The scores
Wellness CORE: A/90
Wellness Complete Health: B/82
CORE clears the A-grade threshold of 90, while Complete Health sits in solid B territory. The 8-point gap reflects specific ingredient advantages in CORE — triple protein, salmon oil, multi-strain probiotics — rather than a wholesale quality difference. If you’re feeding either one, your dog is eating better than most.
How the ingredients compare
Here are the top five ingredients side by side:
Wellness CORE: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal, Peas, Potatoes
Wellness Complete Health: Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Oatmeal, Ground Barley, Peas
Both lead with deboned chicken and chicken meal — a strong one-two punch of fresh and concentrated animal protein. The split happens at position three. CORE adds turkey meal as a third named animal protein, while Complete Health pivots to oatmeal, a wholesome grain. From there, CORE fills its carbohydrate slots with peas and potatoes (grain-free), while Complete Health uses ground barley and peas (grain-inclusive). It’s a fundamentally different approach to the same formula framework.
Where Wellness CORE pulls ahead
The biggest differentiator is CORE’s triple protein strategy. Three named animal proteins in the first three ingredient positions — deboned chicken, chicken meal, and turkey meal — is genuinely impressive. Turkey meal adds a second species of protein and a concentrated source of amino acids that Complete Health simply doesn’t match. Most kibbles are lucky to have two animal proteins in the top five; CORE has three.
CORE also includes salmon oil, which provides EPA and DHA — the omega-3 fatty acids that support skin, coat, brain, and joint health. Complete Health has salmon oil too, but CORE pairs it with an extensive superfood list and three probiotic strains (Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, and Bacillus species) for digestive support. Complete Health has chicory root as a prebiotic fiber source but no actual live probiotics.
The superfood blend in CORE — including kale, broccoli, spinach, and blueberries — adds antioxidant diversity that goes beyond Complete Health’s more modest produce inclusions. Shop on Amazon →
Where Wellness Complete Health holds its own
Complete Health has two advantages CORE can’t claim. First, it includes glucosamine and chondroitin — joint-support compounds that matter for aging dogs and larger breeds. CORE doesn’t include these, so owners concerned about joint health would need to supplement separately.
Second, Complete Health is grain-inclusive, using oatmeal and ground barley as its carbohydrate sources. These are high-quality whole grains with legitimate nutritional value, and they sidestep the grain-free DCM question entirely. Per the FDA-CVM 2018 grain-free DCM investigation (still open as of 2026), the link between grain-free pulse-heavy formulations and dilated cardiomyopathy remains under study, which gives owners reason to weigh CORE’s pea-and-potato carbohydrate base against Complete Health’s grain-inclusive base.
Complete Health also includes a produce blend with carrots, sweet potatoes, and apples, plus chicory root as a prebiotic fiber. It’s a simpler formula, but simplicity isn’t always a drawback — fewer ingredients can mean fewer potential sensitivities. Shop on Amazon →
The bottom line
Wellness CORE at A/90 outscores Wellness Complete Health at B/82 by 8 points on protein density, live probiotics, and superfood variety — enough to clear the A-grade threshold under the KibbleIQ Dry Kibble Rubric. Both formulas meet AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for adult maintenance. If your dog already thrives on Complete Health, CORE is the natural upgrade within the same brand family — same manufacturer (WellPet LLC), more ambitious ingredient deck.
The choice isn’t purely about the score. For older dogs or large breeds, Complete Health’s glucosamine and chondroitin inclusions provide joint-support compounds that CORE does not include. For owners weighing the FDA-CVM 2018 grain-free DCM investigation, Complete Health’s oatmeal-and-barley base removes the pulse-legume variable from the equation. Both are quality formulas; the right pick depends on which secondary factor — protein density vs joint support, grain-free vs grain-inclusive — matters most for your dog.