HealthWise Dog Food (Dry)

by Mike Sagman
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Rating: ★★★★☆

HealthWise Dog Food receives the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.

The HealthWise Dog Food product line includes five dry kibbles… four meeting AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages and one for adult maintenance (Weight Control).

  • HealthWise Lamb Meal and Oatmeal Adult
  • HealthWise Chicken Meal and Oatmeal Adult
  • HealthWise Chicken Meal and Brown Rice Puppy
  • HealthWise Chicken Meal and Oatmeal Active Adult
  • HealthWise Chicken Meal and Oatmeal Weight Control (3 stars)

HealthWise Chicken Meal and Oatmeal Adult Dog Food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.

HealthWise Chicken Meal and Oatmeal Adult

Dry Dog Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Protein = 28% | Fat = 17% | Carbs = 48%

Ingredients: Chicken meal, oatmeal, brown rice, chicken fat (naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols), pea fiber, flaxseed, natural flavors, salt, herring oil (naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols), potassium chloride, ascorbic acid, beta carotene, biotin, calcium carbonate, calcium iodate, choline chloride, cobalt carbonate, cobalt proteinate, copper proteinate, d-calcium pantothenate, dicalcium pantothenate, dl-methionine, folic acid, iron proteinate, manganese proteinate, niacin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin A supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin C supplement (sodium ascorbate), vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement (alpha tocopherol), zinc proteinate, lecithin, rosemary extract

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.2%

Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients

The first ingredient in this dog food chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

The second ingredient lists oatmeal… a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in B-vitamins, fiber and is also (unlike many other grains) gluten-free.

The third item is brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.

The fourth ingredient is chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken… a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.

Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid… an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Though it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is a quality ingredient.

The fifth ingredient lists pea fiber… a mix of soluble and insoluble plant fiber derived from pea hulls. It is used here to add bulk.

Except for the usual benefits of fiber, pea fiber does add some additional protein to this food.

The sixth item includes flaxseed… one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.

From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.

But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.

With three notable exceptions…

First, we find herring oil. Like most fish oils, herring oil is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. This is considered a healthy addition.

Next, we find no mention of probiotics… friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing.

And lastly, this dog food contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.

HealthWise Dog Food
The Bottom Line

Judging by its ingredients alone, HealthWise Dog Food looks to be an above-average kibble.

But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 28%, a fat level of 17% and estimated carbohydrates of about 48%.

Because of its apparently lower meat content, we have elected to downgrade the Weight Control product to a lower star category (detailed above).

Excluding the Weight Control recipe, the brand features an average protein content of 31% and a mean fat level of 19%.

Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 42% for the overall product line.

Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.

Free of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing an above-average amount of meat.

Bottom line?

HealthWise Dog Food is a grain-based kibble using an ample amount of chicken or lamb meals as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand four stars.

Highly recommended.

A Final Word

This review is designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food. However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in specific health benefits for your pet.

For a better understanding of how we analyzed this product, please be sure to read our article, “The Problem with Dog Food Reviews”

Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult a veterinarian for help.

Have an opinion about this dog food… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.

Notes and Updates

04/03/2010 Original review
11/03/2010 Review updated

Dog Food Advisor IconThe Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.


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  • Victoria

    I hope that P&G wont change the quality of Healthwise because I really like the ingredients. I switched my parents dachshund to it from taste of the wild because he didnt do too hot on it. He has nice solid poops, shiny coat and good energy levels. Plus its very affordable.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Frank… As much as I’d like to, it’s impossible for anyone to know when (or even if) a pet food manufacturer makes changes to its formula — other than what the manufacturer chooses to let you know on its label or marketing (website).

    To get a better idea of why I focus exclusively on the government regulated pet food label and nothing else, please be sure to read my article, “The Problem with Dog Food Reviews“. Hope this helps.

  • frank

    Hi,
    can you let us know if you find out any news about Proctor and Gamble making changes to their sources of meats for kibble, i.e.. Healthywise or other Innova dog foods. thanks.

  • Jan (Mom to Cavs)

    Hahaha…I was entering my post the same time as Mike S. It seems like he agrees with me somewhat!

  • Jan (Mom to Cavs)

    I forgot to add, Mike S. does rate it a 4 star so it’s not bad at all. And it doesn’t have any red flag ingredients.

  • Jan (Mom to Cavs)

    Actually, most probiotics in dog foods are rendered ineffective by the processing of the dog food. So you might end up having to add them to the diet anyway. I do feel they’re an important part of the diet and should be added every now and then. Enzymes are also important and I like them added in to my dogs’ diet. As for Healthwise, I’ve always thought that it looked like a decent food, ingredient and price wise, that was overshadowed by it’s sibling food Innova. That being said, it is made by Natura and they were acquired by P&G, so I have to say I’m not a fan. Doesn’t make it bad for someone else, though.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Jen F… Although some may disagree, in my mind, the value of adding probiotics to a recipe at the time of manufacturing might be overrated. By the time the food gets to you, it’s not very likely these microorganisms are still alive. So, their health value should be in question.

    Actually, it’s probably better to add yogurt or some other “live” culture to your dog’s meal at the time it’s served. But if you do, be sure to cut back on the amount of food a little so as to not increase the caloric content of the mix. Hope this helps.

  • http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com Jen F

    Hi. My 7 month old golden retriever has been on Avoderm and has done well on it; however, I am unable to buy it locally anymore so am looking to switch brands. Both Premium Edge and Blue Buffalo result in softer stools. My local dog food store recommended Healthwise. It is in the right price range and seems similar in quality to Avoderm and Blue Buffalo, but I see that it does not contain probiotics. How important an ingredient is this for dogs? Thanks for your help.

  • tricia

    The good Ole American Way — Let’s sue. I have no interest in participating in this ridiculous garbage lawsuit.

  • http://www.whosyourvet.com Sandi

    A class action lawsuit may affect your rights if you purchased Innova, EVO, California Natural, HealthWise, Mother Nature, or Karma dog or cat food products during the time period from March 20, 2005 to July 8, 2011

    The lawsuit claims Natura made false and misleading statements about the human grade quality of its food.

    http://www.petproductssettlement.com/EN/

  • Melissa

    I just added this chicken/oatmeal variety into our rotation, so hoping it works. For anyone intersted on kibble size, its not tiny, and not large-more like a medium kibble(little bigger than Canidae). Tomorrow is the first day, so will report how my crew does with it added in, in a few weeks-

    Very reasonable in pricing this part of NY -35 lbs for $33.75-and “Natura” aka P&G does have a frequent buyer program right now through 5/2012

  • http://thelemonlush.blogspot.com Susan

    Sorry, didn’t mean my vet recommended. Don’t want to mislead anyone. I use a trusted resource at my dog boarding and pet food store – Bark Avenue Pets in Mesa, Arizona. THEIR vet recommended the food and probiotic combination. So far, they are doing well. We’ve tried our dogs on California Natural (they both did well on that), EVO, Wellness, Taste of the Wild, Avoderm and in the winter, they have been on a RAW diet. Nothing seems to help the itching with one of our dogs, so we are hoping that this will – along with the aid of the probiotic/enzymes.

  • http://thelemonlush.blogspot.com Susan

    Healthwise Chicken was recommended by our vet for our very itchy dog. However, the vet also recommended to add some low sodium/natural chicken broth to the food since there is only 10% moisture. We also top dress it with a canned food from Evangers. We also supplement with a probiotic/enzyme which helps them aid their digestion. Both our dogs are doing extremely well on the food. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to someone curious about using it. Put it this way, it’s not going to hurt your dogs to put them on it for a few months.. long enough time to see if they are thriving or merely surviving. Mine are thriving, healthy and happy. The food is very palatable as well so they love eating it.

  • Kelly

    Just a note to Teri ~ Healthwise is now owned by P&G as well. The Natura Pet sellout includes Innova, California Natural, Karma, Healthwise and EVO.

  • tricia

    Just thought I would add that I have had my 3 dogs on Healthwise Chicken & Oatmeal for 3 years now. A golden retriever, springer spaniel and border collie/aussie mix. In my opinion this is the best food and the cost is very reasonable. The springer is around 12 and he is able to eat this food. It’s difficult to find a food that all your dogs can eat and Healthwise is the only one that works for our guys.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Jeni… Since I’m not a veterinarian it would be misleading for me to assure you any particular dog food would be appropriate for your pet’s health issues. In any case, although we rarely favor low protein dog foods, these foods are not only low in meat, they’re also (usually) low in fat also. This type of diet may be OK in the short run, but we question the sensibility of any low meat diet in the long term. To help you find a few of these products, please be sure to read my recent article, “Suggested Low Protein Dog Foods“. And of course, since hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE) is a serious condition, please be sure to discuss what you read here with your vet before taking any action. Hope this helps.

  • Jeni

    Hi, I have a wonderful Golden Doodle, that has had a bout of HGE, and seems to be pretty sensitive. We are currently feeding him Royal Canin Highly digestable low fat Prescription diet, wet and dry, however, it is very expensive for a 83 lb dog! would this diet be comparable, or is there something you can recommend to stretch out the Royal canin (perhaps blend them) to make this more economical? We have to be careful, as I noted before, he is sensitive! Thanks, jeni

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Shelby… We rate dog food based upon the government regulated label information. We then read and interpret those ingredients lists and attempt to estimate meat content only. Based upon these two factors alone, California Natural exhibits a brand average of 25% protein whereas HealthWise shows about 29%. To us, both are rated 4-stars. But HealthWise might have just a bit more meat. Thus the reasons for that wording.

    Personally, I wouldn’t be too concerned about those subtle differences in our ratings.

    Though I’m not a vet, we have observed that many professionals claim the essential fats (omega 3 and omega 6) commonly found in foods like flaxseed and dark fish support better skin and coats. So, you may want to look for products containing those nutrients and items.

    If you’ve read that California Natural “guarantees a healthier coat”, I’d be reluctant to place much value in claims like that. For its impossible for anyone (even this website) to guarantee specific health results.

    Hope this helps.

  • Shelby

    My golden retriever had a beautiful and shiny when she ate a higher premium dog food (Nature’s Recipe: Venison Meal). Now that my dog has been eating Kirkland again, her coat has been very coarse again, and my golden retriever sheds a lot!

    I am considering to try either Healthwise or California Natural, just for my dog’s coat and overall health. Healthwise is economically cheaper than California Natural, but according to your reviews, Healthwise earned “solid 4 stars”, while California Natural “marginally earned 4 stars”. However, Healthwise is “not exceptional”. Right now, I am very stumped.

    Could you possibly provide your own opinion as to which one would improve my greatly improve my dog’s coat? I know that California Natural may guarantee a healthier coat, but the “marginal earned 4 stars” is discouraging me from this brand.

    Thank you very much!

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Teri… Protein levels are a controversial issue. I personally am not concerned about protein as much as some of our readers. But calcium and phosphorous can be important. I’d be inclined to feed a puppy food to your large breed puppies until about age 10-12 months. Be sure to check with your vet for professional guidance.

  • teri

    Hi there,

    My dogs suddenly stopped eating Innova as well. Because P&G has recently bought out the parent company, I wanted to switch anyway. I’m considering Healthwise (or Wellness). Here’s my quandary- My dogs (and now puppies) are a mix of large breed (Golden) and miniature Poodle – do I fixate on the amount of protein and calcium that’s a concern to large breed puppies? This is why I’m considering more “Middle of the Road” foods with regards to protein content. Your opinion is appreciated.

    teri

  • Anthony

    Thanks Mike! I will figure it out.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Anthony… Wet topping over kibble is my very best suggestion. If that doesn’t work, you’ll just have to use good old “trial and error” with different brands :(

  • Anthony

    Hi Mike.. I have tried that as well with no luck. I tried tonight to give him Innova (Adult Dry / Red Meat) and he seemed to like that. Just not sure what to get now. Shold I go with the Healthwise (Lamb Meal) or Innova (Red Meat)? Just want my lil fella to be happy and healthy.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Anthony… We had a similar problem with Bailey. But once we started “topping” his kibble with a quality canned food, the problem quickly disappeared.

    Now, we rotate the various wet recipes from the same product line each time we finish a can. That way he doesn’t get tired of the same old flavor. After all, dogs are a lot like us humans. Hope this helps.

  • Anthony

    Well I am really stuck! please Help! I have a 11 month old Minature Schnauzer and was feeding him Innova (Dry) puppy food and then he stopped eating it. So I have switched him over to Merrick (Dry) food and he is just not really eating. So I have some samples of Healthwise (Lamb Meal) and he seems to like it. I don’t want to have to everymonth keep switching foods. WHAT TO DO?!?!!? :-(