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The short answer: Tie at B (78/100). The two formulas hit the same v15 score by completely different paths. Tender & True leads with G.A.P. (Global Animal Partnership) humanely-raised antibiotic-free chicken plus dual-source marine omega-3 (whitefish meal + menhaden oil), but uses three refined starches in the middle of the panel. Wellness Complete Health leads with deboned chicken plus whole-grain carbohydrate base (oatmeal + barley) and a multi-strain probiotic supplement, but the chicken is conventional (not humane-certified) and peas appear at #5 in the FDA DCM-watchlist position.

The scores

Tender & True Antibiotic-Free Chicken & Brown Rice: B (78/100) — Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Tapioca Starch, Potato Starch.

Wellness Complete Health Adult Deboned Chicken & Oatmeal: B (78/100) — Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Ground Barley, Peas.

How the ingredients compare

The top-five ingredients reveal the formulation split between these two brands:

Tender & True: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Tapioca Starch, Potato Starch

Wellness Complete Health: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Ground Barley, Peas

Both formulas earn the same v15 score, but the ingredient lineups tell different stories about how they got there — that is where the actual pick decision lives.

Where Tender & True pulls ahead

G.A.P. humanely-raised antibiotic-free chicken: Tender & True’s chicken is certified to Global Animal Partnership welfare standards — an independent third-party audit. Wellness uses high-quality conventional chicken but does not carry humane-sourcing certification on the Complete Health line. For owners who weigh welfare alongside ingredient quality, this is the structural advantage. Shop on Amazon →

Dual-source marine omega-3: Whitefish meal at #7 plus menhaden fish oil further down provide directly-usable EPA and DHA from two marine sources. Wellness relies on salmon oil alone for marine omega-3 contribution (still a good source, but single-source).

No legume in the top five: Tender & True avoids peas, lentils, and chickpeas entirely. Wellness Complete Health has peas at #5 — a position the FDA’s 2018–2024 grain-free DCM investigation flagged in some primary-ingredient legume contexts. The Wellness pea content is modest and grain-inclusive (oatmeal and barley precede it), so the DCM concern is lower than for grain-free formulas, but it’s still a structural difference.

Where Wellness Complete Health holds its own

Whole-grain carbohydrate base: Oatmeal and ground barley supply the carbohydrate fraction with whole grains rather than refined-starch fillers. Tender & True’s tapioca starch at #4 and potato starch at #5 are refined-starch fragments. Whole grains carry more fiber, more B-vitamins, and a lower glycemic profile than refined starches. Shop on Amazon →

Named probiotic strain depth: Wellness Complete Health includes named probiotic fermentation products including Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium animalis, and Lactobacillus reuteri. Tender & True relies on dried beet pulp as a prebiotic fiber source but doesn’t list named bacterial strains. For dogs with chronic GI sensitivity, this is meaningful.

Wider availability and lower price floor: Wellness Complete Health is distributed at nearly every major pet retailer and at most supermarkets. Tender & True is primarily available at Amazon, Chewy, and select natural-pet retailers. For owners who want store-pickup convenience, Wellness has the distribution edge.

The bottom line

Tender & True and Wellness Complete Health both score B (78/100) but for different structural reasons. Tender & True earns its points with G.A.P. humanely-raised chicken, dual-source marine omega-3, and a no-legume-in-top-five ingredient profile. Wellness Complete Health earns its points with whole-grain carbohydrate base, named multi-strain probiotic supplement, and wider retail distribution. For owners who weigh chicken-sourcing certification heavily, Tender & True. For owners who weigh whole-grain structure and probiotic depth, Wellness Complete Health.