Wellness Core Original Formula With Wholesome Grains For Small Breed Dogs Review
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Review of Wellness Core Original Formula With Wholesome Grains For Small Breed Dogs
According to our data, this Wellness recipe provides complete & balanced nutrition for the maintenance of adult dogs. In other words, this formula is AAFCO approved.
Wellness Core Original Formula With Wholesome Grains For Small Breed Dogs is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for the maintenance of adult dogs.
Review of Ingredients
In our review of Wellness Core Original Formula With Wholesome Grains For Small Breed Dogs, we'll examine all 54 ingredients and highlight the nutritional contribution of each ingredient.
While the first few ingredients typically dominate the recipe's composition, ingredients in small quantities can still have a meaningful impact on the overall nutritional profile of the recipe.
Turkey is a lean protein source that can help build and maintain muscle mass in dogs. It is also rich in essential nutrients like vitamin B6 and niacin.
Turkey meal is a high-quality, protein-rich ingredient that provides essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals for your dog. It supports lean muscle development, healthy organ function, and a strong immune system.
Chicken meal is a highly concentrated source of protein made from dehydrated and ground chicken. It provides essential amino acids for your dog's muscle development, tissue repair, and overall growth, making it a valuable ingredient for maintaining your dog's health and well-being.
Barley is a nutritious, fiber-rich grain that helps promote healthy digestion and provides essential nutrients for your dog's overall health. It is also a great source of energy, vitamins, and minerals.
Oatmeal is a highly digestible and nutritious source of carbohydrates that provides your dog with energy, fiber, and essential nutrients for a healthy digestive system and overall well-being.
Ground flaxseed is an excellent source of plant-based omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and antioxidants. It can support your dog's skin and coat health, digestive system, and overall well-being.
Quinoa is a nutrient-dense, gluten-free grain that provides your dog with essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. It supports healthy digestion and overall well-being, making it an excellent choice for a balanced and nutritious dog food.
Tomato pomace is a fiber-rich ingredient that can help support healthy digestion and maintain a healthy weight in dogs.
Chicken fat is a highly palatable source of energy, providing essential fatty acids for a healthy skin and coat, as well as supporting your dog's immune system.
Turkey flavor adds a taste that many dogs find appealing, making meals more enjoyable for them.
Salmon oil is a rich source of Omega-3 fatty acids, which support your dog's skin and coat health, immune system, and cognitive function.
Chicory root extract is a natural source of inulin, a prebiotic fiber that promotes healthy digestion and gut bacteria, supporting your dog's immune system and overall well-being.
Potassium chloride is an essential mineral supplement that helps maintain your dog's electrolyte balance and supports healthy nerve and muscle function.
Choline Chloride is an essential nutrient that aids in brain and liver function, muscle movement, and supports healthy metabolic processes.
Vitamin E supplement is an essential nutrient that helps support your dog's immune system, skin health, and overall wellness.
Taurine is an essential amino acid that supports heart health, vision, and development and function of skeletal muscle.
Spinach is a nutrient-rich vegetable that offers vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to support your dog's overall health and wellbeing.
Broccoli is a nutrient-rich vegetable packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to promote overall health in dogs.
Carrots are an excellent source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants for your dog. They're rich in vitamin A, which supports healthy vision and immune function, and also provide fiber to aid in digestion and maintain a healthy weight.
Parsley is a source of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, and it also supports fresh breath.
Apple is a natural source of fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants that support your dog's digestive health, immune system, and overall well-being.
Blueberry is a nutrient-rich fruit that provides antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber, which can help support your dog's immune system and overall health.
Kale is a nutrient-rich leafy green packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to support a strong immune system, healthy skin, and coat in dogs.
Zinc proteinate is a highly absorbable form of zinc. It helps support a healthy immune system, skin, and coat in dogs.
Mixed tocopherols are natural antioxidants used to preserve the freshness of dog food, ensuring your pet receives the highest quality nutrients possible.
Zinc sulfate is a source of the essential mineral zinc, which supports your dog's immune system, skin and coat health, and overall growth and development.
Calcium carbonate is a valuable source of calcium, an essential mineral for strong bones and teeth, and for supporting proper muscle function in your dog.
Niacin, also known as Vitamin B3, is essential for a dog's metabolism and energy production, and supports healthy skin and coat.
Iron proteinate is a chelated form of iron that is more easily absorbed by your dog's body, supporting their red blood cell production and overall health.
Ferrous sulfate is an important source of iron for dogs, a mineral essential for red blood cell production, oxygen transportation, and overall vitality. Adequate iron intake supports your dog's immune system and energy levels.
Yucca schidigera extract is a natural ingredient known for its ability to reduce unpleasant odors in your dog's waste. It also has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help support joint health and overall well-being.
Vitamin A Supplement is important for supporting vision, immune function, and skin health in dogs.
Copper sulfate is an essential trace mineral that supports various bodily functions in dogs, including immune system health, skin and coat maintenance, and red blood cell production.
Thiamine mononitrate is a form of vitamin B1 that helps support your dog's nervous system function, energy metabolism, and overall health.
Copper Proteinate is a chelated form of copper that's easier for dogs to absorb, aiding in red blood cell formation and iron absorption.
Manganese Proteinate is a chelated form of manganese, a mineral that supports bone health, metabolism and enzymatic reactions.
Manganese sulfate is a source of manganese, an essential trace mineral that plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy bones, joints, and metabolism in dogs. It also supports the production of collagen, which is vital for healthy skin, coat, and connective tissues.
D-Calcium Pantothenate is a source of pantothenic acid, a B-vitamin that helps in energy metabolism and the synthesis of important compounds in the body.
Sodium selenite is a form of selenium, a necessary trace mineral that supports immune function and thyroid health in dogs.
Pyridoxine hydrochloride is a source of vitamin B6, which is essential for your dog's nervous system function, immune health, and red blood cell production.
Riboflavin, also known as Vitamin B2, is essential for energy production, cell function, and fat metabolism in your dog's body.
Biotin is a B-vitamin that's important for maintaining healthy skin, coat, and nails in dogs.
Vitamin D3 supplement is an essential vitamin that supports bone health, immune function, and overall well-being in dogs. It helps regulate calcium and phosphorus balance in the body, promoting strong and healthy bones.
Calcium iodate is a source of iodine, an essential trace mineral that supports your dog's thyroid function and overall metabolism. It helps maintain proper hormone production and is crucial for overall health and well-being.
Vitamin B12 Supplement is an essential vitamin that helps support brain function and the formation of red blood cells.
Folic acid is a crucial B-vitamin that aids in the synthesis of DNA and supports healthy cell growth. It's essential for maintaining your dog's overall health, particularly during periods of rapid growth.
Ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, is an essential antioxidant that supports your dog's immune system and helps reduce inflammation.
The dried Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product is a probiotic that aids in maintaining a healthy gut flora.
Dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product is a beneficial probiotic ingredient used in dog food. It helps support a healthy digestive system by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. This probiotic also aids in nutrient absorption and can improve your dog's overall immune system function.
Dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product is a probiotic ingredient that helps maintain a healthy balance of gut bacteria in your dog, promoting optimal digestion and immune system function.
Dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product is a probiotic that can aid in maintaining a healthy balance of bacteria in your dog's gut, supporting overall digestive health.
Rosemary extract is a natural antioxidant that can help protect your dog's body from the harmful effects of free radicals. It also has anti-inflammatory properties, which can support your dog's overall health and well-being, particularly in regard to joint health.
Green tea extract contains antioxidants that help protect your dog's cells from damage and support overall health.
Spearmint extract provides a natural and refreshing flavor to dog food, as well as offering potential digestive and oral health benefits for dogs.
Review of Guaranteed Analysis
The guaranteed analysis value for Crude Protein of 36.00% is quite high, which is indicative of a protein-rich diet. This high protein content is likely due to the first three ingredients: deboned turkey, turkey meal, and chicken meal. Both turkey meal and chicken meal are concentrated sources of protein because they are rendered forms of the meat that contain less water and more protein per gram than fresh meat. Additionally, these meals are also sources of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, which are beneficial for joint health.
For Crude Fat at a minimum of 15.00%, the primary contributors are likely to be the chicken fat, salmon oil, and to a lesser extent, the meats (deboned turkey, turkey meal, and chicken meal). Chicken fat is a common high-energy source of fat in dog foods, and salmon oil not only provides fat but also is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for skin and coat health.
The Crude Fiber content is capped at a maximum of 4.00%. This fiber comes from the inclusion of ingredients like barley, oatmeal, ground flaxseed, tomato pomace, and chicory root extract. These ingredients provide dietary fiber which is important for digestive health. The fiber content is kept relatively low to ensure that the food is highly digestible and appropriate for a small breed dog's dietary needs.
The caloric content of 3712.00 kcal/kg is influenced by the combined macronutrients: proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. The protein and fat, being energy-dense nutrients, contribute significantly to the calorie content. The carbohydrates in the food, which come from sources like barley, oatmeal, and quinoa, also contribute to the total caloric value, although they are less calorie-dense than fats.
Review of Affordability
According to our data, Wellness Core Original Formula With Wholesome Grains For Small Breed Dogs costs approximately $3.98 per pound. The following table provides our estimate of the monthly cost to feed this recipe exclusively as your dog.
| Adult Weight | Adult |
|---|---|
| 5 lbs | $22.95 |
| 10 lbs | $38.60 |
| 15 lbs | $52.32 |
| 20 lbs | $64.92 |
| 30 lbs | $87.99 |
Estimates are based on average prices and caloric requirements.
Summary of Customer Reviews
Customers generally appreciate the small kibble size of the Wellness Core Original Formula, which seems to be especially suitable for small breed dogs. One pet owner happily reported that, after switching to this food, their previously finicky eater with a sensitive stomach is now eagerly consuming meals and appears more energetic and less gassy.
Another positive review highlighted the food's adherence to specific dietary requirements, avoiding certain ingredients like pea protein. This owner mixes the kibble with home-cooked turkey and vegetables to provide complete nutrition, and their dog, Jaxon, loves it.
Several pet owners have observed a marked preference for this food in their dogs, with one mentioning that their dog, who is a very picky eater, loves both the taste and the tiny size of the kibble. Another customer noted that after a recommendation from their vet to reintroduce grains into their dog's diet, their pet has been enjoying this high-protein kibble with wholesome grains.
In cases where pets were initially hesitant, persistence paid off. One reviewer mentioned that although it took about a week for their older pets with fewer teeth to adjust, they now love the food and finish their servings promptly. Another customer, who doesn't usually buy small breed kibble, found that their Boston Terriers loved this option, indicating that the food is well-received even by dogs on the borderline of the small breed category.
While there are mentions of quality inconsistency in recent bags, with complaints about crumbled kibble, these appear to be isolated incidents, as the overall sentiment towards the food's quality and appeal to dogs is positive. Some pets may take a few days to develop a taste for the food, but owners have found creative ways to entice their dogs, such as topping the kibble with broth, wet food, or even canned sardines.
