Wellness CORE Small Breed Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food

Brand: CORE, Wellness

Overall Score

The overall score is an average of the ingredient quality and ingredient safety concerns. For more information, see our evaluation criteria.

Wellness CORE Small Breed Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food

Overall Score

The overall score is an average of the ingredient quality and ingredient safety concerns. For more information, see our evaluation criteria.

Brand: CORE, Wellness

Ingredient Quality

7 out of 10

Evalutation Criteria

Product is calculated to contain 27.5% carbohydrate ^ⓘDogs have no nutritional requirement for carbohydrate but they are used for energy, texture and taste. Starch is also required for extrusion in dry foods. Excessive carbohydrate is an indicator of food quality as it can be used to reduce manufacturing cost. Foods that are high in carbohydrate can raise insulin and cause obesity. Some studies also show that dogs fed a high carbohydrate content have changes to their gut bacteria. Learn more
Is fortified with excessive vitamins ^ⓘWhen vitamins come from whole food sources, they include the full spectrum of cofactors, which makes them safe and bioavailable. While a couple of added vitamins are acceptable, five or more implies the food is of poor nutritional value. Learn more
Is fortified with excessive minerals ^ⓘFive or more added minerals indicate a lower quality food that’s lacking naturally occurring minerals from whole food sources.

Ingredient Safety

3 out of 10

Evalutation Criteria

Product is ultra processed ^ⓘExtruded foods are heated four separate times during production, which will cause major losses in some active enzymes, vitamins, amino acids and phytonutrients. Studies shows that ultra processed foods are linked to a higher rate of all-cause mortality in humans. Learn more
Contains ingredients known to contain higher pesticide/herbicide residues in the top 5 ingredients including peas and dried ground potatoes ^ⓘPesticides, herbicides and fertilizers pose a significant health risk to plants, animals and soils. Foods with the largest reported amount of residue will be penalized, including crops that are known to be spray-dried with glyphosate. Learn more
Contains known GMO ingredients including dried ground potaotes ^ⓘThere are limited safetey studies on geneticaly modified and Roundup Ready crops although they are lacking in nutrients compared to non-GMO foods. GMO crops also strip nutrients from soils, require increased pesticide risk and may be involved in bee die-off. Learn more

Other Concerns

Notable product facts

Product doesn't specify whether the fish is farmed or wild caught ^ⓘFarmed fish is less nutritious than wild caught fish and does not contain the same healthy fatty acid balance. Fish farming also threatens wild fish species. Learn more
Ingredient splitting ^ⓘSplitting is a technique of manipulating the ingredient list to move certain ingredients higher or lower on the ingredient list. This is often used to diguise the amount of lower quality ingredients in the food, such as corn or peas. Learn more
Glam ingredients ^ⓘExpensive or desirable ingredients like blueberries, kale or apples are often added to appeal to consumers but may be in miniscule amounts. If these foods are below salt or other low concentration ingredients, they contribute little or no nutritional value for your dog. Learn more

How It Compares

Food Type

Food Function

Life Stage

Ingredients On Package

Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal, Chicken Meal, Peas, Dried Ground Potatoes, Pea Fiber, Ground Flaxseed, Tomato Pomace, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Natural Chicken Flavor, Salmon Oil, Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Taurine, Spearmint, Zinc Proteinate, Mixed Tocopherols added to preserve freshness, Glucosamine Hydrochloride, Chondroitin Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate, Niacin, Broccoli, Carrots, Parsley, Apples, Blueberries, Kale, Spinach, Iron Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Vitamin A Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Chicory Root Extract, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Riboflavin, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Dried Lactobacillus plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product, Rosemary Extract, Green Tea Extract, Spearmint Extract

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein (min)	34%
Crude Fat (min)	13%
Crude Fiber (max)	8.5%
Moisture (max)	10%

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