Whole Paws Information
Whole Paws is the store pet food brand of Whole Foods Market, a US-based grocery store best known for its focus on organic foods.
The brand was launched back in 2013 and has consistently been featured on shelves.
Given that Whole Paws is a store brand, it is only available from Whole Food Market and is not available from local pet food stores or the large online pet food sellers like Chewy and Petflow.
It is not abundantly clear who makes Whole Paws products, but we believe Whole Foods Market outsources production to one of the large North American pet food producers.
Whole Paws Product Range
Dog Food
It is very challenging to find consistent information about Whole Paws’ product range online and in-store. WholeFoodMarket’s website does not provide the full product range from Whole Paws, and it appears that the range has changed in recent years.
Despite this, we are confident that Whole Paws produces a mix of dry and wet/canned dog food. This range is quite limited in size but includes grain-free and grain-inclusive recipes.
At this time, we can not find any evidence that Whole Paws produces age-specific or size-specific recipes such as those for puppies or large breed dogs.
Cat Food
It is also difficult to discern information about Whole Paws cat food range. We believe the range was also updated last year at the same time as the Whole Paws dog food range.
Despite this, we believe that Whole Paws has a moderate range of cat food products, which is a mix of dry and wet/canned recipes.
This range does not include any age-specific cat food recipes such as those for kittens or senior cats.
Whole Paws Nutrition
Dog Food
While Whole Paws dog food’s nutrition varies, it is surprisingly impressive for a grocery store brand.
In some cases, the nutrition offered is above-average and includes above-average proportions of protein and fat with modest proportions of carbohydrates.
This kind of nutritional profile is suitable for the majority of dogs, including those that are more active.
Below is an example of the nutrition provided by a Whole Paws recipe.
If you are interested in learning more about dog nutrition, we highly recommend heading on over to our Dog Food Guide.
Cat Food
Similar to their dog food range, Whole Paws cat food recipes provide nutrition that is impressive given their price range.
Their recipes often have above-average proportions of protein and fat and below-average proportions of carbohydrates.
A diet such as this is incredibly important for cats, given they are obligate carnivores. This means that they thrive best on a diet low in plant-based ingredients and high in animal and fish ingredients.
If you would like to understand more about an obligate carnivore diet and feline nutrition, head on over to our Cat Food Guide.
Whole Paws Ingredients
High-Quality Meat & Fish Ingredients
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Beef
- Lamb
- Whitefish
- Salmon
- Tuna
Whole Paws uses a moderate range of meat and fish ingredients in their pet food recipes. This includes industry favorites like Chicken, Turkey, and Salmon.
These ingredients are so popular because they are easy to source, affordable, and can provide excellent nutrition that is high in protein and fat.
Some Whole Paws recipes make use of organ meat ingredients like Chicken Liver. These ingredients are excellent additions to dog food as they can provide vitamins and minerals that are lacking in traditional meat cuts.
Other Notable Ingredients
The three most common legume ingredients all feature in Whole Paws grain-free recipes. These legume ingredients are Peas, Chickpeas, and Lentils.
Legumes are so commonly found in pet food as they are affordable and can provide favorable nutrition for a plant-based ingredient.
However, in recent years there have been links between the high use of legumes in dog food and an increased rate of Canine Heart Disease. You can learn more about this concerning link here.
Sadly, some Whole Paws recipes make use of legume by-products such as Pea Protein. Pea Protein is not a high-quality addition to a pet food recipe and is used to boost the overall protein proportion without adding more meat or fish ingredients.
You can read more about Pea Protein in Peas, Pea Protein, Pea Flour, and Pea Fiber in Dog Food.
Despite its small product range, Whole Paws uses a large range of grain ingredients in its grain-inclusive recipes.
This includes Oats, Sorghum, Barley, Millet, and Quinoa. Many of these grain ingredients are rarely seen in pet food, with others like Corn and Wheat being more favored.
Grain ingredients are a controversial addition to pet food, with many pet owners refusing to feed their pets food that contains grains.
Regardless, grain ingredients can provide nutrition in the form of carbohydrates, plant-based protein, and fiber.
The grains used by Whole Paws are preferred by some as they are seen as less processed than alternatives.
You can learn more about some of these ingredients in the below articles.
Sweet Potatoes are a starch ingredient and an incredibly dense source of carbohydrates. This means that their portion size must be tightly controlled to ensure that the recipe’s carbohydrate proportion is not excessive.
Chicken Fat is added to pet food recipes to improve its flavor and palatability as well as boost the overall level of animal-based fat present. Chicken Fat is chosen over alternatives as it is cheap and easy to source.
Read more about Chicken Fat in Chicken Fat In Dog Food.
Flaxseed is found in a huge number of dog food recipes because it is one of the best plant-based sources of the Omega 3 Fatty Acids.
These fatty acids are believed to provide several health benefits, such as an improvement in the condition of a dog’s skin and coat.
You can read more about Flaxseed in our article Flaxseed In Dog Food.
Dried Beet Pulp is consistently used in pet food recipes across the industry, and its purpose is to provide soluble fiber.
Soluble fiber can be an important component of a dog’s diet to ensure it has consistent stools and digestion. Outside of this fiber content, Dried Beet Pulp provides little nutrition.
Learn more in our article Dried Beet Pulp In Dog Food.
Whole Paws Animal Testing
At this time, we have no information on whether Whole Paws participates in invasive or laboratory testing of animals.
We strongly believe that laboratory or invasive testing of animals is a cruel and outdated practice. We hope that in the future, it will be eliminated.
Whole Paws Recalls
Based on our research (FDA, AVMA, DogFoodAdvisor), Whole Paws is a recall-free brand.
We believe that Whole Paws outsources its production to one of the core pet food manufacturers in the United States.
But, because we do not know which company is used, we can not be certain they have not had any recalls of other products they produce.
We always ask that pet owners are vigilant of any future recalls of Whole Paws or any other pet food brand to ensure their pets remain healthy and safe.
Whole Paws Featured Articles
At this time, Whole Paws has not been featured in any of our articles.
Best of Whole Paws
Grain Free Ocean Caught Whitefish & Sweet Potato Recipe Review
The above is our favorite of Whole Paws grain-free dry dog food recipes. Its primary ingredient is Whitefish, which is split between Whitefish and Whitefish Meal.
While some consumers do not like Whitefish as an ingredient as it is vague, it is, in fact, extremely nutritious and a high-quality ingredient.
The recipe then utilizes a mix of Sweet Potatoes, Peas, and Chickpeas as its plant-based ingredients. These provide a mix of carbohydrates, plant-based protein, and fiber.
Grain-Free Chicken, Beef & Vegetable Stew Dog Food Review
Wet dog food can be a well-deserved treat or a regular addition to a dog’s diet. The above is one of Whole Paw’s canned recipes, and it is worth considering.
The ingredients two primary ingredients are Chicken and Egg Whites. Chicken is a reliable source of animal-based protein and fat and is the most common meat ingredient used in dog food.
Egg Whites are less common but are also extremely nutritious. Eggs are one of the most bioavailable foods around, which means that they are easy to digest.
A small portion of Carrots, Potatoes, and Peas are the recipes plant-based ingredients. However, the portion of these ingredients is extremely small and will not make up a large portion of the recipe.
Grain Free Chicken & Pea Recipe Review
Dry cat food recipes often contain excessive levels of plant-based ingredients, which is a poor reflection of their natural diet.
However, the above recipe from Whole Paws doesn’t contain excessive levels and has large portions of meat ingredients.
Chicken is the primary ingredient, and the recipe utilizes both Chicken and Chicken Meal. This Chicken is then combined with a small portion of Turkey to provide an impressive proportion of protein and fat.
Peas and Chickpeas can then be found further down the ingredient list and provide the recipe with a reasonable proportion of carbohydrates, plant-based protein, and fiber.
Shredded Salmon & Chicken Dinner in Gravy Cat Food Review
Almost all cats go nuts for wet/canned food, and the above recipe from Whole Paws is likely to have the same effect.
It uses a mix of Salmon and Chicken as its primary ingredients. Salmon is worth mentioning as it is one of the best sources of the Omega 3 Fatty Acids, which many believe can provide cats with several health benefits.
There is very little plant matter found in this recipe, which aligns well with a cat’s natural diet.
Whole Paws Full Product Range
Dog Food
Dry Dog Food
Healthy Weight Dog Formula Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
Maintenance Dog Formula Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
Grain-Free Maintenance Dog Formula Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe
Healthy Weight Formula Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
Maintenance Dog Formula Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
Grain Free Lamb & Lentil Recipe
Chicken & Harvest Grains Recipe
Chicken & Quinoa Recipe
Grain Free Grass-fed Lamb & Garbanzo Bean Recipe
Grain Free Ocean Caught Whitefish & Sweet Potato Recipe
Grain Free Chicken & Garbanzo Beans Recipe For Small Breed Dogs
Grain Free Salmon & Pea Recipe
Grain Free Chicken & Garbanzo Beans Recipe
Wet/Canned Dog Food
Grain-Free Turkey & Sweet Potato Stew Dog Food
Grain-Free Chicken, Beef & Vegetable Stew Dog Food
Grain-Free Chicken & Vegetable Stew Dog Food
Grain-Free Chicken Dinner Dog Food
Grain-Free Lamb Dinner Dog Food
Dog Treats
Large Dog Biscuits in Assorted Flavors
Small Dog Biscuits in Assorted Flavors
Dog Training Treats in Chicken
Glucosamine Crème Dog Treats in Peanut Butter & Molasses
Cat Food
Dry Cat Food
Maintenance Cat Formula in Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
Indoor Cat Formula in Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
Maintenance Cat Formula in Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
Grain Free Ocean Caught Whitefish Recipe
Grain Free Indoor Chicken & Pea Recipe
Grain Free Chicken & Pea Recipe
Grain Free Salmon & Pea Recipe
Wet/Canned Cat Food
Grain-Free Shredded Chicken Dinner in Gravy Cat Food
Shredded Whitefish, Chicken & Tuna Dinner in Gravy Cat Food
Shredded Salmon & Chicken Dinner in Gravy Cat Food
Grain-Free Turkey, Chicken & Giblets Dinner Cat Food
Grain-Free Beef & Chicken Dinner Cat Food
Grain-Free Chicken & Whitefish Dinner Cat Food
Grain Free Chicken Dinner
Grain Free Turkey & Chicken Dinner
Is there any information as to whether Whole Paws dog food is GMO free? Are any of the ingredients organic?
Since ‘grain free’ dog food has raised questions recently, I would love for the authors to have also listed their favorite Whole Paws dog food that contains grain. Thank you.
Does it come in a larger bag?
Where, which store, can i buy whole foods Whole Paws Salmon pate cans of food near Pleasanton CA?
Whole Paws salmon bites for dogs used to be soft but the last 4 bags are rock hard & upset my dog’s stomach. If this is how they are going to be I won’t be buying them anymore.