Rating: 
Wysong Optimal Performance dry dog food earns the Advisor’s top rating of 5 stars.
Like all Wysong dry dog foods, Optimal Performance is designed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance.
However, the company also advises the product is “equally suitable for dogs of all life stages and breeds” when fed as a part of a diet rotation with other Wysong products.
Wysong Optimal Performance Canine Diet
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Organic chicken, chicken giblets, poultry meal, ground brown rice, ground oat groats, poultry fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols as a source of vitamin E), eggs, whey, dried yogurt, plums, dried wheat grass powder, dried barley grass powder, lecithin, citric acid, sage extract, rosemary extract, dried kelp, fish oil, salt, garlic, artichoke, dried chicory root, l-carnitine, 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, 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) = 4.5%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food includes organic chicken. Raw chicken contains a lot of water… about 80%. 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 ingredient is poultry meal. Poultry meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh poultry.
Although this is obviously a quality item, we would have preferred the company to have identified the source species (chicken, duck, etc.) of the poultry.
The fourth item is brown rice. Brown rice is a quality ingredient… a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.
The fifth 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 sixth ingredient is poultry fat. Poultry fat is a by-product of rendering… the same high-temperature process used to make meat meals.
Although poultry fat can be considered an acceptable ingredient, we (again) would have preferred to have known the identity of the source animal.
The seventh ingredient includes eggs… a desirable addition. Eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
The eighth ingredient is whey. Whey is a by-product of the cheese industry. Depending on its type, whey can contribute a limited amount of additional protein to this dog food.
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.
However, we note the following 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.
The manufacturer appears to have applied 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.
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.1
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).
Wysong Optimal Performance Dry Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Wysong Optimal Performance Dog Food appears to be a high quality kibble.
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 46%, a fat level of 21% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 26%.
High protein. Above-average fat. And very low carbohydrates… as compared to a typical dry dog food.
With no evidence of any plant-based protein concentrates, this is the profile of a kibble containing an abundance of meat.
Bottom line?
Wysong Optimal Performance is a meat-based dry kibble using a generous amount of chicken, giblets and poultry meal as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Those looking for a nice wet food made by the same company may wish to read our review of Wysong Au Jus Diets Canned 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
12/14/2009 Original review
07/07/2010 Review updated
- 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) ↩
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.