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Wellness

CORE Tiny Tasters Flaked Tuna & Salmon Recipe in Broth

Evidence Fair
AAFCO compliance inferred from product name
wet Data verified from brand site

Graded by The Sniff System

In plain English

Wellness CORE Tiny Tasters Flaked Tuna & Salmon Recipe in Broth is a wet food featuring tuna, mackerel, and salmon.

This formula includes named fish like tuna, mackerel, and salmon, which are good sources of highly bioavailable protein. While an explicit AAFCO statement isn't published, the formulation is inferred to be complete.

The food contains guar gum, an emulsifier. There's emerging data on emulsifiers and the microbiome, but no specific canine clinical evidence, so it's a minor penalty in canned food.

Good fit for dogs who enjoy a wet food with fish. Nothing serious working against it.

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

Who this is for

Strong fit for active large sporting breeds, including the Golden Retriever, navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Tuna anchors position 1, with zero pulses in the top 15, plus added taurine at position 11. 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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.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. 50/100 (C) reflects the structural fit of this formula against The Sniff System's eight scoring components. Ingredient diversity did the heavy lifting (+5 points): Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein. What we'd flag for vet discussion: controversial-ingredient penalty (-5 points). Contains guar gum. Emerging microbiome data on emulsifiers; no canine clinical evidence. Minor penalty in canned food. B-tier is 10 points up. Controversial-ingredient penalty is where to find them.

What lifted the score

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

STACK

AAFCO formulation inferred from declared not stated. Verbatim statement not published by retailer.

ACF
What pulled it down

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

CIP
What sets this apart
  • Top 4% for crude fiber in Wellness's lineup (15.0% DMB)
  • Bottom quartile for carb quality in Wellness's lineup (9/16)

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 Digestive Health Beef Recipe Grain-Free Wet Dog Food, 13-oz can, case of 12
Wellness

Wellness CORE Digestive Health Beef Recipe Grain-Free Wet Dog Food, 13-oz can, case of 12

59

Scores 9 points higher with a similar formulation profile.

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

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 85% ⓘ
Protein
8.5%
min (as fed)
Fat
2%
min (as fed)
Fiber
1.5%
max (as fed)
Moisture
90%
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 85%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).

Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

25 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    tuna

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

  2. 2
    tuna broth

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

  3. 3
    water sufficient for processing

    The regulatory phrase for cooking water in wet food. Has no nutritional implication, just labeling formality.

  4. 4
    mackerel

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

  5. 5
    salmon

    Real fish meat. Natural source of omega-3s, which kibble usually has to add back from oil.

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

  6. 6
    tapioca starch

    Refined cassava starch, used as a binder. Easy to digest, low on nutrition.

  7. 7
    sunflower oil

    Common plant oil. Useful in moderation for omega-6, though too much skews the omega ratio against the dog's favor.

    Position 7: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.

  8. 8
    natural flavors

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

  9. 9
    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 9: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.

  10. 10
    tricalcium phosphate

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

  11. 11
    taurine

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

  12. 12
    magnesium sulfate

    Source of magnesium, a required mineral. Standard inclusion in complete diets.

  13. 13
    vitamin e supplement

    Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.

  14. 14
    thiamine mononitrate

    B vitamin (B1). Essential for nervous system function. Cooked-in vitamin loss is why thiamine is always added back.

  15. 15
    niacin supplement

    B vitamin (B3). Required in complete dog foods, added as a supplement to standardize the dose.

  16. 16
    vitamin a supplement

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

  17. 17
    pyridoxine hydrochloride

    B vitamin (B6). Essential for protein metabolism. Standard inclusion in complete formulas.

  18. 18
    d-calcium pantothenate

    B vitamin (B5). Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.

  19. 19
    riboflavin supplement

    B vitamin (B2). Required in complete dog foods. The standardized form ensures consistent dosing.

  20. 20
    folic acid

    B vitamin (B9), essential for cell function. Standard in complete dog foods.

  21. 21
    vitamin d3 supplement

    The active form of vitamin D dogs need. Required for calcium absorption and bone health.

  22. 22
    biotin

    B vitamin that supports skin and coat health. Required for AAFCO-complete formulas.

  23. 23
    vitamin b12 supplement

    Essential for red blood cell formation and neurological function. Plant ingredients lack B12, so it has to be added.

  24. 24
    potassium chloride

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

  25. 25
    choline chloride

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

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