks to pets fed raw meat-based (RMB) pet food products” and to the people who handle them. It adds that raw diets may or may not be nutritionally balanced, that non-AAFCO-designated diets should not be fed as primary diets, and that there are limited data showing a clinically relevant benefit over appropriate cooked diets. It asks vets to counsel owners who want to feed raw, and to record that conversation.

The Quebec government’s raw feeding safety guide (last updated May 26 2025) describes puppies in a litter fed raw food who were infected with a drug-resistant Salmonella strain and died, and says both healthy and sick animals can spread infection through saliva and stool. We found no Ontario public health unit page on raw pet food, so Ontario owners should read the federal and CVMA material.

In 2025, PHAC investigated an outbreak of Salmonella illnesses linked to dog food and treats; the recalled products were raw pet treats (PHAC notice, final update January 30 2026). It counted 37 laboratory-confirmed cases: 15 in Alberta, 18 in British Columbia, 3 in Ontario and 1 in the Northwest Territories. Some people became ill without handling the products, through contact with dogs that ate them or with contaminated surfaces. The outbreak strains were found in samples of the recalled treats.

If your household feeds raw anyway

Talk to your vet first. These steps come from PHAC and the Quebec government:

• Thaw only what you need, on the bottom shelf of the fridge in a sealed container, and do not refreeze leftovers.
• Use separate dishes and utensils for pet food and wash them apart from your own.
• Remove the bowl when your dog finishes, and throw out uneaten food (Quebec: 30 minutes after serving).
• Wash your hands with soap and water right after feeding, and after handling waste. Do not let your dog lick your face, mouth or open wounds.
• People over 65, pregnant people, children 5 and under and people with weakened immune systems should not handle raw pet food (PHAC).

Life stage and size

The Competition Bureau guide lists four life stages for adequacy statements: all life stages, gestation/lactation (pregnancy and nursing), growth and maintenance. It adds that evidence of meeting a more demanding stage allows a claim for a less demanding one. WSAVA says foods labelled for all life stages are formulated for reproduction and growth. In practice:

Dog	Look for on the label	Where to read more
Puppy	Growth, or all life stages. A maintenance-only claim does not cover growth, the more demanding stage (Competition Bureau guide, section 5.5).	What your puppy should eat, and how much
Large or giant-breed puppy	A growth diet labelled for large-size dogs. Our puppy guide covers the calcium reasoning and cites its sources.	Puppy feeding guide
Adult	Maintenance, or all life stages.	Your vet, at the annual exam
Pregnant or nursing	Gestation/lactation, or all life stages. Ask your vet before you change food.	Your vet
Senior	The Bureau guide has no senior life stage. Maintenance or all life stages are the labelled options; your vet may advise a change.	Senior dogs: signs of ageing and what to do

We found no Canadian source that sets food type by dog size, such as kibble shape for small breeds, so we state none. Size changes how much a dog eats and, for large and giant puppies, which growth diet fits. Both are questions for your vet.

Six steps to choose

1. Ask your vet about your dog’s weight, body condition, age and any health condition.
2. Find the nutritional adequacy statement and match the life stage to your dog.
3. Decide who lives in the house. If anyone is pregnant, over 65, 5 or under or has a weakened immune system, PHAC says they should not handle raw pet food.
4. Compare candidate foods on a dry-matter basis and on calories per cup or per 100 g.
5. Phone or email the company with the questions in the WSAVA guidelines: who formulates the diet, what quality control applies, and can they give a typical analysis. WSAVA says to be cautious about a company that cannot or will not answer.
6. Check recalls and safety alerts for the product, and re-check your dog’s weight at each vet visit.

Myth vs fact

Myth	Fact
Pet food in Canada is inspected like human food.	CFIA calls pet food “not a comprehensively regulated commodity”. PHAC says pet food products are not subject to the same regulations as food intended for people.
Freeze-dried raw food is safe because it is freeze-dried.	Freezing and freeze-drying do not destroy all pathogens (Merck, U.S.). The CVMA counts freeze-dried raw products as raw meat-based products.
Fresh or refrigerated food is complete by default.	Only a nutritional adequacy statement for your dog’s life stage says so. Check the back or side of the package.
Canned food has less protein than kibble.	Compared as fed, the numbers mislead. Merck says to compare across types on a dry-matter basis.
Raw is natural, so it is safer.	PHAC, the CVMA and the Quebec government all describe infection risks for dogs and the people who handle raw food.

Frequently asked questions

Can I mix dry and wet food?

Both types can carry a complete and balanced statement, and mixing is a decision about total calories and body condition. Ask your vet to set the daily amount for your dog, then split it between the foods.

Is home-cooked food a good option?

A home-prepared diet needs the same complete and balanced standard as a bagged food. The CVMA notes that raw diets “may or may not be balanced with all essential nutrients”, and the same caution applies to any home recipe. Ask your vet for a recipe designed for your dog before you start.

Do I need grain-free food?

Grain-free is a marketing term with no Canadian definition that we found. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S.) says report numbers alone do not establish a causal relationship, that more than 90% of products in the reports it analyzed were grain-free, and that the potential link is a complex scientific issue that may involve multiple factors (FDA, last dated update December 23 2022). Ask your vet whether your dog has any reason to avoid or choose a grain-free recipe.

Is it safe to handle kibble?

Yes with normal hygiene. PHAC lists kibble among the products tied to outbreaks in the past 20 years and tells owners to wash their hands with soap and water immediately after handling any type of dog food or treat.

Where is the full label guide?

See How to read a dog food label in Canada for the required items, the claims and the dry-matter arithmetic. It publishes with this guide.

Find a vet or a dog service near you

If you do not have a regular vet, use our Find a vet directory. For trainers, walkers, groomers and other dog services, see Dog services. A listing is not a recommendation, and PawTrace does not rate clinics or businesses. Ask your vet about your dog’s food, weight and any diet change before you buy.

This guide is in a series that publishes together. Next: How to read a dog food label in Canada and Chews and bones for dogs: how to choose safe ones.

Keep reading

• What your puppy should eat, and how much
• A realistic monthly budget for a dog in Canada
• Toxic foods and household hazards for dogs
• Senior dogs: signs of ageing and what to do
• Choosing a vet and what the first visit covers

Sources

All links were checked on October 23 2026. Sources marked (U.S.) are not Canadian.

• Canadian Food Inspection Agency: Regulatory oversight of pet food, treats and chews in Canada (modified December 13 2022)
• Competition Bureau Canada: Guide for the Labelling and Advertising of Pet Foods (September 21 2001; page modified January 19 2022)
• Pet Food Association of Canada: Learn About Pet Food (modified January 7 2026)
• Public Health Agency of Canada: Pet food and treats (modified September 27 2024)
• Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada: Raw pet food safety (modified September 27 2024)
• Public Health Agency of Canada: Public health notice, outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to dog food and treats (final update January 30 2026; page modified February 4 2026)
• Canadian Veterinary Medical Association: Position statement, Safety of Raw Meat-Based Pet Food Products (October 16 2023)
• Gouvernement du Quebec: Raw feeding safety guide (last update May 26 2025)
• Merck Veterinary Manual (U.S.): Dog and Cat Foods, professional version (full review November 2023, updated June 2025)
• WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee: Guidelines on Selecting Pet Foods (updated March 10 2021)
• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (U.S.): FDA investigation into a potential link between certain diets and canine dilated cardiomyopathy (last dated update December 23 2022)
• Government of Canada: Recalls and safety alerts

General information only. This guide is not veterinary advice. Ask your vet about your dog’s food. Written by the PawTrace Team.

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