Last Updated on March 15, 2021
Wellness is part of the WellPet family brand along with Holistic Select Natural Pet Food, Eagle Pack Natural Pet Food, and Old Mother Hubbard Natural Dog Snacks.
Wellness’ history can be traced back to a fateful day in 1873 when a local sailor threw a biscuit from a bakery called A. Hubbard and Sons Bakery in Gloucester, Massachusetts to his dog.
This bakery would then become Old Mother Hubbard we know today.
The dog biscuit company was established in 1926 and began baking dog biscuits to distribute throughout the Northeast.
In 1961, the company was purchased by Jim Scott Sr., a professional in animal nutrition, and moved its headquarters to Lowell, Massachusetts.
In the 1990s, then CEO Jim Scott Jr. worked with a team of animal nutritionists, certified-board veterinarians, and scientists to develop a revolutionary formula that uses only all-natural ingredients to create a balanced and nutritious pet food.
The result was Wellness. Wellness formula is free from wheat, corn, soy, preservatives, artificial flavors, and colors.
Wellness recipes for dogs were introduced in 1997, and Wellness cat recipes followed shortly after in 2000.
By 2004, Wellness became the leading pet food brand in independent pet retailers. Wellness is proud to say that all their dry recipes are produced in the U.S.A.
Wellness Pet Food is available in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, and Indonesia.
Best Wellness Dog Food Reviews
1. Wellness Natural Pet Food Complete Health Natural Dry Dog Food
Wellness: Complete Health is all-natural dry dog food made for adult dogs.
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It’s made with carefully chosen ingredients to create a complete and balanced formula that will support your dog’s unique needs.
Plus, super nutrients he will only get with Wellness.
There are 3 flavors you can choose from, each featuring a high-quality protein to help maintain lean and strong muscles.
It has calcium and phosphorus for strong bones and teeth. Naturally occurring antioxidants from blueberries and spinach support a strong immune system.
Guaranteed levels of omega-3 and 6 fatty acids for healthy skin and a beautiful coat. Glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health and mobility.
This best-selling formula also has added taurine for healthy heart function. Plus, probiotics for a healthy digestive system.
You’re also worry-free about toxic additives because Wellness: Complete Health does not contain meat by-products, fillers, GMO ingredients, or artificial preservatives.
Key Features
- Made with real poultry, lamb, and fish meat
- A complete and balanced meal
- With calcium and phosphorus for strong bones and teeth
- Has antioxidants for a strong immune system
- Contains omega-3 and 6 fatty acids for a healthy skin and coat condition
- With glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health and mobility
- Enhanced with taurine for a healthy heart
- With prebiotics and probiotics for a healthy gut
- Minerals are chelated for better absorption.
- No meat by-products, fillers, GMO ingredients, or artificial preservatives
- Available in 3 flavors (Deboned Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe, Lamb & Barley Recipe, Whitefish & Sweet Potato Recipe)
Also related: Best Dog Food
2. Wellness Core Natural Dry Dog Food Small Breed
Give your small breed all he needs in one bowl with Wellness Core Small Breed.
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It’s expertly formulated to have the optimum balance of protein and calories to keep him active and healthy in his adult years.
This premium dog food has a whopping 36% of protein from real, high-quality poultry to fuel your dog’s high-energy needs.
It’s made without meat by-products, fillers, or artificial preservatives.
Furthermore, it’s fortified with antioxidants, taurine, probiotics, vitamins, and minerals, including omega-3 and 6 fatty acids from flaxseeds and salmon oil for healthy skin and coat.
It also has calcium and phosphorus for strong bones and teeth and glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health.
If your pup is allergic to grains, you can also get this recipe in a grain-free blend.
It features turkey and chicken as the main sources of protein with other healthy ingredients such as spinach, broccoli, and blueberries.
It’s free from fillers, grain, corn, soy, wheat, gluten, artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors.
Key Features
- Specially made for small breeds.
- Available in a grain-free and grain-inclusive formula
- Made with real poultry meat
- With calcium and phosphorus for strong bones and teeth
- Contains glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health
- Features omega-3 and 6 rich ingredients such as salmon oil and flaxseeds
- Has antioxidants for immune health
- Guaranteed levels of prebiotics and probiotics for your dog’s digestive system
- Fortified with taurine for a healthy heart
- Comes in small-sized kibbles
- No meat by-products, fillers, artificial flavors, or preservatives
3. Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Small Breed Dog Food Small Breed Turkey & Oatmeal
Our dog’s health is our top priority as pet-parents. This is why giving them dog food that ticks off all our checklists is a must.
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Start feeding your dog healthy with Wellness: Complete Health Small Breed.
Although the kibbles in this recipe are smaller than regular Wellness formulas, it still packs a lot of nutrients and protein.
It has calcium, omega-3, omega-6, glucosamine, and other vitamins and minerals to support your dog’s overall health.
It also has added taurine, an amino acid associated with a healthy heart, plus guaranteed probiotics for a healthy digestive system.
You can also combine this dog food with other Wellness canned dog food for a more palatable taste. Remember to reduce 1/8 cup of dry amount for every 2 tbsp. of wet food
Key Features
- Specially formulated for small breeds.
- Grain-inclusive
- Made with real turkey meat that aids in maintaining lean muscles
- Has calcium and phosphorus for strong bones and teeth
- Antioxidants for immune health
- With omega-3 and 6 fatty acids for healthier skin and shiny coat
- Contains glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy joints
- Added with taurine for a healthy heart
- With guaranteed levels of probiotics for digestive function
- No meat by-products, fillers, preservatives, or artificial flavors
Also related: Best Dog Food for Small Dogs
4. Wellness Core Natural Dry Dog Food Original Turkey & Chicken
Are grains not your best pal’s friend? Try Wellness: Core Turkey & Chicken Recipe.
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It has a grain-free option for dogs who can’t handle grains.
It’s made with turkey, chicken, salmon oil, and fruits and vegetables to create a premium formula that’s free from meat by-products, fillers, grain, corn, wheat gluten, artificial flavors, and preservatives.
Inspired by the philosophy that dogs thrive on a diet composed only of meats, this formula boasts to have 34% of protein.
The #1 ingredient is turkey and chicken – both high-quality types of meat that have the 10 essential amino acids dogs need to thrive.
It has glucosamine for joint health, antioxidants thanks to blueberries and broccoli, and taurine for healthy heart function.
From the ingredients list, you will also find salmon oil and flaxseeds. These two ingredients are great sources of omega-3 and 6 fatty acids to support healthy skin and coat.
Other vitamins and minerals are also present to aid in your pup’s overall wellness. This high-quality formula also includes probiotics for digestive health.
Key Features
- Available in grain-free and grain-inclusive option
- Certified complete and balanced for adult dogs
- Made with real chicken and turkey meats
- Has calcium and phosphorus for strong bones
- With antioxidants from fruits and vegetables for immune health
- Added with taurine, an essential amino acid for a healthy heart
- Contains omega-3 and 6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat
- Has glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health and mobility
- With guaranteed levels of not less than 80 million live probiotics for gut health
- No meat by-products, fillers, artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
5. Wellness Core Natural Grain Free Bowl Boosters Pure Dog Food Mixer Or Topper
Wellness Core Bowl Boosters is a hassle-free way to boost flavor, protein, and nutrition to your dog’s meal.
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Tender Bowl Boosters is made with up to 70% raw protein ingredients, while Bare Bowl Boosters is a staggering 100% meat protein.
If you’re looking to add a boost of nutrition, digestive health, heart health, joint health, and skin and coat health recipes are available.
Rest assured, each recipe is guaranteed grain-free and gluten-free with no wheat, soy, corn, artificial flavors, or preservatives.
Without the need to refrigerate, this recipe is as convenient as kibbles. It’s so quick and easy – just pop it open, mix it up or use it as a topper, and you’re done!
Similarly, Tender Core Bowl Boosters can also be given as a meal on their own.
Remember that each dog is different. For a guided serving, follow the serving suggestion in the label.
Key Features
- Adds a boost of protein, flavor, and nutrition to your dog’s ordinary bowl.
- Made with real high-quality animal protein
- Grain-free
- Gluten-free
- Can be used as a topper or a mixer (Only Tender Bowl Boosters can be given as a meal.)
- Available in different flavors for different purposes (Tender: Turkey & Chicken, Whitefish & Salmon, Bare: Freeze Dried Beef, Freeze-Dried Turkey, Functional: Digestive Health, Heart Health, Joint Health, Skin & Coat Health)
- No refrigeration is needed.
- No corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
6. Wellness Core Natural Reduced Fat Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Has your dog been getting heavier? It might be time to switch him to a weight management formula. Try Wellness: Core Reduced Fat Recipe.
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It’s a grain-free weight loss formula that promises noticeable results when given in the right amounts.
With 25% less fat than Wellness: Core Original Recipe and 33% protein, this premium dog food will keep him full and give him enough energy for exercise.
This all-natural dog food is made with chicken, turkey, salmon oil, and fruits and vegetables for a complete body health approach.
It has calcium, antioxidants, taurine, omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, and glucosamine for healthy joints, bone, heart, and skin and coat health.
Guaranteed levels of probiotics from chicory root are also beneficial for a healthy digestive system.
Also, there’s a separate feeding suggestion for weight maintenance and weight loss.
Follow the recommended serving and monitor his weight for about 2 weeks.
If he isn’t losing weight, ask your veterinarian for the appropriate feeding amount.
Key Features
- Weight management formula
- Grain-free
- Contains 25% less fat than the Original Wellness recipe
- High-protein formula
- Made with real chicken and turkey meat
- With calcium and phosphorus for strong bones and teeth
- Has antioxidants for immune health
- Added with taurine for a healthy heart function
- With omega-3 and 6 fatty acids from salmon oil and flaxseeds for healthy skin and coat
- Contains glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health
- Fortified with probiotics for a healthy digestive system
- No meat by-products, wheat, wheat-gluten, corn, soy, or eggs
- No artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors are added.
Also related: Best Dog Food for Weight Loss
7. Wellness Complete Health Natural Dry Small Breed Dog Food Small Breed Healthy Weight
One of the first signs of a healthy dog is the weight. As pet parents, we only want our dogs to live a long, happy, and healthy life.
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Help your pal achieve the ideal weight by giving him Wellness: Small Breed Healthy Weight.
Formulated by veterinarians and pet food experts, this recipe delivers a complete and balanced formula fortified with vitamins and minerals for your dog’s overall health.
It has 16% fewer calories compared to Wellness: Complete Health Small Breed formula.
It contains calcium for strong bones and teeth, antioxidants, and omega-3 and 6 fatty acids for healthy skin and a beautiful coat.
The added taurine is also a great addition along with probiotics to promote good bacteria in the stomach.
Furthermore, this grain-inclusive recipe comes in smaller kibbles for easier chewing.
Discover the 5 signs of Wellness when you switch to Wellness: Complete Health today.
Key Features
- Weight management dog food
- Specially formulated for small breeds.
- Grain-inclusive
- Contains 16% lesser calories than the original Wellness: Complete Health Small Breed
- Made with real turkey
- Has calcium and phosphorus for maintaining strong bones
- Uses antioxidant-rich ingredients such as blueberries and spinach
- Includes omega-3 and 6 fatty acids for healthier skin and coat
- With glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health and mobility
- Added with taurine, a healthy amino acid associated with healthy heart function
- Fortified with probiotics for digestive health
- Comes in smaller size kibbles for small mouths
- No meat by-products, fillers, or artificial preservatives
8. Wellness Core Natural Dry Dog Food Ocean Whitefish, Herring & Salmon
Wellness Core Ocean Whitefish recipe is 100% all-natural and grain-free.
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It’s made with high-quality proteins from real fish that are naturally rich in fatty acids and fruits and vegetables for antioxidants, vitamins, and probiotic properties.
It nourishes from the inside and gives a healthier and shinier coat outside.
The calcium in this formula supports strong bones along with glucosamine and chondroitin for joint strength.
The added taurine is for a healthy heart function, while the probiotics promote healthy bacteria growth in the digestive system.
Give your pet the whole-body nutrition he needs today with Wellness.
Key Features
- Grain-free
- Poultry-free
- Made with real whitefish meat for building and maintaining lean muscles
- With calcium and phosphorus for strong bones and teeth
- Has antioxidants for immune health
- Added with taurine, an amino acid associated with a healthy heart
- Contains omega-3 and 6 fatty acids for healthier skin and coat
- With glucosamine and chondroitin for strong joints and mobility
- Has guaranteed levels of probiotics that support a healthy digestive system
- No wheat, wheat gluten, corn, soy, or eggs
- No meat by-products, artificial preservatives, colors, or flavors
Also related: Best Grain-free Dog Food
Wellness Ingredients Analysis
Chicken is a quality item that when raw, can contain about 73% water. After cooking, most of the moisture is lost hence, reducing the meat content.
The chicken will most likely account for a small part of the total content in the final product.
Like chicken, turkey has a high moisture content. After processing, the turkey will most likely account for a small part of the total meat content.
Nonetheless, turkey is a quality item.
Chicken meal is a meat concentrate that contains 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
Turkey meal is a meat concentrate that has 300% more protein than fresh turkey.
Chicken fat is acquired from rendering chicken. It’s a process similar to making soup where the fat is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is considered a quality ingredient.
Salmon meal is another meat concentrate that’s rich in protein.
Chicken liver is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and is considered a beneficial addition.
Ground brown rice or rice flour is made from white or brown rice. It’s a gluten-free substitute for wheat flour.
Oats are rich in B-vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber.
Oatmeal is made from coarsely ground oats. It’s rich in B-vitamins, dietary fiber and can be gluten-free.
Flaxseed is one of the best plant sources of omega-3 fatty acids. If they’ve been ground into a meal, they can also be rich in soluble fiber.
Barley is a rich source of fiber and nutrients. However, apart from its energy content, barley is only of modest nutritional value to dogs.
Quinoa is a plant known for its gluten-free seeds. It’s high in protein, dietary fiber, and healthy nutrients.
Salmon oil boasts to be rich in EPA and DHA types of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high-quality fats have the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans.
Salt (sodium chloride) is a common additive in dog foods. This is because sodium is an important mineral for all animals, including humans.
Depending on the amount added, salt can be a nutritional value.
Peas are a part of the legume family. They are a good source of carbohydrates and natural fiber.
Potatoes are only of modest nutritional value to dogs. However, they can be a great gluten-free source of digestible carbohydrates.
Chickpea is a nutritious family member of the fiber-rich legume family of vegetables.
Garlic is a controversial ingredient. Although small amounts of garlic claim to have health benefits, this particular ingredient has been linked to Heinz body anemia in dogs.
Tomato pomace is another controversial ingredient found in Wellness formulas. Tomato pomace is a by-product remaining after processing tomato juices, soup, and ketchup.
Fans like it for its high fiber and nutrient content, while critics see it as an inexpensive pet food filler.
Dried cultured skim milk is rich in calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D. Because the fermentation process involves utilizing the lactose in the milk, this ingredient adds nutritional value to the recipe.
Gelatin is derived from the collagen found in the skin and bones of animals. It’s a translucent substance rich in protein but is only of modest nutritional value to dogs.
Taurine is an amino acid associated with healthy heart function. Although not considered essential in canines, some dogs show to be deficient in this critical nutrient.
Thus, an addition of taurine to a pet food formula is commendable.
Chicory root is rich in inulin. It’s a starch-like compound that’s rich in soluble fiber and used as a prebiotic to promote the growth of good bacteria in dogs’ guts.
Chelated minerals are usually associated with better quality dog foods. They are minerals chemically bound to a protein, making them easier to absorb.
Wellness Recall History
In February 2011, the FDA recalled all Wellness canned cat food including CORE, because of inadequate levels of thiamine. Wellness Chicken & Herring was also included.
In January 2012, in an article published in the Albuquerque Journal, the state of New Mexico ordered the removal of Wellness Wellbar dog treats because of an ingredient called amaranth.
Amaranth is a grain approved for use in humans but not for pets. WellPet said that they will be reformulating their treats.
May 2012, the FDA recalled Wellness Complete Health Super5Mix Large Breed Puppy because of potential salmonella.
In a Facebook post dated October 30, 2012, Wellness Pet Food voluntarily recalled their Wellness Small Breed Adult Health Dry Dog Food because of possible moisture problems that could lead to mold.
February 2017, Wellness announced on their website the recall of the following Wellness cat food because of potential for foreign material:
- Chicken & Herring
- Chicken
- Chicken & Lobster
- Turkey & Salmon
- Turkey
- Beef & Chicken
- Beef & Salmon
In March 2017, in an announcement through their website, Wellness recalled cans of Wellness 95% Beef Topper for Dogs because of potentially elevated levels of naturally-occurring beef thyroid hormone.
Final Verdict: Is Wellness Good for Dogs?
If you have the budget, Wellness is one of the best choices of brands you can give your dog.
Because they have a higher quality of dog food, Wellness can be a bit expensive compared to your average kibble.
I will say this, however: do not let this stop you from choosing Wellness.
Their formulas are all-natural and free from toxic preservatives, fillers, and additives.
Whether it’s grain-free or grain-inclusive, their recipes are all about your dog’s overall health and well being.
If your dog is allergic to specific ingredients such as chicken, beef, wheat, or gluten, you can depend on Wellness.
They use wholesome, alternative ingredients like herring, salmon, or turkey – all nutrient-rich meats, and other healthy vegetables and fruits to achieve a formula that’s complete and balanced.
Wellness is a highly recommended dog food.