Wellness Pet Food has continued to grow its following among dog lovers since they started in the ‘90s. They are focused on elevating dogs’ wellbeing to a new level of vitality through natural, premium proteins, balanced nutrients, and antioxidants in each of the products they create.
So I wanted to check for myself if it’s something Dex can really benefit from. In this review, I’ll be sharing details about their Complete Health Dog Food line based on the facts I’ve gathered and Dex’s actual experience with some of their products with a focus on the Deboned Chicken & Oatmeal recipe.
Aside from their nutrition factor, these crunchy kibbles’ taste seems to be a huge part of their dog food’s appeal judging from the way Dex gobbled up his bowlfuls with his tail wagging in delight each time.
Find out if this love at first taste is a match made in heaven with this Wellness Complete Health Dog Food Review.
Coming Back to Wellness Complete Dog Food
Hits & Misses
Breaking Down the Ingredient List
The Price Factor
How Much “Wellness Complete” Should You Give Your Dog in a Day?
What Other Pet Parents Are Saying About Wellness Complete?
About The Brand
Exploring Wellness Complete’s Product Line
Frequently Asked Questions
The Wellness Complete Health scores high in the ingredients metric because they do offer premium chicken meat and meal and none of those unspecified meat byproducts that can be found in other dog food brands. They also use other densely nutritious and antioxidant packed ingredient clusters that work well in promoting bones, teeth, and muscles, skin and coat, heart, brain, cellular, and immunity health.
The positive reviews also outweigh the negative. Although some reported that their dogs had diarrhea after consuming it, the general consensus among buyers is that previously picky dogs enjoyed their Complete Health kibbles and have shown increase in energy and coat glow.
They also score high in recipe variety because they have a wide array of variants to choose from like dry kibble, wet/canned food, and treats.
Price-wise, I gave it an 85% because while it’s slightly more expensive than other dry dog foods in the market, it is more affordable when compared to other premium brands and products that offer similar high-quality protein and grain ingredients.
They score relatively low in recall because they’ve had several product recalls in the past (2011, 2012, and 2017) due to food quality and safety concerns. The most recent one was in March 2017 for their canned beef topper due to high levels of beef thyroid hormone.
The overall rating is 85% which is the average score when all these criteria are factored in.
While there are some things that made me pause before letting Dex try this brand like recall history and other cons in the ingredients, the result of our product trial turned out to be a pleasant experience.
Dex always seemed to have a spring in his paws at the sight and binge of this product, particularly the one he tried for two months – the Deboned Chicken and Oatmeal variety.
The wellness messaging they put forth does come with substance – literally. You will find high-quality sources of animal protein (real and natural chicken, whitefish, and lamb respectively for the variants he tried), whole grains, superfoods like spinach, tomatoes, and blueberries, and other nutrient-rich ingredients for that well-rounded health-optimizing profile. All these at a fairly affordable price compared to other premium brands.
It’s also the kind of healthy food that does not relegate flavor to the backseat and this is consistent with all the recipes he tried. He loved all 3 but he took more liking to the Deboned Chicken and Oatmeal recipe.
So overall, it’s a yes for Dex and I and we recommend this Wellness Complete Health line.
Wellness Complete Health Deboned Chicken & Oatmeal Adult
Natural ingredients, premium proteins (no chicken byproducts), balanced nutrients
Crunchy kibble
$16.49 (5 lbs)
$44.98 (15 lbs)
$69.98 (30 lbs)
High-quality proteins from chicken meat antioxidants, probiotics, balanced nutrients from superfoods like oatmeal, spinach, tomatoes, flaxseed, blueberries
The bigger bag you buy, the more you save per gram.
3,619 kcal/kg or 434 kcal/cup
Coming Back to Wellness Complete Dog Food
Hits & Misses
Breaking Down the Ingredient List
The Price Factor
How Much “Wellness Complete” Should You Give Your Dog in a Day?
What Other Pet Parents Are Saying About Wellness Complete?
About The Brand
Exploring Wellness Complete’s Product Line
Frequently Asked Questions
One look at its ingredients list already shows that they take their ‘complete health’ promise seriously. There’s no shortage of wellness-boosting benefits with natural ingredients like chicken, vegetables, fruits, and grains that also work well together taste-wise and nutrient-wise.
Being a high-protein meal, it’s perfect for adult and active dogs to add strength to their bones, joints, and muscles. Its probiotics and antioxidants and other nutrients also protect canines from infections, oxidative stress, and potential organ issues.
It helps us paw parents nurture healthy, strong, mentally alert, and glowing adult dogs who can live it up ‘til they’re well into their senior years.
While the Wellness Complete Health brand has many things going for it, there are a few things they can still work on like their minor ingredients, carb content, and potential triggers. I think the garlic powder in their ingredients list is a bit problematic no matter how miniscule the amount.
Still, the balanced nutrients and premium proteins along with my vet’s stamp of approval give me a sense of assurance that I’m giving Dex the nourishment and protection he needs with these poultry and grain-inclusive kibbles.
Looking at this for and against analysis, you may be at the fence about feeding your furbaby this wellness-focused food. I don’t blame you. Those potential high-carbs, garlic powder content, and potential allergy triggers also made me think before letting Dex try it.
I consulted with my pet nutritionist to see if it’s safe enough for my dog to try and only with his go signal did I proceed, following the feeding guidelines set by the manufacturer. I transitioned Dex carefully to avoid any negative reaction and I recommend you do the same if you still have some misgivings at this point.
No regret for me so far and Dex is still loving it as of this writing.
Here’s a quick glance at what’s inside each kibble and below it, a more in-depth look at its cluster ingredients.
This high-protein meal gets its protein from deboned chicken meat and chicken meal. Chicken meal is a concentrated form of chicken protein that has been rendered. It contains lots of amino acids which is good news for active adult dogs and for senior dogs who need a boost for their aging joints and muscles.
Complementing these animal proteins is the plant-based protein from peas. Aside from protein, peas are also excellent sources of iron, zinc, potassium, magnesium and lutein.
Another thing I like about this dog food is that its fruit and vegetable mix are just what health buff humans would usually put in their bowl of salad – tomato, carrots, flaxseed, sweet potatoes, apples, and blueberries.
There’s loads of vitamin C, vitamin A, B vitamins, minerals, carotenoid lycopene, omega-3, omega-6, dietary fiber, and other potent nutrients and antioxidants swimming in that pool of ingredients. Every bowlful of these kibbles is like a wellness treat to your dog, making it worth the extra on the price front.
As far as grain ingredients go, this product contains mainly oatmeal but also has ground barley and ground brown rice. Oatmeal is chock full of B vitamins that promote healthy skin, coat, and cells. It also has linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid type that promotes skin barrier, wound healing, and reduces inflammation.
Oats also reduce cholesterol, regulate blood sugar levels, boost heart health, and aid in digestion. Barley and brown rice also deliver these range of benefits.
Compared with other premium brands, Wellness Complete Health has a competitive price point or even a slightly cheaper price.
The comparative table below places it side by side with other products in the market that contain the same or similar ingredients. (Source: Chewy.com)
| Product | Unit Content | Price (may vary by store) |
Cups (approx) | Promo Discount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wellness Complete Health Deboned Chicken & Oatmeal | 30 lbs | USD 69.98 | 113 | Free delivery
Savie 5% via Autoship |
| The Honest Kitchen Whole Grain Chicken & Oat Recipe | 20 lbs | USD 89.99 | 75 | Free delivery
Save 5% via Autoship |
| Merrick Healthy Grains Senior Recipe | 25 lbs | USD 72.98 | 94 | Free delivery
Save 5% via Autoship |
| American Journey Protein & Grains Chicken, Brown Rice, and Vegetables Recipe | 28 lbs | USD 51.41 | 105 | Free delivery
Save 5% via Autoship |
Below is the general guideline as provided by the manufacturer Wellness Pet Food. It is best to consult your veterinarian or pet nutritionist first before introducing a new meal to your dog’s diet, especially if they have special health issues or deficiencies.
How much you feed it to your dog will depend on their size or weight, age, activity level, breed, environment, and health condition. Please refer to this table as a general guide based on weight. You may adjust as needed.
| Weight of Dog in kg | Cups/Day
(cup is approx 4.2 oz or 120 g) |
Grams/Day |
|---|---|---|
| 3-7 | ½ to 1 | 60 - 120 |
| 8-10 | 1- 1 ⅓ | 120 - 160 |
| 11-20 | 1 ½ - 2 ⅓ | 180 - 280 |
| 21-29 | 2 ⅓ - 3 | 280 - 360 |
| 30-38 | 3 ¼ - 3 ¾ | 390 - 450 |
| 39-47 | 3 ¾ - 4 ½ | 450 - 540 |
| 48-57 | 4 ½ - 5 | 540 - 600 |
For dogs over 57 kilos, add ¼ cup (30 g) per additional 4.5 kg of weight.
Reduce the amount of the kibble by ⅓ cup (40 g) for every 6 oz (170 g) of wet food.
As seen on Chewy
Even better, delivered right away to my doorstep! No lugging heavy bags home. I’ve been a Wellness customer for over 12+ years, my dogs love the variety of flavors, but the dog I have now loves this best.
As seen on Amazon
This is a very good dog food, My Doberman has an allergy to a lot of foods and treats, and gets upset stomache easily, this food did not bother him in that way although i find it very rich and therefore the stool of both my dogs was softer, not bad but soft, better mixed with another less rich food.
As seen on Walmart
Our dog was diagnosed with diabetes and developed cataracts in both eyes. We started feeding both of our dogs this dog food based on a Petrx suggestion. The transaction is amazing. Both dogs have more energy and they love this food. I’ve seen a major overall improvement in their health. It is a little costly, but to me it’s well worth it.
Wellness is under the Wellness Pet Company, a trusted name when it comes to high quality pet food. It’s a well-known premium brand of dog and cat foods that has been operating for almost 3 decades in the industry. They offer an extensive array of dog food categories to choose from.
Wellness was founded by Jim Scott, a passionate dog owner who had to find a way to save his sick Golden Retriever Sadie and give her a better quality of life.
He researched and experimented with several whole, nutrient-dense ingredients that led him to this path to dog wellness advocacy and enterprise.
Now, there is a team of pet nutrition experts and other professionals working together at their headquarters in Tewksbury Massachusetts. They have state-of-the-art production facilities across the US to ensure the quality and freshness of the ingredients they use.
Wellness Pet Food advocates for the 5 signs of wellness in dogs namely healthy skin and coat, optimal energy, healthy digestion, healthy teeth and bones, and immune health.
Their ranges include the Wellness Complete Health, Wellness Core, Wellness Simple, and Wellness Mixers and Toppers.
Here are some of their highly-rated products under their Wellness Complete Health line.
These products include whole grains like oatmeal, ground barley, ground brown rice combined with other nutrient-dense ingredients and high quality proteins.
Crafted with a balanced blend of proteins, grain free carbs and select fats, these meals are ideal for dogs with sensitivities and weight problems but still need a balanced nutrient profile.
A smooth and tasty blend of finely ground premium ingredients including high-quality protein and vegetables.
Formulated to provide an enticing texture and taste, adding flavor, variety, and moisture to dry Wellness dog food.
Homey and comforting recipes that’s chunky and slow-cooked, these homestyle stews contain tender cuts of premium meat with vegetables in a savory gravy. They add all the wholesome goodness of natural and highly nutritious ingredients and intense flavor to dry dog food.
Perfect for dogs that need to grow more muscles. These contain almost purely high quality meat protein – lamb, chicken, and beef.
Especially formulated for small breed dogs, these meals contain high-quality meat and vegetables in gravy.
These are flavorful, grain-free, all natural, soft dog treats that are made in the USA using choice, globally-sourced ingredients.
WellBars are grain-free, oven-baked treats using only premium ingredients without corn, soy, wheat, artificial colors or flavors, ideal for dogs with sensitivities.
Puppy Bites are specially crafted for growing puppies, offering all-natural, DHA-packed, grain-free, bite-sized, and healthy treats. They are free from meat by-products, corn, wheat, dairy, artificial colors, or flavors.
Wellness uses select whole and premium ingredients with balanced nutrients, probiotics, and antioxidants. They also implement an extensive quality assurance program for each of their products.
They have several state-of-the-art manufacturing centers across the US to ensure freshness and quality of their ingredients from sourcing to packaging and distribution.
Yes, their products are formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) based on Nutrient Profiles, unless otherwise stated on the label.
Yes, they have both grain-inclusive and grain-free options.
Their animal protein sources include natural poultry, fish, and beef meat. They also use peas as their plant-based protein source.
Gradual transitioning through proper feeding portions based on the dog’s weight, age, breed, and health condition is recommended. The Wellness website provides general feeding guidelines for their products.
Meet Paul, a devoted dog dad to the delightful French Bulldog, Cofi. With a flair for humor and a deep understanding of Frenchie quirks, Paul brings a lighthearted touch to his writings. His relatable stories and practical insights are a blend of laughter and valuable advice and resonate with fellow dog owners.
Through his words, Paul aims to celebrate the joys and challenges of being a dedicated pet parent, reminding you that life is simply better with a four-legged, snorting sidekick by your side.
