This article is a Purina Pro Plan dog food review.

As a canine Nutritionist and pet owner, I have bought various types of foods for my dogs. My main concern always was how to provide the best nutrition for my pets. 

I believe that our pets deserve the best possible food that we can provide.

In this article, I aim to show:

• A brief history of the brand
• what ingredients are in this branded pet food
• how this affects your loved canine friend

So you can make an informed choice if a particular dog food is best for your pet.

With so many options available on dog food shelves, it is easy to be overwhelmed, which is the best dog food overall.

I have researched Purina Pro Plan dog food products in-depth to help you determine if this dog food brand is the best diet for your dog.

Purina Pro Plan is a dry and wet dog food brand, which provides balanced nutrition for most dogs.

Purina is one of the biggest and most known dog food brands. And for 80+ years, have featured on dog food shelves. This will mean that the company has a team of veterinarians and dog nutritionists participating in formula creation.

This brand invites dog owners to feel good about serving their dog 100 percent complete and balanced nutrition and take comfort knowing that each serving contains optimal levels of protein and fat that help dogs maintain an ideal body condition. 

Every Purina Pro Plan formula is boosted with a proprietary blend of nutrients tailored for your pet’s specific health needs at every stage of their life. Pro Plan is designed to give your pet the best possible nutrition to lead a long, healthy, more rewarding life. (1)

This comprehensive dog food review will analyze this brand’s ingredients and nutritional content. We will also discuss customer reviews, possible recalls, and potential alternatives for this pet food from Purina Pro Plan.

Keep reading for more details.

Purina Pro Plan Dog Food Review Overview

Purina Pro Plan dog food includes a dry and wet food product.

Purina’s official website claims that “Meat is our #1 ingredient, and formulas have no added colors, flavors, or preservatives. (2)

Purina Pro Plan specializes in their range for all dog stages of life, dog sizes and includes specialized formulas for hip, skin, allergies, to name a few.

All formulas meet AAFCO Guidelines for pet food.

Here are their most popular options for Purina Pro Plan dog food

Purina Pro Plan Adult Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula (Best Dog Food Overall Purina Pro Plan)

Purina Pro Plan Savor Adult Classic Beef & Rice Entree (Best Wet Dog Food Purina Pro Plan)

Purina Pro Plan Puppy Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula with Probiotics (Best For Puppy Food Purina Pro Plan)

Purina Pro Plan Bright Mind Adult 7+ Chicken & Rice Formula (Best For Senior Food Purina Pro Plan)

Purina Pro Plan Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Formula (Best For Sensitive Skin And Digestion Dog Food Purina Pro Plan)

Purina Pro Plan Adult Large Breed Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula (Best Dog Food For Hip And Joints Support Purina Pro Plan)

Purina Pro Plan Weight Management Chicken Adult Small Breed Formula (Best For Healthy Weight Dog Food Purina Pro Plan)

We select Purina Pro Plan Adult Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula for detailed analysis.

This dog food is designed for adult dogs. Suitable for Small, Medium, and Large Breeds.

Also, the Purina Pro Plan Adult Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula is the most popular option with dog owners in the Purina Pro Plan food range.

Label Analysis

Below we have a detailed analysis of the Purina Pro Plan dog food label.

Purina Pro Plan Adult Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula 

Ingredients list: 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. Z445519.

Guaranteed Analysis:

Total caloric content:

This food contains 382 calories per cup. 

We recommend keeping your dog in ideal body condition and not allowing your dog to become overweight. The exact amount of food your dog requires will need to be adjusted according to age, activity, and environment. 

Speak to your dog’s veterinarian for advice on your dog’s ideal weight.

Ingredients Analysis

This variety, along with other shredded blend varieties, features hard kibble combined with tender, shredded pieces of meat. For this variety, the shredded pieces will be chicken.

Many ingredients used in Purina recipes are sourced in the U.S. Like other food companies, they source a limited amount of components from other countries. These ingredients are primarily essential nutrients, such as taurine and B vitamins, that are not commonly available in the U.S. in the quantities needed and are sourced in China.

Chicken, 

An excellent quality real meat provides lean protein for your dog’s balanced nutrition.

Lean meats provide all necessary for a strong heart, good vision, and a healthy reproductive system.

In addition, having chicken as the first ingredient on the ingredient list means that the percentage is the highest against other components named on the label.

Rice is a good source of carbohydrates your dog needs for energy and stamina.

This ingredient also is easy on your dog’s digestive system.

This is a go-to remedy if a dog is experiencing tummy upsets.

However, don’t overfeed your dog and keep to your dog’s ideal weight. Most active dogs will have no problem using up the energy supplied by rice.

Note

Most feeding amounts on the packaging are for pregnant or lactating dogs, so feed a bit less than advised and see if your dog is still hungry.

Whole Grain Wheat is a common ingredient in dog food. However, some research suggests dogs might become allergic or intolerant to wheat. If you notice your dog itching and developing frequent ear infections, your dog might not tolerate wheat.

On the other hand, research shows that dogs can digest plant foods like wheat as omnivores.

Poultry By-product Meal (Source Of Glucosamine), 

By-products from poultry are parts of the animal that remain after the meat is removed. They may include lungs, spleen, liver, and kidneys. 

These poultry by-products are high-quality ingredients contributing nutritional value to dog food. Purina pet foods don’t include parts including the feathers, hide, hair, hooves, and intestinal contents of animals are never used in Purina pet foods.

This variety contains Glucosamine (400 ppm min), beneficial for joint health.

Soybean Meal is used in dog food for plant protein and fat content. Low in carbohydrates so will not affect your dog’s sugar levels.

Beef Fat Preserved With Mixed-tocopherols 

It is great to see a named fat on the ingredients list. Fat is essential for energy and metabolism in dogs. 

As all foods have an expiry date, even fat, the manufacturer uses preservatives like mixed-tocopherols to increase product shelf life.

This formula uses natural vitamin E to preserve this dog food brand. Vitamin E also contributes to better eyesight, healthy skin and coat.

Corn Gluten Meal is made by removing the starch, germ, and bran from kernels of corn. Corn has gotten a bad name as a filler in dog food, but corn gluten meal is a good product with high protein and amino acids.

Whole Grain Corn, 

Manufacturers favor this ingredient as it is relatively inexpensive. Also, corn is rich in several vitamins and minerals, which benefit your dog’s overall health. 

So this can be good when fed through a well-balanced diet.

Dried Egg Product, 

Dried eggs are among the highest quality proteins available to pet food manufacturers. Their form is highly digestible and provides a great source of antioxidants and nutrients.

Fish Meal

Although the fish meal is not as nutritionally beneficial to dogs as actual fish products, this does not mean there are no benefits.

This meal provides an excellent source of amino acids and fatty acids that can help to improve:

• Skin and hair coat, 
• Digestion,
• Immune system, 
• Bone health, 
• Metabolic function.

Typically this ingredient will be added to dog food to increase Glucosamine for joint health. This is through Omega 3 found in fish and fish meal.

One downside to the fish meal is that this gives the food a fishy smell, which dogs love, but some owners might not.

Natural Flavor added to dog food formulas gives palatability for the dog to enjoy the smell of his meal. In this case, it will be the chicken flavor.

Glycerin is a carbohydrate naturally found in fats and oils. It’s used to help maintain moisture in your pet’s soft kibble for a more satisfying mealtime experience.

Wheat Bran adds fiber to your dog’s diet for optimal digestive health. 

However, this also contains carbohydrates, so stick to portion size if your dog is prone to weight gain.

Soybean Oil, Fish Oil

It is excellent to see oil in this formula. However, soybean oil has less benefit to your dog than fish oil.

Fish oil is excellent for keeping your dog’s skin and coat in good condition.

Salt is a source of essential minerals needed for maintaining good health and the proper metabolism in dogs.

It is composed of sodium and chloride, two essential minerals for dogs. They maintain the balance of body fluids.

Salt can be added to the dog food to make the food taste better. Added salt might increase thirst and water consumption. But not to worry, extra salt is excreted in dogs’ urine.

Vitamins and minerals are essential for your dog’s overall wellbeing and healthy body. This formula follows AAFCC guidelines on vitamin and mineral levels.

Commercial dog food is made with balanced nutrition and added vitamins and minerals for overall healthy dogs. 

However, too much of a good thing can also become harmful. Make sure to follow feeding instructions tailored for your dog’s weight, age, and physical activity. 

If in doubt or noticing signs of discomfort in your dog, speak with your veterinarian for advice regards your dog’s meals.

Dried Bacillus Coagulans Fermentation Product is a probiotic. This helps improve stool quality and consistency in dogs.

Results suggest that Bacillus coagulans positively impact nutrient digestibility and no apparent adverse effects when added to extruded diets at a daily intake level in healthy adult dogs. (3)

L-lysine Monohydrochloride

L-lysine monohydrochloride is a source of the essential amino acid lysine. It is needed to help support your pet’s muscle development and maintenance.

Lysine is proposed to be used in feeds to achieve an adequate amino acid profile and meet the requirements on l-Lysine for all animal species (4)

My research has shown that this is artificially made amino acid and added to pet and animal foods to achieve the required levels. Generally, in nature, this would come from animal protein. 

Lysine is added to foods with soy ingredients to balance out levels of this amino acid. We see animal protein as the first ingredient in this formula and soy ingredients.

Garlic Oil.

This ingredient is controversial, as we all have heard that garlic is toxic to dogs. 

Studies found garlic is considered less toxic and safe for dogs than onion when used in moderation.

However, the amount eaten and the dog’s size will come into play. My research has found that a dog would have to eat a lot of garlic to become sick.

Purina assures us that Garlic oil is highly palatable and used in very small amounts to enhance the taste of your pet’s food. Unlike fresh garlic, processed garlic – such as oil and powder – is not toxic. (5)

Nutrient analysis

Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that Purina Pro Plan Adult Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula provides complete and balanced nutrition for all dog’s life stages. Including the growth of large-sized dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult).

This formula is made with quality meat protein as its first ingredient. 

Additional benefits include High-Protein, High Fiber.

AAFCO requirements for protein and fat in dog food only advise for minimum amounts, but not maximum. This might mean that dogs can tolerate a high protein diet. 

Some research also shows that high protein diets might benefit overweight dogs to lose weight.

You might be interested in our article How to help your dog lose weight.

Crude protein 26.0% min

Adult dogs require a minimum of 18% protein in their diet.

A good diet will meet those needs by using high-quality, easily digested ingredients.

However, owners should consider the dog’s lifestyle. For an active dog, a higher protein count will help build muscles and maintain overall health.

Is it possible to feed too much protein to a dog? Generally, if a dog has a shiny coat, is alert, has normal stool and skin, ideal weight. It probably means that the food is okay.

Crude Fat 16.0% min

According to AAFCO, adult dogs need 5.5% fat content as a minimum in their food. 

Dogs get their energy from protein and fat and favor a meal where protein and fat are high.

Some owners might be tempted to feed a dog a low-fat diet to ensure obesity is not a problem. However, dogs might overeat low-fat food to meet their nutritional needs.

Look for actually named animal fat in your dog’s food label. In Purina Pro Plan Adult Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula, beef fat is described in the ingredients overview.

Crude Fiber 3.0% max

It is not strictly specified how much fiber is best for a dog’s diet. I believe that each case should be seen individually. The fiber needed is 2%-4%, making this formula in the average fiber range.

Fiber helps our dog’s digestive health. However, not all products containing fiber are equal.

When choosing food for your dog, look for high-quality fiber like brown rice, legumes, and vegetables.

We can see that this formula does have rice, although the product label does not specify what type of rice they are using. Other fiber-containing ingredients include corn and wheat bran.

It is always important to speak to your veterinarian for advice on your dog’s diet if digestive problems occur.

Purina Pro Plan Dog Food Review

95% of dog owners on Chewy would recommend Purina Pro Plan Adult Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food formula. Over 1500 reviews give the product 4.6 out of 5 stars.

Most reviews share that the food is:

• Vet approved
• Digestive issues have disappeared
• Large size kibble might not suit smaller breeds
• Picky eaters are not so picky about this formula

By Rachel on Oct 26, 2021, Allergy approved!

Our six-year-old Chihuahua/shitzu mix has horrible skin allergies. We switched. Combined with his allergy meds, we’ve seen a difference in his overall comfort with this food. I would 100% recommend

By Lynn on Oct 21, 2021

After using the upper-quality food, Purina took some adjusting for my dogs if I could afford the upper-quality food, but this is decent lower-quality food.

You can read more on Purina Pro Plan.

Recalls

There is no current recall of this product while researching for the Purina Pro Plan dog food formula.

The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) require that all animal foods, like human foods, be safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be truthfully labeled. In addition, canned pet foods must be processed in conformance with the low acid canned food regulations to ensure the pet food is free of viable microorganisms. (6)

You can find a complete list of F.D.A. recalls here.

FAQ 

What is the difference between Purina Pro Plan and Purina ONE?

Pro Plan dry dog formulas are focused on helping them be energetic and resilient while maintaining an ideal body condition, healthy skin, and a stunning coat. Purina ONE′’s goal is to provide pet owners with more health-tailored nutrition.

Should I feed puppy or adult food to a 1-year-old dog?

When you introduce your pup to adults, food will vary from breed to breed. Puppies mature into adults at different times, depending on their breed. A large dog breed will grow into adults at about 15-24 months, while smaller breeds will be puppies for only 9-12 months.

Typically, dogs will be fully grown by age 1, but large breed puppies may continue growing until age 2. It’s important to stop feeding puppy food when the time is right, transition to an adult diet, and decrease the amount of food, so your dog does not become overweight.

How many cups are there in a pound of this food?

There are approximately 4 cups of kibble in every pound of food. The 6-pound bag contains 24 cups, the 18-pound bag has 72 cups, the 35-pound bag contains 140 cups, and the 47-pound bag contains 188 cups.

If using a standard 8-ounce measuring cup, approximately 96 grams of Pro Plan are needed.

Can this be given to tiny chihuahuas?

This formula is made with golden brown ¾” triangular disc-shaped and shredded extruded dry kibbles. This food is formulated for adult dogs of all breed sizes.

Some small breed dogs might struggle with the pieces.

What is the shelf life of an unopened bag of this dog food?

This formula has an approximate shelf life of 18 months without opening. It is recommended to use before the printed expiration date.

Do larger bags reseal?

This recipe does not have a resealable bag. Products will need to be kept in a separate container with a lid to keep the product fresh for longer.

Does the chicken and rice formula contain DHA?

While this formula doesn’t have any added D.H.A., it does contain fish meal, a natural source of D.H.A.

Alternatives

Suppose you think that Purina pro plan dog food is not the ideal choice for your dog. There are a few alternatives to consider.

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food

This formula starts with real meat, whole grains, garden veggies, and fruit, plus added a precise blend of nutrients that have been enhanced with antioxidant-rich ingredients.

 This Adult Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe features delicious, protein-rich deboned chicken and other natural ingredients for a healthy meal your dog will love.

ORIJEN Original Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

Features fresh or raw free-run chicken and turkey, wild-caught or sustainably farmed fish, and cage-free chickens. This recipe is also made with WholePrey animal ingredients, including organs and bone, delivering 85% quality animal ingredients. 

Grain-Free, High-Protein, Gluten-Free, Natural, Raw, No Corn No Wheat No Soy.

Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Chicken & Sweet Potato Formula Grain-Free Canned Dog Food

Natural Balance L.I.D. Chicken and Sweet Potato Canned Dog Food contain all of the essential nutrients a dog needs and none of the grains if a dog has sensitivities to this ingredient. Recommended by vets and animal nutritionists during all of your dog’s stages of life.

No Corn No Wheat No Soy, Sensitive Digestion, Limited Ingredient Diet, Grain-Free, Pea-Free.

In Conclusion

We recommend Purina Pro Plan for owners looking for a balanced nutrition product for their pets.

This Purina Pro Plan dog food review shows that other dog owners and their dogs love this dog food brand. With natural protein as the first ingredient. 

Reviews show that vets recommend this formula, and it has been shown to boost dogs digestive systems with its high fiber content.

Speak with your dog’s veterinarian today to determine if Purina Pro Plan dog food would be an excellent formula for your dog.