Wysong Maintenance (Dry)

by Mike Sagman
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Rating: ★★★★☆

Wysong Maintenance dry dog food receives the Advisor’s second highest rating of 4 stars.

Wysong Maintenance claims to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance. But according to the company, it can be fed to dogs of “all life stages and types as part of a diet rotation”.

Wysong Maintenance Canine Diet

Dry Dog Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Protein = 27% | Fat = 14% | Carbs = 51%

Ingredients: Chicken, chicken giblets, ground brown rice, ground wheat, ground corn, ground oat groats, poultry fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols as a source of vitamin E), eggs, plums, dried wheat grass powder, dried barley grass powder, whey, dried yogurt, lecithin, citric acid, sage extract, rosemary extract, dried kelp, fish oil, salt, garlic, black pepper, artichoke, l-carnitine, direct fed microbes (dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation product, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus casei fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus lactis fermentation product, dried yeast culture, dried Aspergillus oryzae fermentation product, dried Aspergillus niger fermentation product), ascorbic acid, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, manganese proteinate, calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, copper proteinate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, vitamin a acetate, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5.1%

Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients

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

The second item lists chicken giblets… the edible by-products of poultry slaughter. They include the gizzard, lungs, kidneys, heart, spleen, liver, ovaries… and most other internal organs of the bird.

Although the thought of eating an animal’s internal organs may not be appealing to most humans, these unfamiliar ingredients can be considered a natural part of an authentic canine ancestral diet.

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

The next two ingredients are wheat and corn. Now, contrary to what you may have heard, wheat and corn aren’t necessarily bad ingredients.

However, although there’s no way to know for sure here, the corn and wheat used in making many pet foods can be similar to the kind used to make feed for livestock.

And that can sometimes be problematic.

What’s more, corn and wheat are commonly linked to canine food allergies1.

For this reason, we rarely consider these two grains to be preferred components in any dog food.

The sixth ingredient includes oat groats… a whole grain, minimally processed form of oats. So long as they are adequately cooked, groats are especially high in nutritional value.

The seventh ingredient is poultry fat. Poultry fat is obtained from rendering… a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.

Poultry fat is high in linoleic acid… an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. However, we would have preferred a single-species item (like chicken fat).

This dog food contains eggs… a desirable addition. Eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.

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

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

The following are notable exceptions…

Wheat grass is prized for its unusually high vitamin and mineral content. So, please ignore our software’s unfavorable treatment of this otherwise healthy ingredient.

Garlic can be a controversial item. Although the majority of experts favor the ingredient for its numerous health benefits, garlic (in rare cases) has been linked to Heinz body anemia in dogs.2

Most of the professional literature we surveyed did not provide any conclusive warnings regarding the use of garlic… especially in small amounts (as it is here).

The manufacturer appears to have applied some friendly bacteria to the surface of the kibble after cooking. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.

This dog food also contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to amino acids. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are generally found in better dog foods.

Wysong Maintenance Dry Dog Food
The Bottom Line

Judging by its ingredients alone, Wysong Maintenance appears to be a good quality dry dog food.

But ingredient quality alone 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 27%, a fat level of 14% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 51%.

Average protein. Average fat. And average carbohydrates… when compared to a typical dry dog food.

With no evidence of any plant-based protein concentrates, this is the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.

Bottom line?

Wysong Maintenance is primarily a grain-based dry kibble using a moderate amount of chicken and chicken giblets as its main source of animal protein… thus earning the brand 4 stars.

Recommended.

Those looking for a higher protein kibble from the same company may wish to check out our review of Wysong Optimal Performance 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 a specific health benefit 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

12/15/2009 Original review
07/07/2010 Review updated
12/03/2010 Review updated

  1. White, S., Update on food allergy in the dog and cat, World Small Animal Veterinary Association, Vancouver, 2001 ↩
  2. Yamato et al, Heinz Body hemolytic anemia with eccentrocytosis from ingestion of Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum) and garlic (Allium sativum) in a dog, Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 41:68-73 (2005) ↩
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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  • Jonathan

    Just a thought to the above exchange back in June 2010…

    Just what in the heck is Rick so upset about? All of Wysong’s products have a “recommended” status with an appropriate 4 or 5 star rating.

    From reading his angry post, you would think Mike had given this food 1 star and spit on it.

    All of Wysong’s products seem to be of good quality and are, therefor, recommended by Mike.

    So what was all the hostility about? Jeepers.

  • Patti Patterson

    Hi,

    I wanted to join in here about the merits of Wysong products. I offer Wysong products in our small pet food store.

    I do have one testimony for Epigen; a customer’s lab had sudden itchy hot spots–tried Epigen for a week or so, and the condition improved significantly, and he continues to use Epigen product. He states his dog’s coat is healthy now.

    Although anecdotal, I just thought I would share this experience. I do like one of Wysong’s comments, which is our pets should be fed a variety of foods, including healthful home made foods.

    Many people are looking for the “best” food, and I question if there is such a thing as one best food for all pets, even in the same species. For example, if a dog has kidney problems would high meat content be the best source of nutrients?

    At any rate, I appreciate these comments, and would to like to learn more about pet nutrition.

    Thanks for the reviews and providing a venue for discussion.

    Patti

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Mitzie… I too have read many of the company’s website materials. And especially when it comes to competitors, critics and doubters, I sometimes find the tone at Wysong to be defensive and not in the spirit of mutual cooperation.

    In any case, I can certainly see why you would question any dog food ingredient labeled corn (or wheat) protein. I too would suspect that item to be something akin to corn or wheat gluten.

    However, Wysong takes a controversial approach… calling this long held industry-wide definition nothing less than “pet food mythology”. They argue the starch portion of wheat and corn should be considered a by-product… whereas the protein component should be thought of as the nutritious part of a cereal grain.

    Maybe so. Yet no one we know refers to corn or wheat gluten as a “by-product”. But many consider pet food glutens (and other vegetable proteins) inferior in quality to meat proteins.

    Although we respect Wysong’s position, the evidence still supports the fact that plant-based proteins possess a lower biological value than animal proteins.

    Mitzie, as a consumer, you have every right to question the meaning of Wysong’s listed ingredients… and you also have every right to expect your question to be answered with tolerance and respect.

  • Mitzie R

    Mike,

    I have communicated with Wysong over their new Epigen food and received very condescending replies over questions about the “wheat protein” and “corn protein” (which I believe are glutens) used in Epigen. Based on the “Rick’s” response, the tone and wording of the e-mail sounds like something written by someone from their company. If you read their website Q&As you will know what I mean.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Dear Rick… Thanks for your reply. I admire your passion for Wysong products as well as your respect and devotion to Dr. Wysong himself. Maybe when I revisit the Wysong products I’ll be able to discover more about the source of your enthusiasm and I’ll be better equipped to see their merits… especially Epigen.

    Rick, although I certainly agree with your critical assessment of the pet food industry, I find no other way to help people see through the exaggerated claims, hype, fancy packages, and inferior “profit-first” dog foods on the market. These mirages of so called science held in the minds of innocent consumers are the direct result of the “marketers, lackeys of corporate boards beholden to profit hungry stock holders, partners of greedy venture capitalists…” etc. you mention in your post.

    I only use the Guaranteed Analysis and the ingredients lists because they are regulated and standardized. They help me organize the dog foods reviews into five different categories. Sometimes I struggle deciding which classification best suits a particular food. It’s not always so easy.

    As I have mentioned, “it has never been my goal to base my ratings on a company’s merits but rather on 2 important criteria of their finished goods. I rate dog foods on (1) quality of ingredients and (2) the estimated dry matter meat content of their nutrient profiles.”

    Rick, I’m in no way claiming label information to be superior to your (or anyone else’s) “direct empirical experience”. But for those of us without your knowledge and experience with Wysong, it’s all we’ve got.

    Regarding liability, what would the world be like without free speech… the ability of anyone to review music, art, movies, books, restaurants, products, food… even dog food? As long as those opinions are not based upon lies or false statements the law protects the rights of all who choose to post their views publicly.

    Rick, I’m sorry you have taken my reviews so personally. For in many ways, we both agree on many issues. I hope in the future you will not see my opinions as a personal attack on your favorite products but rather just what they really are… an opinion (good or bad) posted by just one well-meaning person.

  • Rick

    Dear Mike,

    Thank you for your reply. You are the one that says on your site that you are an affiliate for products.

    I am a PhD scientist and breeder. If you are suggesting that my direct empirical experience over some twenty years with Wysong products should be set aside because of lack of controls (or disobedience to your hypothetical criteria), how exactly would you design controls that prove the health, long life, and championships of my animals on Wysong is not true? Also, it is misleading to suggest that controlled studies are the only route to truth. For example, hundreds of millions of dollars are spent on drug studies yet drugs are released on the market that maim and kill. Also, you must be aware of the value of even the N of one study.

    Additionally, why don’t you follow your own advice? No double blind cross over studies have been performed proving the assertions and criticisms made on your site. I do not see the citations. If you have them, I would like to see them.

    You place way too much trust in labels, as if that somehow cuts to the truth. It has to be more than that since my results deny your analysis. The absurdity of your rankings is typified, for example, by you rating “evo” high, and yet this company claims their starch-based heat processed foods are “just like raw.” That’s enough for me to rank them zero stars, I don’t care what their label says.

    I find Dr. Wysong the only consistent glimmer of light, both intellectually and in the results he has blessed my animals with, in the entire pet food arena. The rest seem to me to be just marketers, lackeys of corporate boards beholden to profit hungry stock holders, partners of greedy venture capitalists, home brewers who think they are nutritionists, and slogan pushers. I do not trust them or their products regardless of their “labels.”

    You might consider liability. I would not think that self-appointed expert pet food rankers have the freedom to libel and damage companies (and breeders like me who recommend Wysong) using information that is mere opinion and has not been proven.

  • Reply from Mike

    Hi Rick,

    Thanks for your email. I’d like to address your comments.

    First of all, I am NOT an affiliate of ANY dog food company. And I am not a veterinarian. However, I am a chemist and a doctor of dental surgery.

    Second, it has never been my goal to base my ratings on a company’s merits but rather on 2 important criteria of their finished goods. I rate dog foods on (1) quality of ingredients and (2) the estimated dry matter meat content of their nutrient profiles.

    As I have reviewed more and more dog foods my relative judging criteria have evolved. And my database averages and means have also grown. So, like all the foods in my database, I will be revisiting Wysong sometime soon (within the next 60 days?). And I expect to be making a few changes in some of the ratings to reflect my collective (historical) rating experience.

    Your personal experience is certainly of value. But in science and medicine we refer to this type of experience as anecdotal evidence… since they are not scientific double blind evaluations.

    I have spent a great deal of time and effort creating these reviews as unbiased as I can. But like all things in life, nothing is perfect.

    I will try to do a better job as I go.

    I also created a blog so that discussions like these would be in the open forum… where your comments can be viewed and shared with others.

    I would invite you to post your future comments directly associated with a review so that others can read your comments (as well as my responses) and participate for th4e good of all.

    The end result will be a collection of more and more information to help all of us develop a better understanding and recognition of good (and bad) dog foods.

    Mike Sagman

  • Rick

    Dear Mike,

    Thank you for your efforts to bring thoughtful information about pet feeding.

    I will say I am surprised by your ranking of some of the Wysong. I have fed their foods and followed Dr. Wysong’s sage advice for over twenty years. I have used his foods (the ones you rank low) and supplements through many litters and for entire lives. All I have seen is remarkable results, disease reversal, and champions, not what would be implied by your review. An argument never defeats direct experience.

    You are obviously missing something and evidently not using the correct criteria for measuring a company’s merits.

    You should take a look at their new patented no-starch kibble, Epigen, unlike anything in the market. I think it is truly a revolutionary product, in terms of a kibble.

    Keep up the good work, but be careful of all the sensational myths circulating about pet food ingredients that have little or no basis in science or empiricism.

    I bet you are not an affiliate of Wysong!