Wellness Complete Dog Food Review (2023): Prices, Quality, Nutrients

Here is our Wellness Complete dog food review.

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Your dog is not only an important part of your family but also a trusted companion. As such, it deserves the best, right? And what’s better than giving it the right nutrition? 

As a pet parent, your utmost desire is to live a long, happy, and healthy life with your furry companion. Through a proper diet, you can fulfill this desire. All you have to do is find your dog’s specific needs based on age, size, breed, and health status and find the right food that meets them as adequately as possible.

Sounds easy, right? Not really.  

Finding the best food for your dog is not a walk in the park. The numerous market options, untruthful marketing gimmicks, and conflicting information on the internet can make it hard for you to choose.

However, not all hope is lost. We are here to help. To make it easier for you, we dig deep into some of the popular dog food brands to give a review of their suitability for your dog. 

This article provides an in-depth analysis of Wellness Complete dog food, including ingredient analysis, nutritional profile, and some of their top recipes to help determine if this is right for your dog.

Wellness dog food is a pet food producer renowned for providing high-quality dog food. The brand uses whole food and natural ingredients in all its products and does not include fillers, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

Launched in 1997, Wellness dog food is owned by Wellpet LLC, owned by Berwind corporation, whose headquarters is in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. The brand has a wide range of products, including dry food, wet food, grain-free, and grain-inclusive formulas for dogs at different life stages.

Want to find out more?

Read on and decide if this dog food is the right fit for your dog.

About Wellness Dog Food

Wellness is a popular dog food brand that offers high-quality food that caters to dogs at different life stages. The brand was launched in 1997 and offers a wide range of products to meet the unique needs of individual dogs. The company takes pride in utilizing only premium ingredients in its products.

Who Owns Wellness dog food? 

Wellness dog food is a product of Wellpet LLC, owned by Berwind corporation, headquartered in Tewksbury, Massachusetts. This company was formed in 2008 after merging Old Mother Hubbard and Eagle Pack Pet Foods.

What are the Sub-brands of Wellness Dog Food? 

Wellness Complete Health

The Wellness Complete Health line offers foods that provide whole food nutrition with grain-free options. These foods combine high-quality proteins, fruits, and vegetables with healthy vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals to create well-balanced meals.

Wellness Core

This sub-brand offers protein-rich foods that are completely grain-free. The core recipes are designed based on the philosophy that dogs thrive on a meat-based diet according to their primal ancestry. The line features air-dried and freeze-dried formulas and kibbles as well. The foods under this sub-brand do not contain any soy, corn, or wheat. This product line is suitable for active pups that need enhanced protein levels for muscle maintenance.

Wellness Core RawRev

This sub-category under the Wellness Core sub-brand consists of frozen-dried pieces of raw meat mixed with high-protein kibble. These formulas aim to combine the benefits of a raw diet with the convenience of kibble.

Wellness Core Digestive Health 

This sub-rand consists of recipes aimed at improving dogs’ digestive system health. The formulas are crafted with easily digestible ingredients, including real meats and whole grains. Each recipe is enhanced with probiotics, digestive enzymes, and a unique prebiotic fiber blend to enhance digestion.

What is the Nutritional Profile of Wellness Dog Foods?

Before settling for any dog food, It’s important to evaluate its nutritional content. This will help you determine if it can adequately meet your dog’s needs. Looking at the ingredient list can give you helpful clues on the adequacy of the food.

Generally, carbohydrates, proteins, and fat are the most important dietary components that make up the nutritional profile of dog food. This is what the nutritional profile  of the Wellness dog food looks like:

1. Carbohydrate Value of Wellness Dog Food

Carbohydrates are necessary for supplying the energy to power dogs’ activities. They give the dogs the vitality they need to remain. Carbohydrates are metabolized in the body and converted into sugars. These sugars then translate into the calories that give dogs the vitality to keep going. Wellness dog food includes complex carbohydrate sources like sweet potatoes, legumes, or potatoes as its carbohydrate sources. The brand is considered to have a moderately high carbohydrate content of 48% on average.

2. Protein Value of Wellness Dog Food

Proteins not only help dogs in building and maintaining healthy muscles but also boost their performance. Proteins supply dogs’ amino acids to build, repair, and maintain healthy cells, tissues, ligaments, and muscles. With 29% protein content, this brand exceeds AAFCO’s minimum requirement. 

3. Fat Value of Wellness Dog Food

Fats are not only essential for keeping your dog’s skin and coat healthy and supple but also helpful in lowering cholesterol levels, minimizing inflammations, building stronger cell membranes, and improving brain health. The average fat level in Wellness dog food is about 15%. The main sources of fats for this brand are salmon and chicken oil.

What are the Best Wellness Recipes and Flavors? 

Wellness dog food offers a wide range of recipes in different flavors for dogs of different sizes, ages, and life stages. It also has breed-specific formulas that address specific health concerns. These are the recipes that the Wellness brand offers:

Dry food

This food contains a low moisture content, usually up to 11%. Also referred to as kibble, this kind of food can help improve dogs’ dental health due to its rough texture. It encourages chewing, which helps prevent tartar buildup and prevents oral problems like periodontal disease.

Wellness dog food offers various recipes for dry food, including this Wellness Complete Health Adult Deboned Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe Dry Dog Food formula.

Wet Food

Wet food is suitable for dogs with digestive problems or no appetite. This type of food has a high water content of up to 85% making it easy to digest. It’s also highly flavorful, which can be useful in tricking picky dogs into eating. However, wet food has a short shelf life and thus requires refrigeration. 

Wellness also has several wet food formulas for dogs of different life stages and sizes. This Wellness Complete Health Chicken & Sweet Potato Formula Canned Dog Food is one of the top wet foods for this brand.

Grain-free

Grain-free foods are formulated without common grains like corn, soy, wheat, or rice. These grains are considered top food allergens in dogs. This kind of food is ideal for dogs that have grain sensitivities. Wellness core food line offers the brands grain-free options. This offers various grain-free formulas that cater to dogs of different sizes, ages, and breeds. One such recipe is the Wellness CORE Ocean Whitefish, Herring & Salmon Recipe Dry Dog Food.  

Puppy

The right food is vital for a puppy’s growth and development. Puppies have unique dietary needs and thus require nutrition tailored to meet their needs. Recognizing this, Wellness offers several specialized recipes for puppies. These formulas are formulated with the proper nutrition for growing pups. The Wellness Complete Health Puppy Deboned Chicken, Oatmeal & Salmon Meal Recipe Dry Dog Food is one of the top puppy formulas.

Adult

Adult dogs need a diet with the right proteins and carbohydrates to support their active lifestyles. Dogs are most active during adulthood; thus, proper nutrition is crucial in supporting optimal performance. Wellness has recipes specially dedicated to adult dogs, such as this Wellness Small Breed Complete Health Adult Turkey & Oatmeal Recipe Dry Dog Food.

Senior

Senior dogs have unique dietary needs that must be met via the right nutrition. As they advance in age, dogs undergo many changes. As such, they need to switch to an age-appropriate diet tailored to meet their needs. Senior dog food should contain supplements like chondroitin and glucosamine to support joint health. Wellness, with this in thought, formulates recipes for senior dogs. This Wellness CORE Grain-Free Senior Deboned Turkey Recipe Dry Dog Food is one such recipe.

Treats 

Treats are excellent as rewards for good behavior while training dogs. Wellness offers several treats for dogs at all life stages. These can be used as food toppers or on their own. This is among the best treats that Wellness offers.

What Makes Wellness Complete Dog Food Unique?

These are some of the things that differentiate Wellness complete dog food from other brands:

• Quality of ingredients: Wellness uses high-quality natural and wholesome ingredients in all its formulations. All the recipes start with real meat as the first ingredient and do not include fillers like soy, wheat, corn, or artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. It also avoids including any meat by-products.
• Wide variety: Wellness complete dog food offers various recipes and formulas for dogs at all life stages. It has foods for puppies, adults, and senior dogs and breed-specific meals covering toy, small, and large breed dogs.
• Adherence to AAFCO standards: Wellness crafts all its recipes in adherence to all safety and quality guidelines as set by AAFCO. This shows the brand’s commitment to ensuring the quality of its food.
• Nutritionally complete and balanced nutrition: Healthy dog food is formulated with all the necessary nutrients to thrive. All meals start with real animal meat, protein, vitamins, and minerals for completely balanced dog nutrition.
• Delicious and tasty: Many dog owners report that Wellness Complete dog food is highly flavorful and nutritious.  This appeals even to the pickiest dogs.

What are the Individual Dog Food Recipes from Wellness Dog Food Brand?

The following are some of the top dog food recipes from the Wellness dog food brand:

Wellness Complete Health Adult Lamb & Barley Recipe Dry Dog Food

Give your canine companion exactly what its body needs and what its taste buds yearn for with this lamb and barley recipe. This formula combines natural premium proteins with wholesome grains to support whole body wellbeing to deliver a balanced diet with all the nutrients your dog needs.

This food is fortified with antioxidants, probiotics, omega fatty acids, taurine, and glucosamine for optimal nutrition. Better still, the formula is 100% natural and free from fillers, by-products, GMOs, and artificial preservatives.

• First 5 Ingredients: Lamb, Lamb Meal, Oatmeal, Ground Barley, Menhaden Fish Meal.
• Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 24% min, Crude Fat 12% min, Crude Fiber 4% Max.
• Calories: 417 kcal/cup 
• Suitable for which dogs: Adult dogs of all breeds 
• Feeding: Appropriate feeding amounts differ depending on the dog’s weight, health status, and activity level. 
• Key Benefit: Completely balanced nutrition designed to support optimal health and whole body wellness.
• Type of product: Dry food Non-GMO  food with grains, No, Corn, No soy
• Life stage: Adult 
• Best for: Overall health and wellbeing of dogs
• Price: $55.98 for a 30-lb bag 

Benefits 

• Made with 100% natural and wholesome ingredients to deliver optimal nutrition for dogs
• Has so soy, corn, artificial colors, or preservatives, making it excellent for sensitive tummies
• Contains premium proteins from lamb and lamb meal to help build lean muscles
• Fortified with antioxidants, probiotics, and omega fatty acids to support a strong immune system, improve digestion, and enhance skin and coat health.
• Completely balanced food with added vitamins and minerals to support optimal health.

Wellness Complete Health Adult Whitefish & Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food

Formulated to provide whole-body nutritional support, this food includes natural, premium proteins and wholesome grains to deliver a balanced diet with all your dog needs to thrive. This limited ingredients diet features a single fish protein source making it a good choice for dogs with sensitive stomachs and food allergies.

What’s more, the food is enriched with easily digestible carbohydrates in the form of sweet potatoes for a healthy dose of an energy boost. It’s also rich in antioxidants to improve your dog’s immune health.

• First 5 Ingredients: Whitefish, Ground Barley, Peas,  Menhaden Fish Meal, and Oatmeal
• Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 22% min, Crude Fat 12% min, Crude Fiber 4.5% Max.
• Calories: 435 kcal/cup 
•  Suitable for which dogs: Adult dogs of all breeds 
•  Feeding: Appropriate feeding amounts differ depending on the dog’s weight, health status, and activity level. 
• Key Benefit: Healthy and balanced food is designed to promote a strong immune system, boost energy levels, and improve skin health. 
• Type of product: Dry food with grains, No, Corn, No soy, no wheat
• Life stage: Adult 
• Best for: Sensitivities and food allergies.
• Price: $55.98 for a 30-lb bag 

Benefits

• A limited ingredient diet containing a single protein source from fish thus great for dogs with sensitivities
• Packed with antioxidants to foster a healthy immune system
• An omega-rich recipe that helps to maintain healthy skin and lustrous coat naturally.
• Completely balanced with all essential nutrients, including minerals and vitamins, to support whole body health.
• Contains easily digestible carbs to help boost energy.

Wellness Complete Health Senior Deboned Chicken & Barley Recipe Dry Dog Food

Crafted with the needs of senior dogs, this recipe is made with carefully selected ingredients, including premium proteins and wholesome grains for the healthy and balanced nutrition your dog craves.

The formula features high-quality protein from deboned chicken and chicken meals to help build healthy muscles. Additionally, it’s designed with fewer calories plus healthy amounts of fiber to foster healthy digestion in your aging dog.

• First 5 Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal,  Oatmeal, Ground Barley, Menhaden Fish Meal.
• Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 22% min, Crude Fat 10% min, Crude Fiber 4.25% Max.
• Calories: 416 kcal/cup 
• Suitable for which dogs: Senior dogs of all breeds
• Feeding: Appropriate feeding amounts differ depending on the dog’s weight, health status, and activity level. 
• Key Benefit: Specially designed nutrition that caters to the needs of aging dogs
• Type of product: Dry food Non-GMO  food with grains, No, Corn, No soy
• Life stage: Senior
• Best for: Weight control
• Price: $55.98 for a 30-lb bag 

Benefits

• Formulated with fewer calories to help your dog maintain a healthy weight
• Features high-quality chicken and chicken meal as the key ingredients to aid in building strong muscles
• Improves digestion with wholesome ingredients and natural fiber
• Added glucosamine and chondroitin to support joint and hip health
• No by-products, fillers, soy, corn, or artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives.

Wellness Complete Health Adult Deboned Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe Dry Dog Food

This meal is made with human-grade deboned chicken, fresh fruits, vegetables, healthy grains, vitamins, and minerals for a balanced dog diet. The meal contains an optimal balance of nutrient-rich whole foods to fulfill your dog’s needs and provide whole-body nutritional support to promote complete health.

Additionally, ideal amounts of omega 3&6 fatty acids are included to maintain a stunning appearance and a lustrous coat.  Crafted without corn, by-products, soy, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, this food is easy on your pup’s system.

• First 5 Ingredients: Deboned chicken, Chicken Meal,  Oatmeal, Ground Barley, Peas. 
• Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 24% min, Crude Fat 12% min, Crude Fiber 4% Max.
• Calories: 434 kcal/cup 
• Suitable for which dogs: Adult dogs of all breeds 
• Feeding: Appropriate feeding amounts differ depending on the dog’s weight, health status, and activity level. 
• Key Benefit: Completely balanced nutrition designed to support a strong immune system, optimal energy levels, and whole body wellness.
• Type of product: Dry food Non-GMO  food with grains, No, Corn, No soy
• Life stage: Adult 
• Best for: Boosting immune health, energy levels, and skin condition.
• Price: $55.98 for a 30-lb bag 

Benefits

• Made with high-quality proteins and wholesome grains to deliver a balanced meal that your dog needs to thrive
• Added antioxidant-rich ingredients to support healthy immune systems
• Fortified with omega fatty acids to foster healthy skin and a shiny coat
• Includes glucosamine, taurine, and probiotics to promote joint, heart, and digestive system health.
• Features high-quality chicken for proteins to help build lean muscles.

Wellness Complete Health Chicken & Sweet Potato Formula Canned Dog Food

This is a natural, protein-rich food with high-quality chicken as the first ingredient, plus sweet potatoes for easily digestible food with all the nutrients your dog needs to stay active. It’s also fortified with biotin, omega fatty acids, glucosamine, probiotics, taurine, minerals, and vitamins to offer nutritional support for the whole body.

Further, the ingredients in this recipe are expertly balanced to deliver not only a tasty but also a balanced diet containing all the nutrients that dogs need for a happy, healthy, and long life. Better still, it’s designed without meat by-products, fillers, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

•  First 5 Ingredients: Chicken, Chicken Broth, Chicken Liver, Whitefish, Ground Barley.
• Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 8% min, Crude Fat 5% min, Crude Fiber 1% Max.
• Calories: 393kcal/can
• Suitable for which dogs: Adult dogs of all breeds 
• Feeding: Appropriate feeding amounts differ depending on the dog’s weight, health status, and activity level. 
• Key Benefit: Easily digestible food designed to support optimal health and whole body wellness in sensitive dogs
• Type of product: Wet food, No, Corn, No soy
• Life stage: Adult 
• Best for: Sensitive digestion
• Price: $44.16 for a 12.5-lb bag 

Benefits

• Crafted with high-quality chicken, chicken broth, and chicken liver as the primary source of proteins for strong, healthy muscles and tissues
• Includes easily digestible carbohydrates for a rich source of energy that keeps your dog active
• Has no by-products, fillers, or artificial preservatives; hence easy on a dog’s digestion.
• Added omega fats and biotin to enhance the skin and coat health of your furry pal
•  Fortified with antioxidants, probiotics, chondroitin, and glucosamine to support the immune system, digestive system, and joint health

Wellness Puppy Dog Food Recipe

Crafted with an optimal balance of nutrient-rich whole foods, this recipe is specially tailored to meet the unique needs of growing puppies. The formula is made using only premium and natural ingredients plus superfoods, delivering a balanced diet for your growing buddy.

This food is supported by omega fatty acids, probiotics, glucosamine, and essential minerals and vitamins to promote whole body wellness. This recipe is perfect for dogs with sensitive stomachs without added by-products, fillers, or artificial preservatives.

• First 5 Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Ground Barley, and Peas.
• Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 29% min, Crude Fat 18% min, Crude Fiber 4.5% Max.
• Calories: 450 kcal/cup 
• Suitable for which dogs: Puppies of all breeds: Small, medium, and large breeds 
• Feeding: Appropriate feeding amounts differ depending on the dog’s weight, health status, and activity level. 
• Key Benefit: Completely balanced nutrition specially tailored to fulfill the needs of puppies
• Type of product: Dry food Non-GMO  food with grains, No, Corn, No soy
• Life stage: Puppies
• Best for: Promoting brain, eye, skin, and coat health
• Price: $51.98 for a 30-lb bag 

Benefits

• Contains added DHA for healthy brain and eye development
• Made with quality proteins from chicken and salmon to help build healthy muscles and tissues
• Supported by probiotics, antioxidants, and glucosamine to enhance proper digestion, improve immunity, and boost joint health
• Offers a completely balanced diet with wholesome grains, essential vitamins, and minerals to support overall body health
• Has no wheat, corn, soy, meat by-products, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, thus great for sensitive tummies. 

Wellness Small Breed Adult Turkey and Oatmeal Dog Food

Wondering what to give your small but very active furry buddy to keep it at its best? This turkey and oatmeal recipe may be all it needs. Crafted with 3 protein sources, turkey, chicken meal, and salmon meal, this food will supply your small dog with all the energy it needs to fuel its activities. The upped protein levels will help build and maintain lean muscles.

Better still, this recipe is enriched with healthy grains such as oatmeal and barley and antioxidant-rich blueberries, presenting a balanced meal for optimal nutrition. 

•  First 5 Ingredients: Deboned Turkey, Chicken Meal, Salmon Meal, Oatmeal, Ground Brown Rice.
• Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 28% min, Crude Fat 15% min, Crude Fiber 4% Max.
• Calories: 408 kcal/cup 
• Suitable for which dogs: Small breed dogs
• Feeding: Appropriate feeding amounts differ depending on the dog’s weight, health status, and activity level. 
• Key Benefit: High protein, high-energy dog food specially tailored to cater to the needs of small breed dogs.
• Type of product: Dry food Non-GMO  food with grains, No, Corn, No soy
• Life stage: Adult 
• Best for: Active small breed adult dogs
• Price: $30.30for a 12-lb bag 

Benefits

• Includes taurine for improved heart health and glucosamine to support healthy joints
• Packed with antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables, keep the immune system healthy and fight off free radicals that cause oxidative cell damage.
• Formulated with triple protein sources to help build strong muscles and for high energy amounts to sustain your dog’s activity. 
• Loaded with omega fats from flaxseed and salmon oil to keep your mutt’s skin and coat healthy.

Wellness Small Breed Senior Dog Food Recipe

Made with the needs of aging small dogs, this recipe includes carefully chosen natural ingredients for wholesome nutrition and comes in small-sized kibbles perfect for small mouths. The food features premium protein sources from deboned turkey and wholesome grains, providing a delicious and balanced meal for dogs.

The small breed senior dog recipe is designed to support a strong immune system, healthy skin, shiny coat, and optimal energy levels with properly balanced ingredients.

• First 5 Ingredients: Deboned Turkey, Chicken Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Peas, and Rice.  
• Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 25% min, Crude Fat 12% min, Crude Fiber 5% Max.
• Calories: 435 kcal/cup 
• Suitable for which dogs: Small breed senior dogs 
• Feeding: Appropriate feeding amounts differ depending on the dog’s weight, health status, and activity level. 
• Key Benefit: Completely balanced nutrition designed in small kibbles and tailored for senior dogs of small breed
• Type of product: Dry food, No Corn, No soy, No Wheat, With grains
• Life stage: Senior
• Best for: Weight management 
• Price: $15.98 for a 4-lb bag 

Benefits

• Supports healthy immune systems and combats free radicals with antioxidant-rich ingredients
• Crafted in small-sized kibble perfect for small dogs
• Contains ideal amounts of calories to help in weight management
• Enriched with omega fatty acids, glucosamine, taurine, and chondroitin to support healthy skin and coat, improve joint and hip health, and promote proper heart functioning.

Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Puppy Deboned Chicken, Brown Rice & Salmon Meal Recipe Dry Dog Food

Given their faster growth rates and longer growth cycles, large dogs undoubtedly have unique nutritional needs. This is why this recipe is specifically tailored to address the unique needs of large breed puppies. 

The food is crafted with precise calcium and phosphorus level to help these dogs build strong and healthy bones. In summary, this large breed puppy recipe aims to support large breed dogs’ unique needs using nutrient-rich whole ingredients.

• First 5 Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas, Ground Brown Rice, and Salmon Meal
• Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 29% min, Crude Fat 13% min, Crude Fiber 5% Max.
• Calories: 367 kcal/cup 
• Suitable for which dogs: Large breed puppies
• Feeding: Appropriate feeding amounts differ depending on the dog’s weight, health status, and activity level. 
• Key Benefit: Nutritionally complete meal designed to support strong bones and teeth, healthy brain development, and optimal overall health
• Type of product: Dry food Non-GMO  food with grains, No, Corn, No soy
• Life stage: Puppy
• Best for: Bone and teeth strength
• Price: $53.58 for a 30-lb bag 

Benefits

• Contains ideal calcium and phosphorus levels to support strong bones and teeth
• Added with glucosamine and chondroitin to support healthy joints
• No fillers, corn, soy, wheat, artificial color,s, and preservatives, making it suitable for sensitive tummies
• Fortified with DHA for healthy brain development
• Complete and balanced nutrition made with natural, wholesome ingredients for optimal nutrition
• A protein-rich diet with regulated calories to support healthy muscle development and aid in weight control.

Wellness Large Breed Adult Dog Food Recipe 

This recipe provides an optimal balance of nutrient-rich whole foods for everyday health with carefully chosen, authentic ingredients. The food is formulated to fulfill the unique needs of large breed dogs by providing whole-body nutritional support to promote complete health.

This large-sized kibble features delicious deboned chicken as the first ingredient to help your dog build strong muscles.  The formula contains only premium, all natural ingredients with no wheat, corn, soy, or artificial ingredients like colors, flavors, and preservatives.

• First 5 Ingredients: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Ground Brown Rice, Barley, and Peas
• Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 26% min, Crude Fat 12% min, Crude Fiber 5% Max.
• Calories: 340 kcal/cup 
• Suitable for which dogs: Large breed dogs
• Feeding: Appropriate feeding amounts differ depending on the dog’s weight, health status, and activity level. 
• Key Benefit: Balanced natural nutrition tailored for large breed dogs to promote healthy body mass, optimal nutrient absorption, and overall health and vitality
• Type of product: Dry food Non-GMO  food with grains, No, Corn, No soy
• Life stage: Adult 
• Best for: Overall health and wellbeing of large breed dogs
• Price: $55.98 for a 30-lb bag 

Benefits

• 100% complete and balanced nutrition for large breed dogs to support overall health and vitality
• Added chondroitin and glucosamine for healthy joints and hips
• Made with deboned chicken as the first ingredient for premium sources of easily digestible proteins to support lean muscle mass.
• Contains only natural, wholesome ingredients with no fillers, soy, corn, wheat, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.

Wellness Toy Breed Adult Dog Food Recipe

Toy breeds have higher energy needs and differ from large breeds in terms of metabolic rates, bite-size, and calorie needs. As such, they require a diet formulated to fulfill their unique needs. And this is what the Wellness toy breed adult dog food recipe offers.

This food is crafted with the right balance of proteins, fats, and calories to adequately cater to the energy needs of your little dog. What’s more, it comes in small-sized kibbles perfect for tiny mouths, plus a crunchy texture to help prevent tartar build-up.

•  First 5 Ingredients: Deboned chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Ground Brown Rice, and Rice.
• Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 30% min, Crude Fat 17% min, Crude Fiber 3.5% Max.
• Calories: 465kcal/cup 
• Suitable for which dogs: Toy breeds
• Feeding: Appropriate feeding amounts differ depending on the dog’s weight, health status, and activity level. 
• Key Benefit: Formulated with higher protein and fat levels to cater to the high energy needs of toy breed dogs
• Type of product: Dry food with grains, No, Corn, No soy, High protein
• Life stage: Adult 
• Best for: high-energy dogs, improving oral health
• Price: $15.98 for a 4-lb bag 

Benefits

• Crafted in small kibbles suitable for minute mouths
• Contains higher amounts of proteins to fulfill the high energy needs of toy breeds
• Comes in a crunchy texture to curb tartar build-up and improve oral health
• Added omega fatty acids to support healthy skin and shiny coat
• Supported with antioxidants, probiotics, glucosamine, and taurine to promote immune system health, digestive health, joint and hip health, and heart health.

Wellness Small Breed Puppy Dog Food Recipe

This recipe is designed to support the unique needs of small breed puppies using nutrient-dense, high-quality ingredients. Petite dogs need help to build and maintain healthy muscle mass. That’s why this wellness recipe only incorporates premium proteins like turkey, chicken meal, and menhaden fish meal to meet this need.

Since small dogs naturally consume less food, they must obtain the optimal nourishment they require from the food they eat. This recipe guarantees optimal nutrient absorption resulting in less nutritional waste and more nutrients.

• First 5 Ingredients: Deboned Turkey, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Salmon Meal, and Barley.
• Guaranteed Analysis: Crude Protein 28% min, Crude Fat 19% min, Crude Fiber 4.25% Max.
• Calories: 489 kcal/cup 
• Suitable for which dogs: Extra small dogs, toy breeds 
• Feeding: Appropriate feeding amounts differ depending on the dog’s weight, health status, and activity level. 
• Key Benefit: Completely balanced nutrition with small kibbles tailored for extra small and toy breed dogs
• Type of product: Dry food with grains, No, Corn, No soy
• Life stage: Puppy
• Best for: Overall health and wellbeing of toy breed dogs
• Price: $15.98 for a 4-lb bag 

Benefits

• Features premium quality proteins from deboned turkey, chicken meal, and menhaden fish meal to help maintain lean muscle mass in dogs.
• Enriched with DHA to support healthy brain development
• Contains omega fatty acids, antioxidants, and probiotics to promote skin, coat, immune system, and digestive system health
• Has added glucosamine and chondroitin to support healthy joints and hips

Customer Reviews 

While Wellness dog food has many positive reviews, it has its share of negative reviews, just like other big brands. Check out what some customers had to say about this dog food.

Positive 

‘’I have a 9-year-old Golden Retriever. Last year a tried another top-quality brand of dog food that was less expensive than Wellness. It had a slightly lower protein content, but it didn’t have any potentially harmful fillers. Then I accidentally reordered Wellness because its price was comparable to the other brand. I noticed that her stools began to look “better” and were consistent. I hadn’t paid attention to that before, but it was noticeable. I decided to stick with this brand despite its higher price. Her body seems to take to it better, and a healthy dog is a happy owner’’.

customer review

Negative

‘’After researching large breed puppy foods, I decided this wellness product had the best overall reviews. I ordered 3 bags, but my puppy won’t touch it. He was losing so much weight, I had to abandon this food’’.

Customer review. 

Wellness Dog Food Recalls 

Wellness has put strict policies on its production and ingredient handling processes to ensure the safety of its products. However, despite its efforts, wellness has had 3 recalls in the past as follows:

In May 2012, the brand recalled all the batches of its large breed puppy food due to suspected salmonella contamination. At the time, the food was manufactured at the Diamond Pet food plant.

The second recall was in October 2012, when the company voluntarily recalled its small breed adult health dog food due to high moisture levels in the food.

The last recall was in March 2017 due to elevated levels of beef thyroid hormones in one of its canned dog food toppers. Since then, the brand has had no further recalls, which shows its commitment to maintaining its products’ quality and safety.

Wellness Legal Issue 

Wellness faced legal issues involving its use of the term ‘human grade’ to describe its dog food. According to AAFCO, this term is not an appropriate standard in dog food recipes. This is because dog food products are unlikely to be nutritionally adequate for human consumption regardless of their being edible. The brand won the case but has since refrained from using the term.

What is the quality of ingredients in Wellness Dog Food? 

Wellness is renowned for using premium quality ingredients in all its products. The brand includes natural, non-GMO ingredients, including real animal meats, wholesome grains, fruits, and vegetables. The brand does not include by-products, artificial colors, preservatives, flavors, or fillers like corn, soy, or wheat.

Do Wellness Dog Food Products include Chicken? 

Yes, most Wellness dog food products contain chicken or chicken products as part of the ingredient list. The brand uses real chicken and chicken meals as sources of lean proteins to help build healthy muscles. Although chicken is a good source of easily digestible proteins, it’s also a major cause of allergies in dogs.

Are Wellness Dog Foods produced from slaughterhouse waste? 

Slaughterhouse waste consists of leftover animal parts after all meat has been removed. These may include hooves, beaks, horns, and skins, among other undesirable parts considered substandard in terms of quality. Wellness does not include slaughterhouse waste but only uses high-quality ingredients in all its products.

Discussion of Most Important Ingredients – Good and Bad 

Some of the good ingredients in Wellness dog food include:

• Chicken and Chicken Meal: Wellness includes real deboned chicken and chicken meals in many recipes for a good source of easily digestible proteins. Chicken meal provides more concentrated proteins that help build and maintain healthy muscle mass.
• Turkey and Turkey meal: Turkey is among the most prevalent animal protein sources in Wellness dog food. Just like chicken, turkey is a good source of easily digestible proteins. However, turkey is lower in fat and calories than chicken. Turkey meal is made from dehydrated turkey for a concentrated protein source.
• Lamb: Some limited ingredient recipes in Wellness dog food include lamb for easily digestible proteins excellent for dogs with poultry allergies. 
• Ground flaxseed: This is not only a good source of soluble fiber that keeps the digestive system flowing smoothly but is also high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for healthy skin.
• Tomato pomace: This is a good source of fiber, vitamins, and other minerals that promote overall health
• Legumes: Wellness includes legumes such as peas, lentils, and chickpeas for extra plant proteins, vitamins, and minerals.
• Fruits and vegetables: The brand also includes fruits like blueberries and apples plus vegetables such as kales, broccoli, carrots, and spinach as good sources of antioxidants that boost immunity and combat free radicals.
• Supplements: Wellness adds supplements like glucosamine, chondroitin, and taurine in its recipes to promote joint and hip health as well as for a healthy heart.
• Salmon Oil: Fish oils are excellent sources of omega 3& 6 fatty acids that dogs need for skin, coat, brain, and cardiovascular health.

Controversial ingredients 

Besides the many good ingredients, Wellness also includes some not-so-good ingredients, such as: 

• A natural chicken flavor that has no nutritional value rather than adding flavor to dog food
• Sodium selenite which can be toxic in large amounts
• Copper sulfate which is an irritant 
• Potatoes, which are good sources of carbs, are also high in calories and can lead to unhealthy weight gain in a large amount.

Wellness Complete Dog food Advantages: What We Like About It.

• Nutritionally complete and balanced: Wellness-complete dog food is formulated with all the necessary nutrients that dogs require for optimal health. It includes the appropriate amounts of proteins, vitamins, minerals, fruits, and vegetables, providing balanced nutrition for dogs. 
• Wide variety: With Wellness complete dog food, you will surely find a product that suits your dog’s specific needs. It offers numerous dog recipes for different life stages, breeds, sizes, and health conditions.
• Availability: Wellness complete dog food is available in local pet food stores near you. It is sold in various online stores and distributors like Chewy, Amazon, Walmart, Petsmart, and Petco.
• High-quality ingredients: This dog food brand prides itself on using high-quality, fresh, natural, and human-grade ingredients in all its recipes. Real meat protein from fish, turkey, or chicken is the primary ingredient in all their recipes.
• No fillers: All Wellness Complete dog food recipes are crafted without including soy, corn, wheat, meat by-products, artificial flavors, and preservatives which are all low in nutritional value and thus considered fillers.
• Adherence to AAFCO standards: All recipes under the Wellness complete dog food brand are formulated to meet or exceed the minimum nutritional requirements and safety standards set by AAFCO.
• Tasty nutrition: Wellness dog food comes with a delectable taste that makes it appealing to most dogs.
• Excellent customer service: This brand has a dedicated customer service desk readily available to answer all queries and solve any issues regarding their products.

Wellness Complete Dog Food Disadvantages: What We Don’t Like About It

• It’s costly: Wellness complete food is an expensive option. However, this is expected given the high quality of ingredients it includes.
• It includes some controversial ingredients. While this brand uses premium ingredients, it also incorporates not-so-good ones like sodium selenite and copper sulfate.
• Past recalls: The brand has had some recalls on some of its products, which negatively impacts the company’s reputation.

Is Wellness good food dog brand? 

Yes, Wellness is a good food brand as it uses only high-quality, natural ingredients in its products. Real protein is the primary ingredient in Wellness. It does not include by-products, fillers, artificial ingredients, or common food allergens like soy, wheat, or corn.

Is Wellness Dog Food good for dog skin? 

Yes, Wellness dog food is good for the skin as it includes omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, which are essential for the good health of a dog’s skin. The brand uses sources such as salmon oil and ground flaxseed for omega-fatty acids.

Is Wellness Dog Food good for itchy skin? 

Yes, Wellness avoids common food allergens like soy, wheat, and corn which contribute largely to skin issues such as itchy skin. The brand also uses healthy fats such as salmon oil and chicken oil in its food. This makes it a good choice for dogs with itchy skin. 

Is Wellness Dog food good for puppies? 

Yes, Wellness dog food is good for puppies. The brand offers many puppy-specific recipes designed to cater to the needs of puppies of different sizes and breeds. It also lacks artificial flavors and preservatives that may harm a puppy’s delicate system.

Is Wellness Dog food good for older dogs? 

Yes, with its various formulas targeted at older dogs of all breeds, Wellness is good for old dogs. These recipes are specifically formulated to meet the unique nutritional needs of aging dogs. 

Is Wellness Dog Food healthy for dog growth? 

Yes, Wellness dog food is healthy for a dog’s growth as it’s formulated with the right amounts of all the necessary nutrients that dogs need for optimal growth. The food is balanced with sufficient proteins, vitamins, and minerals.

Is Wellness Dog Food expensive? 

Yes, Wellness is an expensive dog food option and thus may be unaffordable to some dog owners. However, the price is worth it, given the high-quality ingredients used in making it. The food contains no fillers or artificial ingredients whatsoever.

Is Wellness Dog Food AAFCO approved? 

Yes, all recipes from Wellness dog food are formulated to meet or exceed all AAFCO standards. It adheres to all nutritional and safety requirements set by AAFCO. This shows the brand’s commitment to providing quality dog food.

Is Wellness Dog Food grain free? 

While most Wellness dog food recipes include whole grains such as oatmeal, the brand offers some grain-free options. Thus Wellness offers both grain-inclusive and grain-free dog food options.

Is Wellness Dog Food high energy for dog food?

Yes, Wellness uses a blend of multiple animal proteins plus wholesome sources of carbohydrates in some of its formulas to cater to the needs of high-energy dogs.

Is Wellness Dog food produced in the USA?

Yes, a manufacturing plant based in Mishawaka, Indiana, USA, produces wellness dog food in the USA. Wellness dog food products are sold in the USA and other places worldwide.

Where to buy Wellness Dog Food products in the USA? 

Wellness is a popular brand that is readily available in most pet food stores all over the world. You can purchase Wellness dog food from pet food retailers like Petco and Petsmart or online stores including Chewy, Amazon, and Walmart.

How is the Wellness Dog Food shipment speed? 

Wellness dog food has a good shipment speed. It takes 4-5 business days to deliver your product after ordering. 

Comparable Brands 

Although Wellness is a good dog food brand, it may not be the right fit for your pup. The following are other brands you can check out:

American Journey

American Journey is a new dog food producer founded in 2017 and owned by Chewy.com. This dog food brand offers various recipes for dogs at different life stages. These include grain-free, grain-inclusive, dry, and wet dog food. American Journey has formulations for puppies, adults, and senior dogs and breed-specific options for large and small breeds.

The American Journey dog food products are exclusively sold on Chewy’s website and are fairly affordable compared to other premium brands.

Pros

• Uses real meat sources as the primary ingredients in all formulas
• Wide variety of options for all life stages
• Includes both grain-free and grain-inclusive options
• All formulas are made in adherence to AAFCO standards
• Formulated with higher protein levels

Cons

• It’s a relatively new brand
• It’s not available in other stores and can only be purchased at Chewy.com

DogsWell

Dogswell is a dog food company founded by Marco Giannini in 2003, making it a relatively new entrant in the dog food industry. The company claims to make all its products from ‘ natural meat and poultry with no hormones, processed gluten, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

Dogswell makes high-protein dog food using real meat as the first ingredient supplemented by vitamins and minerals for balanced and nutritionally complete nutrition. It offers recipes for dogs at different life stages and breeds.

Pros

• Features ethically sourced meat and poultry as the first ingredient
• Offers a large flavor profile
• Has a wide range of products for specific aspects of a dog’s health
• Follows strict, strict safety guidelines and uses high-quality ingredients

Cons

• Has a recall history of some of its products
• Includes some controversial ingredients like garlic powder

I and Love and You

Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, I and Love and You is a small and relatively new dog food company established in 2012. The brand has a stellar reputation for using high-quality ingredients from within and outside the US in its formulations. It has expansive dog food products, including dry foods, wet/canned foods, raw food, and dog treats.

Pros

• It uses only high-quality ingredients, including real meat and wholesome fruits and vegetables.
• No fillers or by-products
• Does not include artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
• Readily available in several grocery stores

Cons

• It has a past recall history
• Includes some controversial ingredients 

Our Verdict 

Based on our review, Wellness Complete dog food is worth trying. The brand is committed to providing high-quality nutrition using only premium natural ingredients without GMOs, corn, soy, wheat, or other fillers.

Wellness follows strict guidelines right from ingredient sourcing, treatment, preparation, and even storage to ensure the safety and quality of its products. What’s more, the brand offers a wide variety of dog food products that cater to dogs at all life stages.

As such, we highly recommend this dog food if you are looking for a high-quality, nutritionally complete meal for your furry friend.