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Have you ever been confused about which dog food to feed your pup? We’ve all been there.
I know how frustrating it is because I’ve had to choose between all sorts of different brands and types of dog food in my time as a pet owner. (And if you’re anything like me, you probably have a hard time making up your mind!)
But I’m here today to give you some advice that will help you make the right choice between Canidae vs Wellness Dog Food.
I will show you 6 important factors and how they stack up, and in the process help you to make the right choice.
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Overview: Canidae vs Wellness Dog Food
Both Canidae and Wellness are popular brands of dog food that you will find on the shelves of pet stores across the country.
They each have a wide variety of different types and flavors, so there should be something for every dog in your household.
Both companies use high-quality ingredients that are free of GMOs, fillers, byproducts, and artificial preservatives.
However, their formulas are slightly different from one another—so let’s take a look!
⚠️ Consider the following when choosing dog food:
- Life stage
- Size of dog
- Grain-inclusive or grain-free
What’s most important in choosing the right type of food for your dog is understanding its breed (activity levels) and any existing allergies.
If you need more help, consult your vet or find a veterinary nutritionist at the American College of Veterinary Nutrition (AVCM).
Take note: This comparison guide is meant to give you a big-picture view of the two companies and the selected products. There are other products that have different specifications which might suit your needs better.
The sections below will focus on the following factors:
- Brand Reputation
- Ingredients
- Key Nutrients
- Range of formulas
- Product Safety and Recall
- Price
1. Brand Reputation
Canidae
John Gordon and Scott Whipple founded the small premium dog food business Canidae in the middle of the 1990s.
The business has received recognition for its dedication to producing high-quality, safe products that are devoid of chemicals and preservatives.
When you take a closer look under the hood, the ingredients they use show the company’s dedication to excellence.
Whenever possible, they buy food and meat that has been raised locally, and the meat they use is devoid of hormones and antibiotics.
This proves that the components in Canidae dog food products are safe for your dog’s health.
They have also made a lot of donations to the community, earning the Hunger Fighter of the Year award from the San Antonio Food Bank in 2021.
Canidae | How do other pet food brands stack up to our nutritionally dense food?
Wellness Pet Company
Wellness Pet Food was founded in 1997 with a bang, releasing quite a number of products into the marketplace.
By 2004, the company had eclipsed other natural pet foods in independent pet specialty stores because of its focus on quality and nutritional characteristics.
In 2022, the firm began producing dog treats under the Good Dog by Wellness brand, taking the company to newer heights.
They have also just received recognition for one of its plant-based products in the Natural Pet Category, cementing its position as one of the best and most innovative companies in the dog food industry.
The Importance of Senior Nutrition
2. Ingredients
In this comparison of Canidae and Wellness dog food, we will focus on the following dry food product from each company:
⚠️ A few points to note about the product label
Product name – tells you the percentage of the main ingredient
- “Chicken” – at least 70% of the product.
- “Chicken entree”, “Chicken platter”, “Chicken dinner” – at least 10% of the product.
- “With chicken” – at least 3% of the product
- “Chicken flavor” – less than 3% of the product
Ingredients – The first few items listed are the most important and make up the majority of the product (determined by weight).
Meat-meal – Can have much more protein than actual meat. To further understand, refer to this guide by AAFCO.
Canidae
Canidae is renowned for using only natural, fresh ingredients.
Its recipes all begin with fresh vegetables and real meat or fish.
They don’t utilize meals made from maize, wheat, soy, or poultry by-products, only high-quality ingredients.
There are therefore no extra grains or fillers that your dog doesn’t need.
Wellness
One of the company’s guiding ideas is to create dog food from natural ingredients without the use of extra additives and fillers.
Real meat, salmon, and other foods high in protein are among the many items utilized in the preparation.
In addition, a variety of vitamins and nutrients, including zinc sulfate, are included in the dog food line.
3. Key Nutrients
Every pet food label is required by AAFCO (The Association of American Feed Control Officials) rules to include a guaranteed analysis of the nutrients.
It has strict guidelines to make sure a product is full and balanced for dogs.
As mentioned in the “guaranteed analysis,” this implies that complete and balanced diets must deliver the bare minimum of each nutrient needed by canines.
The analysis must validate the minimum crude protein and crude fat percentages as well as the maximum crude fiber and moisture percentages.
The tables below will show you the data from the two brands.
Take note: When comparing dog food nutrients percentages, you should remove the amount of moisture to make it a more even comparison.
This is also referred to as calculating its dry matter basis (use this calculator).
This approach is a more accurate way to understand the true nutrient contents of dog food, instead of just relying on the number on the label (which is an ‘as-fed’ basis).
3.1 Canidae vs Wellness dog food nutrients comparison
| Nutrient | Canidae | Dry matter basis | Wellness | Dry matter basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crude protein | 25% min | 32.97% | 24% min | 26.67% |
| Crude Fat | 14.5% min | 19.78% | 12% min | 20.45% |
| Crude Fiber | 5% max | 2.75% | 4% max | 4.55% |
| Moisture | 10% max | – | 10% max | – |
Crude Protein
A dog’s diet must include protein in order for it to be nutritious and well-balanced.
Their bodies need it for a variety of functions, such as the development and maintenance of muscles and other tissues.
It is important for the growth of new skin, muscle, and hair cells, among other things.
Additionally, it aids in the production of enzymes and hormones, two essential physiological substances.
It boosts immunity and like carbohydrates, creates energy.
Dogs can synthesize half of the 22 amino acids required to make proteins; the other half must be consumed through food.
AAFCO recommends that the daily requirements for dog diets should contain at least 22% DM (dry matter) for growth and 18% DM for maintenance.
Canidae has a slight advantage here when it comes to crude protein, but both are more than sufficient to exceed your dog’s basic needs.
Crude Fat
A balanced diet for dogs must include fats and oils.
For ordinary, healthy adult dogs, a diet that contains between 10 and 15 percent fat (a minimum of five percent) is optimum.
Only when dogs are allowed to consume excessive amounts of calories and fat (from extra snacks and table scraps, for example), without getting enough activity to make up for it, does fat in the diet become an issue.
The two dog formulae in question can virtually equally satisfy your dog’s daily fat needs.
Crude Fiber
By increasing mass and soaking up additional water, fiber encourages regular bowel movements and helps build robust, well-formed stools.
Fiber also encourages intestinal pH balance, which inhibits the growth of dangerous bacteria in your dog’s digestive system.
They experience fullness, which helps them regulate their appetite, and their digestive system is enhanced, both of which may help them avoid overeating.
Wellness Complete Health provides more than adequate amounts of fiber and makes it more well-rounded.
4. Range of formulas
Both of these companies provide a wide variety of dog food items, which is excellent news for us dog owners as both of these brands are well-known in the industry.
For puppies to senior dogs, they offer both dry and wet alternatives.
Here is an overview of the most popular choice that each company provides:
Most Popular Canidae Dog Food
Most Popular Wellness Dog Food
5. Product Safety and Recall History
Canidae
There has been one recall in the company’s history, which took place in 2012.
This was due to the manufacturer of their products at that time, Diamond Pet Foods, discovering the presence of Salmonella in their production facility.
Wellness
Wellness has had a couple of recalls in its history, with the most recent one being in 2017 for its Beef Topper for Dogs product.
This was due to possible high levels of beef thyroid hormone, which can affect metabolism and cause issues such as weight loss, thirst, and restlessness.
6. Price
Price is a major consideration for many when choosing dog food.
Although it’s not usually the case, if you have a few dogs to feed and are on a limited budget, this can add up very quickly.
Even if you just have one dog, you are aware that kibble purchases typically account for a sizable portion of your spending.
It’s also no secret that prices can vary widely between brands and types, so it’s important to carefully consider the prices given below before making a purchase if you want to save money.
The table below shows the price per pound for the options discussed in this article:
| Brand | Price per pound |
|---|---|
| Canidae | $2.92/lb |
| Wellness | $2.33/lb |
In Conclusion: Canidae vs Wellness Dog Food Comparison
As you can see, there aren’t many distinctions between Canidae and Wellness dog food, and both are respectable companies that you ought to consider.
I personally prefer Wellness Complete Health as it packs a punch when it comes to nutrition and the types of ingredients used, plus the price makes it a great value.
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