Why Ava Puppy Food Is a Staple in Puppy Health and Wellness
Ava Small Breed Puppy Review
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This food is suitable for the following breed sizes:
Private label(or
white label) pet foods are pre-formulated recipes that companies can order from certain factories, add their own label or packaging and retail to the public as their own brand. They are therefore available from numerous suppliers.
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Mixing bowl composition
This is the ingredients list as printed on the packaging or manufacturer's website.
Think of the 'mixing bowl' composition like a recipe - all the ingredients you would need to put in a 'mixing bowl' in order to make the food.
Ingredients have to be listed in descending order of their weight so the higher it appears, the more there is.
Highlighted ingredients
Ingredients that we believe to be controversial or inferior are highlighted in yellow with particularly low grade, highly contentious or excessively vague ingredients in red.
As fed composition
While the 'mixing bowl' composition is useful for knowing what went into the food, it doesn't always reflect what your dog is actually eating. This is because the processes that turn the ingredients into the finished pet food can significantly alter the relative weights of the ingredients.
For this reason we've calculated the approximate 'as fed' percentages for the main ingredient categories in the finished product.
Please note that these figures are very approximate. They are estimates based on the information provided by the manufacturer in the ingredients list so the clearer the terminology and the more percentages they provide, the more accurate our estimates will be. Wherever information is lacking, we always assume the worst.
Ingredient categories
Meat ingredients: includes all meat and fish ingredients except isolated fats/oils.
Added oils and fats: includes all isolated oil and fat ingredients.
Carb-rich ingredients: includes all ingredients derived from grains, pseudo-grains, potatoes and other starchy root vegetables, sweet potato and legumes (except whole peas which are categorised under fruit and veg) except for isolated protein and extracted oils. Also includes fibre supplements.
Fruit and veg: includes all whole vegetables and fruits.
Other: all other ingredients. Mostly made up by nutritional supplements and additives.
For more information on any ingredient, please take a look at our Dog Food Ingredient Glossary
The dry matter level of a nutrient is the percentage there would be in the food if all of the water was removed.
With water taken out of the equation, these figures allow the nutrient levels of foods of different types (like wet and dry) to be compared on an even playing field.
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The
price per dayof feeding this food based on feeding the manufacturer's recommended daily amount from 2kg bags bought at their rrp to a dog of:
Note:All suggested feeding amounts and costs are only approximate and may vary considerably from dog to dog. Be sure to contact the manufacturer if in any doubt.
68 out of 100-Good
Our unique product ratings are calculated based on a number of characteristics including the quality and quantity of the stated ingredients, certain nutritional and technological additives and the processing methods used to create the food. They are designed to indicate how beneficial we think a food is likely to be for the majority of dogs when fed on a daily basis for an extended period. Click here for more information
Country of origin: United Kingdom
A technological additive is any substance added to a pet food "for a technological purpose and which favourably affects the characteristics of feed".
The most common categories of technological additives include preservatives and antioxidants, gelling agents and thickeners and probiotics.
While the primary effects of technoloical additives are certainly 'favourable' (increased shelf life in the case of preservatives & antioxidants, better food texture and consistency in the case of gelling agents and thickeners etc.) some have been linked to health problems in pets and should be treated with caution.
Unfortunately, many technological additives do not have to be declared by the manufacturer so just because they do not appear on the label does not necessarily mean they are not in the food. If in doubt, ask the manufacturer directly exactly what technological additives their foods contain.
Wellness Puppy Food Review 2024: Recalls, Pros & Cons
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
Learn more Review SummaryOur Final Verdict
We give Wellness Puppy Food a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars.
Wellness Puppy food products, produced by Wellness Pet Company, include grain-free and grain-inclusive varieties. Wellness puppy diets are suitable for healthy puppies of any size and breed. The company focuses on using natural ingredients and is believed to be one of the first to offer grain-free recipes. Overall, we found that Wellness Puppy foods are a solid choice, although the company has issued some fairly recent recalls. The grain-free diets are subject to the same concerning potential links to non-hereditary heart disease as other brands.
At a Glance: The Best Wellness Puppy Food Recipes:
Wellness Puppy Food Reviewed
Who Makes Wellness Puppy Food and Where Is It Produced?
Wellness Puppy Food is produced by Wellness Pet Company, headquartered in Massachusetts. Wellness Pet began as Old Mother Hubbard, a dog treat company founded in 1926. In 1961, it was purchased by Jim Scott. Jim Scott, Jr. developed the Wellness brand of dog food in the 1990s.
Wellness manufactures the dry puppy food at a company-owned plant in Indiana. The company apparently outsources their wet food production, stating that they go through a rigorous quality and safety program. The website doesnt display a specific production location for canned diets.
Which Type of Dog Is Wellness Puppy Food Best Suited For?
Wellness puppy food is best suited for overall healthy puppies with no signs of early food sensitivities. Because they offer both grain-free and grain-inclusive diets, Wellness generally caters to most puppies.
Which Type of Dog Might Do Better with a Different Brand?
Unfortunately, not even dogs less than a year old are immune to food sensitivities. Wellness doesnt have a limited-ingredient puppy food and relies heavily on chicken ingredients. For puppies that need to avoid chicken, Canidae PURE Salmon and Oatmeal Puppy Food may be a better option.
Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)
Deboned Chicken
Deboned chicken is generally the primary protein source in Wellness Puppy diets. It refers to the clean, whole muscle (not organ) meat of the bird. Because it is cheap and easily obtained, chicken is the most common protein source used in pet food. It is a healthy source of protein, fat, and other nutrients.
Chicken, Turkey, Salmon Meal
Meat, fish, and poultry meals are made by cooking down and drying whole meat, removing all the water to create a concentrated powder. This meal is digestible, inexpensive, and still contains quality protein. It is commonly used in dry dog food.
Chicken Liver
Organ meat, including chicken liver, is packed with protein and vitamins. It is generally considered more nutritious overall than muscle meat. Technically, chicken liver is a chicken by-product, meaning it is one of the parts of the bird left overs after processing for human consumption.
Rice, Barley, Oatmeal, Quinoa
Whole grains serve as a source of energy, protein, fiber, and many vitamins and minerals. Domestic dogs are adapted to digest and absorb nutrition from plant sources, despite the widespread belief that dogs are pure carnivores.
Legumes, Including Peas and Lentils
Peas and other legumes are among the ingredients that when feed in large amounts are suspected to contribute to developing heart issues in pets. The FDA continues to investigate the exact causes of these problems, but many owners choose to avoid feeding legumes. Grain-free diets are most likely to contain peas and lentils. To avoid issues, if dog food contains legumes, make sure they are not in the first five ingredients.
A Quick Look at Wellness Puppy Food
- Offers canned, dry, grain-free, and grain-inclusive diets
- Made in the USA
- Large breed and small breed recipes are available
- No preservatives, artificial colors, flavors, or ingredients
- No limited ingredient options
- Less transparency regarding wet food production
- Does contain ingredients from China
Recall History
Since Wellness Pet Food first appeared on shelves in the late 1990s, the company has issued several recalls, but only one related to puppy food. In 2012, the company recalled a large breed puppy recipe over concerns about salmonella contamination.
Other recalls issued by the company include the following:
- 2011: Canned cat food recalled for low thiamine (vitamin B1) levels
- 2012: Small breed dry dog food recalled for possible mold
- 2017: Canned cat food recalled for potential foreign material
- 2017: Canned dog food topper recalled for elevated thyroid hormone
Reviews of the 3 Best Wellness Puppy Food Recipes
Heres a more in-depth look at three of the best Wellness Puppy Food recipes.
1. Wellness Complete Health Deboned Chicken, Oatmeal, and Salmon Puppy Dry Food
Wellness Complete Health is grain-inclusive and a complete choice for puppies of all sizes. Made with both chicken and salmon, this food contains 29% protein. Its produced without GMOs and packed with added nutrients to support a growing dog, including antioxidants, fatty acids, probiotics, and glucosamine.
It has peas fairly high up on the ingredient list and is not a good option for puppies with food sensitivities.
- Grain-inclusive
- Suitable for pups of all sizes
- Non-GMO ingredients
- Not good for pups with sensitivities
- Contains peas
2. Wellness CORE Wholesome Grains Puppy High Protein Dry Food
Designed for high-energy, hard-working pups, Wellness CORE Wholesome contains a generous 36% protein. Made with nutritious grains (including high protein quinoa), the recipe is also full of fiber and healthy fruits and veggies. Its grain-inclusive and pea-free and contains added fatty acids, taurine (for heart health), antioxidants, and probiotics.
Like other Wellness Puppy foods, this one contains ingredients from China.
- Extra high in protein
- No peas
- Includes taurine, fatty acids, antioxidants, and probiotics
- Contains ingredients from China
3. Wellness Complete Health Just For Puppy Canned Food
Since its jammed with protein including nutritious chicken liver, Wellness Complete Health Just For Puppy Canned Dog Food offers a tasty alternative to crunchy kibble. Small puppies may need a little added calorie boost or appreciate the soft texture of wet food. Whatever the reason, this puppy recipe brings plenty of nutrition along with it. Its made with antioxidants and fatty acids and supports the whole body needs of a growing dog.
Overall, canned food can be more expensive than dry. Just For Puppy also contains ingredients from China and Wellness is less transparent about its wet food manufacturing process.
- Contains organ meat
- High in protein and fat
- With antioxidants and fatty acids
- Contains ingredients from China
- Less transparent production
What Other Users Are Saying
Chewy If you want healthy and quality dry food for a reasonable price, this is your brand
- Not for my pup but a good food
- Like the fact it is vet recommended and contains pre and probiotics
Reddit I think Wellness is a good quality brand
- Puppy LOVES it
- Good ingredients
Amazon Amazon reviews can be a valuable source of information from other buyers. You can read these by clicking here.
Conclusion
Although it lacks a limited ingredient option, Wellness Puppy Food utilizes quality, simple ingredients at a slightly lower price point than other similar brands. With both grain-free and grain-inclusive recipes, owners have plenty of choices when it comes to their puppys nutrition. However, we dont like that Wellness still uses ingredients from China and is less transparent about its canned food production. Overall, though, Wellness is a popular and high-quality puppy food brand.
