Pet Food Sherpa Editorial | Last Updated October 20, 2023

This page contains affiliate links. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post through our independently chosen links, which earn us a commission. Learn more about how we are supported here.

Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Puppy Deboned Chicken

Company info

Company HQ

Tewksbury, Massachusetts

Parent company

WellPet LLC

Product info

Age Range: Puppy

Food Form Dry Puppy Food

Cost per day: $0.08

Primary proteins

Deboned Chicken
Chicken Meal
Salmon Meal

Ingredients

Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Peas, Ground Brown Rice, Salmon Meal, Oatmeal, Barley, Oats, Tomato Pomace, Chicken Fat (preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Ground Flaxseed, Tomatoes, Salmon Oil, Carrots, Natural Chicken Flavor, Salt, Choline Chloride, Spinach, Vitamin E Supplement, Chicory Root Extract, Yucca Shidigera Extract, Taurine, Zinc Proteinate, Mixed Tocopherols added to preserve freshness, Sweet Potatoes, Apples, Blueberries, Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate, Niacin, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Vitamin A Supplement, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Manganese Sulfate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Sodium Selenite, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin, Garlic Powder, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Dried Lactobacillus plantarum Fermentation Product, Dried Enterococcus faecium Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus casei Fermentation Product, Dried Lactobacillus acidophilus Fermentation Product , Rosemary Extract, Green Tea Extract, Spearmint Extract. This is a naturally preserved product.

Breed sizes

Toy

Small

Medium

Large

Giant

Compare Prices To Find The Lowest Price

$66.98 +Shipping (Free )

Free Shipping On Orders $49+

Overall Score

57%

Read customer reviews

Ratings

? This rating is determined by comparing the food’s nutritional content to AAFCO standards and other foods in our database. Nutrient Value 44%

? Each recipe is evaluated based on a 5-point ingredient rating system that measures ingredients’ nutritional value, safety, and more. Quality of Ingredients 67%

? We scan the FDA’s database and rate each brand by the number of recalls in its history. Brands with fewer recalls receive higher ratings. Recall History 35%

? By comparing the prices of foods in our database, we determine if a food is above or below market average price. Lower-priced foods receive higher ratings. Price 80%

? This metric is based on customer ratings from various retailers. Customer Experience 82%

? Our rating system evaluates each food’s manufacturing method, assigning higher ratings to manufacturing processes that promote higher nutritional value. Manufacturing Method 40%

? Based on the variety of sizes available. Size Variety 64%

Estimated Nutrient Content

To understand the nutrient content of pet food, we visualize its macronutrient composition in three ways. In the charts below, you’ll see a guaranteed analysis on an as-fed basis, a dry matter analysis, and a breakdown of the food’s macronutrients on a calorie-weighted basis.

Remember that all of these values are estimates based on the guaranteed analysis published by the company, and the food’s actual nutrient values may be slightly different.

Guaranteed Analysis

Protein: 29%

Fat: 13%

Fiber: 5%

Moisture: 10%

Ash: 0%

Carb: 43%

Dry Matter Analysis

Protein: 32.22%

Fat: 14.44%

Fiber: 5.56%

Ash: 8%

Carb: 47.78%

Calorie Weighted Basis

Protein: 28%

Fat: 30.48%

Carb: 41.52%

Our Review

Pros

High in carbohydrates
Supplemented with chelated minerals for optimal nutrient absorption
Contains health promoting ground flaxseed for fiber
Doesn’t contain fillers, by-products, or artificial additives
Rich in species-appropriate animal protein
Affordable
A good source of omega-3 fatty acids
Has all the nutrients your puppy or mother dog needs

Cons

Low in moisture
Contains a small amount of plant-based proteins
The brand has had multiple recalls over recent years
Some dogs may be allergic to fish

Recall History

The following list (if present) shows all dog food recalls related to Wellness since 2011. If no recalls are listed, no recall events have been reported.

Wellness - Canned Cat Food (02/28/2011) -+

Date:	02/28/2011
Company Name:	WellPet LLC
Product Description:	Canned Cat Food
Recall Reason:	Inadequate Levels of Thiamine

Read the Full FDA Report

Wellness - Dog Food (05/04/2012) -+

Date:	05/04/2012
Company Name:	WellPet LLC
Product Description:	Dog Food
Recall Reason:	Salmonella

Read the Full FDA Report

Wellness - Dog Food (10/31/2012) -+

Date:	10/31/2012
Company Name:	WellPet LLC
Product Description:	Dog Food
Recall Reason:	Moisture problems

Read the Full FDA Report

Wellness - Cat Food (02/10/2017) -+

Date:	02/10/2017
Company Name:	WellPet, LLC
Product Description:	Cat Food
Recall Reason:	Potential for foreign material

Read the Full FDA Report

Wellness - Dog Food (03/18/2017) -+

Date:	03/18/2017
Company Name:	WellPet, LLC
Product Description:	Dog Food
Recall Reason:	Potential for elevated levels of naturally occurring beef thyroid hormone

Read the Full FDA Report

Wellness - Beef Topper for Dogs (02/08/2018) -+

Date:	02/08/2018
Company Name:	WellPet LLC
Product Description:	Beef Topper for Dogs
Recall Reason:	Elevated Levels of Naturally Occurring Beef Thyroid Hormone

Read the Full FDA Report

Ingredient Review

Our review of Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Puppy Deboned Chicken begins with a detailed look at the food’s ingredients.

The first ingredient is Deboned Chicken. Deboned chicken is chicken meat with the bones removed. In pet food, deboned chicken is a valuable source of protein.

The second ingredient is Chicken Meal. In pet food, chicken meal is often listed as a source of protein. Chicken meal is produced by baking and grinding chicken meat and skin. As a dry form of animal protein, it is most often found in kibble and treats.

The third ingredient is Peas. Pea is a general term to describe whole, split, or milled peas, which are a grain-free, gluten-free source of protein, fiber, and carbohydrates. In pet food, pea products serve as an energy source as well as a supplementary source of vitamins and minerals.

The fourth ingredient is Ground Brown Rice. In pet food, ground brown rice is a source of easily digestible carbohydrates and fiber. It can also add texture to the recipe. This cereal grain is gluten-free.

The fifth ingredient is Salmon Meal. Salmon meal is ground flesh from any fish in the salmon family, and in pet food, salmon meal might also include other parts of the fish including skin and organs. Salmon meal can be a good source of protein and Omega-3 fatty acids.

When we analyzed the ingredients in Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Puppy Deboned Chicken, we found that most of the protein is derived from meat based sources.

Price Analysis

Price per lb

Product Price

$2.23

Market Price avg.

$3.85

% From the Avg

-42%

Price per 100 kcal

Product Price

$0.14

Market Price avg.

$0.23

% From the Avg

-40%

Price per day

Product Price

$0.08

Market Price avg.

$0.14

% From the Avg

-40%

Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Puppy Deboned Chicken is priced well below the average market price for dry puppy food.

Nutritional Analysis

Like puppies of any breed, large breed puppies require extra calories to support growth and development. However, large breed puppies grow more slowly and are at an increased risk of developing bone deformities. That’s why puppy formulas for large breed dogs should have an optimal ratio of calcium to phosphorus. This helps to ensure appropriate large bone growth rate over the typically extended period of growth time for these big dogs and mitigates against bone deformities.

With that in mind, we’ve compared Wellness Large Breed Complete Health Puppy Deboned Chicken to the other 221 dry puppy food recipes in our database:

DM Protein

Product info

32.22%

All Products avg.

32.39%

% From the Avg

-1%

DM Fat

Product info

14.44%

All Products avg.

17.95%

% From the Avg

-20%

DM Fiber

Product info

5.56%

All Products avg.

4.64%

% From the Avg

+20%

DM Carb

Product info

47.78%

All Products avg.

44.28%

% From the Avg

+8%

Analysis Overview

Overall, this is a meat based food that’s moderate in protein with low fat and moderate carbohydrate content relative to other dry puppy foods.

Disclaimer and Disclosure

At Pet Food Sherpa, our primary goal is to provide pet owners like you with accurate, relevant, and unbiased information about pet nutrition. As such, we do not accept gifts or incentives as motivation to include certain products in our reviews.

We do, however, participate in affiliate marketing programs and we partner with select brands to fund our site. We choose the products we review carefully and review them thoroughly before publishing a review or accepting any form of payment.

Proceeds from this program and our partners enable us to continue providing high-quality content to our readers. Read more about how we’re funded here.