Review Summary
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.
At a Glance: The Best WholeHearted Dog Food Recipes:
Image Product Details
Our Favorite
WholeHearted All Life Stages Beef & Pea Recipe
Beef is first ingredient
Supports healthy digestion
Contains natural whole ingredients
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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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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.
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.
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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.
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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.
Freedom to move
Good gut
Ideal weight
On the right tract
Skin and coat protection
- Freedom to move
- Good gut
- Ideal weight
- On the right tract
- Skin and coat protection
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.
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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:
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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.
Grain-free
High protein
Limited ingredient
Sensitive stomach
Skin and coat
Sport and endurance
Weight management
- Grain-free
- High protein
- Limited ingredient
- Sensitive stomach
- Skin and coat
- Sport and endurance
- Weight management
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.
Affordable brand
Wide selection of specialty diets
Provides complete and balanced meals
No recalls
- Affordable brand
- Wide selection of specialty diets
- Provides complete and balanced meals
- No recalls
Grain-free recipes contain a lot of legumes
Ingredients aren’t traceable
Only available through Petco
- Grain-free recipes contain a lot of legumes
- Ingredients aren’t traceable
- Only available through Petco
Reviews of the 3 Best WholeHearted Dog Food Recipes
Here’s a closer look at some of WholeHearted’s most popular recipes.
- WholeHearted Grain-Free All Life Stages Dry Dog Food
Check Latest PriceThis 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.
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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.
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
- WholeHearted All Breed Chicken and Brown Rice Dry Puppy Food
Check Latest PricePuppies 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.
Beef is first ingredient
Contains natural whole ingredients
Includes omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
Supports healthy digestion
- Beef is first ingredient
- Contains natural whole ingredients
- Includes omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids
- Supports healthy digestion
Legumes are a main ingredient
- Legumes are a main ingredient
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.
Pros
Fortified with DHA
Chicken is first ingredient
Special kibble size reduces tartar
Cons
Kibble may be too small for large dog breeds
- WholeHearted Lamb Recipe in Gravy Dog Meal Topper
Check Latest PriceAlong 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.
Fortified with DHA
Chicken is first ingredient
Special kibble size reduces tartar
- Fortified with DHA
- Chicken is first ingredient
- Special kibble size reduces tartar
Kibble may be too small for large dog breeds
- Kibble may be too small for large dog breeds
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.
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
Only contains seven ingredients
No common food allergens
Palatable shredded meat texture
- Only contains seven ingredients
- No common food allergens
- Palatable shredded meat texture
Poor packaging
- Poor packaging
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions that pet owners have about the WholeHearted brand.
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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.
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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.
What Other Users Are Saying
WholeHearted generally has positive reviews from pet owners. The following are reviews from real customers.
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.
