Rating: 
Wysong Gourmet Dog Food receives the Advisor’s above-average rating of 4 stars.
The Wysong Gourmet product line lists 3 canned dog foods, each designed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance.
- Wysong Gourmet Chicken
- Wysong Gourmet Seafood
- Wysong Gourmet Liver
Wysong Gourmet Liver Dog Food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Wysong Gourmet Liver
Canned Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken liver, chicken, beef, water sufficient for processing, ground extruded whole soybeans, wheat germ, ground brown rice, dicalcium phosphate, taurine, dl-methionine, yeast culture, ground flax seeds, dried kelp, dried wheat grass powder, dried barley grass powder, natural extractives of sage and rosemary, garlic, black pepper, artichoke, 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) = 5.8%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 10% | 7% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 39% | 27% | 27% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 30% | 50% | 20% |
The first ingredient in this dog food includes chicken liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The second ingredient is 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 third ingredient is water, which adds nothing but moisture to this food. Water is a routine finding in most canned dog foods.
The fourth item includes whole soybeans. Even though soybeans contains over 80% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.
And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label — a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this food.
We rarely consider soy a preferred component in any dog food.
The fifth ingredient lists wheat germ. Wheat germ is a nutritious by-product of the wheat milling process and also rich in dietary fiber, B-vitamins and minerals.
However, since it contains at least 25% plant-based protein and depending upon the amount, this ingredient can boost the total protein reported on the label — a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
By the way, further down, you’ll also notice an item labeled dried wheat grass powder. Wheat grass is known for its unusually high vitamin and mineral content.
So, please ignore our software’s erroneous Red Flag treatment of these two otherwise healthy ingredients.
The sixth item is brown rice, a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) can be fairly easy to digest. However, aside from its natural energy content, rice is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The seventh ingredient is dicalcium phosphate, probably used here as a dietary calcium supplement.
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 have much of an effect on the overall rating of this product.
With two exceptions…
First, garlic can be a controversial item. Although most experts favor the ingredient for its numerous health benefits, garlic (in rare cases) has been linked to Heinz body anemia in dogs.2
However, the limited professional literature we surveyed provided no definitive warnings regarding the use of garlic — especially when used in small amounts (as it likely is here).
And lastly, we 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.
Wysong Gourmet Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Based upon its ingredients alone, Wysong Gourmet appears to be an above-average canned dog food.
But ingredient quality by itself 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 39%, a fat level of 27% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 27%.
All three products in the line present the same nutrient profile as our chosen example.
Average protein. Above-average fat. And near-average carbs as compared to a typical canned dog food.
When you consider the protein-boosting effect of the soy beans, this looks like the profile of a canned food containing a moderate amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Wysong Gourmet is a meat-based wet dog food using a significant amount of chicken, seafood or liver as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4 stars.
Highly recommended.
Those looking for a quality kibble from the same company may wish to visit 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
12/13/2009 Original review
04/18/2012 Last Update
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.