Rating: 
Wellness Canned Dog Food receives the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.
Currently, the Wellness Canned product line lists eight dog foods. These should not to be confused with the company’s other canned sub-brands… Wellness Core and Wellness 95%.
- Wellness Just for Puppy
- Wellness Senior Recipe (3 stars)
- Wellness Duck and Sweet Potato Recipe
- Wellness Lamb and Sweet Potato Recipe
- Wellness Turkey and Sweet Potato Recipe
- Wellness Chicken and Sweet Potato Recipe
- Wellness Venison and Sweet Potato Recipe
- Wellness Whitefish and Sweet Potato Recipe
Wellness Turkey and Sweet Potato Recipe Dog Food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Wellness Turkey and Sweet Potato Formula
Canned Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Turkey, turkey broth, turkey liver, ground barley, sweet potatoes, carrots, tricalcium phosphate, ground flaxseed, canola oil, guar gum, potassium chloride, salt, carrageenan, iron proteinate (source of chelated iron), zinc proteinate (source of chelated zinc), choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, cobalt proteinate (source of chelated cobalt), copper proteinate (a source of chelated copper), manganese proteinate (a source of chelated manganese), riboflavin supplement, sodium selenite, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin A supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, potassium iodide, biotin, vitamin D3 supplement
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.5%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food is turkey. Turkey is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of turkey”.1
Turkey is naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient lists turkey broth. Broths are nutritionally worthless. But because they add moisture to a dog food they are a common finding in many canned products.
The third ingredient is turkey liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal. So long as it’s not over-weighted in a dog food, chicken liver is a beneficial component.
The fourth ingredient is barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. Unlike grains with a higher glycemic index (like rice), barley can help support stable blood sugar levels in dogs.
The fifth ingredient is sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a good source of complex carbohydrates in a dog food. They are naturally rich in fiber, beta carotene and other healthy nutrients.
The sixth ingredient lists carrots. Like sweet potato, carrots are loaded with beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The seventh item is tricalcium phosphate… a beneficial source of calcium and phosphorous. In canned products, this additive also acts as an emulsifier… an agent designed to disperse a food’s fats more evenly in water.
The eighth item is ground flaxseed… one of the best plant-based sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Flax meal is particularly rich in soluble fiber.
The ninth ingredient mentions canola oil. Most applaud canola for its favorable omega-3 content… while a vocal minority condemn it as an unhealthy fat.
Current thinking (ours included) finds the negative stories about canola oil more the stuff of urban legend than actual science.2
The tenth ingredient is guar gum… a gelling or thickening agent found in many wet pet foods. Refined from dehusked guar beans, guar gum can add a notable amount of dietary fiber to any product.
We also note this 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.
Wellness Canned Dog Food… the Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Wellness Canned Dog Food looks like a very nice product.
However, ingredient quality alone doesn’t tell the whole story. It’s still beneficial to estimate meat content before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 36%, a fat level of 23% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 33%.
If we eliminate the lower-rated Senior Recipe, the brand features a group average protein content of 37% and an average fat level of 23%. Together, these figures suggest an overall carb content of 32% for the full product line.
Near-average protein. Average fat. And near-average carbs… when compared to a typical canned dog food.
With no sign of any plant-based protein concentrates, this is the profile of a wet food containing a moderate amount of meat.
Just the same, it’s difficult not to notice the absence of any crucial Red Flag items.
Bottom line?
Wellness Canned Dog Food is primarily a meat-based wet product using a fair amount of species-specific cuts as its main source of animal protein… thus earning the brand four stars.
Highly recommended.
Those looking for a comparable kibble from the same company may want to check out our review of Wellness Dry Dog Food.
A Final Word
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
06/20/2010 Review updated
- Adapted by the Dog Food Advisor and based upon the official definition for chicken published by the Association of American Feed Control Officials, Official Publication, 2008 Edition ↩
- Mikkelson, B and DP, Oil of Ole, Urban Legends Reference Pages (2005) ↩
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I am taking care of an older relative’s dog and may have him for several months. This dog has been fed nothing but cooked chicken, cream cheese and supper-market type dog treats for over 12 years. I now have the dog on canned Hills Prescription Diet i/d that the vet prescribed for stress related Colitis. The Colitis has cleared up so now I want to start him on canned Wellness and healthier treats. Is canned Wellness a complete diet or should I have him on the kibble type Wellness instead. He is not used to eating dry food but does enjoy crunchy healthy dog treats. By the way, his teeth look pretty good for eating soft food most his life.
@Carol: I can’t say much about the nutritional aspect of Canned VS Dry, but all I know is that Dry is more affordable (especially for a broke college student like me).
I currently buy the 6oz can Wellness Lamb formula, which contains:
“Lamb, Lamb Broth, Lamb Liver, Ocean Whitefish, Ground Barley, Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Ground Flaxseed, Canola Oil, Carrageenan, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Canola Oil, Salt, Iron Proteinate (Source Of Chelated Iron), Zinc Proteinate (Source Of Chelated Zinc), Choline Chloride, Vitamins A, E And D3 Supplements, Copper Proteinate (Source Of Chelated Copper), Manganese Proteinate (Source Of Chelated Manganese), Riboflavin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Potassium Iodide, D-Biotin.”
I trust wellness because of their clear, firm statement that they do not use ethoxyquin in their products.
I currently mix in a spoonful of Wellness Lamb into my dog’s TOTW dry food, and add in some warm water. It gives a really nice meaty aroma!
Currently there’s a sale at Petco on all their Natural canned formulas (Wellness, Halo, Solid Gold, Natural Balance, etc.), and the price for the 6oz cans I buy are $1.35. Wellness also has a $1 off ANY can formula from their e-mail newsletter, so all I have to pay is $0.35 cents+ tax! A great deal for a broke college student like me.
On final note, I would recommend Wellness canned formulas to people who are switching. I’m also going to try out their CORE and Grain-free/95% canned formulas in the future.