Pros and cons of Wellness food
The key advantage is due to the composition:
- Fresh poultry and fish are ideal sources of protein. And this is the most important ingredient in pet nutrition.
- There are no artificial preservatives or antioxidants. Only natural elements are used: cranberries, tocopherols, etc.
- No cereal grains.
- Wellness dry food for cats is rich in minerals and vitamins.
- A variety of diets for different periods of life.
- The Wellness brand produces dry, canned food and other treats.
However, there is a flip side to the coin that the consumer should be aware of:
- Products have become widespread online. Only in some branded stores you can find products that meet the needs of your pet.
- High price compared to other food.
- The Wellness CORE line of food does not contain the nutrition necessary for medical procedures.
It is important to know about the shortcomings in order to buy a truly high-quality product. However, the advantages of this line of food are much greater. Therefore, we move on to the stage of considering the characteristics and composition.
Manufacturer
The business originally started with dog biscuits in 1926, but Wellness food itself was created in the 90s. Experts in the field of veterinary medicine and nutrition were involved in the case. The developers set themselves a specific task: to launch food on the market that could become a truly revolutionary product.
In addition, the organization engages in volunteer work: helping American shelters, advocating for animal rights, and supporting the Institute for Host Animal Research.
Factories are located in the USA and France (dry), and in Thailand (wet). In addition to cat food, dog food is also produced. The American company WellPet LLC, in addition to the Wellness Core brand, owns the brands Old Mother Hubbard Natural Dog Snacks, Eagle Pack Natural Pet Food, Holistic Select Natural Pet Food.
In 2004, the food took a leading position in US retail stores.
Features of Wellness food
The main emphasis is on the large volume of meat included in the feed. No grain composition.
- Absolute hypoallergenicity of dry food implies the exclusion of soy, dairy products, dyes, preservatives and flavors.
- Only healthy vitamins and antioxidants.
- In addition to dry food options, the consumer is provided with wet monge cat food, of course with a similar level of quality.
Price and where to buy
You can buy this food in online pet stores:
- "Mr. Woof" (link):
- Dry food, packaging 0.3 kg - from 375 rubles;
- Dry food, packaging 1.74 kg - from 1,500 rubles;
- Wet food, 85 g bag - from 105 rubles;
- Wet food, jar 79 g - from 130 rub.
- "Yandex Market" ():
- Dry food, packaging 0.3 kg - from 323 rubles;
- Dry food, packaging 1.74 kg - from 1350 rubles;
- Dry food, packaging 10 kg - from 7365 rubles;
- Wet food, bag 85 g - from 82 rubles;
- Wet food, jar 79 g - from 136 rub.
- "ZooMag" ().
Prices shown are current as of late August 2021 and may change significantly over time. For the exact cost, see the pet store websites using the links above.
Wellness Core Adult Cat Sterilized
Dry food with chicken and turkey meat. Suitable for sedentary animals. Contains 38% protein, 13% fat. The main ingredients are chicken and chicken flour. In addition to meat products, it includes potatoes, peas, dried protein, chicory root, cranberries and other healthy additives.
The product does a good job of removing hairballs from the throat. However, information on antioxidants is lacking.
Compound
The manufacturer adheres to AAFCO standards, which means it uses only high-quality natural products that help create a cat’s diet that is as close to natural nutrition as possible. Includes:
- natural meat (chicken, turkey) and flour from them,
- herring (dried and ground),
- fat (chicken),
- peas,
- potato,
- tomato cake,
- flax seeds,
- salmon oil,
- cranberries,
- chicory root extract,
- beneficial microorganisms (restore intestinal microflora).
Amino acids support the heart, glucosamine supports the bladder. It contains levocarnitine, iron, chondroitin and other beneficial substances.
Antioxidants and preservatives are added to feed so that it does not go rancid ahead of time and can be edible longer. Cheap options such as BHA, ethylenediamine, sodium monoglutamate, sodium metabisulfite, propylene glycol - cause anemia, kidney and liver problems, and other specific diseases. There are no such things in Wellness Core food!
Wellness Core Adult Cat Original Turkey
Hypoallergenic dry food containing chicken and turkey for adult cats. Maximum protein content (44%) and minimum fat content (16%). Complementary elements: chicken fat and salmon fat; dried potatoes and potato protein; beets, cellulose, chicory, minerals.
Thanks to the high level of protein content, the well-being of pregnant cats improves. But it was quite possible to do without cellulose, but the manufacturer decided otherwise.
Wellness Cat Core Kitten
Dry food without grains, but with a high level of protein (44%) and a minimum amount of fat (16%). The food is excellent for growing kittens.
- The composition is rich in prebiotics and probiotics. In addition, the product combines meat and fish, thanks to which the animal’s body receives the necessary amino acids. Vitamin D added for bone growth.
- The dominant ingredients in the composition are turkey and chicken meat. Additional elements include peas, potato protein, chicory, dried kelp and other vitamins and minerals.
- Among the advantages, it is worth emphasizing the optimal protein and fat content. But the main disadvantage is the high cost.
Feed class
Wellness CORE belongs to the holistic food group. Holistic - high-quality food made from the highest quality ingredients. The sources of protein are not products of animal origin (anything can be hidden behind this name) and not offal, but meat and fish. Carbohydrates are found in oatmeal, lentils, rice, sweet potatoes or peas, but not wheat and corn - the strongest allergens. The recipe uses a lot of herbs, fruits, vegetables, berries, and there are no flavor enhancers or synthetic ingredients.
WELLNESS CORE Tender Cuts
A food product for adult pets that has a balanced composition: animal protein, healthy carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. This also includes: chicken and duck; chicken broth and liver; eggs, carrots, cranberries, blueberries, potatoes, etc.
The advantage is the balance of useful elements and substances. The disadvantages are still the same - high price.
WELLNESS CORE Signature Selects
Wet food designed to meet the basic needs of adult cats. Balanced composition of proteins and fats.
- The composition is dominated by chicken and beef.
- As a supplement, tuna, egg, starch, minerals, vitamins.
- This food option does an excellent job when a pet refuses to eat for unknown reasons.
- The grain-free composition has a beneficial effect on the health of the animal. However, such food has a decent price.
Wellness Core: we figured out why you need to pay more?
Over the past decades, manufacturers of super-premium industrial feed have significantly revised their philosophy, offering customers a product whose composition is as close as possible to natural. Please note - not natural, but natural!
Natural food only implies the use of natural products in its composition, and natural food means their ratio corresponding to what the animal receives in its natural habitat. For example, cats practically do not need carbohydrates, and dogs require much less of them than humans. Both cats and dogs are predators, therefore, plant foods in their diet are the exception rather than the rule.
Nutritionists have come to the aid of feed manufacturers, who every year reveal more and more new aspects of proper nutrition for people and animals. Based on their conclusions, major players in the industrial feed market are adding to their range lines marked Wild - a kind of nod to the world of wildlife.
However, there is a brand that initially incorporated the natural composition of food into the very philosophy of its existence. Wellness Core, without false modesty, calls itself the “Mercedes” of industrial feeds.
He has a special approach to his business in common with the German auto giant - Wellness Core is not ready to make compromises, offering the client only the best. But is this really so? Let's check.
Minimum carbohydrates, maximum protein
In the pace of modern life, a small minority of pets are lucky enough to live in habitats that are natural to these animals. Even in cottage villages, not to mention large cities, there is an insurmountable barrier between domestic animals and wild nature, which cannot be destroyed even by the owner’s care and an abundance of time for walks.
But even after living next to a person for tens, hundreds and thousands of generations, a cat or dog does not cease to be itself. Their body is structured in a very specific way and for full development it needs a completely specific composition of nutrients. For centuries, people did not think much about the peculiarities of the diet of our smaller brothers.
The owner provided the pet with food, and that seemed enough. However, in the modern world we have learned enough to understand the fallacy of this approach. And the same Wellness Core invites its clients to trust the will of Mother Nature.
The basis of any diet is considered to be a harmonious combination of three pillars: proteins, fats and carbohydrates, supplemented by a number of accompanying elements. Wellness Core food developers check their ratio for cats and dogs. Thus, the feed contains the required minimum of carbohydrates, while cereals are not used to obtain them.
Thanks to this, the likelihood of your pet becoming obese from an excess of “empty” nutrients is virtually eliminated. Wellness Core food contains a moderate amount of fat, and the amount depends on the purpose of the specific food: breed size, age, taste preferences.
But the main component of Wellness Core food is definitely protein - a component obtained from natural meat. This is an important clarification, because there are proteins not only of animal, but also of plant origin - manufacturers of industrial feed of budget brands often delicately avoid this nuance. But both cats and dogs are carnivores. And it is in animal proteins that there is a set of amino acids necessary for the normal functioning of their body.
Each Wellness Core product has a corresponding percentage of animal protein content, and this figure has good reason.
The fact is that protein is the building material of any living organism. It is involved in the creation of new cells that replace dead ones. Different organisms require different amounts of this material at different periods of their lives. That is why there is a division of food according to the type, age and size of your pet. And Wellness Core, moreover, makes this combination as natural as possible.
The ratio of proteins and fats, as the most important elements of food, is indicated on the front side of the Wellness Core product label. This will help the owner make the right choice if he is guided by special recommendations received, for example, from a veterinarian.
The range of additional elements in Wellness Core food also matches the needs of the animal, which, under ideal conditions, it would meet in the wild. This is fiber obtained from fruits and vegetables, a set of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy joints, fish oil for healthy skin and improved coat quality, as well as a ready-made “package” of beneficial bacteria - prebiotics and probiotics. The full composition of the food can be found on the back of the package - it is also fully tailored to the unique needs of your pet.
What result does Wellness Core promise?
With a nutritious and regular diet of his food, of course. The behavior, physical form and appearance of the pet must fully correspond to the standards of a thriving individual in its natural environment.
First of all, no excess fat.
Muscle tone is maintained through the correct ratio of proteins, fats and carbohydrates for each animal at a specific period of its life.
Secondly, healthy skin and coat, which is provided by a full set of additional components. As a result, interest in life and energy appear in a pet that eats “by the standards” of the wild.
Now let's take a closer look at what specific products Wellness Core offers us.
Wet and dry
The manufacturer conventionally divided its products into four categories according to two parameters:
- Kind of animal. As mentioned, Wellness Core produces food for domestic cats and dogs.
- Type of feed. The assortment includes dry and wet food, depending on the recommendations of the nutritionist and the individual preferences of the pet.
Wet food for cats: the main difference is the variety of protein sources: two types of fish, chicken, turkey, duck and beef. They have different ratios of proteins and fats, and as a result, different caloric content. A total of 12 unique flavors for your choice.
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CORE TENDER CUTS cut chicken and turkey pouches in sauce for cats
Rating 5 out of 5
150,00 ₽
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CORE TENDER CUTS chicken pouches with chicken liver in the form of slices in sauce for cats
150,00 ₽
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CORE SIGNATURE SELECTS Canned Tuna & Salmon Chunks in Broth for Cats
Rating 5 out of 5
150,00 ₽
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CORE turkey and salmon food for kittens
Rating 5 out of 5
1 750,00 ₽
Dry cat food , at first glance, is less diverse and has only five varieties. However, in fact, it has a much more in-depth division, focused on the age and physiological characteristics of the animal. The buyer will be able to choose a fish-bird “mix” for kittens, as well as food for adult cats - with poultry or fish. The same composition, only with a different ratio of proteins and fats, is offered for sterilized cats and neutered males. It is obvious that Wellness Core implies dry food as the basis of the animal’s diet. 5 varieties of goods, but which ones!
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CORE salmon food for spayed and neutered male cats
500,00 ₽
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CORE salmon and tuna food for adult cats
500,00 ₽
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CORE turkey and chicken food for adult cats
450,00 ₽
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CORE turkey and salmon food for kittens
450.00 ₽
Wet dog food: like dog food in general, it has a more complex classification, because their breeds differ significantly both in size and in lifestyle. There are also several product combinations with a varied source of protein and fiber, but there is already a clear division by the size of the dog (there is a special line for small breeds) and its age (options are offered for puppies, adult dogs, and universal formulations). 10 in total .
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CORE 95 canned beef with broccoli for adult dogs
Rating 5 out of 5
350,00 ₽
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CORE 95 Canned Turkey, Goat and Sweet Potatoes for Adult Dogs
350,00 ₽
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CORE SMALL BREED canned chicken with beef, green beans and red pepper for small breed dogs 85 g
200.00 ₽
Dry dog food: offers even greater variety, here you can choose a product that strictly matches the parameters of your pet. Food for puppies, adults and even older dogs; small, medium, and large breeds; with fish or poultry as sources of animal protein - combinations of these parameters form an offer - 11 unique foods!
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CORE Turkey and chicken food for senior dogs of all breeds
6 750,00 ₽
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CORE Chicken food for large breed puppies
2 450,00 ₽
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CORE Turkey and chicken food for adult dogs of medium breeds
6 750,00 ₽
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CORE Chicken food for large breed puppies
Rating 5 out of 5
6 750,00 ₽
Depending on the type of food and its packaging, Wellness Core offers packages from 800 grams to 10 kilograms.
Does Mercedes have its drawbacks among industrial feeds?
In our opinion, they exist, although for some owners, on the contrary, they may seem an undeniable advantage. We are talking about the diversity of the product line. Indeed, Wellness Core puts on the market the optimal range of foods that are aimed at the widest range of pets - cats and dogs. On the other hand, “class rivals” offer their customers even greater variety and a more clear division of feed according to their intended purpose. For example, for animals undergoing treatment or with developmental disabilities. They also have much more organized lines by age and size of the pet. Some owners are too scrupulous in this matter, and the modest “reduced fat” mark on the Wellness Core package may seem unconvincing to them. And the other animal owner, on the contrary, will be happy when one of the flagships of industrial feed production saves him from the unnecessary pain of choice. Is this a plus or a minus? Decide for yourself.
To summarize: Wellness Core initially positions itself as one of the best modern manufacturers of industrial holistic food. Above them are only the stars, and somewhere next to them is a Mercedes. They do not waste time on trifles and specialize exclusively in the production of products with a natural, “natural” ratio of nutrients in their composition. Can one forgive them for all this for a certain scarcity and versatility of the product line? You can understand this, or even better, test it on your own pets now.
The entire Wellness Core showcase
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Alexey Egorov
Author, employee of “My good one”. Having an attachment to things with history, he constantly strives to learn new things and discover something unusual, something that has not yet been tried. Loves the vastness of the oceans, mountains, fields and the feeling of unity with nature.
Overview of Carbohydrates and Supplements
All types of food above the specified line contain almost the same components:
- Peas have a low glycemic index. Good for cats and dogs. Contains carbohydrates, fiber and vegetable protein.
- Potato protein easily replaces animal protein. However, this component is incomplete for cats.
- Dried potatoes are much better than potato flour, but they are not a substitute for the potatoes themselves. But despite pre-processing, it serves as a source of fiber and complex carbohydrates.
- Beets are a good source of fiber.
- Chicory root contains a prebiotic.
- Cranberry was added to the composition in an unknown form. Its preventive effectiveness against urolithiasis has not been proven. Most likely this is just a marketing ploy.
- Dried kelp is a useful component, but it is unlikely that its volume percentage is so impressive as to actually provide significant benefits to the animal’s body.
- Yucca Schidigera is a plant element that prevents strong fecal odors.
The manufacturer reports the addition of natural antioxidants, but does not disclose their true composition, which raises doubts about their effective use. Unfortunately, marketing often involves listing various beneficial components without further explanation.
Salmon food contains rapeseed oil. The degree of purification is not indicated anywhere on the packaging. Therefore, it is easy to assume that this is ordinary refined oil of low cost.
The substance may contain toxic acid, which negatively affects the functioning of the heart, liver and blood vessels. You should avoid buying food if it contains rapeseed oil.
In general, the manufacturer did not lie about the absence of cereals and the use of peas. Similar carbohydrate additives are found in the Russian version. However, foreign diets differ in the content of natural chicken flavoring and tomato pulp.
Nutrition "Wellness KOR"
As the manufacturer himself emphasizes, this line is protein-focused, that is, the main emphasis in it is on animal protein - natural meat components, so necessary for any carnivore. Even at home. In addition to meat, the recipes include healthy additives such as vegetables and a vitamin-mineral complex - sources of health and good mood for your pet.
The components of food for dogs and cats are selected with extreme care and thoroughness, so the compositions are guaranteed to not contain harmful preservatives, flavors and other chemicals. A healthy diet will please your pet and will improve the functioning of the digestive system, as well as have a positive effect on its appearance, including the health of its skin and coat.
