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Wellness CORE Grain-Free Small Breed Mini Meals Beef & Chicken Pate Dog Food Pouches, 3-oz, case of 12
Wellness

CORE Grain-Free Small Breed Mini Meals Beef & Chicken Pate Dog Food Pouches, 3-oz, case of 12

Evidence Fair
AAFCO compliance inferred from product name
wet $10.61/lb

Wellness CORE Grain-Free Small Breed Mini Meals Beef & Chicken Pate Dog Food Pouches, 3-oz, case of 12 earns a Sniff Score of 57/100 (C) with Fair evidence. 1 controversial ingredient flagged. Primary concern: contains guar gum. emerging microbiome data on emulsifiers; no canine clinical evidence. minor penalty in canned food...

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

Reasonable protein quality. beef delivers solid amino acid coverage.

PQI

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

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

CIP

Controversial ingredients · 1

  • sodium selenite
    Synthetic selenium source. Selenium is essential, but sodium selenite has a narrower safety margin than organic alternatives like selenium yeast. Better-formulated foods use the organic form.

Every flagged ingredient has a published basis (confirmed harm / regulatory action / precautionary). See methodology →

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 36% ⓘ
Protein
8%
min (as fed)
Fat
4%
min (as fed)
Fiber
1%
max (as fed)
Moisture
78%
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 36%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).

Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

34 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    beef

    Real meat. Dense in protein and iron. Some dogs are sensitive to it, but for most it's an excellent base.

  2. 2
    chicken

    Real meat. Primary protein source, with the amino acid profile dogs actually evolved to eat.

  3. 3
    chicken broth

    Real broth, adds flavor and moisture. Negligible nutrition on its own but tells you the recipe leans on real meat.

  4. 4
    water sufficient for processing

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

  5. 5
    tuna
  6. 6
    potato starch

    Refined potato. Pure carb energy, low on other nutrition. Often used as a binder in grain-free recipes.

  7. 7
    tapioca starch

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

  8. 8
    natural flavor

    Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.

  9. 9
    tricalcium phosphate

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

  10. 10
    potassium chloride

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

  11. 11
    guar gum

    Thickener common in wet food. Emerging research on emulsifiers and the gut microbiome, but no smoking gun in dogs yet.

  12. 12
    salt

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

  13. 13
    locust bean gum

    Thickener from carob seed. Generally well-tolerated. Less controversial than carrageenan or guar gum.

  14. 14
    sodium carbonate

    pH buffer used in food processing. Functional, no quality signal.

  15. 15
    xanthan gum

    Thickener common in wet food and gravies. Same emulsifier-microbiome conversation as guar gum, not a clear flag.

  16. 16
    vitamin e supplement

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

  17. 17
    thiamine hydrochloride
  18. 18
    niacin supplement

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

  19. 19
    vitamin a supplement

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

  20. 20
    pyridoxine hydrochloride

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

  21. 21
    d-calcium pantothenate

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

  22. 22
    riboflavin supplement

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

  23. 23
    folic acid

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

  24. 24
    vitamin d3 supplement

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

  25. 25
    biotin

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

Showing first 25 of 34. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

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