Rating: 
Wellness Dog Food Simple Food Solutions (dry formula) receives the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.
Currently, the Wellness Simple Food Solutions dry formula line includes three different flavors… each designed “for dogs suffering from food allergies and intolerances”.
- Wellness Dog Food Simple Solutions Rice and Duck
- Wellness Dog Food Simple Solutions Rice and Lamb
- Wellness Dog Food Simple Solutions Rice and Salmon
After comparing products, the Wellness Dog Food Simple Solutions Rice and Duck formula was selected to represent the other two in the line for this review.
Wellness Simple Food Solutions Rice & Duck Formula
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: ground rice, duck, rice protein concentrate, canola oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols, a natural source of vitamin E), tomato pomace, natural duck flavor, potassium choloride, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, beta-carotene, niacin, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin, vitamin B-12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, proteinate, zinc sulfate, iron proteinate, ferrous sulfate, cooper sulfate, cooper proteinate, manganese proteinate, manganese sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite), choline chloride, taurine.
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.4%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
Hypoallergenic Ingredients… Modest Meat Content
The first ingredient in this dog food is ground rice. In a good grade (an unknown factor here), rice can be a quality hypoallergenic ingredient.
This specific form of rice is bran-free… making it lower in fiber and other beneficial nutrients… yet much easier to digest.
The second ingredient is duck. Raw duck contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost… reducing the meat content to just 20% of its original weight.
That’s what makes uncooked duck a much smaller contributor to the overall protein content of a dry dog food than duck meal.
The third ingredient includes rice protein concentrate. Rice protein concentrate is made by removing the starchy part of the grain… leaving just the protein.
Gluten-Free Plant Protein
Although this item adds gluten-free plant protein to the food… it is not considered as nutritious as animal protein.
The fourth item is canola oil. Canola oil is a controversial ingredient. Many applaud it for its favorable omega fatty acid content… while others condemn it as an unnecessary toxic additive.
Bottom Line
This particular Wellness product can be better defined by what it’s not… rather than what it is… making it ideal for dogs with certain allergy and digestive challenges.
There are no dairy products, no corn, no wheat, no soy, no eggs, no artificial preservatives, no colors and no flavors.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 23%, a fat level of 14% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 56%.
The nutrient gauges suggest Wellness Dog Food Simple Solutions to be only an average dry dog food.
But its unique problem-focused design… plus its limited number of Red Flag items… prompt me to upgrade my initial impression.
For dogs with allergy or digestive problems… and due to the product’s commendable four-star rating… this is a commercial pet food definitely worth your consideration.
Highly recommended.
Some Final Advice… and an Invitation
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult your veterinarian for help.
Have an opinion about this dog food brand… or maybe the review itself?
Please feel free to share your comments below.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
My 5-year-old rescue Boston Terrier was being given Hill’s ID
when I got him. I began to gradually change his diet to dry Wellness Simple Solutions – lamb and rice. He tolerates this very well. However, he seems to constantly have foul-smelling flatulence. I am wondering it changing to the duck and rice recipe would help with that. Any opinions?
Thanks!
Hi Laura… like with humans, reactions to certain foods are specific to each individual pet. It’s really difficult to say with any certainty why your dog may be having more gas with this new food. But gas is usually more frequently related to the type of “fermentable” carbohydrates (especially fiber) present in the food… rather than the meat. Gut bacteria “ferment” the carbs… and produce gas. Hope this helps you solve your “mystery”.
My 1 1/2 year old terrier has constant bouts with diarrhea. My vet prescribed Hills w/d which helped, but all my dog friends said no, no, no, can’t feed her that. Wellness Simple formula was suggested and she did fine with that for a while, and now the diareah is back. Any suppliments to recomend to help this situation?
Hi Margie… Your vet had the right idea. High fiber can help with intestinal issues. But (like your friends) I’m not a fan of that particular Hill’s product. Why not check the fiber content (located at the bottom of the yellow “dashboard” box on every review I write). Look only at my 3, 4, or 5 star dog foods and find one with a higher fiber content. Then check with your vet to see if he (or she) agrees with your choice. Hope this helps.