The scores
Wellness CORE: A (90/100)
Wellness Complete Health: B (82/100)
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. The FDA’s ongoing investigation into a potential link between grain-free diets and dilated cardiomyopathy remains unresolved, which gives some owners pause about CORE’s pea-and-potato carbohydrate 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 (A/90) outscores Wellness Complete Health (B/82) by 8 points on protein density, probiotics, and superfood variety — enough to clear the A-grade threshold. If you’re already feeding Complete Health and your dog thrives on it, CORE is the natural upgrade within the same brand family — same quality standards, more ambitious ingredient list.
That said, the choice isn’t purely about the score. If your dog is older or a large breed, Complete Health’s glucosamine and chondroitin offer joint support that CORE lacks. And if the grain-free DCM question concerns you, Complete Health’s oatmeal-and-barley base removes that variable from the equation. Both are quality formulas — the right pick depends on what matters most for your specific dog.