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Is Purina Pro Plan a good dog food?
In this review… The Dog Food Advisor takes a critical look at Purina Pro Plan… and rates each of its four most important sub-brands.
We’ll also answer three critical questions…
- Is Pro Plan made in the United States?
- Has Pro Plan been recalled?
- Which flavors and recipes get our top ratings?
But first…
Which Pro Plan Sub-Brand Is Right for You?
Here are Pro Plan’s most popular sub-brands. In this section, we’ll share what makes each different. So. you can choose the one that’s best for your dog.
Purina Pro Plan Adult
This is Pro Plan’s most popular dry kibble, scientifically optimized for adult dogs.
- Contains live probiotics for healthy digestion
- Includes chelated minerals for superior nutrition
- 25 recipes (ratings vary)
Purina Pro Plan Puppy
Pro Plan Puppy is the puppy brand most often mentioned by vets and professional breeders. Each recipe has been verified for nutrient balance by live feeding trials.
- Controlled calcium, ideal for growing puppies
- Specific formulas for small or large breeds
- Eight recipes (ratings vary)
Purina Pro Plan Sport
Pro Plan Sport is designed for dogs of ALL ages, puppies, adults and seniors.
- Contains omega-rich fish oil for healthy skin and coat
- Includes live probiotics for optimal digestion
- 13 recipes (ratings vary)
Purina Pro Plan Bright Mind
Bright Mind is Pro Plan’s senior dog food. Each of its recipes contain MCT, a natural fatty-acid supplement shown to improve cognitive function (thinking) in older dogs.
- Contains glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy joints
- Includes DHA and EPA omega fats for enhanced cognitive health
- Three recipes (ratings vary)
Review of Pro Plan Adult Dog Food
Purina Pro Plan Adult product range is made up of 25 recipes with ratings varying from 3.5 to 4 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 3.5 stars.
The table below shows each recipe in this range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
Recipe and Label Analysis
Pro Plan Adult Complete Essentials Shredded Blend Chicken and Rice was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Pro Plan Adult Shredded Blend Chicken and Rice
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, rice, whole grain wheat, poultry by-product meal (source of glucosamine), soybean meal, beef fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols, corn gluten meal, whole grain corn, dried egg product, fish meal (source of glucosamine), natural flavor, glycerin, wheat bran, calcium carbonate, mono and dicalcium phosphate, salt, soybean oil, potassium chloride, fish oil, minerals [zinc proteinate, manganese proteinate, ferrous sulfate, copper proteinate, calcium iodate], sodium selenite, vitamins [vitamin E supplement, niacin (vitamin B-3), vitamin A supplement, calcium pantothenate (vitamin B-5), thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B-1), vitamin B-12 supplement, riboflavin supplement (vitamin B-2), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B-6), folic acid (vitamin B-9), vitamin D-3 supplement, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (vitamin K), biotin (vitamin B-7)], choline chloride, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (vitamin C), dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product, l-lysine monohydrochloride, garlic oil
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 26% | 16% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 30% | 18% | 44% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 25% | 38% | 38% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken. Although it is a quality item, raw chicken contains up to 73% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.
After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.
The second ingredient is rice. Is this whole grain rice, brown rice or white rice? Since the word “rice” doesn’t tell us much, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this item.
The third ingredient is wheat. Like corn, wheat is an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain. And aside from its energy content, this grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
For this reason, we do not consider wheat a preferred component in any dog food.
The fourth ingredient is poultry by-product meal, a dry rendered product of slaughterhouse waste. It’s made from what’s left of slaughtered poultry after all the prime cuts have been removed.
In addition to organs, this item can also include feet, beaks, undeveloped eggs and almost anything other than prime skeletal muscle.
On the brighter side, by-product meals are meat concentrates and contain nearly 300% more protein than fresh poultry.
The quality of this ingredient can vary, depending on the caliber of the raw materials obtained by the manufacturer.
We consider poultry by-products slightly lower in quality than a single-species ingredient (like chicken by-products).
The next ingredient is soybean meal, a by-product of soybean oil production more commonly found in farm animal feeds.
Although soybean meal contains 48% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.
And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label — a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
The sixth ingredient is beef fat. Beef fat (or tallow) is most likely obtained from rendering, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Although it may not sound very appetizing, beef fat is actually a quality ingredient.
The seventh ingredient is corn gluten meal. Gluten is the rubbery residue remaining once corn has had most of its starchy carbohydrate washed out of it.
Although corn gluten meal contains 60% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.
And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label — a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
The eighth ingredient is corn. Corn is another cereal grain and subject to the same issues as wheat (previously discussed).
The ninth ingredient is dried egg product, a dehydrated form of shell-free eggs. Quality can vary significantly. Lower grade egg product can even come from commercial hatcheries — from eggs that have failed to hatch.
In any case, eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
The tenth ingredient is fish meal, another protein-rich meat concentrate.
Fish meal is typically obtained from the “clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings” of commercial fish operations.1
Unfortunately, this particular item is anonymous. Because various fish contain different types of fats, we would have preferred to have known the source species.
Other Notable Ingredients
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this Purina product.
With six notable exceptions…
First, soybean oil is red flagged here only due to its rumored (yet unlikely) link to canine food allergies.
However, since soybean oil is high in omega-6 fatty acids and contains no omega-3’s, it’s considered less nutritious than flaxseed oil or a named animal fat.
Next, fish oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans.
Depending on its level of freshness and purity, fish oil should be considered a commendable addition.
In addition, this food contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
Next, we note the inclusion of sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.
Additionally, we find dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added as probiotics to aid with digestion.
And lastly, this recipe includes menadione, a controversial form of vitamin K linked to liver toxicity, allergies and the abnormal break-down of red blood cells.
Since vitamin K isn’t required by AAFCO in either of its dog food nutrient profiles, we question the use of this substance in any canine formulation.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients panel alone, Pro Plan Adult Complete Essentials Shredded Blend Chicken and Rice Essentials looks like an average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 30%, a fat level of 18% and estimated carbohydrates of about 44%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 31% and a mean fat level of 16%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 45% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 53%.
Which means that this product line contains…
Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to other dry dog foods.
However, when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the soybean and corn gluten meals in this recipe, and the canola meal and pea protein contained in other recipes, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing just a moderate amount of meat.
Purina Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Purina through November 2024.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Purina Pro Plan Dog Food
The Dog Food Advisor finds Purina Pro Plan to be an above-average kibble. Each grain-inclusive recipe uses a moderate amount of named meat and by-product meals as its primary source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 3.5 stars. Pro Plan Bright Mind gets 4.5 stars.
A Video Guide to Pro Plan Sub-Brands
Pro Plan recently renamed many of its products. All formulas are now organized by life stage. So, if you’re still not sure which sub-brand is right for you, this short marketing video from Purina can help.
What Do Others Say About Purina Pro Plan Dog Food?
At the time of this update…
Chewy customers rate Purina Pro Plan 4.7 out of 5 stars… and 96% say they would recommend it to others.
Here’s an actual user review…
Sample buyer review… “You cannot go wrong with Pro Plan, so many blends for so many dogs ! You have to find the right blend for your dog. This Shredded Blend is pretty good. You have the larger kibble mixed with the shreds.The kibble is hard and the shreds are soft. I have three German Shepherds and they love it ! However if they eat it too fast the shreds kinda make them choke a bit. Other than that This blend comes in a 47lb bag ! GREAT !! And at a sweet price of course… Try it for your medium to large dog. they will like it.. You can even put warm water on it. they love that !”
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Pro Plan's Best Recipes?
Based on the weighted average of their popularity and ratings, here are our 5 most recommended Purina Pro Plan flavors and recipes.
Is Purina Pro Plan made in the United States?
According to Purina, 99% of all Pro Plan recipes are made in the U.S.A. The company sources the majority of its ingredients from American suppliers. In addition, Purina also owns and operates 100% of its production facilities, too.
What's the best Pro Plan dog food for puppies?
Pro Plan Puppy is the puppy brand most frequently recommended by vets and professional breeders. Each of its 8 scientifically designed recipes meets AAFCO nutrient profiles for growth and has been verified for balance by live feeding trials. See our review of Pro Plan Puppy here.
What's the best Pro Plan dog food for seniors?
Pro Plan Bright Mind is the brand’s premium kibble that’s optimized for feeding dogs over 7 years of age. These 3 senior recipes not only contain ample amounts of protein, they also include below-average calorie content. For more choices, see the Advisor’s best dog foods for seniors here.
Compare Purina Pro Plan Dog Food
How does Purina Pro Plan compare with The Dog Food Advisor's most recommended brands?
A Final Word
The Dog Food Advisor does not accept money, gifts, samples or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.
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