Highly Recommended
DogFoodAdvisor is reader supported See how
All reviews are 100% impartial but if you buy using links on this page, we may earn a referral fee.
Our Verdict
Wellness CORE Digestive Health Dog Food product range is made up of six recipes which each receive the Dog Food Advisor’s rating, 5 stars.
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.
Recipe and Label Analysis
Wellness CORE Digestive Health Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Wellness CORE Digestive Health Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Deboned chicken, turkey meal (source of chondroitin sulfate), chicken meal (source of glucosamine), brown rice, barley, oatmeal, dried plain beet pulp, chicken fat, flaxseed, pumpkin, cranberries, natural flavor, salmon oil, apples, inulin, potassium chloride, hydrolyzed yeast, taurine, choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, papayas, blueberries, pomegranates, mixed tocopherols added to preserve freshness, niacin, zinc proteinate, ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, iron proteinate, yucca schidigera extract, vitamin A supplement, thiamine mononitrate, ground cinnamon, ground fennel, ground peppermint, d-calcium pantothenate, sodium selenite, pyridoxine hydrochloride, copper sulfate, manganese sulfate, riboflavin, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, biotin, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, folic acid, calcium iodate, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), dried enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried bacillus licheniformis fermentation product, dried bacillus subtilis fermentation product, rosemary extract, green tea extract, spearmint extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 30% | 12% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 33% | 13% | 45% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 30% | 29% | 41% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food 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 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient is turkey meal. Turkey meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh turkey.
The third ingredient is chicken meal, another protein-rich meat concentrate.
The fourth 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 fifth ingredient includes barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. However, aside from its energy content, this cereal grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The sixth ingredient lists oat groats, a whole grain, minimally processed form of oats. With the exception of their caloric content and the fact they’re also gluten free, oat groats can be considered average in nutritional value.
The next 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 chicken fat. This item 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 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 this Wellness product.
With five notable exceptions…
First, we note the inclusion of inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and typically sourced from chicory root.
Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, it’s also a prebiotic used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.
In addition, we note the use of 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.
Next, this recipe contains sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.
This recipe also contains salmon oil. Salmon oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids.
Depending on its level of freshness and purity, salmon oil should be considered a commendable addition.
And lastly, 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, Wellness CORE Digestive Health Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 33%, a fat level of 13% and estimated carbohydrates of about 45%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 34% and a mean fat level of 14%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 44% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 42%.
Which means this Wellness product line contains…
Above-average protein. Below-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Wellness Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Wellness through February 2025.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Wellness CORE Digestive Health Grain-Inclusive Dog Food
Wellness Core Digestive Health is a grain-inclusive dry dog food using a significant amount of named meat meals and egg as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Compare Wellness CORE Digestive Health Dog Food
How does Wellness CORE Digestive Health compare with The Dog Food Advisor's most recommended brands?
A Final Word
The Dog Food Advisor does not accept money, gifts, samples or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.
However, we do receive a referral fee from online retailers (like Chewy or Amazon) and from sellers of perishable pet food when readers click over to their websites from ours. This helps cover the cost of operation of our free blog. Thanks for your support.
For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.
