Wellness Core Dog Food (Dry)

by Mike Sagman
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Rating: ★★★★★

Wellness Core Dog Food earns the Advisor’s top rating of 5 stars.

The Wellness Core product line includes five dry dog foods, four claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance and one for growth (Puppy).

The following is a list of recipes available at the time of this review.

Wellness Core Original Formula Dry Dog Food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.

Wellness Core Original Formula

Dry Dog Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Protein = 38% | Fat = 18% | Carbs = 36%

Ingredients: Deboned turkey, turkey meal, chicken meal, peas, potatoes, dried ground potatoes, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), tomato pomace, chicken liver, natural chicken flavor, flaxseed, salmon oil, carrots, sweet potatoes, kale, broccoli, spinach, parsley, apples, blueberries, vitamins [vitamin E supplement, beta-carotene, niacin, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine mononitrate, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), biotin, folic acid], minerals [zinc proteinate, zinc sulfate, iron proteinate, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate], choline chloride, mixed tocopherols added to preserve freshness, glucosamine hydrochloride, chondroitin sulfate, taurine, chicory root extract, Yucca schidigera extract, dried Lactobacillus plantarum fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, rosemary extract

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.4%

Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients

Estimated Nutrient Content
MethodProteinFatCarbs
Guaranteed Analysis34%16%NA
Dry Matter Basis38%18%36%
Calorie Weighted Basis32%37%31%

The first ingredient in this dog food lists turkey. Although it is a quality item, raw turkey contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.

After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.

The second ingredient is turkey meal. Turkey meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh turkey.

The third ingredient is chicken meal, another protein-rich meat concentrate.

The fourth ingredient mentions peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber.

However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

The fifth ingredient lists potato. Potatoes can be considered a gluten-free source of digestible carbohydrates. Yet with the exception of perhaps their caloric content, potatoes are of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The sixth ingredient is dried potato, a dehydrated item usually made from the by-products of potato processing. Compared to cornmeal, dried potatoes contain slightly more protein.

The seventh 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. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.

The eighth ingredient is tomato pomace. Tomato pomace is a controversial ingredient, a by-product remaining after processing tomatoes into juice, soup and ketchup.

Many praise tomato pomace for its high fiber and nutrient content, while others scorn it as an inexpensive pet food filler.

Just the same, there’s probably not enough tomato pomace here to make much of a difference.

The ninth ingredient includes chicken liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.

After the natural chicken flavor, we find 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 four notable exceptions…

First, salmon oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans.

Depending on its level of freshness and purity, salmon oil should be considered a commendable addition.

Next, we note the use of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added to provide enzymes to aid the animal with digestion.

Thirdly, chicory root is rich in inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and found in certain roots and tubers.

Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, it’s also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.

And lastly, this food also 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 Core Dog Food
The Bottom Line

Based upon the quality of its ingredients, Wellness Core Dog Food looks like an above-average kibble.

But ingredient quality alone cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate meat content before determining a final rating.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 38%, a fat level of 18% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 36%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 38% and a mean fat level of 17%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 37% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 44%.

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

Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the peas, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a significant amount of meat.

Bottom line?

Wellness Core dog food is a grain-free kibble using a significant amount of named poultry or fish meals as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.

Enthusiastically recommended.

Those looking for a wet grain-free product from the same company may want to read our review of Wellness Core Canned Dog Food.

Special Alert

Rice ingredients can sometimes contain arsenic. Until the US FDA establishes safe upper levels for arsenic content, pet owners may wish to limit the total amount of rice fed in a dog's daily diet.

A Final Word

The descriptions and analyses expressed in this and every article on this website represent the views and opinions of the author.

Although it's our goal to ensure all the information on this website is correct, we cannot guarantee its completeness or its accuracy; nor can we commit to ensuring all the material is kept up-to-date on a daily basis.

Each review is offered in good faith and has been 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 analyze each product, please 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 qualified veterinary professional for help.

In closing, we do not accept money, gifts or samples from pet food companies in exchange for special consideration in the preparation of our reviews or ratings.

To learn how we support the cost of operating this website, please visit our public Disclosure and Disclaimer page.

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

Notes and Updates

11/18/2009 Original review
06/15/2010 Review updated
07/07/2010 Review updated
06/07/2011 Review updated (minor recipe change)
06/08/2012 Last Update

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  • Hound Dog Mom

    Hi Lauren –

    Wellness CORE Reduced Fat does not meet the AAFCO nutrient profiles for growth, it’s approved for maintenance only. What breed is your friend’s pup? If it’s a small breed it would probably be fine to switch to an adult food at 7 months – you wouldn’t want to do this for a larger breed, however, because it takes longer for large and giant breeds to reach their full adult size. Also, what food is your friend’s puppy eating now? Wellness CORE Puppy may be worth a try – it’s not low fat, but the dog’s issues may not be with fat and a grain-free food may help. If this doesn’t work out some grain-free limited ingredient foods that are approved for growth or all life stages and that have lower fat levels: Addiction’s Salmon Bleu Puppy and Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets – Annamaet Lean would also be worth looking into, I can’t find a nutrition adequacy statement on their website but I feel like I heard this was an all life stages food. I would also recommend, regardless of what food is fed, that your friend gets her pup on a quality multi-strain probiotic supplement and digestive enzyme supplement.

  • Lauren

    Hi Everyone –

    I’m doing research for a friend. My dog had stomach issues a few years ago and I got virtually no help from the vets. Through trial and error, I was able to help my dog with a diet change. I put him on Wellness Core Reduced Fat and he has been fine ever since. My friend’s dog is exhibiting the same symptoms that my dog exhibited. She’s been to several vets with no help. I would suggest the same protocol I used with my dog, but her dog is only 7 months old. I don’t want to suggest Core Reduced Fat to a puppy if she will miss out on essential nutrients. Can anyone tell me if Wellness Core Reduced Fat is ok for a puppy who doesn’t need to lose weight? If not, do you know of a dog food that is grain free and lower in fat that would be good for a puppy? Perhaps with limited ingredients? Thank you so much.

  • Pattyvaughn

    They can certainly tell when something is fake scent, even humans can often tell that, so to a dog it would be blindingly obvious. I’ve got to wonder how bad some things smell to dogs that we think they ought to like.

  • http://www.facebook.com/mah4angel Mary Alida Hornaday

    Louie is not a super aggressive chewer, but he does seem to love destroying fabric stuff. We’ve been looking for a safe fabric toy for him that’s not a squeaker (he’s terrified of squeaky toys) but I was thinking of getting him some sort of bone since it seem unlikely that I’ll find anything that is safe.
    All the same, I have a resounding suspicion that Louie won’t like antlers, he doesn’t seem to chew on anything that is not fabric or not at least seemingly edible. We got him one of those flavored/scented plastic bones… HE KNOWS… Lol.
    He also hates the taste of the artificially flavored poultry toothpaste. Sigh.

  • Pattyvaughn

    My current dogs are very careful chewers and I enjoy being able to give them bones and things, but I still always watch because I’m a worrywort and I seem to have the kind of luck that if something weird can happen, it will happen to me or mine.

  • Pattyvaughn

    We had one that decided to flatten a steel bucket. He chomped down on it until it was crushed like an aluminum can. We had another that just punched holes in a steel bowl until it looked like some kind of star map.

  • aimee

    YIKES!! I had a similar experience with Brooke. The pet boutique told me a kangaroo tail would be perfect for her. So I had them special order it. When I went to pick it up I thought no way am I giving that to her but I was embarrassed to say I didn’t want it , so I paid for it.

    The owner of the shop gave it to her in the store!(She was with me when I picked it up) She crunched down on it … I took it away but she was vomiting bone shards for the next 2 hours. I was afraid the esophagus was going to get damaged. I did tell the shopkeeper what happened and based on that experience I didn’t think he should recommend those to aggressive chewers.

  • Hound Dog Mom

    We just had a pit in the shelter that chewed through about 6 steel buckets. Hmm…I wonder what kind of damage he’d would do to an antler..

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Ouch. I generally try to stick to “softer” chews but I thought I’d give the antler a go. My dogs aren’t that heavy of chewers that I’m concerned about broken teeth but I do worry about them wearing down their teeth over time – that’s why I don’t do dense recreational bones either.

  • Pattyvaughn

    My dog that I lost last summer would have done that. He was a golden x but he chewed bones like he thought he was a pit bull. He always wanted to take chunks off. Dogs that chew like that are not good candidates for recreational bones. I found that out when he went through a beef knuckle bone in 2 hours flat, and then for the next 6 hours he vomited up pieces. That was his first and last unsupervised anything.

  • aimee

    I have to say I’m not a fan of antlers after learning of the experience of someone in my training class. She gave the dog the antler… and about 20 min later heard her dog vocalize and seeing blood off to the vet she went. The large carnassal tooth was broken into three fragments. After paying for the extraction she wasn’t a fan either.

  • Pattyvaughn

    My dogs didn’t like them either, but I have heard from someone that the thing to do is to simmer it in broth to peak their interest. I don’t need them to want to chew on one enough for it to be worthwhile.

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Antlers are safe chews for most dogs, although you may want to avoid them if you have a very determined chewer as they’re extremely hard and could potentially chip a tooth. I got one for my dogs and none of them were interested in it, I ended up throwing it out – but I have heard of some dogs that love them.

  • http://www.facebook.com/mah4angel Mary Alida Hornaday

    I’ve seen deer/elk antlers recently and have no idea whether or not my Louie will actually use them nor whether or not they’re a good option.

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Hi Mary –

    That’s not a stupid question. :)

    Yes, you feed RMBs whole – poultry bones are safe when fed raw. If your dog can handle the fat, you can leave the skin on (I do), although for first time RMB eaters it’s probably best to remove the skin for awhile (if you give a dog a high fat item that isn’t accustomed to high levels of fat they can get loose stools).

    Bones that are completely edible – i.e. chicken necks, turkey necks, pork necks, chicken backs, chicken leg quarters, chicken feet, etc. – would be considered Raw Meaty Bones (RMBs).

    Bones that are not completely edible would be considered recreational bones – i.e. marrow bones, knuckle bones, etc.

  • Mary

    Stupid questions….,but do you give this to them whole, completely raw, out of the pkg, w/ the meat still on it ?? And then for how long ? And do they consume the entire thing, bone & all ?

  • Jill

    Thanks HDM!!! Wonderful to know! Have a great evening!

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Hi Jill –

    Wellness used to have one of their formulas (Super5Mix Large Breed Puppy) manufactured by Diamond. That food was involved in Diamond’s salmonella recall last May. WellPet (Wellness’ parent company) has since expanded their manufacturing facility. I know all Wellness varieties are now manufactured by WellPet – I believe manufacturing for some of the other WellPet brands (Eagle Pack, Holistic Select, Old Mother Hubbard) is still outsourced, but I know WellPet cut all ties with Diamond.

  • Jill

    Can someone tell me if Wellness is associated with Diamond?
    I thought I read somewhere that Wellness was using Diamond’s manufacturing plants, but, after the recalls they stopped. Thank you in advance!

  • http://www.dfwpugs.com/ sandy

    You don’t have to pick just one food. Find a couple that work and rotate through them for variety and you can also add various toppers to the kibble too like canned foods or even fresh foods like meat, egg and fish. I used Core a couple years ago but currently don’t feed foods with white potato.

  • InkedMarie

    First, you can easily look at the ingredients to see if it has rice. It does not, its a grainfree food.

  • Mary Ann Hergenrother

    I am looking for the best dry food for my 17 month old German Shepherd. The choice is CORE or your best recommendation.

  • Mary Ann Hergenrother

    Does the wellness core line contain rice?
    What about the data suggesting that carcinogens are stored in the livers of animals?

  • vicky

    I have a st. Poodle that had allergies, Wellness Core and a Raw diet has cured her.

  • Pattyvaughn

    Personally, I would assume the worst. Old, moldy, damaged, rotten, and peels.

  • picky eater

    Most of the Solanine, a toxin found in potatoes, is located near the skin. Damaged and green potatoes have a higher solanine content. Are potato by-products damaged potatoes and potato peels?

    “The sixth ingredient is dried potato, a dehydrated item
    usually made from the by-products of potato processing. Compared to
    cornmeal, dried potatoes contain slightly more protein.”

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Raw meaty bones (turkey necks, chicken necks, chicken wings, etc.) are great for dental health.

  • http://www.facebook.com/mah4angel Mary Alida Hornaday

    Thanks for the advice :D I am determined to brush his teeth as often as needed and will never rely on a dry dog food to maintain dental health, I’ve just read that a dry dog food tends to lend to slightly better dental health. I’m looking into raw foods right now, as a matter of fact, because they tend to have higher omega-3 content, and lower carbohydrate content. I’d rather him eat as healthy as possible than rely on dry dog food, although they do tend to be slightly less expensive. I might give him raw in the morning and rotate between different dry’s in the evening.

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Also – if you’re con concerned about omega 3′s add a fish oil capsule daily, feed a tin of sardines occasionally or add cage-free eggs to his food. All are quality sources of omega 3′s that are in a usable form (EPA/DHA).

  • Hound Dog Mom

    HI Mary –

    Feeding variety is what’s best – you’ve listed some very high quality foods, so my suggestion would be to rotate between all. No food is perfect, so rotating will help mitigate the shortcomings of each food. Also, sticking to dry food won’t guarantee dental health – it will provide minimal, if any, dental health. Canned, dehydrated, raw and home cooked foods are much healthier than dry food. If you want your dog to have nice teeth you’ll need to brush them or get professional cleanings.

  • http://www.facebook.com/mah4angel Mary Alida Hornaday

    Hello there :D

    I’ve been looking to move from Innova Prime Grain-Free Chicken and Turkey formula for my silky, Louie, given their current recall situation and the fact that there are other dog foods that have better overall general ingredients. He’s a very new addition to our family, we just got him from his previous owners about a month and a half ago. He’s my first dog that is my own to take care of so please bear with me if I sound ignorant, I’m trying incredibly hard to do my research and do what’s best for him.
    I’ve been looking at Wellness Core (not sure whether the small breed or original would be better for my 10-pounder), Blue Buffalo Wilderness (also not sure about which specific formula to get), Orijen, and Earthborn. Let me first talk about what I want/am looking for and my issues.

    I would very much like the dog food I choose to be:
    -dry (my dog has never had his teeth brushed because his previous owners never did it, we recently found out he has gingivitis and had to give him antibiotics last week. The general consensus with our vet was not to brush his teeth until the swelling had gone down with the antibiotics as it would be painful for him. Because of the horrid state of his teeth, I’d like to continue using a dry dog food as they tend to help remove plaque and strengthen teeth and gums according to my research. Again, this is my first real pet that was not a family pet and I really am trying to do the best I can)
    -rich in omega-3 fatty acids
    -high in protein
    -not sure about fat content (so far, it is unclear to me whether or not an above-average or high amount of fat would be good or bad for my baby)
    -low in carbs (because he’s not a working/super active dog, and the consensus seems to be that dogs don’t need an abundant amount of carbs in their diets)
    -grain-free (I think this is obvious based on my selections)

    One of my problems is that my dog does not seem to like salmon products. I very much want my boy to have a diet rich in omega-3′s to support that beautiful silky coat and general healthy skin and digestive tract. But, when I’ve tried to give him salmon-based treats he refuses to eat them.
    Orijen’s formula is loaded with salmon ingredients and I have no idea if he’d be willing to eat it. When I was feeding him Purina Puppy Chow (don’t even get me started, I had to start off feeding him that crap because that’s what his previous owners were feeding him at the age of THREE…), he would have to be very very hungry to eat. BUT he LOVESSSSSSSSSSS Innova Prime Grain Free Chicken and Turkey. He actually picked it out and left the Puppy Crap on the floor during the transition, which probably is the cause of his loose stools, although the recall makes me nervous that the fast transition time is not the cause (I’ve contacted Nutra about the possibility of salmonella and provided them with the bag information). He will eat that all day if we let him, and has gained some weight (about 6 ounces since we started him on it three weeks ago, which seems too fast for weight-gain to me, another reason I’m looking for a lower-carb food for him).
    Anyway, Wellness Core has salmon oil as its eleventh or twelfth ingredient (depending on whether or not you buy the original or small breed formula), so it shouldn’t be overly powerful as far as taste is concerned, and I might just finally be able to get some omega-3′s in his system. BUT it’s moderately high in carbs (37%-higher than Innova Prime).
    Blue Buffalo has flaxseed as its sixth ingredient, which is also hailed as a great source of omega-3′s but I don’t know if it’s as sufficient as a salmon-based omega-3 source. Blue Buffalo is also high in carbohydrates (38%).
    Earthborn has a great protein and carbohydrate percentage (42% protein and 28% carbs), and is also hailed as a very high quality kibble but does not seem to contain any source of omega-3 fatty acids.

    I really just want what’s best for my dog and it really is difficult to feel like I’m doing something wrong. I was really impressed with Innova’s rating on here and the fact that my dog loves it so very very much. Now, I just want to find a really great quality kibble that can be his staple. I might just end up going back and forth between these four formulas if I find that there really isn’t a great alternative that will fulfill my criteria. I’d really love some help and opinions, though! I will pay whatever I have to for my dog to be healthy and happy, I have a ridiculously tight budget for life in general but I don’t care. He’s my baby.

    I’ll be posting this message on all four of the pages for the brands I mentioned for a more diverse selection of opinions.

    Thanks!

    Mary

  • Shawna

    Hi Billie,

    Phosphorus is not bad for healthy kidneys. Phosphorus is an absolutely necessary mineral in the diet and lowering phosphorus too much, when not necessary, can be harmful.

    Additionally, in the early stages of kidney disease phosphorus may not need to be lowered. But in later stages it is definitely a must. My dog was born with kidney disease and I have yet to need to lower her phosphorus or protein amounts. She will be seven years old the end of June this year.

    Wellness “Senior” is really not a good food for most senior dogs as it is WAY TOO LOW in protein at only 18%. Current research has demonstrated that mature and senior dogs can actually need as much as 50% more protein than adult dogs due to their decreased, in general, ability to digest their foods.

  • aimee

    Hi Billie,

    Wellness “Just for Seniors” has a minimum of 2.3 grams of phosphorous/1000kcals. (AAFCO minimum is 1.4 grams/1000kcals) For comparison Hill’s Science diet Mature Adult has an actual level of 1.79 grams/1000 kcals.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=709302478 Billie Danford

    Wellness is the only Senior food that has low Phosphorus tells me they did thier home work! Phosphorus is bad for older kidneys!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Trevor-Petersma/565104388 Trevor Petersma

    I have a ten pound min pin who chews at his paws and reverse sneezes (sounds like a wheezing sometimes) due to allergies. After doing the whole prednisone thing I eventually just give him a half of benadryl in the morning and the other half at night. Itching solved. Cheap to try. The dosage is based on weight of course so check with your vet.

  • motherofkittens

    I don’t know if it is also the case for dogs, but I have found a lot of cat products (including orijen for my kibble addict) cheaper at chewy.com. If you are looking for a more common food like wellness, totw or evo, it may be cheaper to buyit at a store if you have one around. I work at a Pet Supermarket (small, mostly southern chain) that carries them all at a comparable price and offers 1 free for every ten. A lot of feed stores carry those brands as well, usually at low rates.

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Wellness CORE Puppy is 1.23% calcium (3.24 g. calcium per 1,000 kcal.). I don’t think feeding an adult food to a puppy is a good idea. Based on what I’ve seen, generally even when an adult food is slightly lower in calcium it’s also slightly lower in calories which doesn’t result in much of a difference in grams of calcium per kcal. Also, adult foods are generally lower an protein and fat than foods labeled for growth or all life stages and adult foods can be deficient in certain vitamins and minerals puppies need.

  • Pattyvaughn

    A lot of large breed puppy foods are NOT appropriate for large breed puppies due to calcium levels that are too high, so don’t blindly trust that because it says large breed on it that the dog food manufacturer is actually up to date with the research.

  • Pattyvaughn

    Try a grain free, potato free, low carb, limited ingredient food and add probiotics and digestive enzymes. Or you can try adding probiotics and digestive enzymes to what you’re feeding now and see if that helps.

  • Germansheppups

    With a large breed puppy you have to be careful that there is not to much calcium and phospherus in the food. Ideally both should be around 1% or so. Many of the puppy foods have quite a bit of calcium so a large breed puppy food might be more appropriate. Or you can feed an adult food. Again though you have to be careful about the % of calcium. If I remember correctly, Adult Core has approximately 2% of calcium, which is too high for a large breed puppy. If your pup likes the puppy Core, I would just email or call the company if the calcium/phos. information is not on the bag.

  • Diane Smith

    That’s exactly what happened. After two rounds and research, I wish I hadn’t given him the prednisone. It’s not worth the risk for itching. He’s been on Royal Canin hypoallergenic for a couple of weeks as per the vets instructions. He’s still scratching like crazy and wearing Muttluks so he doesn’t tear up his skin. Honestly, I think it’s environmental. We have terrible problems with allergy suffering in this area. I’m also trying a daily dose of Claritin for the last week.

  • http://www.facebook.com/anna.s.allen.1 Anna Sikalis Allen

    my am bulldog/pit mix scratched all the time, i add about a tablespoon of olive oil, light virgin of course to his dinner feeding and his itching has about stopped, except for when he lays in the grass which he is allergic,lol, hope this helps. im not sure about this brand tho ive always fed every dog ive ever had iams. i really want a food that has more meat than by-product tho. im just confused right now.

  • http://www.dfwpugs.com/ sandy
  • DoubleMuttage

    Hello all,

    Long-time reader, first time poster. I’m curious, my 6 month old Shepherd mix puppy, Odin, has a grain allergy (I believe) so I switched him from Wellness Super5Mix Large Breed Puppy to Core Puppy about a week and a half ago. So far, he’s been itching/biting a lot less. He’s about 37 lbs right now so I expect him to be around 55-65 lbs full grown.

    My question is, is it ok for me to continue feeding him a non-Large Breed kibble? In my opinion he’s on the smaller end of large breed so I’m wondering if it will matter much. Are Large Breed dog foods just a marketing ploy? From the lower end dog foods’ ingredients (like Science Diet), I can tell it’s all the same crap. What makes a Large Breed Food a Large Breed food?

    Also, for his current weight, the daily recommendation is about 4 1/4 cups/day, but the previous Super5Mix Large Breed I had him on was about 3 1/2 cups. I would’ve expected to feed him less of the Core since from everything I can tell, it’s higher quality.

    Any ideas/knowledge/suggestions are much appreciated!

  • Tricia W

    Since I switched to Wellness Core about a month ago, I have noticed that my 3 yr old German Shorthair has suddenly taken to ingesting his poop. I do suspect a connection between that and the food he is eating. I plan on switching to something else as soon as I figure out what to try next to stop this gross behavior that just started out of the blue.

  • doggymom

    I have been using Wellness Core Ocean Formula for my dogs for about 3 years. When I adopted my rescue cairn terrier, I quickly discovered that chicken based foods bothered his stomach, so I did my research to find a top of the line food with no chicken elements…Core Ocean was my choice and has been since. The cairn terrier’s stomach is happy and my Scottish terrier, who is known to be finicky, loves the taste! Even after 3 years of feeding, they both gobble their food with delight each time. They are spitting images of health and have the most beautiful coats as well. I would highly recommend this food to anyone.

  • Miles

    Great thank you both very much! I will try both of your suggestions for sure. I had picked the Wellness Core after I researched several different ones on this site and this one seemed to have great reviews. I am afraid of the Blue Buff as I heard some bad things about it causing cancer and things. I am hoping I picked the right one, it gets a ittle confusing after reading about so many different brands. Also I can get the Core pretty easy as it is sold at petsmart. Are there any certain probiotics or digestive enzymes that I should look for? Again thank you so much for your help! I just want my boy to be as healthy as he can be so I can keep him around for as long as I can!

  • Pattyvaughn

    Bryan gave you great advice, but I would also add a digestive enzyme to your dogs food until he is completely adjusted. He doesn’t have the right mix of bacteria in his gut to handle the new food after so long on the old one and it takes time to build up the population in the gut.

  • http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/ BryanV21

    It’s absolutely common for dog’s to have issues like that when changing foods, so don’t worry about it. Some dogs can change without any transition at all, some dogs need a little added fiber like pumpkin during the switch, they’re all different.

    I’d recommend you try a probiotic to add to the food, which will help your dog digest the food better, and should get rid of the gas problem.

    But don’t go back to that other food. You and your dog will be better off with the Core. If you do want to try another food though, I and others would be more than happy to help yo pick one out.

  • Miles

    Hello,
    I have a question about switching my dogs food. I have a 7 yr old Pitbull/Boxer mix that has been eating Purina One weight management for the last several years. I have recently had a cancer scare with him (no cancer thank God!) and am trying to switch him to the Wellness Core dog food. I am following the gradual switch but it is still giving him horrible gas and loose stools. I tried the Blue Buff a couple of years ago and it did the same thing and just kept getting worse so I put him back on the Purina. My question is, should I keep trying the switch and hope his digestive system starts to handle it? Should I stop the switch? Is it normal for a dog to have these issues, especially when I am switching to a much better food? Thank you in advance for your help!

  • Amanda

    After the bad reviews I saw on here about Blue Buffalo, I’ve spent the past 2+ hours looking at the grain free dog food reviews on here as well as a few other sites and have decided that I will be switching my 10 month old GSD/Queensland mix over to this Wellness Core. I will also be switching our 3 indoor cats over to the Wellness Core from BB as a precaution. Never had a problem with BB, my eldest cat actually does better on BB than what he was on before and he has crystals. But, I am worried about BB’s quality now and feel the need to switch. Hopefully this Wellness Core is as amazing as so many people say it is :)

  • Ali.L

    My 1 and 1/2 year old pomchi is a very picky eater. It has taken me a year to find a food that he actually likes. Prior to being on wellness core for small breeds he was on the Blue Buffalo freedom grain free. At first he liked it but then started to turn his nose up at it. His daycare suggested wellness core so I figured I would give it a shot. I switched him over without having to mix any of the Blue Buffalo and he now acts like he has never been fed in his entire life! He loves wellness core!

  • Pattyvaughn

    I haven’t fed either of those foods and my dog is an 11 year old spayed Jack Russell Terrier, so take my advice however you like. Protein does not lead to kidney issues, though toxins on the dog and in the environment might. I feed a much higher protein food to my old girl and I add raw food to boast the protein levels even more. Actually that’s not quit true since she now eats about 3/4 raw, I shouldn’t say I add raw, as if she gets a little raw with her kibble. She probably gets between 50% and 60% protein. We did blood work just a few months ago and her values were great. She is a couch potato when we are inside and still hunts and catches things out in the yard. So far, there are no negatives that I can see.

  • Small Dog Owner

    Hi,

    I have been feeding my chihuahua (Penny) Wellness Super5Mix Small Breed since I adopted her in June. I am considering switching her to Wellness Core Grain-Free Small Breed because I was told it is a better quality formula. However, the bag says that this formula is for small dogs with “higher energy needs” – Penny is healthy but definitely not a super active chihuahua. Also, I’ve read that too much protein can lead to kidney issues. Super5Mix is 28% protein and Core is 36%. Penny is a 7 lbs chihuahua (mix?), 1.5 years old, and a spayed female. Does anyone have any experience with this formula and a similar pet? Core has very good reviews, but I’m concerned that it may not be ideal for small, low-energy companion dogs.

    Thanks!

  • Mkck11

    We’ve been feeding this since our American bulldog was a year old (fed Wellness puppy until the ) and this is by far the best dog food we’ve ever come across. She eats so much less than something of inferior quality so it really isn’t anyone expensive than than the grocery store foods. Since she eats so much less a day, the cost is about the same. She is healthy, a normal weight with no allergies (she had tons with other trial foods before discovering this brand). Highly recommended. Worth every penny. Buy it without hesitation. She’s a very picky eater and has always loved this.

  • http://twitter.com/jtreags John Thomas Reagle

    Look, just because you say that your dog seems “crazy” on this food IS NOT A BAD THING! It’s a good thing! A high fat/carb diet (found in crap foods) will tend to make your dog seem tired and lethargic. KEEP HIM ON THE GOOD STUFF!!! So what if he has more energy, that just means that he wants more walks. He feels younger, healthier, and better!!!

  • http://twitter.com/jtreags John Thomas Reagle

    My Beagle loves the stuff too. No problems after ~2 years on it.

  • http://twitter.com/jtreags John Thomas Reagle

    I agree, if you have any Q’s about Wellness Core just ask. I have had my Beagle on Wellness Core for ~2 years without any issue. Just be sure that when you buy Wellness that it’s Core, not simply Wellness Grain-Free. A tad confusing.

  • http://twitter.com/jtreags John Thomas Reagle

    Absolutely. I feed my Beagle 2/3 cup dry Core in the afternoon and 1/3 cup dry & 1/3 cup wet Core at night. He has done absolutely fantastic on Core; 2 years, not one issue. He is in superior health and very happy.

  • beaglemom

    This was the first grain-free food I tried for one of my itchy beagles who also transitioned from Purina One. It cleared up all of her itchies and she’s done great with it.

  • http://www.thegreedypinstripes.com/ BryanV21

    Prednisone can cover up the true problem, so be on the lookout for more itching once he’s done with that medication.

  • Diane Smith

    I started my two and a half year old Golden Retriever, Luke, on Wellness Core Grain Free Reduced Fat dog food about two weeks ago. I tried several high quality dog foods on Luke up until he was about one and a half. He always had gastrointestinal issues. The vet finally suggested Purina One as he said Luke didn’t seem to be able to handle richer and higher protein dog foods. I did this, but haven’t felt great about it. It did clear up Luke’s intestinal issues about 80%, but he has had a time with itching and scratching. I’m very regular with his flea/tick and heart worm meds and brush him everyday with both an undercoat rake and a slicker brush, so I decided Luke either has seasonal allergies or issues with his food.

    He’s finishing up a round of prednisone for scratching a constant sore on his chin (not a big fan of this drug, although it’s effective! I think I’m one and done using it unless Luke has a more serious condition) and decided I would try a hypoallergenic dog food. I chose Wellness Core Grain Free Reduced Fat dry dog food. I went with low fat because Luke has had one acute bout of pancreatitis. I decided to gradually transition Luke to it, but unfortunately this coincided with the same week my daughter gave birth to our first grandchild. As I went to feed Luke the next morning with bleary “I’ve been up all night with a newborn” eyes, I gave him his usual two cups of dog food for breakfast — but it was all Wellness — no transition process whatsoever. Rut Roh, I thought — here comes runny dog poop and daily washing of britches to go along with a new baby.

    Well, Hallelujah! — it didn’t occur. Luke is loving this dog food. He’s eating it all without any coaxing via lean beef or chicken additions. Luke has never been a voracious eater and it is so nice seeing him seeming to really enjoy this dog food. I hope, over time, I will see less itching. So far, so good.

    I feel so much better giving him a high quality dog food.

  • Fool

    MSG is poison to dogs, I’ve seen dogs in the overseas die from MSG poisoning.

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Diamond no longer manufactures any food for Wellness.

  • hollyd

    So I’m trying to find out about Wellness Core Puppy food. Is it made by Diamond? And any other useful information anyone might have.

  • Pattyvaughn

    I completely agree!! For kibble I like to chose high protein, moderate fat, and low carb. But I prefer raw food with next to no carbs at all.

  • Angel’sMom

    Insulin spikes are correlated with high glycemic index foods (not just limited to grains). When a dog food is labeled “grain free” one needs to determine what the carb substitute is. Many times it is sweet potatoes or potatoes which have a higher glycemic index rating than a lot of grains. So, grain free may not always equate to better. Barley, for example, has a lower GI rating than rice. And it is much lower than sweet potatoes or regular potatoes. Bottom line: read the label and educate yourself on the glycemic index.

  • Rob

    I agree,I came here to learn about Wellness Core dog food,not to read about someone’s dog eating poop,and 9 out of 10 posts aren’t even about the food being reviewed. I guess I’ll have to go somewhere else to actual learn anything.

  • Cockerowner

    I fed my two CoreWellness after they were having itchy skin with Blue Buffalo, and I love it. It’s cleared up their skin problems, we have less tearing up, and their coats are beautiful.

  • http://www.facebook.com/katie.carter.792 Katie Carter

    My chloe is the same way. She does not like it, even though it is much better for her than the food i was giving her.

  • http://twitter.com/TM_Brooklyn christopher stella

    my 7 yr old boxer/pit bas been on core for as long as ive had him (5+ years) and even the vets think he looks like a puppy. it also cured the tear stains he had when first adopted.. best dog food out there

  • Mcmullenjohnathon

    I had a 1 year old pit wich I gave to my mother after moving out because she fell so inlove with her, and shes been eating wellness core ocean (dry) and loves it and is very health i get compliments on her coat and just compliments on her all the time. but since i no longer have her and my mom does i thought it time for a new dog so me and my girlfreind got an 8 week old pit that i tried feeding welness core puppy. im not real sure what the dog was orignaly eating so this new puppy food is giving him the runs real bad. but on top of that he really doesnt seem to interested in eating it. so i baught a bag of the more commonly used purina puppy chow to mix in with his food to see if he liked that better and he does his runs are starting to go away. now my question is should i ween him off of the purina and switch to another healthier choice of food or just keep him on what hes used to?

  • Pingback: Worth Switching to Fromm instead of Wellness Core? - Chihuahua Forum : Chihuahua Breed Dog Forums

  • MaM_13

    Mine was super energetic inside & usually much more mellow.  This is actually where I first began to notice this difference (inside) I also cut the amount of the Core down by 3/4 of a cup b/c I read the kcal/cup ratio difference.  Thanks.  

  • Kaw5885

    My dogs were recently switched to Core as well, but no, mine have not been super energetic or extra crazy.  Right now, they’re sound asleep.  Are you sure it’s not the cold weather?  Mine do tend to be a little wild and crazy outside when it’s cold out, but they’re still mellow in the house.  I have a young 16 month old, and a 5 year old.  Both mixed breeds around 30-35 lbs.   Something to keep in mind is that Wellness Core has a higher calorie content at 417 kcal/cup, whereas Nutro has a low calorie content at 287 kcal/cup, which means on Wellness you would feed your dog less at each meal to keep them at the same number of calories per day.  If you kept feeding your dog the same amount of food after switching to Wellness, they would be getting too many calories, and calories=energy.  

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1140685339 Betsy Greer

    Ah ha, so he’s been on it for two weeks and he was on his previous food for seven months. The only apparent “issue” with the food is his increased energy level.

    It sounds like you just turned back your pup’s biological clock a bit ~ welcome to your new and improved pup! It totally sounds as though his increased vitality is the result of the food and the fact that he is truly now thriving.

    Personally, I wouldn’t change a thing except maybe to rotate through the Wellness Original and Ocean Core formulas, while I look for an additional brand to add into my rotation (preferably a red meat protein) that makes him feel as full of life that he tolerates as well as the Core.

  • MaM_13

    However I describe it, it seems to be all energy related.  Also  this is the only thing that has changed the past 2 1/2 weeks.  Increased energy all day long-even with additional exercise.  So the change in behavior is after 2-2 1/2 weeks on the Wellness.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1140685339 Betsy Greer

    Hi MaM_13,

    OK, so maybe I’m not exactly following you. When you say he’s “wild on this food,” or that “he’s jumping out of his skin and can’t settle down,” those sound like two different things to me.

    To me, what I was first hearing you say was that he suddenly had a lot more energy, but now what you’re describing sounds like something else. Can you elaborate on that?

    Seven months is a good trial, but it’s better for a dog’s digestive health to eat a variety of foods. I rotate kibbles with every bag and canned toppers with every meal. I haven’t been good about a daily raw meal lately, but they do get them often along with raw, meaty bones. Has the change in your dog’s behavior just started or was it evident as soon as you started him on the Wellness?

  • MaM_13

    Hi Betsy,
    His old dog food was Nutro Limited ingredient Lamb & Rice.
     He has been on this food for 7 months  He is by no means dull or lacking energy.  His coat is beautiful, his poops were great, & he was well behaved.  (certainly not sleeping all the time)  If it had not been for his lack of interest in this food, I would never have switched.  He walks, plays, & comes to the farm with me every day.  So as you can imagine he spends plenty of quality time with me & has more exercise than probably the average dog.  I know the ratings of this dog food in comparison to the Wellness Core, but certainly if he is now jumping out of his skin & can’t settle down the benefits of the “5 star ratings don’t seem to be worth it.  It is probably a great dog food, just not for my particular dog.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1140685339 Betsy Greer

    Hi MaM_13,

    What was your dog’s “old” food?

    My suspicion is that your dog is feeling better and has more energy on this, which I suspect is probably a better quality food, than what he was eating. To switch him back because of his new-found vitality doesn’t sound very fair to me.

  • MaM_13

    I switched to this wonderfully rated dog food about 2 1/2 weeks ago.  I’m a believer in “if its not broke don’t fix it”- however, my dog wasn’t interested in his old food.  He is a mixed breed about 50lb that gets a decent amount of exercise daily.   He is also calm & has done basic obedience.  He is wild on this food.  Has anyone noticed this in their dog with the high protein & fat levels?  Am in the process of switching back to his old food.

  • Kaw5885

    My dogs have been doing very well health and digestive wise since I switched them to Wellness Core.  They were eating Natural Balance Alpha, which they loved the taste of, but kept having digestive issues-occasional vomiting, diarrhea, soft stools, and just pooping way more than they should.  I switched them to Wellness Core a few weeks ago, and are doing awesome healthwise.  I was avoiding Core for a while, because they didn’t like the taste as much as NB, but health is more important.  Someone told me they may get diarrhea from a high protein food like Core, because they’re small and not too active, but they’ve had nothing but completely solid poops since I switched it.  Wellness is a great food.  

  • losul

    Got about 8lbs of the CORE original from my sister to try. She has her french bulldog and cavalier on it for a couple or 3 months and seem to be doing well. The frenchie has a history of severe skin/itching/scratching/licking problems in past. They’re both still way overweight although she won’t admit. Can’t even talk to her about feeding some raw meat, nope, no way. She should be at least using the CORE reduced fat formula

    Anyway, this formula has some ingredients I don’t really think appropriate, for her dogs and probably not mine either, namely too many potatoes, and then carrots and sweet potatoes together, too many starches and sugars, rosemary (but at least that’s listed last) I might still put it into the rotation, and kibble is only about 35-40% of his diet anyway.

    I can say one thing about it, it sures smells a heck of a lot better than Kirkland’s lamb and rice. Kirklands L&R ALWAYS had a repulsive smell to me. CORE actually smells good. Turbo seems to like CORE very much, but then he seems to REALLY like anything I’m willing to give him. I imagine the rest of the Kirkland’s is soon to go into the compost pile. The stinkin stuff was only about 80 cents/lb anyway. Really, how could there possibly be much quality in that?

  • Lgronvall

    I switched my chihuahua to this recently. She use to be on Blue Buffalo. I liked that Wellness had more veggies, and they did not add any caramel to their food. My chi likes this brand better, especially the canned. I had to always coax her to eat the BB canned.   

  • Pattyvaughn

    LOL!!  Thanks, but it would ruin my life if I were to strike it rich.

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