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Wellness CORE Grain-Free Beef, Venison & Lamb Formula Canned Dog Food, 12.5-oz, case of 12
Wellness

CORE Grain-Free Beef, Venison & Lamb Formula Canned Dog Food, 12.5-oz, case of 12

Evidence Fair
AAFCO compliance inferred from product name
wet $5.71/lb

Graded by The Sniff System

In plain English

Wellness CORE Grain-Free Beef, Venison & Lamb Formula is a wet dog food featuring beef, venison, and lamb.

This formula has a strong protein profile, with beef as the primary ingredient, which means high biological value for your dog. It also includes quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber, and organ meats like beef and pork liver add diverse, highly bioavailable protein.

This food contains carrageenan, a seaweed-derived thickener that some studies link to gastrointestinal inflammation. There's also guar gum, an emulsifier with emerging microbiome data, though canine clinical evidence is not yet established.

Good fit for adult dogs needing a high-protein wet food. Less ideal if your dog has a sensitive stomach or IBD due to carrageenan.

Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.

Who this is for

Good fit for active large sporting breeds like Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and Irish Setters navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Beef anchors position 1, with zero pulses in the top 15, plus beef 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

Methodology

The Sniff System grades this product against 3 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.

  • FDA, 2022
    cardiac · epidemiology · breed predisposition· cited in 5 claims
  • FDA, 2019
    diet composition· cited in 2 claims
  • NRC, 2006
    nutrient bioavailability

Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.

Why this score

Middle-of-pack grade. 59/100 (C) reflects the structural fit of this formula against The Sniff System's eight scoring components. Protein quality did the heavy lifting (+24 points): Strong protein profile with beef as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value. What we'd flag for vet discussion: controversial-ingredient penalty (-5 points). Contains carrageenan. Plausible rodent colitis mechanism, no direct canine clinical evidence at food-grade levels. Concern elevated for dogs with IBD. B-tier is 1.0 points away. Trimming controversial-ingredient penalty is the most direct route.

What lifted the score

Strong protein profile with beef as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.

PQI

Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.

CQI

Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.

STACK
What pulled it down

Contains carrageenan. Plausible rodent colitis mechanism, no direct canine clinical evidence at food-grade levels. Concern elevated for dogs with IBD..

CIP

Contains guar gum. Emerging microbiome data on emulsifiers; no canine clinical evidence. Minor penalty in canned food..

CIP
What sets this apart
  • Top 3% for protein quality in grain-free wet foods (24/27)
  • Bottom quartile for crude fiber in Wellness's lineup (4.5% DMB)
  • Top 10% for DMB protein in Wellness's lineup (54.5%)

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.

Better match
Higher score, similar formulation
Wellness CORE Grain-Free Hearty Cuts in Gravy Beef & Venison Recipe Canned Dog Food, 12.5-oz, case of 12
Wellness

Wellness CORE Grain-Free Hearty Cuts in Gravy Beef & Venison Recipe Canned Dog Food, 12.5-oz, case of 12

70

Scores 11 points higher with a similar formulation profile.

Best value
Lower price, comparable score
Wellness CORE Digestive Health Chicken & Beef Pate Variety Pack Grain-Free Wet Dog Food, 13-oz can, case of 6
Wellness

Wellness CORE Digestive Health Chicken & Beef Pate Variety Pack Grain-Free Wet Dog Food, 13-oz can, case of 6

56

$5.10/lb vs your seed's $5.71/lb (11% less) at a comparable score.

Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.

Controversial ingredients · 1

  • carrageenan
    Seaweed-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 →

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 55% ⓘ
Protein
12%
min (as fed)
Fat
7%
min (as fed)
Fiber
1%
max (as fed)
Moisture
78%
max

Wet and fresh foods contain more water than kibble (typically 65-78%). On a dry-matter basis, this food's protein content is roughly 55%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).

Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

45 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    beef

    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.

  2. 2
    beef broth

    Real broth. Adds flavor and moisture, signals the recipe leans on real meat.

    Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.

  3. 3
    beef liver

    Organ meat. Among the most nutrient-dense ingredients available, rich in B vitamins, iron, and vitamin A.

    Position 3. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.

  4. 4
    venison

    Real meat, lean and gamey. Used as a novel protein for dogs with sensitivities.

    Position 4: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.

  5. 5
    lamb

    Real meat. Often used for dogs with chicken or beef sensitivities. Slightly higher fat content than chicken.

    Position 5: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.

  6. 6
    chicken

    Real meat. Primary protein source, with the amino acid profile dogs actually evolved to eat.

    Position 6: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.

  7. 7
    pork liver

    Organ meat. Dense in B vitamins, iron, and vitamin A. Among the most nutritious ingredients on any label.

    Position 7. Functional organ inclusion. Adds amino acids and micronutrients even at smaller weight.

  8. 8
    ground flaxseed

    Cracked flaxseed for better digestibility. Same plant omega-3s as whole flaxseed, just easier for the dog to extract.

    Position 8: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.

  9. 9
    carrageenan Flagged

    Seaweed-derived thickener. Some lab studies suggest gut inflammation, but the evidence in pets is mixed. See why →

  10. 10
    guar gum

    Thickener common in wet food. Emerging research on emulsifiers and the gut microbiome, but no smoking gun in dogs yet. See why →

    Position 10: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.

  11. 11
    carrots

    Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, and a small amount of antioxidant value.

    Position 11: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.

  12. 12
    sweet potato

    Complex carb with fiber and beta-carotene. Gentle on the stomach.

    Position 12: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.

  13. 13
    kale

    Leafy green with antioxidants and fiber. Small dose in kibble, but it's not just for marketing.

    Position 13: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.

  14. 14
    broccoli

    Real vegetable. Adds fiber and some antioxidants. Fine in the small amounts used in kibble.

    Position 14: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.

  15. 15
    spinach

    Leafy green. Some iron, vitamin K, and fiber. The dose in kibble is small but it's real food.

    Position 15: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.

  16. 16
    parsley

    Real herb. Trace amount of vitamins K and C. The dose in kibble is small, mostly there for label appeal.

  17. 17
    apples

    Real fruit, some fiber and antioxidants. The amount in kibble is too small to matter much.

  18. 18
    blueberries

    Antioxidants, real. But the amount in any kibble is too small to do much. Mostly marketing.

  19. 19
    alfalfa meal

    Dried alfalfa. Real fiber and trace minerals. Functional plant ingredient.

  20. 20
    salt

    Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.

  21. 21
    potassium chloride

    Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.

  22. 22
    dried chicory root

    Natural prebiotic. Feeds beneficial gut bacteria. The same compound (inulin) used in human gut-health products.

  23. 23
    dried kelp

    Natural source of iodine and trace minerals. A common premium-brand inclusion.

  24. 24
    yucca schidigera extract

    Plant extract added to reduce stool odor. Functional, not nutritional. Fine in trace amounts.

  25. 25
    tricalcium phosphate

    Calcium and phosphorus source. Same role as dicalcium phosphate, slightly different ratio.

Showing first 25 of 45. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

25 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.