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Wellness CORE Grain-Free Turkey, Chicken Liver & Turkey Liver Formula Canned Dog Food, 12.5-oz, case of 12
Wellness

CORE Grain-Free Turkey, Chicken Liver & Turkey Liver Formula Canned Dog Food, 12.5-oz, case of 12

Evidence Fair
AAFCO compliance inferred from product name
wet $5.61/lb

Graded by The Sniff System

In plain English

Wellness CORE Grain-Free Turkey, Chicken Liver & Turkey Liver Formula is a wet food featuring chicken and turkey, along with their livers.

This wet food offers good protein quality from chicken and includes organ meats like chicken and turkey liver for diverse, highly bioavailable protein. It also features quality carbohydrate sources that provide fermentable fiber.

The formula contains carrageenan, a seaweed-derived thickener linked to gastrointestinal inflammation in some studies, especially for dogs with IBD. It also includes guar gum, an emulsifier with emerging microbiome data.

Good fit for adult dogs who do well on a wet food. Less ideal if your dog has a sensitive stomach or IBD.

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

Who this is for

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) . Good fit for adult Golden Retrievers and similar active sporting breeds navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Chicken anchors position 1, with zero pulses in the top 15, plus chicken liver at position 4 (a natural taurine precursor).

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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.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

At 57/100, this formula lands mid-pack. The lift comes from protein quality, worth 19.5 points to the final number: Reasonable protein quality. chicken delivers solid amino acid coverage. Where it lost ground: controversial-ingredient penalty, costing 5 points. Contains carrageenan. Plausible rodent colitis mechanism, no direct canine clinical evidence at food-grade levels. Concern elevated for dogs with IBD. This formula sits 3.0 points below the B-tier line. The most direct lever is controversial-ingredient penalty.

What lifted the score

Reasonable protein quality. chicken delivers solid amino acid coverage.

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 10% for DMB protein in Wellness's lineup (50.0%)
  • Bottom quartile for crude fiber in Wellness's lineup (4.5% DMB)
  • Top 10% for DMB fat in Wellness's lineup (31.8%)

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 Hearty Cuts in Gravy Chicken & Turkey Recipe Grain-Free Canned Dog Food, 12.5-oz, case of 12
Wellness

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

70

Scores 13 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 $5.61/lb (9% 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: 50% ⓘ
Protein
11%
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 50%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).

Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

41 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    chicken

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

    Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.

  2. 2
    turkey

    Real meat. Lean protein, good amino acid profile, often well-tolerated by dogs sensitive to chicken.

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

  3. 3
    chicken broth

    Real broth, adds flavor and moisture. Negligible nutrition on its own but tells you the recipe leans on real meat.

    Position 3: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.

  4. 4
    chicken liver

    Organ meat. Dense in protein, iron, vitamin A, and the B vitamins. Among the most nutrient-rich ingredients a dog can eat.

    Position 4. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.

  5. 5
    turkey liver

    Organ meat. Same nutrient-density story as chicken or beef liver: protein, iron, B vitamins, vitamin A.

    Position 5. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.

  6. 6
    turkey heart

    Position 6. Functional organ inclusion. Adds amino acids and micronutrients even at smaller weight.

  7. 7
    sweet potato

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

    Position 7: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.

  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
    chicken heart

    Organ meat. Dense in taurine, B vitamins, and CoQ10. One of the best ingredients dogs can eat.

    Position 9. Functional organ inclusion. Adds amino acids and micronutrients even at smaller weight.

  10. 10
    carrageenan Flagged

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

  11. 11
    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 11: trace fiber inclusion.

  12. 12
    carrots

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

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

  13. 13
    apples

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

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

  14. 14
    spinach

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

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

  15. 15
    parsley

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

  16. 16
    blueberries

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

  17. 17
    broccoli

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

  18. 18
    kale

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

  19. 19
    potassium chloride

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

  20. 20
    salt

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

  21. 21
    dried chicory root

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

  22. 22
    yucca schidigera extract

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

  23. 23
    choline chloride

    Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.

  24. 24
    zinc proteinate

    Zinc bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form of the mineral, versus zinc oxide which sits cheaper on the label.

  25. 25
    iron proteinate

    Iron bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form versus inorganic iron sulfate.

Showing first 25 of 41. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

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