Adult Bison Meal & Rice Dry Dog Food, 35-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Wholesomes Adult Bison Meal & Rice Dry Dog Food is a dry food that features bison meal as its primary protein source.
The formula starts with bison meal, a named protein source. It also includes specific, named grain ingredients like rice and brown rice, which is generally preferred over generic grain listings.
The main thing to note is the absence of a declared omega-3 source. Common ingredients like fish oil, salmon oil, or algae oil are not present in the ingredient list.
Good fit for adult dogs looking for a functional dry food. Less ideal if you prefer a product with a clear omega-3 source.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Strong fit for active large sporting breeds like Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and English Setters navigating weight management. Working in its favor: crude fiber (5%) helps satiety. At 325 kcal/cup this formula runs on the lean side, with crude fiber at 5% (above the catalog median, supports satiety). The landmark 14-year Purina Lifespan Study on 48 Labrador Retrievers demonstrated that dogs fed 25% fewer calories lived a median of 1.8 years longer and delayed the onset of chronic diseases. 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 adult 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 3 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.
- Brooks et al., 2014diagnostic · protocol · satiety· cited in 5 claims
- APOP, 2023prevalence
- 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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
Middle-of-pack grade. 50/100 (C) reflects the structural fit of this formula against The Sniff System's eight scoring components. What we'd flag for vet discussion: fat quality (-8 points). No declared omega-3 source. Fish oil, salmon oil, and algae oil all absent. B-tier is 10 points up. Fat quality is where to find them.
No positive drivers crossed our reporting threshold.
No declared omega-3 source. Fish oil, salmon oil, and algae oil all absent.
- Lowest DMB protein in Wholesomes's lineup (24.4%)
- Lowest DMB fat in Wholesomes's lineup (13.3%)
- Lowest caloric density in Wholesomes's lineup (325 kcal/cup)
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.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Adult High-Protein Wholesome Grains & Bison Dry Dog Food, 28-lb bag
Scores 29 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Wholesomes Beef Meal & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food, 40-lb bag
$1.18/lb vs your seed's $1.43/lb (17% less) at a comparable score.
Wellness Complete Health Adult Wholesome Grains Natural Whitefish & Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food, 30-lb bag
Whitefish instead of beef, 15 points higher, 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.
- 1bison meal
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2grainrice
Generic rice. Could be white or brown, the label doesn't say. Brown rice would be specified if it were.
Position 2: major carbohydrate source.
- 3legumepeas
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 3. Pulse-family ingredient this high in the deck is a notable build choice. When stacked with other pulses in the top 10, matches the formulation pattern the FDA flagged in its diet-associated DCM investigation.
- 4grainbrown rice
Whole grain that's easy to digest. Steady carb energy plus a little fiber.
Position 4: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 5protein animalbeef meal
Beef cooked down to a dry concentrate. More protein per pound than fresh beef. See why →
Position 5: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 6pea starch
Refined starch from peas, mostly carbs after the protein is removed. Counts toward the legume stack the FDA examined.
Position 6. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.
5 of 6 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.
Wholesomes Bison Meal & Rice Formula is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for maintenance.