Wellness 95 Percent (Canned)

by Mike Sagman
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Rating: ★★★★★

Wellness 95 Percent line of canned dog food gets the Advisor’s top rating of five stars.

This product should not be confused with the company’s two other canned lines… Wellness Core and Wellness Canned Dog Food.

Currently, the Wellness 95 Percent product line lists five canned dog foods intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only.

  • Wellness 95 Percent Beef
  • Wellness 95 Percent Lamb
  • Wellness 95 Percent Turkey
  • Wellness 95 Percent Salmon
  • Wellness 95 Percent Chicken

Wellness 95 Percent Chicken Dog Food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.

Wellness 95% Chicken Formula

Canned Dog Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Protein = 36% | Fat = 27% | Carbs = 28%

Ingredients: Chicken, Water Sufficient for Processing, Natural Flavors, Cassia Gum, Carrageenan

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.5%

Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients

The first ingredient in this dog food includes chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”.1

Chicken is naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life. This is a quality ingredient.

The second ingredient is water… which (of course) adds nothing but moisture to this food. Water is a routine finding in most canned dog foods.

After the natural flavor, we find cassia gum. Cassia gum is a plant extract used here as a gelling agent providing no nutritional value to this food.

The fifth ingredient is carrageenan… a thickening agent extracted from seaweed. Carrageenan has been safely used as a food additive for hundreds of years.

We find no added vitamins or minerals on the ingredients list.

Wellness 95 Percent… the Bottom Line

Judging by its ingredients alone, Wellness 95 Percent looks like an exceptional canned dog food.

But being 100% meat, the product was never intended to be fed as a complete and balanced canine diet.

Wellness 95 Percent is a supplement… and a supplement only.

Because they probably lack some essential nutrients, supplements must not be fed continuously as the sole item in a dog’s diet.

We prefer to use a dog food like this as a special treat. Or as an appetizing topper… to be mixed with a dry kibble.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 36%, a fat level of 27% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 28%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 35% and an average fat level of 32%. Together, these figures suggest an overall carbohydrate content of 25% for the full product line.

We note the Guaranteed Analysis figures reported by the label of this 95 percent meat product are notably conservative. And this causes the numbers reported by our dashboard to understate the brand’s true protein content.

With no sign of any plant-based protein concentrates, this is the profile of a canned dog food containing an abundance of meat.

Bottom line?

Wellness 95 Percent is essentially a meat-based canned dog food using a plentiful amount of poultry, beef, lamb or salmon as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand five stars.

Enthusiastically recommended… for supplemental feeding only.

Those looking for a top-quality complete and balanced canned food from the same company may wish to check out our review of Wellness Core Canned Dog Food.

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 brand… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.

Notes and Updates

11/20/2009 Original review

  1. Association of American Feed Control Officials ↩
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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  • Yenlengchia

    Hi! Is it possible to add into my dogs’ Royal Canine Renal &/or Gastro wet and can food everyday as supplement? Maybe like 1-2 tablespoonfuls daily to enhance the taste of the food they dont really like? Thanks.  

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Layla… It all depends upon what you mean by “pretty often”. If you feed this as a substitute every day for an entire meal (for example, 50% of a dog’s daily ration), I’d be inclined to avoid feeding diets intended as “supplements” (not as substitutes).

    However, if you’re using this occasionally (once or twice a week) or as a minor topper with on complete and balanced product, then I wouldn’t be overly concerned. Hope this helps.

  • Layla

    I noticed that under the supplemental feeding description it says not to feed a food that is meant for supplemental feeding long term. Is it okay to use it pretty often so long as you are mixing it with a kibble that is complete and balanced?

  • Angel’s mommy

    This is the only topper my pomchi likes. For awhile we were having problems with her not wanting to eat. I tried several different canned brands to top her Avoderm with and she chose this one.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Rain… Regarding your dogs are carnivores, you make a valid point. However, this product doesn’t appear to meet the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) nutrient profile for growth and reproduction (puppies). So, there’s a reasonable chance this food could be deficient in at least one recommended nutrient. Because of this possibility and because puppies are so vulnerable, I’d suggest sticking with a dog food meeting the standards for growing puppies. Hope this helps.

  • Rain

    Is this a good food to feed a healthy puppy for say, breakfast, and then a balanced dry food for the rest of the day? Is there a benefit to this or is it just not nutritional enough? Because I though carnivore dogs were supposed to eat as close to only meat of possible.

  • The Dog Whisperer

    Oh I know, the list goes on & on. I’d just like a nice, friendly mutt from the local shelter here. Mutts need love, too! & they tend to be a little healthier than pures, depending on where you get a pure. Mutts are the way to go when you don’t know what you really want.

  • sandy

    Don’t forget to research dog breeds, too, not just dog food. Choosing the right dog to fit into your household is important as well. Temperment, health issues, size, trainability, exercise requirements, hunting dog, guard dog, lap dog….etc.

  • sandy

    Yes that’s the one. 16 to 24 flavors, something like that. If you use a good “base” kibble, I don’t see the need for a “95% meat” topper.

  • The Dog Whisperer

    Sandy,
    Okay, thanks! I heard about the BB stews, but I didn’t know about the Merrick. Are those the canned that have like sixteen different formulas, all inspired by human foods? I read a review like that. I think I’m close to getting my next dog, crossing my fingers & hoping & praying. My mom wants a Doxie. I just want a dog:).

  • sandy

    Merrick has several grain free can foods I use as a topper. The consistancy is great for mixing with kibble. Not pate and not soupy with big chunks. Also Wellness has some grain free stews and blue buffalo has grain free stews.

  • The Dog Whisperer

    Ok, gotcha! I’d start with a “base” kibble, maybe NV Instinct or whatever my dog likes. Then, I will rotate between different formulas of that food, then start introducing canned toppers. I’ll most likely switch between this canned food, the canned version of whatever kibble I’m using, if there is one, & Wellness CORE canned, among others, for variety & supplementation. I may also give raw meaty bones, because I believe there’s a meat market nearby. I want to give my dog a great food, but my parents won’t let me feed cooked meals & I don’t want to break the bank. When I heard about the rotation diet & its benefits, I could’ve danced up & down the street! As I do not yet have a dog, I’m doing the research part, finding out about the best dry & canned foods, but the ultimate test will come when I get my next dog. S/he will determine which foods I buy. Thank you for your reply!

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Dog Whisperer… As long as you use a food like Wellness 95% as a topper (in other words not as the ONLY product in your dog’s menu) you’ll probably be OK. But it probably would preferable to “rotate” other balanced foods with it. Just remember, foods like Wellness 95% do not contain 100% of the nutrients required by a dog for good health. So, use them only as “supplements”.

  • The Dog Whisperer

    Hello all! Sorry Mike, I know you’re probably tired of answering this question but I just have to get this cleared out: You can use this canned food (Wellness 95%) as a topper only for a “complete & balanced” dry kibble, just as long as it’s not the only topper? I would switch to a different brand of canned food to ensure my next dog’s diet is “complete & balanced”, so no worries there.

  • Diane

    My 12 year old Dobie had a intestinal infection. The vet treated the infection, but my dog had lost her appetite and has lost weight. So to appease my dog, I bought some Wellness 95% Chicken. I liked the simple ingredients – Chicken!! She loves it, gobbles it up. I mix it with her dry kibble Orijen food. Well, I also gave a couple tablespoons of it mixed with their dry to my three pugs. And they love it. As a topper, it is a quality can of meat for dogs. I recommend it highly.

    Plus, one of my pugs has previously had stuvite bladder stones. She had the surgery to remove the stones. My vet of course sold me on the Science RX diet stuff, and he told me only feed her that. That food is crap. I read on the internet that the thing to push to refrain from a reoccurance of bladder stones, is encourage lots of clean fresh water, and eat moist meals. So this food is a great topper for Penny too. So, now I feed them all Orijen dry food, and between the Dobe and the three pugs I use one can a day. They all woof the food down. Lick the bowl too.

  • Hillary

    Thank you guys =)
    Yeah, the rat gets hers in a syringe and he gets it straight out of the jar so they shouldn’t be getting each others germs :)

  • melissa

    Hillary-

    I frequently use chicken baby food(only chicken &rice) to mix in with foods for picky dogs or sick dogs. Its fine to get a dog started in eating. However, as Mike said, never share foods between a sick animal and a healthy one-you just never know what you could be spreading.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Hillary… I have no problem with your sharing small amounts of baby food with your dog. However, if your rat is sick, why risk the possibility of spreading germs and possible infection to your dog?

  • Hillary

    Thank you for your fast reply! Theres two canned food he eats and one of them is this one and the other is Natures Recipe Farmstand Selects chicken one. He goes through phases and right now he will only eat the 95% chicken one. Although, I have an odd question. My pet rat is really sick right now and we’ve been feeding her babyfood which Peanut is crazy about! He always wants to lick the spoon empty. Do you think its okay if I mix a tiny bit in with his food to get his appetite started? If its human grade food it shouldn’t be bad for him as a topper right?

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Hillary… Since the 95% Chicken is considered a supplemental food, it’s probably OK to use it to “supplement” your dog’s kibble. However, it would probably be a good idea to also occasionally rotate the topper with other complete and balanced dog foods, too.

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