Simply Nourish is one of the many PetSmart in-house pet food lines.
Recently, it was rebranded, and Simply Nourish got a new name – Wiggles and Wags, but not much has changed about this new identity, even on PetSmart’s website.
What are the Main Ingredients of Simply Nourish Dog Foods?
Simply Nourish has more than 50 recipes for dogs so it’s a bit difficult to list all the ingredients used.
However, the main ingredients are chicken, salmon, lamb, and turkey which supply complete amino acid profiles that your dogs need for muscle development and maintenance.
Wholegrains, brown rice, oats, dried sweet potatoes, etc. provide digestible energy and fibre for gut health.
For Whole-food fruits and vegetables, pumpkin, dried carrots, Tomato pomace blueberries supply fibre, antioxidants and micronutrients.
Added nutrients are fish oils, Canola oil for fatty acids, vitamins, especially Vitamin. A and E, and minerals.
These Omega fatty acids help with skin, coat and cognitive functions; and the vitamin/mineral premix supplies nutrients that whole foods alone may not provide in balanced proportions.
That includes dry kibble, wet stews, grain-free options, toppers and frozen formulations
Is Simply Nourish Good for Dogs?
This brand offers wholesome meals with quality ingredients and balanced nutrition for your dogs.
It does not have preservatives, no artificial colours or flavours or unnecessary fillers.
Simply Nourish Limited-ingredient recipes reduce the number of potential triggers for food-sensitive dogs because there’s only one primary protein and fewer carbohydrate sources to test against.
It offers animal protein sources as the first ingredient, and has fewer meat by-products.
Pet owners have plenty of options to choose from a broad SKU range – wet food, dry food, limited ingredient, grain-free, life-stage formulas, and frozen foods at a mid-price point.
Simply Nourish adult dry recipes tend to fall in the mid-20s to high-20s per cent range for crude protein (dry-matter basis) and mid-teens for fat, with estimated carbohydrate levels filling out the rest of the calories – nutrient profiles typical of many grain-inclusive “natural” kibbles.
Grain-free formulas and small breed variants have slightly higher protein or fat in both wet and dry meals.
Simply Nourish also indicates on the pack whether a formula is formulated for growth, maintenance or “all life stages”.
There are also special formulas for pups which explicitly note DHA for brain and eye development in the pack.
Formulas for weight management and other concerns, especially in seniors.
Simply Nourish for small dogs
Simply Nourish offers smaller kibble sizes, specific formulas for small breeds, considering higher calorie density per cup so your pet can feed less while meeting energy needs.
The wet and topper formulations are also helpful for picky small dogs or those with minor dental wear.
The protein and digestible grains can help manage consistent energy without excessive stool volume, which owners of apartment dogs often like.
Simply Nourish puppy foods
For dog pups, all life stages formulas or special formulas for puppies work fine.
Check the label for DHA and appropriate calcium:phosphorus ratios suitable for bone growth.
Simply Nourish lists DHA on its puppy product pages and specifically produces large-breed puppy variants designed for controlled growth and hip/joint support.
Benefits for large dogs
Large dog breeds can benefit from Simply Nourish chicken and rice stew, Beef and Rice or vegetables and other Adult wet foods.
If you prefer Adult dry foods, chicken and brown rice, lamb and oatmeal, salmon and Sweet potato recipes are fast-selling options.
You can also choose between “large breed” or senior variants to support joint health (glucosamine/chondroitin sources), controlled calorie/fat profiles, and larger kibble that encourages slower chewing.
These formulas are designed to help manage growth rate and joint stress compared with a generic adult formula.
Do Vets recommend Simply Nourish Dog Foods?
Yes, mid-tier natural pet foods like Simply Nourish are healthy, but you need to check the label for an AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement and a life-stage match – Puppy vs adult vs large-breed dogs.
Personally, I see Simply Nourish as a reasonably priced natural option for healthy dog food, especially for the limited-ingredient and grain-inclusive formula.
However, grain-free or pulse-heavy diets have been scrutinised for a possible link to diet-associated dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)
If your companion is on a grain-free recipe with high content of peas, lentils or potatoes, you should discuss cardiac monitoring and taurine status with your veterinarian.
Are there safety concerns about this brand?
Simply Nourish is generally safe for dogs and cats.
It has overall positive customer ratings on most review sites, which means customers are happy with their products and the results on their pets.
There was a time it was recalled for high vitamin D levels which could cause kidney problems for dogs.
After a thorough investigation, the FDA closed that recall.
Conclusion
Simply Nourish is a mid-tier pet food line with clean ingredient panels rather than discount kibbles.
You can mix a small portion of it with your dog’s old food to watch your dog’s physical and metabolic reactions before you fully transition to it.
Follow the manufacturer’s feeding chart, and offer the portion of food according to your dog’s weight.