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Wholesomes Grain-Free Whitefish Meal & Potatoes Formula Dry Dog Food, 35-lb bag
Wholesomes

Grain-Free Whitefish Meal & Potatoes Formula Dry Dog Food, 35-lb bag

Evidence Fair
dry $1.49/lb

Graded by The Sniff System

In plain English

Wholesomes Grain-Free Whitefish Meal & Potatoes Formula Dry Dog Food is a dry food with whitefish meal as its primary protein.

This formula features whitefish meal as the first ingredient, providing solid amino acid coverage. It also includes dried egg, which adds to the diverse, high-bioavailability protein sources.

The biggest concern is the lack of an AAFCO statement, which means the nutritional completeness of this food is unverified. Also, there's high legume stacking with chickpeas, peas, and pea fiber appearing in the top ingredients.

Good fit for adult dogs who do well on fish-based diets. Less ideal if you prefer foods with a verified AAFCO statement or high legume content.

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

Who this is for

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. Good fit for active large sporting breeds, including the Labrador Retriever, navigating weight management. At 375 kcal/cup this formula runs on the moderate side, with crude fiber at 4% (above the catalog median, supports satiety). According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention's 2023 survey, 59% of dogs in the United States were classified as overweight or obese by their veterinary healthcare professional, representing an estimated 55 million dogs  (APOP, 2023) .

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

Methodology

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

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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.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 52/100, this formula lands mid-pack. The lift comes from protein quality, worth 14.5 points to the final number: Reasonable protein quality. whitefish meal delivers solid amino acid coverage. The ceiling on this score is 59, set because the AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement isn't disclosed on the retailer page (so our methodology can't verify the formula meets adult, growth, or all-life-stages standards). The cap isn't the binding constraint here. AAFCO compliance would also need to improve to reach the next band.

What lifted the score

Reasonable protein quality. whitefish meal delivers solid amino acid coverage.

PQI

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

STACK
What pulled it down

Score capped at 59 due to no AAFCO statement.

CAP why?

No AAFCO statement. Nutritional completeness unverified.

ACF

Contains high legume stacking. Multiple pulse-family ingredients in top 15. Mitigated by taurine supplementation or organ meat (natural taurine precursor) in top 10..

CIP
What sets this apart
  • Lowest crude fiber in Wholesomes's lineup (4.4% DMB)
  • Lowest carb quality in Wholesomes's lineup (8/16)
  • Bottom 10% for DMB protein in grain-free dry kibbles (25.6%)

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
Wholesomes Puppy Chicken & Rice Dry Dog Food, 16.5-lb bag
Wholesomes

Wholesomes Puppy Chicken & Rice Dry Dog Food, 16.5-lb bag

69

Scores 17 points higher with a similar formulation profile.

Best value
Lower price, comparable score
Wholesomes Beef Meal & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food, 40-lb bag
Wholesomes

Wholesomes Beef Meal & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food, 40-lb bag

48

$1.18/lb vs your seed's $1.49/lb (20% less) at a comparable score.

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

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 26% ⓘ
Protein
23%
min (as fed)
Fat
14%
min (as fed)
Fiber
4%
max (as fed)
Moisture
10%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

48 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    whitefish meal

    Whitefish cooked into a dry concentrate. Strong protein source, common in premium formulas.

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

  2. 2
    chickpeas

    Also called garbanzo beans. Affordable plant protein source, part of the legume stack the FDA examined in its heart-disease investigation. See why →

    Position 2. 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.

  3. 3
    potato

    Standard white potato. Steady carb source, common starch in grain-free recipes.

    Position 3: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.

  4. 4
    peas

    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 4. Within the FDA's top-5 DCM-pattern threshold. Especially notable if multiple pulses stack here.

  5. 5
    canola 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 5: secondary fat. Often where marine oils sit when present alongside a primary land-animal fat.

  6. 6
    flaxseed

    Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.

    Position 6: secondary fat. Often where marine oils sit when present alongside a primary land-animal fat.

  7. 7
    dried egg

    Whole eggs. The highest-quality protein on any ingredient label, by amino acid score.

    Position 7: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.

  8. 8
    sweet potato

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

    Position 8: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.

  9. 9
    pea fiber

    Insoluble fiber from peas. Doesn't carry the protein-inflation concern of pea protein. Mostly there for stool quality.

    Position 9. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.

  10. 10
    natural flavors

    Same as natural flavor. Usually hydrolyzed liver or broth, adds palatability.

  11. 11
    dicalcium phosphate

    Calcium and phosphorus combined. Required source of both minerals, especially in formulas without much bone content.

  12. 12
    apples

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

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

  13. 13
    blueberries

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

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

  14. 14
    cranberries

    Often added with a urinary-tract-support marketing angle. Real cranberry compounds help in concentrate form, but kibble doses are small.

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

  15. 15
    carrots

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

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

  16. 16
    spinach

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

  17. 17
    salt

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

  18. 18
    potassium chloride

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

  19. 19
    choline chloride

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

  20. 20
    dl-methionine

    Essential amino acid. Often added when plant proteins dominate, since methionine is naturally lower in pulses than meat.

  21. 21
    l-lysine

    Essential amino acid. Plant-protein-heavy formulas sometimes add it to round out the amino acid profile.

  22. 22
    taurine

    Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.

  23. 23
    l-carnitine

    Amino acid derivative that helps the body convert fat into energy. Common in weight-management formulas.

  24. 24
    beta-carotene
  25. 25
    vitamin a supplement

    Vitamin A in stable, standardized form. Required for vision, immune function, and growth.

Showing first 25 of 48. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

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