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Wholesomes specializes in healthy and whole-grain pet food and offers different products catering to your pet’s specific nutritional needs. The brand uses quality ingredients to provide your furry friends with a balanced diet.
If you want to know if this brand is best for your pet, this Wholesomes Dog Food review provides details and insights into the brand and its best products.
Rating
Based on Wholesomes Dog Food's ingredients, nutrition, and overall quality, we give it 4.5/5.
Based on Wholesomes Dog Food's ingredients, nutrition, and overall quality, we give it 4.5/5.*Find out more about our editorial & review standards
Wholesomes Overview
Wholesomes offers nutritious dog and cat food recipes formulated for various nutritional needs. It’s also called SPORTMiX Wholesomes Dog Food, as they come from the same manufacturer.
However, note that the brand doesn’t co-pack for other pet food brands and mainly manufactures its recipes.
Midwestern Pet Foods, a subsidiary of the Nunn Milling Company that was founded in 1926, mainly manufactures Wholesomes Dog Food, plus other lines like SPORTMiX Dog Food.
The company has facilities located in the following areas:
- Monmouth, Illinois
- Waverly, New York
- Evansville, Indiana
- Chickasha, Oklahoma
This brand offers whole-grain dog food, grain-free formula, protein-rich meal, and food for sensitive skin and stomach. Some of the meat flavors they offer include chicken, lamb, beef, salmon, and whitefish.
Is Wholesomes Dog Food Good?
Wholesomes offers one of the healthiest food options for adult dogs, puppies, and large breeds. Its products provide a complete nutritional profile and offer protein-rich, gluten-free, and whole-grain choices.
However, we recommend that dog owners look at the ingredients list and see if it contains appropriate ingredients for their pets.
Here are some pros and cons of using Wholesomes Dog Food:
Pros
- Offers a wide range of meat flavors
- Adjusts ingredients based on specific dietary needs
- Offers grain-free products and pet food for dogs with sensitive skin and stomach
- Incorporates nutritional and quality ingredients
- Provides balanced nutrition according to the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) requirements
- Made by a company with over 90 years of experience in the industry
- Doesn’t include artificial colors, preservatives, and flavors
Cons
- Has had recalls in the past
- Contains a few questionable ingredients, like beet pulp
Best of Wholesomes Dog Food Products
The following products score one of the best ratings for Wholesomes:
1. Wholesomes Chicken Meal and Rice
The Wholesomes Chicken Meal and Rice Dry Dog Food provides high-quality chicken protein for dogs who need high-energy food. It’s also fortified with omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids for healthy skin and hair and fiber for healthy digestion.
This chicken meal and rice recipe meets AAFCO’s nutrient profile for Adult Maintenance.
Nutrient Content
Method | Protein | Fats | Carbs |
Guaranteed Analysis | 24% | 14% | N/A |
Dry Matter Basis | 27% | 15% | 48% |
Calorie Weighted Basis | 23% | 33% | 44% |
Ingredients List: Chicken meal, brown rice, peas, rice bran, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), beet pulp, flaxseed, salt (potassium chloride), Vitamin E supplement, folic acid.
Ingredients Analysis
Wholesomes Chicken Meal and Rice Dry Dog Food contains chicken meal as the main ingredient, which is a chicken concentrate packed with protein. Meanwhile, flaxseed produces omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids.
It also contains brown rice, which is an easily digestible carbohydrate. Other ingredients are peas and rice bran, which are good sources of carbohydrates, natural fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
However, despite its quality ingredients, the product contains beet pulp, a fiber filler that can be difficult to digest. It also includes a tiny form of selenium that could be toxic in high doses.
Keep in mind that it contains chicken fat, which may not suit dogs with chicken allergies.
- Controversial Ingredients: Chicken fat, beet pulp, and sodium selenite
- Estimated Meat Content: Chicken meal and preserved chicken fat
2. Wholesomes Beef Meal and Rice
The Wholesomes Beef Meal and Rice uses a high-quality beef meal as a primary source of protein and removes high-moisture protein and common grains like soy. It also includes fiber, omega-6, and omega-3 fatty acids for a complete diet.
Luckily, it meets the AAFCO’s nutritional standards for Adult Maintenance.
Nutrient Content
Method | Protein | Fats | Carbs |
Guaranteed Analysis | 24% | 14% | N/A |
Dry Matter Basis | 27% | 15% | 50% |
Calorie Weighted Basis | 23% | 33% | 43% |
Ingredients List: Beef meal, brown rice, peas, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), pea starch, rice, beet pulp, flaxseed, salt, Vitamin B12 supplement, Vitamin D3 supplement.
Ingredients Analysis
The Wholesomes Beef Meal and Rice Dry Dog Food primarily uses beef meal, a beef concentrate that’s high in protein. This ingredient makes it suitable for active dogs.
Meanwhile, it incorporates brown rice to provide digestible carbohydrates. Plus, the product includes peas for fiber, iron, and protein. And flaxseed offers omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids.
It also includes nutrients like Vitamin E, Niacin (B3), Vitamin A, and Biotin for a healthy coat, skin, and nails.
However, like Chicken Meal and Rice Food, the product contains chicken fat, beet pulp, and sodium selenite.
- Controversial Ingredients: Chicken fat, beet pulp, and sodium selenite
- Estimated Meat Content: Beef meal and chicken fat
3. Wholesomes Sensitive Skin and Stomach With Lamb Protein
The Wholesomes Sensitive Skin and Stomach With Lamb Protein features pet food formulated to aid digestion and prevent skin irritation for pets with sensitive stomachs and skin. It uses lamb meal as its primary source of protein.
This product is suitable for All Life Stages, according to the AAFCO nutrient standard.
Nutrient Content
Method | Protein | Fats | Carbs |
Guaranteed Analysis | 23% | 13% | N/A |
Dry Matter Basis | 26% | 14% | 50% |
Calorie Weighted Basis | 23% | 32% | 45% |
Ingredients List: Lamb meal, brown rice, oatmeal, ground rice, dried eggs, pacific whiting meal, pearled barley, canola oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), dried beet pulp, rice bran.
Ingredients Analysis
The top ingredients contain proteins, like lamb meal, and alternatives to wheat and grain suitable for a dog’s sensitive skin and stomach. It’s fortified with DHA, Taurine, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, and L-Carnitine.
The lamb meal provides the primary source of protein and L-Carnitine. Meanwhile, the pacific whiting meal offers a dose of DHA. Also, this pet food offers easily digestible carbohydrates like oatmeal, brown rice, ground rice, and pearled barley.
However, it includes dried beet pulp and sodium selenite, which can harm your dog. But the product contains small doses of these ingredients, making them safe for your canines to eat.
Note that the pacific whiting meal and dried egg content may trigger dogs with chicken, egg, or fish allergies.
- Controversial Ingredients: Dried eggs, pacific whiting meal, dried beet pulp, and sodium selenite
- Estimated Meat Content: Lamb meal and pacific whiting meal
Product Recalls – 3 Recalls
As of writing, there have been three recalls from the FDA related to Wholesomes and its manufacturer. These include:
- Midwestern Pet Foods Voluntarily Recalls Pet Food Recall for Aflatoxin Health Risk (December 30, 2020)
- Midwestern Pet Foods Voluntarily Expands Recall of Pet Food for Aflatoxin Health Risk (January 11, 2021)
- Midwestern Pet Foods Voluntarily Recall Due to Possible Salmonella Health Risk (March 27, 2021)
The FDA has since terminated the completed recalls.
Although the company experienced a few recalls in the past, note that it only had three recalls in recent years. In addition, it has dealt with the recalls immediately and effectively.
Other Customer Reviews
Here are some online customer reviews from dog owners who have tried Wholesomes products:
Wholesomes Chicken Meal and Rice
Wholesomes Sensitive Skin and Stomach With Lamb Protein
Wrap Up
Manufactured by a company with over 90 years in the industry, Wholesomes provides a range of dog foods that offer different flavors, grain-free options, balanced nutrients, and quality ingredients.
In addition, the brand steers away from artificial flavors, preservatives, and ingredients, making its pet food healthier and safer for dogs.
However, while Wholesomes provide exceptional pet food options, their recipes include controversial ingredients, such as sodium selenite and beet pulp. Fortunately, these are in small amounts, making them safe for dogs to consume.
Ultimately, we advise pet owners to look at the ingredients carefully.
We hope you find the best pet food for your furry friend. Let us know if you want more Wholesomes Dog Food reviews.