Rating: 
Wellness Simple Food Solutions Canned Dog Food receives the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.
Currently, the Wellness Simple Food Solutions product line includes three canned dog foods… each meeting AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance.
Wellness targets the line for “dogs suffering from food allergies and intolerances”.1
- Wellness Simple Food Solutions Duck and Rice
- Wellness Simple Food Solutions Lamb and Rice
- Wellness Simple Food Solutions Salmon and Rice
Wellness Simple Food Solutions Rice and Duck Dog Food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Wellness Simple Food Solutions Lamb and Rice Formula
Canned Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Lamb, lamb broth, lamb liver, rice, carrageenan, guar gum, potassium chloride, iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, cobalt proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, riboflavin supplement, sodium selenite, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin A supplement, vitamin B-12 supplement, potassium iodide, biotin, vitamin D-3 supplement
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4.5%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food lists lamb. Lamb is considered “the clean flesh derived from slaughtered” lamb and associated with skeletal muscle or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus.2
Lamb is naturally rich in all ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient includes lamb 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 lamb liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal. So long as it’s not over-weighted in a dog food, lamb liver is a beneficial component.
The fourth ingredient mentions simply rice. Since the word “rice” doesn’t tell us much, it could mean brown rice (which is good) or brewers rice (which is not so good, a by-product). So, it’s difficult to judge the quality of this particular item.
The fifth item lists carrageenan… a gelatin-like thickening agent extracted from seaweed. Carrageenan has been safely used as a food additive for hundreds of years.
The sixth ingredient lists 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 Simple Food Solutions Canned Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Wellness Simple Food Solutions Canned Dog Food can be better described by what it’s not (rather than what it is).
There are no dairy products, no corn, no wheat, no soy, no eggs, no artificial preservatives, no colors and no flavors.
And this makes the line suitable for dogs with certain allergy and digestive problems.
But how much meat does this product contain? For that information we must rely on the label’s reported nutrient percentages.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 36%, a fat level of 23% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 33%.
Each Wellness Simple Solutions Canned product reveals the same nutrient percentages as our Lamb and Rice example.
Moderate protein. Average fat. And Above-average carbohydrates… 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.
Bottom line?
Wellness Simple Food Solutions is a meat-based canned dog food using a respectable amount of lamb, duck or salmon as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand four stars.
Highly recommended.
Those looking for a similar kibble from the same brand may want to read our review of Wellness Simple Food Solutions Dry 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
11/21/2009 Original review
06/17/2010 Review updated
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.