So, we decided to do an article post on Whole Paws Dog food review, and see how and what makes their recipe worth it!
My husky is a huge fluffy goofball who loves to have his paw friends around. And in his gang of crazy dogs is Jax who loves his treats more.
What took me to surprise was when Jax’s dad said please feed him Whole paws Dog Food Treats if he behaves well!
And then let me to wondered , why just Whole Paws? Me and my dog keep trying different dog food brands, to see how well they go!
But since its launch in 2013, I had never tried Whole Paws products. So this type I did read Jax’s teats label and found that the brand did had good ingredients to look for!
Overview:
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Brief About Whole Paws Dog Food
Whole Paws is an exclusive Pet Food Product brand of Whole Food Market in USA.
This U.S Based Grocery store is best known for its prime focus on wholesome Organic Foods.
The brand bans the use of High saturated fats, Synthetic preservatives, and artificial colors.
Products by Whole Paws Dog Food
The Whole Paws Products line of dog food ranges from grain-free food to training treats.
It has both dry dog food recipes and wet food. The brand also specializes in making good dog chews and treats.
The entire range of Whole Paws dog food products is made from wholesome ingredients that are essential in the daily nutritional requirement of your dog.
The first ingredient of every dog food recipe is always an lean animal meat.
Whereas some of the recipes also combines meat meals with animal meat to make it more rich in protein.
Is Whole Paws Dog Food Worth It?
After going through each detail informing on dog food recipe by Whole Paws dog food, we are ready to give a say.
Our Take
We would definitely want our dog parent readers to try the dog food recipes by Whole Paws dog foods. The recipes are nutritionally balanced and meet the essential needs of your dog’s diet.
Moreover, we could not spot ant harmful ingredient or artificial colors in any of the dog food recipe that we tried.
Some of the recipes are so well nutritionally customised to even suit the needs of gestational or lactating mother dogs.
So, it would definitely make an added advantage for dog owners to remove the need of following transition guidelines for dog food in gestation.
Our Rating: We rate Whole Paws Dog products with 3.9 stars out of 5!
The brand stands right on point by its nutritional ingredient blend, packaging, and customer satisfaction.
We might have rated the product with 5 stars if the brand had a website. For knowing their dog food recipes in Detail.
Plus we would have liked if along with animal meat, the brand had included animal meal in their recipe.
As the meat has 65% of moisture and less protein as compared to animal meals.
However, that being said we would like to rate Whole Paws Grain-Free Grass-Fed Lamb & Garbanzo Bean Recipe, with 4.5 stars.
This dry dog food recipe has both animal meat and meat meal as the protein source.
We deducted a star from our ratings, as the brand fails to mention the source of the animal meat.
So any dog parent would have like to know if the animal meat or other ingredients used in the dog food recipe are used from a reliable source.
Whole Paws Dog Food Reviews of 2021
Below we have reviewed some of the best Wholesome Dog Food products. We have tried to select one food recipe from both wet and dry dog food products.
1. Whole Paws Grain-Free Grass-Fed Lamb & Garbanzo Bean Recipe
THis dry food recipe from Whole Paws is a wholesome combination of animal protein and dried essential fruits combination.
The Whole Paws Grain-Free Grass-Fed Lamb & Garbanzo Bean Recipe, is suited for dogs weighing 10 lb or less to 90 lb and more.
Lamb and lamb meals make the single source of lean animal protein. This meal is also taurine enriched to improve eye and heart health.
This recipe also has Garbanzo beans and peas as a plant-based source of protein.
This recipe of dry dog food also has essential culture of gut friendly probiotics bacteria, that is sure to improve your dog’s skin and health coat.
The beans and the lentils in this product make for the source of complex carbohydrates and increase the fiber content of the meal.
Guaranteed Analysis:
- Crude Protein: 32% min
- Crude Fat: 16% min
- Crude Fiber: 5% max
- Moisture: 10% max
Calorie Content: 3700 Kcal/Kg, 1 Cup= 440 Kcal.
The meal uses dried powder of real fruits and vegetables. It is a healthy combination of fruit like cranberries, and vegetables like spinach, beetroot, and carrot.
Top 5 Ingredients
- Lamb: Lamb is the first ingredient of this recipe. It is a single source of lean animal protein.
- Lamb Meal: Second ingredient. And it is a more concentrated source of protein as compared to lamb meat.
It is an excellent protein source, raw lamb contains more than 60% moisture.
- Garbanzo Beans: Chickpeas also known as Garbanzo Beans is the third ingredient of this recipe.
It serves as an excellent source of carbohydrates, and protein. So, it serves as an important source of plant based source of protein.
Garbanzo beans are also naturally rich source of dietary fiber. Thus it improves the digestibility of this recipe.
- Lentils: Lentils are rich in dietary fiber, B vitamins, and minerals. Lentils also provide a good amount of plant-based protein.
However the biological value of plant based protein source from lentils is not equal to animal protein source.
But it still adds up to the value of protein.
- Peas: Peas is the fifth important ingredient of this recipe. It is used as a plant-based source of protein.
The peas are generally used after removing their starchy part.
Other Notable Ingredients: Sunflower Seed, Flaxseed, Dried Beet Pulp, Dried Cranberries, Rosemary Extract.
What We Liked:
- This dry dog food recipe is best suited for all breeds of dogs.
- Uses certified source of the animal.
- The lamb used in this recipe is free of antibiotics and or growth hormones.
- No artificial flavors are used.
What We Think: This dry food dog recipe is great to meet the daily requirements of your dog with a real animal as the first ingredient. And it is best for dogs that have allergy to grains.
Feeding Instructions: Below we have mentioned the feeding guidelines for the dog food recipe.
It is always in the best of interest to feed your dog as per the feeding guidelines.
This measurement is based on standard 8 oz. Cup Size. Adjust to maintain proper body weight and condition.
If desired the recommended feeding amounts may be divide into 2 meals a day.
But it is always wise to consult your Vet before making and dietary changes to your pet’s diet.
2. Whole Paws Dog Grain-Free Salmon & Peas Recipe
If you are in search of a Sea Food recipe that only has fish as the first and key ingredient then, Whole Paws Dog Grain-Free Salmon & Peas Recipe is the best pick.
This dry dog food meets the nutritional requirements issued by AAFCO.
This recipe has Real Salmon as first ingredient. The salmon used in this recipe is sourced from from homeground of USA.
This product is well enhanced with fiber and probiotics blend to support healthy gut of your fido.
Has added blend of synthetic essential minerals to meet up the energy and nutrient requirement of your dog.
Guaranteed Analysis:
- Crude Protein: 26% min
- Crude Fat: 15% min
- Crude Fiber: 3% max
- Moisture: 10% max
Calorie Content: 3630 Kcal/Kg, 1 Cup= 440 Kcal
The fatty acids from the salmon makes for healthy skin coat of your dog. This recipe has no poultry meal by product or meat meal by products.
Top 5 Ingredients
- Salmon: Salmon is the first ingredient in this recipe. It is the natural source of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids. It maintains excellent heart and mental health.
It also acts as an important source of EPA and DHA.
- Fish Meal: A fish meal in a dog food recipe is defined as ‘Clean, dry, grounded tissue, with or without the extraction of the oil.
The fish meal uses undecomposed whole fish or fish cutting, one or both.’
Fish meal is the second ingredient which has higher protein concentrate as compared to real salmon.
- Pea: For its nutritional detail look into first product.
- Pea Meal: It is a milled, powder obtained from roasted peas. It is a great source of iron and calcium also it is rich in fiber.
But it is in the best interest that the dog food should include it in lesser amounts.
- Garbanzo Beans: For nutritional benefits refer the first product.
Other Notable Ingredients: Sunflower Oil, Pumpkin, Apple.
What We Liked:
- Best dry dog food recipe for dogs with allergies to meat and meat meals.
- Suitable for all life stages of dogs.
- Has probiotics that aid in the digestion process of this recipe.
- Suitable for Corn, soy, and poultry allergies.
Feeding Instructions:
This measurement is based on standard 8 oz. Cup Size. Adjust to maintain proper body weight and condition.
WEIGHT(lbs) | Amount in Cups |
10 lb or less | 1/4 to 3/4 cup |
10 to 20 | 3/4 to 1 1/4 |
20 to 30 | 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 |
30 to 40 | 1 1/2 to 2 |
40 to 60 | 2 to 2 1/2 |
60 to 80 | 2 1/2 to 3 |
80 to 100 | 3 to 3 1/2 |
3. Whole Paws Grain-Free Beef & Lentil Feast Premium Dog Food
Whole Paws Grain-Free Beef & Lentil Feast Premium Dog Food is the wet dog food range from The whole Food Market.
The good part of this wet dog food recipe is that it can be fed to young puppies as well as a lactating female dog.
Guaranteed Analysis:
- Crude Protein: 9% min
- Crude Fat: 7% min
- Crude Fiber: 1.5% max
- Moisture: 78% max
Calorie Content: 1187 kcal/kg, 1 Can= 440 kcal
This wet food recipe is a complete & balanced nutrition for all life stages of your canine.
This recipe has beef as an first animal meat source of protein and it also has beef liver as the organ source.
It meets the amino acid profile established by the AAFCO standards.
This wet dog food uses guar gum as a thickening agent. It is obtained from guar beans and it provides good amout of dietary fiber to the wet dog food.
Top 5 Ingredients
- Beef: First ingredient and essential source of lean animal protein.
- Beef Broth: This is a second ingredient of the wet food recipe. It provides moisture and fine texture to the dog food.
- Lamb: Lamb is the third ingredient and also an animal source of protein.
- Beef Liver: Beef liver is an outstanding organ meat that offers protein and fat of high quality.
Furthermore, many basic vitamins and minerals are given by beef liver.
- Lentils
Other Notable Ingredients: Caragessan, Blueberries, Cranberries, Fish Oil, Taurine.
What We Liked:
- 1 ingredient of this wet dog food is real beef and not a beef meal.
- It is Grain-free to best suit the needs of allergic dogs.
- No corn, No Soy, no wheat.
- The food Can liner is not derived from Biphenyl-A (BPA).
Feeding Instructions:
For Adult dogs feed 1 to 1 1/2 cup of cans per 15 pound of body weight daily.
For Puppies: Feed twice the normal adult amount daily.
For gestation and Lactation: Feed thrice the normal amount of the adult dog.
The amount of food your fido requires on their physical activity, breed, size and their age.
Always keep a bowl of fresh and clean drinking drinking water near your dog’s feeding bowl.
4. Whole Paws Grain Free Lamb Recipe Premium Wet Dog Food
The Whole Paws Grain Free Lamb Recipe Premium Wet Dog Food is the premium wet dog food with Lamb as the first and real ingredient.
This wet food recipe is formulated to meet the nutritional need of your dog as per AAFCO satndards.
The recipe claims to be made of domesticated and internationally sourced ingredients.
We like this recipe has it has lamb, lamb broth and lamb liver as a single source of animal nutrients.
This dog food recipe is best for your dog if they are facing hypoallergenic responses to chicken meat.
Guaranteed Analysis:
- Crude Protein: 8.5% min
- Crude Fat: 8% min
- Crude Fiber: 1.5% max
- Moisture: 78% max
Calorie Content: 1327 kcal/kg, Per Bowl= 131 kcal
The meal even as dried eggs and carrots to aid in increase protein content and healthy nutritious amount of Vitamin A.
Top 5 Ingredients
- Lamb
- Lamb Broth
- Lamb Liver: It is the third top ingredient in this dog food recipe. It is high in essential minerals and vitamins.
- Carrots
Dried Egg Products: Used to increase over all protein content of the dog food recipe. It has important proteins such as Albumin and globulin.
Other Notable Ingredients: Guar gum Carrageenan, Ground Flaxseeds.
What We Liked:
- This wet food uses meat, meat organs from a single animal source.
- Has no corn, soy, or wheat to best suit allergy sensitivities.
- The recipe has higher protein content than carbohydrate content, which makes it a high protein dog food.
- No artificial ingredients or flavors are used.
Feeding Instructions:
For Adult Dogs: Feed 21/2 to 3 Cups per 1o pounds of the dog’s body weight.
We found that this wet dog food had no special feeding instructions for puppies, or lactating mothers.
So, we are not sure if this dog food recipe is for puppies for gestational mother dogs.
Whole Paws Dog Food Recall
The Whole paws recall history is blank. That being said the brand Whole paws launched by The Whole Food Market has no history of food recalls for any of its pet food products.
FAQs
Is Whole Paws a good dog food brand?
Yes, we have come to the conclusion that Whole Paws is a good dog food brand from the recipe composition. It uses animal meat as the first ingredient for animal protein.
The brand doesn’t use any synthetic chemical preservatives or colors in any of its dog food recipes.
Where Can I buy Whole Paws Dog Food?
As such Whole Paws Dog Food is exclusively available in Wholefood Market stores but you can find a few of its selective varieties, that we have reviewed on Amazon.
What is the cost of Whole Paws dry dog food?
We found Whole Paws dry dog food products to be at a medium-priced range along with being nutritionally enriched.
Like a 4 Pound bag of Whole Paws, Grain-Free Grass-Fed Lamb & Garbanzo Bean Recipe would cost you $18. Whereas 25 lb of this dry dog food recipe will cost around $113.
Is Whole Paws Dog Food AAFCO certified?
Yes! Whole Paws Dog Food does follow AAFCO guidelines and it mentions the ingredient profile and analysis of the nutrients as their mentioned rules.
Do Whole Paws Dog Food have artificial colors or preservatives?
No, Whole Paws Dog Food has no artificial colors or does not use any chemical preservatives to store any of their dog food recipes.
Wrapping Up
We want all dog parents to know that after trying one of the dog food recipes from Whole Paws wet and dry dog food products.
We consider this grocery store brand worth a try for its clear Recall history and real animal meat as the first ingredient.
And we expect that our post on Whole Paws Dog Food Reviews could provide you with brief details on each of the recipes we tested.
So, if you wish to shop any of the Whole Paws dog product range rest assured that there is nothing harmful is in your dog’s food.
Resources:
- Kane, G. (2018b, January 23). Dog Allergy Symptoms: What’s Causing Them and How to Treat it. American Kennel Club.
- Staff, A. (2022b, March 2). How to Switch & Transition Dog Foods. American Kennel Club.
- New AAHA nutrition, weight management guidelines published. (2021, September 1). AVMA
- Davies, M. (2017, December 7). Mineral analysis of complete dog and cat foods in the UK and compliance with European guidelines. Nature.
Julia is a Board Certified Veterinary Nutritionist, practicing veterinarian in a non-profit animal hospital and feline sanctuary located in Rochester, NY. She is also a full-time veterinary advisor at DogLikesBest. She focuses on writing healthcare-related topics including dog foods, treats, veterinary diets, food for specific healthcare features, etc. Moreover, any article on DogNeedsBest that has to concern feline health in any way, goes under her scrutiny before being published.