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This Wellness Core Turkey, Chicken Liver and Turkey Liver Grain-Free Canned Food is complete and balanced for everyday feeding and it is made with a variety of high-quality ingredients. Not only does this canned food formula contain 5 different protein sources, but it is grain-free and gluten-free as well. In addition to high-quality sources of protein, this canned food also includes fresh greens and other vegetables to provide valuable vitamins and minerals – it also contains a variety of animal-based fats to ensure optimal skin and coat health. If you are looking for a high-quality canned dog food for your pet, this Wellness Core Turkey, Chicken Liver and Turkey Liver Grain-Free Canned Food might be a good option for you to consider. Before you purchase this brand of dog food, however, you would be wise to consider the ingredients used to make this dog food and how they impact the total nutritional value of the product.
How to Choose a Healthy Canned Dog Food
When it comes to evaluating the nutritional value of dog foods, there are some key differences between dry dog food and canned food. For dry dog foods, moisture levels are fairly low and protein is the most important nutrient to consider. A high-quality dry dog food will list a whole source of protein or a meat meal (from named sources) first on the ingredients list and it is a good thing if more than one protein source shows up within the first five ingredients. Protein is equally important for canned dog foods, though moisture levels will be much higher. For this reason, it is not uncommon to find water or some type of broth listed second or third on the ingredients list. Just as you would for dry dog food, avoid canned dog food products that use inexpensive and non-nutritious fillers like wheat gluten and corn – you should also avoid products that have more carbohydrates than proteins and those that have a fat content that is too low.
Ingredients List
Chicken, Turkey, Chicken Liver, Chicken Broth, Chicken Meal, Turkey Liver, Sweet Potatoes, Carrageenan, Guar Gum, Carrots, Apples, Spinach, Parsley, Blueberries, Broccoli, Kale, Ground Flaxseed, Salmon Oil, Salt, Chicory Root Extract, Yucca Schidigera Extract, Potassium Chloride, Iron Proteinate, Zinc Proteinate, Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Cobalt Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Riboflavin Supplement, Sodium Selenite, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Potassium Iodide, Biotin, Vitamin D3 Supplement.
Explanation of Top 5 Ingredients
The top 5 ingredients included in Wellness Core Turkey, Chicken Liver and Turkey Liver Grain-Free Canned Food are: chicken, turkey, chicken liver, chicken broth, and chicken meal. Below you will find a brief explanation of each of these ingredients:
Chicken – Fresh chicken, as it appears in this canned food formula, is defined as “the clean combination of flesh and skin derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”. This definition may not sound appetizing to you, but it means that it is fresh meat and a good source of high-quality protein for your dog. One thing to be aware of with fresh meats like chicken is that they contain up to 80% water. When the food is cooked and prepared for packaging, a lot of that moisture is cooked out and the resulting weight of the ingredient will be much lower than the original. This is unlikely to be a problem with this dog food formula, however, since there are another several sources of protein.
Turkey – Like chicken, fresh turkey is defined as “the clean combination of flesh and skin derived from the parts or whole carcasses of turkey”. Again, fresh meats like turkey contain up to 80% water and a lot of that moisture is cooked out. The fact that turkey is just one of five protein sources in this canned dog food, however, means that it is still very high in protein.
Chicken Liver – This ingredient is another valuable source of protein for your dog – it also contains fat and various vitamins and minerals. Chicken liver is particularly high in vitamin A which is essential for eye health. There is some debate regarding chicken liver because it is so high in fat, but it is only likely to cause a problem if fed in large quantities.
Chicken Broth – Chicken broth is an important addition to this Wellness Core Turkey, Chicken Liver and Turkey Liver Grain-Free Canned Food because it helps to keep the food moist. Broths like this are very common in canned dog food but they provide little value aside from their moisture content because they are nearly devoid of nutrients. Still, this is a good addition to this wet food formula.
Chicken Meal – Do not let the word “meal” throw you off with this ingredient – meat meals are typically a very valuable addition to pet foods. Whereas fresh meats contain up to 80% water, most of the moisture content has already been cooked out of meat meals so they are a much more concentrated source of protein. Chicken meal contains up to 300% more protein than fresh chicken which makes it an extremely valuable addition to this canned food formula.
Other Notable Ingredients
Aside from the top five ingredients, there are several other notable ingredients found in Wellness Core Turkey, Chicken Liver and Turkey Liver Grain-Free Canned Food. Some of these ingredients include: turkey liver, sweet potatoes, carrageenan, fresh vegetables, ground flaxseed, salmon oil, chicory root, and chelated minerals. Similar to chicken liver, turkey liver is a valuable addition to this dog food formula because it contains animal fat and protein. Like chicken liver, turkey liver is unlikely to cause a problem due to its fat content as long as it is not present in high quantities.
The seventh ingredient on the list for Wellness Core Turkey, Chicken Liver and Turkey Liver Grain-Free Canned Food is sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates that can be easy for your dog to digest as long as they are cooked properly. Sweet potatoes are rich in dietary fiber and they also contain beta carotene. The next ingredient, carrageenan, is a little more controversial than sweet potatoes. It is a type of thickening agent that, though it has been used in pet foods for many years, has recently been the subject of controversy regarding is long-term biological safety for pets. Fresh vegetables like carrots, spinach, and broccoli, on the other hand, are a valuable addition to this pet food because they contain dietary fiber and a variety of vitamins and minerals.
Ground flaxseed is one of the highest plant-based sources for omega-3 fatty acids – they are also rich in soluble fiber since they have been ground. One important thing to realize about ground flaxseed is that it contains about 19% protein. Some pet food manufacturers use plant-based proteins like this to increase the protein content of their foods without adding more meat. Because there are five animal-based protein sources including in this formula, however, that is not likely the case here.
Salmon oil is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids like DHA and EPA. Because it comes from an animal-based source, it is also more biologically valuable for your dog than ground flaxseed or vegetable oils. Chicory root is a starchy compound that contains inulin. Inulin is a type of soluble fiber and it is a prebiotic that may help to support healthy digestion in your dog. Finally, chelated minerals are a very valuable addition to this dog food formula. Chelated minerals are those that have been chemically bound to a protein molecule – this makes them easier for your dog’s body to absorb.
Conclusion
Overall, this Wellness Core Turkey, Chicken Liver and Turkey Liver Grain-Free Canned Food is an excellent source of nutrition for your dog. Not only does it contain five animal-based protein sources, but it also rich in healthy fats and soluble fiber. According to the dry matter analysis of this product, it contains about 55% protein, 36% fat, and 1% carbohydrates – that means it contains above-average levels of protein and fat and below-average carbohydrates when compared to the typical dog food. If you are looking for a high-quality canned food, give this recipe from Wellness a try.
Paw Rating
This Wellness Core Turkey, Chicken Liver and Turkey Liver Grain-Free Canned Food receives a paw rating of 5 out of 5. While there may be an ingredient or two that some consider questionable (like carrageenan), there is no scientific proof to suggest that these ingredients are harmful for your dog. It is more important to consider the fact that this formula contains five animal-based protein sources as well as several healthy sources of omega-3 fatty acids and various vitamins and minerals. If you are in the market for a top-quality canned food for your dog, look no further than this Wellness Core Turkey, Chicken Liver and Turkey Liver Grain-Free Canned Food.
