WholeHearted Dog Food Review 2023 Recalls, Pros & Cons, FAQ

Review Summary

Our Final Verdict

We give WholeHearted Dog Food a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

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Introduction

WholeHearted is a pet food brand created by Petco and exclusively sold by Petco. It was launched in 2016 and aims to provide affordable high-quality dog food. All WholeHearted dog food recipes are crafted by experts and are made with the idea of Whole Pet Nutrition in mind.

WholeHearted makes recipes suitable for all life stages and breeds, and it also has a small line of health benefits food. These recipes can aid with common health concerns in dogs, such as weight gain, skin and coat issues, and sensitive stomachs.

Overall, WholeHearted is a considerable option for pet owners on a budget, and you can find a lot of complete and balanced recipes. Keep in mind that this brand has a lot of grain-free recipes, but they tend to contain a significant number of legumes. So, dog breeds susceptible to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) or other heart conditions may not benefit from WholeHearted dog food. We’ll discuss this matter, along with other essential information about this brand, in further detail below.

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At a Glance: The Best WholeHearted Dog Food Recipes:

Image Product Details

Our Favorite

Winner

WholeHearted All Life Stages Beef & Pea Recipe

Beef is first ingredient

Supports healthy digestion

Contains natural whole ingredients

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Second place

WholeHearted All Life Stages Chicken & Pea Recipe

Canine probiotics help maintain digestive health

Omega-3 fatty acids

Real chicken is the first ingredient

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Third place

WholeHearted Chicken and Brown Rice Dry Puppy Food

Fortified with DHA

Chicken is first ingredient

Special kibble size reduces tartar

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WholeHearted High-Protein Chicken & Rice Recipe

Chicken is the first ingredient

Supports joint health

30% protein

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WholeHearted Lamb Recipe Meal Topper

Picky eaters like it

No corn, wheat, soy or grains

Only 7 ingredients

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WholeHearted Food Reviewed

Who makes WholeHearted and where is it produced?

WholeHearted is a Petco brand that was launched in 2016. It’s sold exclusively at Petco locations and through the company website. It’s unclear as to where WholeHearted sources its ingredients and exactly where the food is manufactured. However, we do know that the food is made in the USA and distributed by International Pet Supplies and Distribution, Inc, which is Petco’s wholly owned subsidiary.

Remember that you can only access WholeHearted’s vast selection of food through Petco. WholeHearted does have some items for sale on Amazon, but the options are pretty limited, and there’s no guarantee that the same recipes will be available consistently.

Which type of dog is WholeHearted best suited for?

WholeHearted has a wide range of recipes, so most dogs will be able to enjoy eating its dog food. There are several different recipes for puppies and seniors, and the brand also makes food for all life stages. So, if your puppy takes a liking to a particular recipe, you can continue to use the same dog food and not have to worry about transitioning to a new one.

You can also find special diets, including grain-free, limited-ingredient, and high-protein recipes. WholeHearted also has a few weight control, skin and coat, and easy digestion dog food recipes.

Which type of dog might do better with a different brand?

Much of WholeHearted’s grain-free recipes use a good amount of legumes as grain replacements. While legumes are safe for dogs to eat, some dogs may have difficulty digesting them. Gentler carbohydrates, such as cooked potatoes and sweet potatoes, may be a more digestible option for them.

Legumes in grain-free diets are also being inspected and researched by the FDA due to possible links to DCM and other heart issues. So, if your dog has a particularly sensitive stomach and can’t digest legumes very well, other brands may be a better option.

Merrick dog food is a little more expensive than WholeHearted, but its grain-free recipes don’t rely on legumes as much as WholeHearted. The Merrick Grain-Free Chicken-Free Real Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe only contains a small number of peas and includes other nutritious fruits and vegetables.

Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)

WholeHearted uses several key ingredients in most of its recipes. Here are some common ingredients you’ll find in its dog food.

Real Animal Meat

Most of WholeHearted’s recipes have real animal meat listed as the first ingredient. Dogs need to consume a specific amount of various amino acids to sustain daily functioning and avoid nutritional diseases. While plant proteins do contain amino acids, they usually don’t provide all the essential amino acids that dogs need.

Therefore, having real meat listed as a first ingredient or main ingredient helps to ensure that dogs are consuming a balanced diet.

Animal Meat Meal

Animal meat meal is commonly used in dog food recipes to add more meat protein to the formula. It’s generally safe for dogs to eat specified animal meat meal, such as beef meal or chicken meal. However, you’ll want to be wary of dog food that contains unspecified meat meal or animal by-product meal. These ingredients are ambiguous and can contain low-quality meat parts.

Brown Rice

Brown rice is a common carbohydrate that WholeHearted uses in its dog food with grains. It’s very nutritious and a good source of calcium, manganese, and potassium. It also has a lot of fiber, but because it’s more difficult for the body to digest and process, brown rice isn’t recommended for dogs with sensitive stomachs and gastrointestinal issues.

Flaxseed

Another common ingredient in WholeHearted recipes is flaxseed. Flaxseeds are a superfood, as they’re packed with protein, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids. Dogs benefit from omega-3 fatty acids because they support heart health and can help reduce inflammation. This is why it’s very common for dog food with healthy skin and coat formulas to be rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

Legumes

Legumes are a bit of a controversial ingredient, mainly because of the FDA’s current investigation of any links to DCM. However, dogs can safely eat them in small quantities if they’re cooked properly. Many legumes have health benefits and can contain antioxidants, calcium, and essential amino acids.

However, too much of a good thing can end up being a bad thing. So, it’s best, for now, to consult with your veterinarian and closely monitor your dog’s health if your dog has to resort to a grain-free diet and enjoys eating a recipe that contains a lot of legumes.

Whole Pet Nutrition

All of WholeHearted’s recipes are crafted by experts that keep Whole Pet Nutrition in mind. Whole Pet Nutrition targets five essential areas of pet health:

Freedom to move

Good gut

Ideal weight

On the right tract

Skin and coat protection

WholeHearted’s general recipes provide a well-balanced meal for dogs. It also has recipes that specifically target one of these five essential areas so that dogs with chronic conditions can receive an extra boost through their diet.

Affordable

WholeHearted is marketed as an affordable brand that produces high-quality dog food. Many of its recipes are grain-free, which are often more expensive than regular diets. While WholeHearted isn’t the cheapest brand, it still keeps its prices lower than premium dog food brands and provides a variety of complete nutrition meals for dogs.

Variety of Diets

Despite only being around for about 6 years, WholeHearted has a wide selection of wet and dry dog food. You can find multiple recipes for dogs of all ages and breeds, and different flavors for specialty diets. As of now, WholeHearted produces the following special diets:

Grain-free

High protein

Limited ingredient

Sensitive stomach

Skin and coat

Sport and endurance

Weight management

Ingredients Aren’t Traceable

The only information that WholeHearted clearly provides for its ingredients is that they’re “globally sourced.” While many reputable and trustworthy pet food brands source their ingredients from different countries, these brands tend to be transparent about exactly where they get their ingredients. So, it’s unclear as to what types of farms and companies WholeHearted works with and what their quality control practices and procedures are like.

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A Quick Look at WholeHearted Dog Food

Pros

Affordable brand

Wide selection of specialty diets

Provides complete and balanced meals

No recalls

Cons

Grain-free recipes contain a lot of legumes

Ingredients aren’t traceable

Only available through Petco

Recall History

To date, WholeHearted hasn’t had any recalls. This is pretty impressive as it’s a young brand that has rolled out many recipes in a relatively short amount of time. It’s essential to keep up with recall information to see if WholeHearted will sustain a clean track record as it continues to grow and expand.

Reviews of the 3 Best WholeHearted Dog Food Recipes

Here’s a closer look at some of WholeHearted’s most popular recipes.

1. WholeHearted Grain-Free All Life Stages Dry Dog Food

WholeHearted Grain-Free All Life Stages Dry Dog Food

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This recipe supplies a complete and well-balanced meal for dogs that must adhere to a grain-free diet. Beef and beef meal are the first two ingredients, respectively. You’ll also find other natural nutritious ingredients, such as sweet potatoes, flaxseed, and salmon oil. However, this is one of the recipes that use chickpeas and peas as main ingredients.

Another benefit of this recipe is the inclusion of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat. It also contains canine probiotic strains, which support healthy digestion.

Pros

Beef is first ingredient

Contains natural whole ingredients

Includes omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids

Supports healthy digestion

Cons

Legumes are a main ingredient

2. WholeHearted All Breed Chicken and Brown Rice Dry Puppy Food

WholeHearted All Breed Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dry Puppy Food

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Puppies will get a strong start with this recipe. It has all the particular nutrients that puppies need for healthy growth and development. This recipe is fortified with DHA, which aids cognitive and visual development. With chicken and chicken meal as the first two ingredients, this recipe contains an ample amount of protein to support an active and growing puppy.

The special kibble size helps to reduce tartar by chewing, but it may be too small for larger breeds, especially as the puppy grows. So, it’s essential to monitor your puppy to ensure that it’s chewing the kibble rather than swallowing it whole.

Pros

Fortified with DHA

Chicken is first ingredient

Special kibble size reduces tartar

Cons

Kibble may be too small for large dog breeds

3. WholeHearted Lamb Recipe in Gravy Dog Meal Topper

WholeHearted Lamb Recipe in Gravy Dog Meal Topper

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Along with having a wide assortment of dry dog food, WholeHearted also has an impressive lineup of wet food. This meal topper is a popular option amongst customers for several reasons. It only contains seven ingredients and omits any common food allergens. So, it’s a safe option for dogs with food allergies or sensitive stomachs.

You can serve this recipe as a treat or a meal topper for picky dogs. It has a shredded meat texture, so it’s palatable and easily incorporates with your dog’s regular meal.

The only downside to this recipe is the packaging. It’s not resealable, so you can’t really store it away if you have a small dog that only needs a portion of it. It can also get messy if you’re not careful when tearing the top open.

Pros

Only contains seven ingredients

No common food allergens

Palatable shredded meat texture

Cons

Poor packaging

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Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions that pet owners have about the WholeHearted brand.

Does WholeHearted dog food have probiotics?

Yes, WholeHearted dog food recipes contain probiotics, as well as omega fatty acids, antioxidants, and essential vitamins and minerals. The food labels also indicate that the meals meet AAFCO nutritional standards.

Does WholeHearted make good dog treats?

Yes, WholeHearted has a robust dog treat line. You can find many grain-free treats, freeze-dried treats, and biscuits. Many treats have meat as the first ingredient, and most ingredient lists are short and simple. With all the options, you’re sure to find something that your dog will enjoy.

Do dogs need a grain-free diet?

Many WholeHearted recipes are grain-free, but you can find a good number of recipes that include whole grains. Grain-free diets most likely became popular due to the myth that dogs can’t properly digest the fibers in grains.

This myth has been debunked, and most veterinarians recommend a grain-inclusive diet, except for rare severe cases in which a dog cannot safely consume grains. These cases usually involve wheat allergies.

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What Other Users Are Saying

WholeHearted generally has positive reviews from pet owners. The following are reviews from real customers.

Petco – “I was pleasantly surprised with this food as I usually am cynical of many dog food brands, especially store brands. The price makes being a responsible dog owner less stressful!”

Dog Food Heaven – “The WholeHearted dog food range is a high-quality and premium food line. We can recommend it to you with our whole heart.”

Amazon – You can find some WholeHearted dog food on Amazon and read some reviews here.

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Conclusion

We would recommend WholeHearted dog food to pet owners that are looking for affordable, nutritious food. While this brand isn’t clear about where it sources its ingredients, it has a reassuring clean recall history and many positive customer reviews.

Although WholeHearted sells a lot of grain-free dog food, make sure to check with your veterinarian first to see if the switch to a grain-free diet is safe and appropriate for your dog. Fortunately, WholeHearted has other grain-inclusive recipes and delicious meal toppers, so you’ll be sure to find a nutritious meal from WholeHearted that your dog will enjoy

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WholeHearted Grain Free Dog Food Review