Wag Information
Wag is a dog food brand owned and distributed by the popular online retailer Amazon. While Amazon has distributed other dog food brands for a number of years, they have only recently moved to produce and sell their own products.
Amazon, via Wag, is attempting to fill the niche of affordable dog food that provides satisfactory nutrition.
This could be easily compared to other recently launched brands like Crave, American Journey, and Pure Balance.
There is still very limited information available about the Wag brand, including where it is produced and where its ingredients are sourced from.
However, Amazon’s own product pages mention that Wag is produced in “California, USA, at a family-owned facility with trusted, high-quality sources from around the world“.
Amazon has two other dog food brands that we are aware of, and they are Solimo and Simply Perfection. Solimo focuses on dry dog food, much like Wag, and Simply Perfection focuses on canned dog food.
As you might imagine, being an Amazon brand, Wag is only available from Amazon’s online store and is not available at any retail pet food stores.
Wag Product Range
Initially, Wag’s product range was very small and was limited to four adult recipes and one puppy recipe, all of which were very similar.
However, it was suspected that Amazon would significantly expand its brand offering as they attempted to gain a foothold in the dog food market. It wasn’t clear which niche Amazon would attempt to gain a foothold in next.
This hunch was proved right in 2019 when Wag expanded its product range to include canned dog food and canned cat food.
Both the canned ranges for cats and dogs include eight unique recipes. These are split between a number of subcategories of canned food such as Stews, Pate’s, and “In Gravy” recipes.
It is very likely that over the coming months and years that Wag and Amazon will expand their offerings to include more niche products such as limited-ingredient dog food, senior dog food, or recipes for weight loss.
Wag Nutrition
Wag dog food recipes offer very appealing and satisfactory nutrition, given their low price point relative to many other brands.
Below you can see the average percentage calorie breakdown of Wag’s dry dog food range.
The proportion of protein found in their dry food recipes is suitable for dogs of all activity levels, including those that are more active.
However, it is worth noting that a notable minority of the protein found in Wag recipes is from vegetable products like Pea Protein, which are a lesser-quality source.
Plant-based protein, such as that from ingredients like Pea Protein, can be more difficult to digest compared to protein from animal-based sources, which is why many frown upon them.
The proportion of fat found in these dry recipes is also satisfactory and could be used by an active dog as a concentrated source of energy.
The proportion of carbohydrates found in Wag dog food recipes is considerable but not overly large and is in line with similar brands.
If you’d like to learn more about canine nutrition, we would highly recommend you read our Dog Food Guide for an in-depth discussion on topics such as ingredients, nutritional profiles, dog food types, and more.
Wag Ingredients
High-Quality Ingredients
- Beef
- Chicken
- Salmon
- Tuna
- Turkey
- Lamb
- Beef & Chicken Liver
Wag makes use of a number of high-quality meat and fish ingredients in its recipes, some of which are listed above.
All of these meat and fish ingredients are sources of high-quality protein and fat that dogs will be able to digest and utilize with ease.
Several of these ingredients, such as Chicken, Beef, and Salmon, are extremely common in the industry.
These ingredients are so popular among pet food manufacturers as they are easy to source, relatively affordable, contain favorable nutrition, high in protein.
Wag doesn’t just include whole meat ingredients but also makes use of organ meat ingredients such as Beef and Chicken Liver.
Liver ingredients can provide a mix of vitamins and minerals to dogs that traditional meat cuts lack or are poor sources of.
These vitamins and minerals can be beneficial to a dog’s health and improve its health and wellness. In addition, organ meat ingredients can provide additional protein and fat to supplement the core sources.
Low-Quality Ingredients
- Pea Protein
As we mentioned in the previous section, Wag makes extensive use of Pea Protein in its recipes. Pea Protein is a vegetable by-product and concentrated source of plant-based protein.
Pea Protein is not considered a high-quality ingredient or a beneficial addition to dog food. It is often used to inflate the overall protein level without adding higher-cost meat or fish ingredients.
Find out more about Pea Protein and other Pea By-products in our article Peas, Pea Protein, Pea Flour, and Pea Fiber in Dog Food.
Other Notable Ingredients
Dried Beet Pulp is found in some Wag recipes and is commonly used throughout the industry.
Dried Beet Pulp is used as a source of soluble fiber, which can aid a dog’s digestion and ensure they have regular stools.
Other than its fiber content, Beet Pulp provides very little nutritional value to dogs, including a lack of carbohydrates or beneficial vitamins and minerals.
You can find out more about Dried Beet Pulp, including how its produced and how some look down upon it, in our article Dried Beet Pulp In Dog Food.
Brewers Yeast is a dietary supplement that is sometimes found in pet food recipes in tiny quantities.
Supporters of Brewers Yeast believe it can provide some beneficial vitamins and minerals as well as other potential health benefits.
However, the evidence to support this is limited, and some others in the industry believe it provides little to no value to dogs.
Discover more about Brewers Yeast and why opinions on it are mixed in our article Brewers Yeast In Dog Food.
Flaxseed is a very popular addition to dog food recipes and is used by a number of brands as a plant-based source of the Omega 3 Fatty Acids.
These omega fatty acids can provide a range of health benefits to dogs, including improving the condition of a dog’s skin and coat and improved cognitive function.
However, these omega fatty acids are not the only benefits that Flaxseed can provide and there are several more that many are unaware of.
Read more about Flaxseed and its benefits in our article Flaxseed In Dog Food.
Chicken Fat features in almost all of Wag’s dog food recipes and is a common addition to dog food recipes at a variety of price points.
Chicken Fat is added to pet food to enhance its flavor and make it more palatable or appealing to dogs. Also, it provides additional animal-based fat for a recipe to improve its nutritional profile.
You can learn more about Chicken Fat, including whether it can trigger a Chicken allergy, in our article Chicken Fat In Dog Food.
Carrageenan is an ingredient that is often used in canned pet food recipes. Carrageenan is derived from seaweed and is used by pet food manufacturers as a thickening and binding agent.
In short, it helps to keep the other ingredients of pet food recipes in a consistent texture and appearance.
However, Carrageenan is a controversial ingredient in pet food, and some believe it could be dangerous or that it is not fully understood.
You can learn more about Carrageenan, including how its made, in our article Carrageenan In Dog Food.
Wag Animal Testing
We currently do not have any information on whether Wag or the manufacturing facility that they employ to produce their products is involved in Animal Testing or Laboratory Animal Testing.
Laboratory testing on animals for the purposes of testing pet food is a cruel and outdated practice. It can be distressing for the animals involved, and we hope that it will be heavily reduced or eliminated in the near future.
We also have no information on whether Wag takes part in feeding trials in order to test its products. Feeding trials can be an important testing procedure to ensure pet food provides adequate nutrition.
Wag Recalls
At this time, and based on our research (FDA, AVMA, DogFoodAdvisor), we have no evidence or reason to believe that Wag has ever been recalled. This means that Wag is a recall-free dog food brand.
Given that Wag is in its infancy, this is not quite as impressive as some of its competitors. But it is clear that Wag will attempt to keep their recall history non-existent in the coming years.
Regardless of their recall-free record, dog owners should be cautious of any future recalls from Wag or any other pet food brand to ensure that their dogs remain healthy and safe.
Wag Featured Articles
Best Cheap Dog Food – Wag is extremely affordable, especially when any subscriptions or free delivery factors are taken into account.
Therefore it will come as no surprise that Wag features in our article showcasing the best cheap dog food currently available.
However, Wag isn’t the only other brand featured, and several others like Pure Balance, Crave, Chewy’s American Journey, and Costco’s Kirkland are discussed in equal detail.
Best of Wag
Lamb & Lentil Review
Wag dry dog food is a fantastic option for those on a tight budget as it is very affordably priced.
While Wag started out with four adult recipes, there are now nine adult formulas in total, and all of these recipes provide very similar nutrition.
Our favorite example of one of their adult formulas is their Lamb formula. Lamb is a less common meat ingredient in dog food and is often neglected in favor of cheaper alternatives like Chicken.
Despite this, Lamb can offer fantastic nutrition, high in animal-based protein and fat.
The formula also makes use of a small range of legumes, including Peas and Lentils. As always, these legumes are reliable sources of carbohydrates and are preferred by some to alternatives like grains or starches.
Once again, we will note that this formula, and several others from Wag, contains Pea Protein and not just a small amount.
This Pea Protein is almost certainly inflating the overall protein level of this formula.
However, we should note that the protein level of this formula is already very high, so hopefully, this addition from the Pea Protein is not overly significant.
Chicken & Lentil For Puppies Review
While Wag originally had but a single puppy food recipe in its range, it has recently expanded to two. One of the recipes is grain-free, and the other is grain-inclusive. We are going to discuss the above grain-free formula.
Puppy food is an important niche to break into for any new dog food brand. Many dog owners like to transition their puppies from puppy to adult food from the same brand to avoid disruption, and without a puppy food recipe on offer, brands can not take advantage of this habit.
The puppy formula from Wag is very similar to the adult recipes yet contains slightly superior nutrition, which could play well into this transition plan.
Excellent nutrition is especially important for puppies as they are in the stage of their lives when they need the most protein to fuel their growth, activity, and maintenance.
The formula has a relatively simple ingredient list with a strong focus on Chicken ingredients like Chicken and Chicken Meal.
These chicken-based ingredients provide the bulk of the protein and fat, most of which is animal-based.
In addition to this, the formula makes use of Lentils and Peas as the ever-reliant providers of carbohydrates. Sadly, just like their adult recipes, Wag does use Pea Protein in its grain-free puppy formula.
However, given that the puppy formula has a higher proportion of protein than the adult recipe, then this Pea Protein is likely to have less of an effect, and the proportion of animal-based protein is still high.
Beef & Chicken Pate Review
Of the varieties of canned dog food that Wag produces, we prefer their pate recipes over the stew recipes.
This is because of the superior nutrition that these recipes can provide, which is high in animal-based protein and fat.
A prime example of this is the Beef & Chicken Pate Recipe. Its proportion of protein and fat is extremely impressive when compared to most wet dog food recipes.
As a consequence, the proportion of carbohydrates is very low and is an accurate reflection of a dog’s natural diet.
This excellent nutrition is thanks to a mix of meat ingredients, including Beef, Chicken, and Beef Liver.
These three ingredients are high-quality sources and are highly digestible compared to plant-based alternatives.
The only other ingredients present in this recipe are some gums, such as Guar Gum and Cassia Gum. These are included as thickening agents and are not used to provide nutrition.
Beef Pate Review
Wag’s canned cat food shares many of the positive traits of their canned dog food. The recipe highlighted above is very similar to its dog equivalent and can provide a cat with excellent nutrition. This nutrition fairly reflects the dietary requirements of an obligate carnivore.
The balance of protein and fat is slightly different in comparison to the dog formula, but this is advantageous as cats need a higher proportion of protein.
The ingredient list is very similar, and the primary ingredients are Beef, Chicken, and Chicken Liver. These are all high-quality ingredients.
However, the formula also contains small portions of vegetables such as Carrots, Potatoes, and Peas.
While these ingredients aren’t ideal for a cat, their portion is small enough that they are not significant.
Wag Full Product Range
Dry Dog Food
Beef & Lentil With Wild Boar Recipe
Chicken & Lentil Recipe
Chicken & Lentil For Puppies Recipe
Lamb & Lentil Recipe
Salmon & Lentil Recipe
Turkey & Lentil Recipe
Beef & Brown Rice Recipe
Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
Chicken & Brown Rice Puppy Recipe
Chicken & Brown Small Breed Rice Recipe
Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe
Canned Dog Food
Lamb & Vegetable Stew Recipe
Beef & Vegetable Stew Recipe
Chicken & Vegetable Stew Recipe
Turkey & Chicken Recipe
Beef & Chicken Recipe
Chicken Recipe
Turkey & Sweet Potato Stew Recipe
Chicken & Brown Rice Stew
Lamb & Brown Rice Stew
Small Breed Beef Dinner
Small Breed Chicken Dinner
Small Breed Lamb Dinner
Dog Treats
Dental Chewys Tiny
Dental Chews Small
Dental Chews Medium
Dental Chews Large
Chicken Flavor
Chicken Flavor (Hip & Joint)
Peanut Butter & Banana
Chicken Jerky
Chicken & Flaxseed Jerky
Turkey & Sweet Potato Recipe Jerky
Duck Recipe Jerky
Beef Recipe Jerky
Chicken Recipe Jerky
Turkey Recipe Jerky
Chicken & Waffle Bites
Dog Supplements
Pill Pouches – Chicken Flavor
Probiotic Supplement
Canned Cat Food
Beef & Chicken Pate
Beef Pate
Chicken & Giblets Pate
Salmon & Chicken In Gravy
Salmon & Seafood In Gravy
Tuna & Giblets In Gravy
Turkey & Chicken In Gravy
Turkey & Giblets Pate