Whole Health Blend Chunks in Gravy Variety Pack Dog Wet Food, 13-oz can, 12 count
Graded by The Sniff System
Rachael Ray Nutrish Whole Health Blend Chunks in Gravy is a wet food featuring beef and chicken as its main protein sources.
This formula offers reasonable protein quality, with beef providing good amino acid coverage. It also includes quality carbohydrate sources that provide fermentable fiber, and its fat sources are good, featuring named fats and marine oil for EPA and DHA.
This product lacks an AAFCO statement, meaning its nutritional adequacy isn't officially guaranteed. It also contains carrageenan, a thickener linked to gastrointestinal inflammation in some studies.
Good fit for dogs who enjoy a wet food. Less ideal if you prioritize an AAFCO statement or want to avoid carrageenan.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Good fit for adult Golden Retrievers and similar active sporting breeds navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Beef anchors position 1, with one pulse (peas at position 6), plus liver at position 3 (a natural taurine precursor). In its 2022 update on diet-associated DCM, the FDA identified Golden Retrievers as the most reported breed, with 121 cases out of 1,382 total canine reports (8.8%) received between January 1, 2014, and November 1, 2022 (FDA, 2022) .
Looking at this for adult Golden Retrievers or Golden Retrievers with diet-associated DCM concerns ? 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 3 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.
- FDA, 2022cardiac · epidemiology · breed predisposition· cited in 5 claims
- FDA, 2019diet composition· cited in 2 claims
- NRC, 2006nutrient bioavailability
Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
Below-average grade. 43/100 (D) reflects the structural fit of this formula against The Sniff System's eight scoring components. Protein quality did the heavy lifting (+19.5 points): Reasonable protein quality. beef delivers solid amino acid coverage. What capped it: the score can't exceed 49 because the guaranteed analysis falls below AAFCO's minimum nutrient profile. Removing the cap alone wouldn't change the band. The component deck is the deeper issue.
Reasonable protein quality. beef delivers solid amino acid coverage.
Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
- Lowest crude fiber in Rachael Ray Nutrish's lineup (3.7% DMB)
- Top quartile for DMB fat in Rachael Ray Nutrish's lineup (24.4%)
- Bottom 3% for overall Sniff Score in Rachael Ray Nutrish's lineup (43/100)
Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.
Similar dog foods worth considering
Three lenses on products with formulation profiles similar to this one.
Rachael Ray Nutrish Hearty Beef Stew Grain-Free Wet Dog Food, 8-oz tub, case of 8
Scores 15 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Rachael Ray Nutrish Healthy Weight Real Turkey & Pumpkin Recipe Premium Pate Wet Dog Food, 13-oz can, case of 12
$2.66/lb vs your seed's $2.94/lb (9% less) at a comparable score.
Nature's Recipe Grain-Free Chicken & Beef Recipes Variety Pack Wet Dog Food, 13-oz, 12 count
Chicken instead of beef, 6 points higher, different brand.
Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.
Controversial ingredients · 1
- carrageenanSeaweed-derived thickener; some studies link it to gastrointestinal inflammation. Most common in wet foods but appears in some kibble gravies.
Every flagged ingredient has a published basis (confirmed harm / regulatory action / precautionary). See methodology →
Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.
- 1protein animalbeef
Real meat. Dense in protein and iron. Some dogs are sensitive to it, but for most it's an excellent base.
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2protein animalchicken
Real meat. Primary protein source, with the amino acid profile dogs actually evolved to eat.
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3liver
Generic liver, usually chicken or beef. Among the most nutrient-dense ingredients a dog can eat. Named species is more informative.
- 4soy protein concentrate
- 5vegetablepumpkin
Soluble fiber that supports stool quality. Mild and well-tolerated.
Position 5: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.
- 6legumepeas
Cheap protein bulk. Fine in small amounts, but when peas stack with lentils and chickpeas in the top ingredients, it's the pattern the FDA flagged in its heart-disease investigation. See why →
Position 6. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.
- 7vegetablecarrots
Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, and a small amount of antioxidant value.
Position 7: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.
- 8grainbrown rice
Whole grain that's easy to digest. Steady carb energy plus a little fiber.
Position 8: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 9fatcanola oil
Plant oil. Some omega-3 from the parent plant, though dogs absorb it less efficiently than fish-derived omega-3. Fine in moderation.
Position 9: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 10grainbarley
Whole grain with a low glycemic profile and some soluble fiber. Easy on blood sugar.
Position 10: minor grain inclusion.
- 11cane molasses
Added sugar from sugar cane. Used for palatability or texture. Dogs don't need added sugar.
- 12dried eggs
Whole eggs. The highest-quality protein on any ingredient label by amino acid score.
Position 12: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.
- 13oat fiber
Position 13: trace fiber inclusion.
- 14mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 15dried brewers yeast
- 16fatmenhaden fish oil
Omega-3 from menhaden, a small oily fish. Same skin and coat support as salmon oil.
- 17fiberguar gum
Thickener common in wet food. Emerging research on emulsifiers and the gut microbiome, but no smoking gun in dogs yet. See why →
- 18mineralcalcium carbonate
Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.
- 19mineralsodium tripolyphosphate
Preservative and texture agent in wet food. Functional at small doses, not a major concern, but some brands avoid it.
- 20mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 21mineralzinc proteinate
Zinc bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form of the mineral, versus zinc oxide which sits cheaper on the label.
- 22mineralzinc sulfate
Inorganic zinc. Effective at AAFCO doses but less well-absorbed than chelated forms like zinc proteinate.
- 23mineralferrous sulfate
Inorganic iron. Standard mineral source. Iron proteinate is the gentler, better-absorbed premium form.
- 24mineraliron proteinate
Iron bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form versus inorganic iron sulfate.
- 25mineralcopper sulfate
Inorganic copper. Standard, effective at small doses. Premium formulas tend to use copper proteinate instead.
Showing first 25 of 65. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
22 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.