Our values mean we believe dogs thrive on a diet rich in quality animal ingredients.
This is why we developed our food around an 80:20 approach – 80% animal ingredients and 20% fruit, vegetables and other carefully selected ingredients. Our recipes are also grain-free.
Meat and fish are important sources of protein, nutrients and amino acids in a dog's diet.
Learn what 80:20 dog food means and how to compare high-meat dry foods.
We also never add artificial colours, flavours, preservatives, sugar or salt.
Dilated cardiomyopathy
There has been considerable discussion around grain-free diets and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), particularly following an investigation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
DCM is a serious heart condition in which the heart becomes enlarged and its ability to pump blood effectively is reduced.
In July 2018, the FDA began investigating reports of DCM in dogs, including breeds not considered genetically predisposed to the condition. Many of the diets named in the reports were labelled grain-free and contained ingredients such as peas, lentils and other pulses.
However, an association does not necessarily mean that these ingredients or grain-free diets cause DCM. Diet-associated DCM is a complex and evolving area of research, and factors such as overall formulation, nutritional balance, genetics and individual dogs may all be relevant.
The FDA's investigation therefore should not be interpreted as establishing that grain-free diets, peas, lentils or pulses directly cause DCM.
Research into pulses and DCM
Research has continued into the possible relationship between diet and canine heart health.
A 2023 study from the University of Guelph assessed diets containing varying quantities of whole pulse ingredients, including peas, beans, chickpeas and lentils, in 28 adult Siberian Huskies over a 20-week period.
Researchers assessed cardiac function and other health measures and did not find significant adverse cardiac effects associated with the pulse-inclusive diets used in the study [1].
This provides useful evidence, but one study involving a relatively small number of dogs over a limited period cannot settle the wider question of diet-associated DCM. Further research is needed to understand the relationship between diet, individual ingredients, overall formulation, genetics and canine heart health.
Other research has also examined reported rates of DCM alongside increasing sales of grain-free pet foods [3]. The available evidence reinforces the importance of looking at the nutritional quality and balance of a complete diet rather than assuming that the presence or absence of grain, or any single ingredient, determines its suitability.
At Wolfworthy, our focus is on creating nutritionally complete recipes containing high levels of quality animal ingredients.
Taurine
Taurine is an amino acid involved in several important functions within the body, including normal heart function.
Unlike cats, most dogs are able to synthesise taurine from other amino acids. However, taurine status and its relationship with canine DCM are more complex than simply looking at how much meat or how many legumes a food contains.
Taurine deficiency has been associated with some cases of DCM in dogs, and certain breeds may be more susceptible to taurine deficiency or taurine-responsive DCM. Research into the relationship between diet, taurine metabolism and DCM continues.
Animal ingredients can provide taurine and the amino acids involved in taurine synthesis. Poultry and organ meats are among the natural dietary sources of taurine, and these types of ingredients are included within Wolfworthy recipes.
If you have concerns about your dog's heart health, taurine levels or specific nutritional requirements, we recommend discussing them with your vet.
Our approach
Wolfworthy recipes are made with 80% animal ingredients, including meat, fish and eggs. This should not be confused with the crude protein percentage shown in the nutritional analysis.
Our finished recipes contain approximately 36–37% crude protein, depending on the recipe.
We use high levels of freshly prepared meat and fish alongside other carefully selected ingredients to create complete, nutrient-dense food for dogs.
For us, the 80:20 approach is about providing dogs with a high proportion of quality animal ingredients while ensuring that the finished food provides balanced nutrition.
Choosing a complete food that meets your dog's individual needs is an important part of supporting their long-term health and wellbeing.
References
1.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022316623355007
