bella wet dog food: pros and cons now.
Alright, let's talk about this Bella wet dog food journey I went on. It started 'cause my little dog, Pip, he's getting on a bit, you know? And he started being real fussy with his dry kibble. Some days he'd eat, some days he'd just sniff it and walk away. Made me worried, seeing him skip meals.

So, I was at the store, just looking at options. Lots of cans, bags, the usual stuff. Then I saw these little Bella trays. They stood out because they were, well, tiny. Pip's a small dog, maybe 10 pounds soaking wet, so those big cans always felt like a waste. I'd open one, use a bit, and the rest would sit in the fridge looking sad until I tossed it. Seemed like a waste of money and food.
The small size was the first thing that caught my eye. I figured, okay, one tray, one meal, maybe less fuss. I looked at the flavors – they had things like 'Porterhouse Steak flavor' and 'Chicken and Smoked Bacon'. Sounded fancier than my own dinner sometimes!
Trying it out
I grabbed a variety pack to start. Didn't want to commit to a whole case of one flavor if Pip decided he hated it. Got home, and at dinner time, I opened one of the chicken ones. Peeled back the foil lid. Honestly, it didn't smell bad? Like, not amazing, but not like that strong, nasty dog food smell some wet foods have. Looked like actual shredded stuff in gravy.
I put just a little bit, maybe half a tray, in his bowl next to his usual kibble. Didn't want to shock his system, you know? Well, Pip trotted over, gave it a sniff... and then he actually started eating the Bella stuff first! Licked the bowl clean where the wet food was, ignored the kibble for a bit. That was a good sign, I thought.
We kept doing this for a few days, mixing it in. He consistently went for the Bella part first. His appetite definitely picked up. He wasn't leaving food behind anymore, which was a relief.
- Pros I noticed:
- He seemed to really like the taste/texture.
- The portion size was genuinely convenient for a small dog. No leftovers getting crusty in the fridge.
- Easy to open and serve, just peel the top.
- Things I kept an eye on:
- His digestion. Didn't want any upset stomach issues. Thankfully, he seemed fine. No problems there.
- Cost. It's definitely more expensive per ounce than dry kibble, or even big cans. But less waste helps offset that a bit in my mind.
So, where are we now?
We've been using Bella for a few months now. Not every single meal, but usually once a day, mixed with a smaller amount of his kibble. He still gets excited for it. His energy seems good, coat looks fine, no complaints really. He definitely has his favorite flavors – anything with chicken seems to be a winner. Wasn't as keen on one of the fishy ones I tried once.
Overall, it worked out for us. Solved the picky eating problem without needing giant cans or dealing with nasty smells. If you've got a small, fussy dog, maybe give those little trays a look. It's not the cheapest route, for sure, but seeing Pip actually enjoy his meals again made it worth trying for me.