Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
Wholesomes Energy Series dry dog food is made up of two recipes with ratings of 4 to 5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 4.5 stars.
Energy Series recipes are the Wholesomes range for active dogs, supporting strength, energy, and endurance. Made with high-quality ingredients such as taurine for heart health, vegetables, and whole grains for digestion, plus glucosamine and chondroitin to protect joints.
Pros
- No corn, wheat or soy
- Glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health
- Good level of protein
Cons
- Limited choice of recipes
The table below shows each recipe in this range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Wholesomes Energy Plus | 4 | M |
| Wholesomes High Energy | 5 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Wholesomes High Energy was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Wholesomes High Energy
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken meal (natural source of glucosamine and chondroitin), brown rice, peas, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), rice bran, whitefish meal, dried beet pulp, dried egg, flaxseed, rice, potassium chloride, l-threonine, salt, taurine, choline chloride, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, niacin, calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid), minerals (zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, manganese sulfate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate, cobalt carbonate), rosemary extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 26% | 18% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 29% | 20% | 43% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 24% | 40% | 36% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The second ingredient 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 third ingredient is peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, they’re rich in natural fiber.
However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.
The fourth 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 fifth ingredient is rice bran, a healthy by-product of milling whole grain rice. The bran is the fiber-rich outer layer of the grain containing starch, protein, fat as well as vitamins and minerals.
The sixth ingredient is whitefish meal. Because it is considered a meat concentrate, fish meal contains almost 300% more protein than fresh fish itself.
Fish meal is typically obtained from the “clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings” of commercial fish operations.1
The seventh ingredient is beet pulp. Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient, a high-fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.
Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.
We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.
The eighth ingredient is whole dried egg, a dehydrated powder made from shell-free eggs. Eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
The ninth ingredient is 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.
However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
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 the product.
This recipe has two notable exceptions.
Firstly we note taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.
Since taurine deficiency appears to be more common in pets consuming grain-free diets, we view its presence in this recipe as a positive addition.
In addition, this food includes 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.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Wholesomes High Energy looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 29.9%, a fat level of 20.7% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 36.1%.
As a group, the brand features a protein content of 28.8% and a mean fat level of 21.7%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 36.1% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 76%.
This means this Wholesomes Energy Series contains near-average, protein, below-average carbohydrate, and above-average fat, when compared to typical dry dog food.
Wholesomes Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Wholesomes through December 2025.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Wholesomes Energy Series Dog Food
Wholesomes Energy Series provides a good balance of ingredients for increased strength and energy for an active dog, including naturally occurring or added glucosamine and chondroitin to support joint health.
It is worth noting that the lower rating of the energy-plus recipe is due to its high fat-to-protein ratio. With lower fat content, both recipes would have been 5 stars. We highly recommend this range for working or highly active dogs. If you feed this particular formula to pets and less active dogs, we recommend you monitor their weight regularly to ensure they remain at their ideal size.
About
Wholesomes was established in 1926 and is produced by Midwestern Pet Foods, a family-owned business. Alongside Wholesomes.
This dry dog food is made in kitchens across four different locations in the US — in Monmouth, Illinois; Waverly, New York; Evansville, Indiana; and Chickasha, Oklahoma. A portion of all sales of Wholesomes dog food is donated to the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation.
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