Fresh Mix Weight Management Senior Formula Dry Dog Food, 28-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Artemis Fresh Mix Weight Management Senior Formula is a dry food for senior dogs, featuring chicken and turkey as its main protein sources.
This formula offers good protein quality, with rice contributing to a solid amino acid profile. It also includes quality carbohydrate sources that provide fermentable fiber, and its fat sources are well-named, featuring marine oil for EPA and DHA.
Nothing concerning in the deck.
Good fit for senior dogs who need help managing their weight.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Labs are the canonical food-motivated breed. Weight management is the dominant practical concern, even more than breed-specific health risks. Strong fit for active large sporting breeds, including the Labrador Retriever, navigating weight management. At 308 kcal/cup this formula runs on the lean side, with crude fiber at 8% (above the catalog median, supports satiety), and the product name signals a weight-management design. The 2014 AAHA Weight Management Guidelines define overweight as a Body Condition Score (BCS) of 6-7 on a 9-point scale. A score of 8 or 9 indicates obesity, representing 20-30% and >30% above ideal body weight, respectively (Brooks et al., 2014) .
Looking at this for senior Labrador Retrievers or Labrador Retrievers with weight management ? We are building dedicated pages for these combinations.
Auto-matched from this product's measurements (ingredients, life stage, calorie density) to a breed archetype. Not a substitute for vet input on your specific dog.
Research informing this analysis
MethodologyThe Sniff System grades this product against 2 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.
- Brooks et al., 2014diagnostic · protocol · satiety· cited in 3 claims
- Raffan et al., 2016genetics
Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
At 73/100, this formula lands in solid B territory. The lift comes from protein quality, worth 18.5 points to the final number: Reasonable protein quality. rice delivers solid amino acid coverage. Secondary contribution comes from carbohydrate quality (+16 points). Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber. The 2-point gap to the A-tier line is concentrated in protein quality (18.5 of 27 possible). Full protein quality requires named-species named-cut proteins in the top of the deck (e.g., "deboned chicken" rather than "chicken meal" or "poultry meal").
Reasonable protein quality. rice delivers solid amino acid coverage.
Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
No negative drivers crossed our reporting threshold.
- Lowest DMB fat in Artemis's lineup (11.1%)
- Top 10% for crude fiber in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (8.9% DMB)
- Bottom 10% for caloric density in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (308 kcal/cup)
Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.
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Wellness CORE Adult Grain-Free High-Protein Natural Turkey & Chicken Dry Dog Food, 26-lb bag
Turkey instead of chicken, matched score, different brand.
Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.
Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.
- 1grainrice
Generic rice. Could be white or brown, the label doesn't say. Brown rice would be specified if it were.
Position 1 grain: primary carbohydrate base. This is a grain-inclusive formula with rice as the dominant carb.
- 2protein animalchicken meal
Chicken with the water cooked out. Per pound, packs more protein than fresh chicken. See why →
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3protein animalchicken
Real meat. Primary protein source, with the amino acid profile dogs actually evolved to eat.
Position 3: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 4protein animalturkey
Real meat. Lean protein, good amino acid profile, often well-tolerated by dogs sensitive to chicken.
Position 4: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 5grainbarley
Whole grain with a low glycemic profile and some soluble fiber. Easy on blood sugar.
Position 5: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 6grainoatmeal
Gentle on the stomach. Slow-release carbs and soluble fiber that supports stool quality.
Position 6: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 7fatchicken fat
Despite the name, a high-quality energy source. Concentrated calories plus essential fatty acids like linoleic acid. See why →
Position 7: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 8fibertomato pomace
The fiber-rich byproduct of tomato processing. Sometimes flagged unfairly. It's a real fiber source, not a filler shortcut.
Position 8: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.
- 9protein animalsalmon meal
Salmon cooked into a dry concentrate. Carries both protein and natural omega-3s in one ingredient. See why →
Position 9: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 10vegetablepotato
Standard white potato. Steady carb source, common starch in grain-free recipes.
Position 10: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.
- 11fatflaxseed
Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.
Position 11: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 12flavor enhancer
- 13protein animalsalmon
Real fish meat. Natural source of omega-3s, which kibble usually has to add back from oil.
Position 13: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.
- 14protein animalduck
Real meat. Often used as a novel protein for dogs with sensitivities to chicken or beef.
Position 14: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.
- 15fatsalmon oil
Pure omega-3s. The thing skin-and-coat formulas are usually built around.
Position 15. Trace marine oil. Contributes some omega-3 but well below the level that drives EPA/DHA totals.
- 16protein animalfish meal
Concentrated fish protein, usually whitefish, herring, or mackerel. Strong amino acid profile. See why →
- 17supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 18fiberdried chicory root
Natural prebiotic. Feeds beneficial gut bacteria. The same compound (inulin) used in human gut-health products.
- 19dried skim milk
- 20supplementkelp
Seaweed source of iodine. Trace mineral support, common in better formulas.
- 21vegetablecarrots
Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, and a small amount of antioxidant value.
- 22fruitapples
Real fruit, some fiber and antioxidants. The amount in kibble is too small to matter much.
- 23tomatoes
Real fruit. Lycopene and trace antioxidants. Different from tomato pomace, which is the fiber byproduct.
- 24fruitblueberries
Antioxidants, real. But the amount in any kibble is too small to do much. Mostly marketing.
- 25vegetablespinach
Leafy green. Some iron, vitamin K, and fiber. The dose in kibble is small but it's real food.
Showing first 25 of 59. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
23 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.