Label analysisGrade BKibble (Extruded)

Wellness

Wellness CORE Puppy Grain-Free

Editor ingredient insight

Wellness CORE Puppy Grain Free uses chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, potatoes, lentils, peas, chicken fat, and EPA+DHA. I would use it for active puppies needing high protein and growth support, not for allergy troubleshooting or legume/potato sensitivity.

Logic-based verdict

This food can stay in comparison, but ingredient quality still needs a more conservative read.

Manufacturer-independentPublic-data basedIngredients · nutrition · safety

Protein source

Ingredient guide

Whole plant protein source observed early

Animal protein

Deboned Chicken (#1), Chicken Meal (source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate) (#2), Turkey Meal (#3)

Plant protein

Lentils (#5), Peas (#6)

The protein number may include influence from whole plant ingredients.

This is not treated like processed protein boosting, but it is worth checking.

Included support ingredients

Nutrient guide

Salmon oil

Skin and joint support ingredient

Chicory

Gut support ingredient

Taurine

Heart support ingredient

Yucca extract

Stool odor support ingredient

Probiotics

Gut support ingredient

Omega-3

Skin and joint support ingredient

Omega-6

Skin and coat support ingredient

EPA+DHA

Skin, joint, and heart support ingredient

Glucosamine

Joint support ingredient

Chondroitin

Joint support ingredient

Vitamin E

Antioxidant and skin support ingredient

View full ingredients
Solid build

Ingredient grade

B

Grade B

Top ingredient profile

Deboned Chicken
Chicken Meal
Turkey Meal
Fresh-meat leadPlant booster present
Crude protein36%
Crude protein36%
Crude fat16%
Other 48%

Calcium

1.5%

Phosphorus

1%

Protein position, fat position, and calorie density position are relative to foods in the same processing type cohort.

biotechProtein position
Higher
query_statsFat position
Higher
local_fire_departmentCalorie density
Higher

There is enough public data to keep this food in comparison, but the top ingredient structure does not support a stronger positive claim yet.

Nutritional strengths

  • The first ingredient is a species-named fresh meat.
  • Crude protein is on the higher side.
  • Nutrient disclosure is broad enough to compare real numbers directly.

What still needs work

  • Phosphorus is 1% on the label, at or above 1%. Senior dogs or dogs with kidney concerns should have phosphorus restriction reviewed with a veterinarian before using it as a staple food.
  • Whole plant protein sources can contribute to crude protein, so the animal-protein share still needs a closer read.
  • Top ingredients include an FDA-investigated non-hereditary DCM ingredient profile, so this part deserves a more cautious read.

Alternative foods

Smart chicken / turkey alternatives

Exact protein-type matches come first, then close protein-family matches fill the comparison.

56 alternativesKibble (Extruded) · protein type/family cohort

Other recipes from the same brand

Other recipes from the same brand with a different purpose or feeding target.

Wellness

Complete Health Beef & Barley Adult

Adult · All sizes

Label score

4.0/5

Grade B

Wellness

Complete Health Chicken & Oatmeal Adult

Adult · All sizes

Label score

4.0/5

Grade B

Wellness

Complete Health Healthy Weight Adult

Adult · All sizes

Label score

4.0/5

Grade B

Wellness

Complete Health Senior Chicken & Barley

Senior · All sizes

Label score

4.0/5

Grade B

Brand context

Brand background availableRecall history confirmed

Founded in 1997 in the United States. This brand has a confirmed recall history linked to the 2012 Diamond-manufactured event.

Ingredient analysis

The top ingredients give this recipe a strong first protein read, so the ingredient section starts from a favorable position.

restaurantIngredient Quality Analysis

B4.5/6
Ingredient Grade
Good
1Deboned Chicken
Fresh Meat · Top
2Chicken Meal
Named Meal · Upper
3Turkey Meal
Named Meal · Upper

Ingredient Analysis Comments

  • •Deboned Chicken is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.
  • •Chicken Meal is a species-named animal meal ingredient. It is rendered rather than fresh, but the species source is still clearly identified. It reads as an upper-tier protein source.
  • •Turkey Meal is a species-named animal meal ingredient. It is rendered rather than fresh, but the species source is still clearly identified. It reads as an upper-tier protein source.
restaurantIngredient Grade BGood

Full collected ingredient list

53 ingredients
Deboned ChickenChicken Meal (source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate)Turkey MealPotatoesLentilsPeasChicken FatDried Plain Beet PulpFlaxseedSalmon OilNatural FlavorSaltDried Chicory RootPotassium ChlorideTaurineVitamin E SupplementCholine ChlorideSpinachBroccoliCarrotsParsleyApplesBlueberriesKaleMixed Tocopherols added to preserve freshnessNiacinZinc ProteinateZinc SulfateFerrous SulfateIron ProteinateVitamin A SupplementThiamine MononitrateCopper Sulfated-Calcium PantothenateCopper ProteinateSodium SelenitePyridoxine HydrochlorideManganese SulfateRiboflavinManganese ProteinateBiotinVitamin D3 SupplementYucca Schidigera ExtractVitamin B12 SupplementCalcium IodateFolic AcidAscorbic Acid (Vitamin C)Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation ProductDried Bacillus licheniformis Fermentation ProductDried Bacillus subtilis Fermentation ProductRosemary ExtractGreen Tea ExtractSpearmint Extract
Primary positive ingredients
Support positive ingredients
Alternative protein
Neutral ingredients
Caution ingredients
High-caution ingredients

Why did the base review land here?

Ingredient qualityNutrient disclosure levelManufacturing & trust

This review score combines ingredient composition, nutrient disclosure, manufacturing trust, and core nutrient caution signals.

Nutrient disclosure

Partial disclosure

Core guaranteed analysis is usable, but deeper rows still need a more cautious read.

Safety verification

No fails

No major red flag jumps out first, though undisclosed rows still define the limits of this safety read.

Public data trust (ETF)

C1 tier

Detailed nutrition is visible, but not at a product-level traceability standard.

Final word

This is a credible shortlist food, but the personalized step is where the final order should be decided.

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