Purina Dog Food Reviews: Pros and Cons [2023]

Generally, Purina Dog Food is easy to digest, the price is perfect, and has no more itchy skin. But, its smell is strong, and the switch is tough.

We understand if you’re struggling to choose the best food for your dog. The sheer number of options is more than enough to make your head spin on a single trip down the pet food aisle. Are you a dry or a wet person? Whole grain or grain-free, raw or processed? What on earth is the best, safest, and most dependable brand?

If you have a “quantity equals quality” mindset, the chances are that your eye will be drawn to Dog food made by Purina Petcare. After all, it appears that this business provides all of the aforementioned food options, and if there is variety, there must also be demand and quality that is consistent with all of that, right? Please read on to find specific information about Purina Dog Food.

Purina Dog Food Review

The well-known dog food company Purina Dog Food consists of numerous distinct product lines. All of Purina’s product lines, including Purina Pro Plan, Purina One, Beneful, and Beyond, are produced. Reviews on Amazon.com, two of the top online retailers where dog lovers and owners go for their pet food, show that many happy customers and positive reviews. All of the product lines use simple-to-digest, fresh, and mostly grain-free ingredients. Owners of large and small dogs alike are overjoyed when they discover a dog food that is affordable and packed with advantages for the health of pets, such as high-quality protein for their canine companions; Purina’s product line satisfies both of those requirements.

Pros

Easy to Digest

Dogs who consume harsh formulas that simply upset their stomachs may experience symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. Ratings for Purina Dog Food demonstrate that customers are pleased with how well their dogs digest Purina food. Following a meal of Purina Dog Food, dogs who had previously experienced digestive problems no longer experienced these problems.

Perfect Price

Purina is a well-known brand of dog food with a high level of recognition in the dog food industry, but it is not overly expensive like other premium dog food brands are. Customers said that the price was ideal for them, especially considering the quality of ingredients they receive for that cost!

No More Itchy Skin

You are aware of how delicate Fido’s skin can be if you own a pet. And nothing is worse than not being able to find a dog food that reduces (or prevents) the sensitivity issues. Reviews indicate that dogs adore this particular brand of dog food because it causes less itch and scratching.

Cons

Strong Smell

When they opened the bag, some customers said the dry dog food smelled strongly. Even though this wasn’t a common bad review, some customers found it off-putting.

Tough Switch

Some dogs may experience digestive issues while transitioning from one brand of dog food to another. Some dog owners claimed that their dog experienced some problems when switching from one brand to Purina, primarily diarrhea.

​Ingredients Analysis

It is clear from the Purina dog food ingredients list that a variety of grains are a main ingredient in most of the recipes for this brand of dog food. Although it may not seem important, it is surprising to learn that this particular brand uses grains in their recipes (corn, soy, and wheat) when the majority of other dog food manufacturers advertise (and advertise HARD) the fact that their products are grain-free. But there are also some premium ingredients, like chicken as the main protein source, and it appears that the first ingredient listed is a genuine meat product. After the first couple of ingredients, the list starts to get a little bit questionable in terms of by-products and “unnamed” sources like animal digest.

​The ingredients list isn’t particularly noteworthy overall, but it’s by no means the worst list to have appeared on the market! AAFCO compliance is also reflected in the Purina product lines.

Purina Dog Chow Complete Adult Dry Dog Food With Real Chicken

In its advertising, the dry dog food Purina Dog Chow Complete Adult Dry Dog Food with Real Chicken claims to include chicken that was raised in the United States. The seventh ingredient on the list is chicken, so it is there after all.

You must understand labels completely. You should be aware that ingredients are listed on labels according to their weight before processing and that the first ten or so ingredients are the main ones, while the rest are present in trace amounts (salt is a good indicator). Calculate the amount of meat that remains in the food since raw chicken is over 70% water, which evaporation during the cooking process.

Things get even clearer when you look at the ingredients that precede chicken:

1. Whole grain corn.Corn is a known allergen in addition to being a cheap source of protein that your dog cannot fully digest. Canines require as much protein derived from meat as possible.
2. Meat and bone meal. Since you never know what you’re serving your dog, anonymous meat sources should always be avoided. This is crucial for dogs who have a meat allergy. Additionally, while meals are protein-rich, real meat is always a better option. Meals are slaughterhouse waste because they often include ID tags and collars in addition to bones, teeth, organs, hooves, horns, and stomach contents.
3. Corn gluten meal.Another poor protein source is this one. Another allergen is gluten, which is a byproduct of the removal of corn’s carbohydrates.
4. Beef fat. This is a top-notch component. Although it is what is skimmed off the top of the beef broth before serving, dogs can benefit from it.
5. Soybean meal. A by-product of the production of soy oil, this is a typical ingredient in animal feed. A well-known allergen is soy.
6. By-product meal from poultry. Another unidentified ingredient: Is it chicken, turkey, duck, neither, or all? Poultry by-products are the parts of animals left over after the lean meat has been removed; they include unhatched eggs, feet, beaks, and other non-meat items.

This chow also contains animal digest, which is yet another no-name product — what animal is this, Digests from the cooking process are sprayed onto the kibble by Purina in order to give it flavor since it didn’t get any from, you know, the actual ingredients.

You can see that there is a lot of room for improvement in the ingredient selection. Check out the differences by reading our guide to the best dry dog food.

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein (Min)	21.0%
Crude Fat (Min)	10.0%
Crude Fiber (Max)	4.5%
Moisture (Max)	12.0%
Linoleic Acid (Min)	1.5%
Calcium (Ca) (Min)	1.0%
Phosphorus (P) (Min)	0.8%
Vitamin A (Min)	10,000 IU/kg

Purina Moist & Meaty Burger With Cheddar Cheese Soft Dog Food

Beef byproducts are the first ingredient in Purina Moist & Meaty Burger with Cheddar Cheese. By-products are everything but meat, as we’ve already stated, but at least you’ll know it’s beef so you can steer clear if your dog has a beef allergy.

Soft drinks and candy are produced using high fructose corn syrup. Because it contains corn sugar, which is unnecessary in dog food, avoid it at all costs! Sugar has the potential to cause weight gain, diabetes, and sugar addiction in dogs.

Wheat and soy are both low-cost sources of extra protein that are not particularly nourishing for dogs. The eighth ingredient is beef, which loses the majority of its weight during cooking because it also contains a lot of water when it is raw.

This chow also contains other ingredients that make us cringe:

• Added colorsare unnecessary in dog food — dogs couldn’t care less about the aesthetic value of their grub
• Yellow 6, Red 40, Yellow 5— these are all listed among our dog food ingredients to avoid
• Ethoxyquinis an artificial preservative that is super controversial and linked to liver failure (there are so many natural and healthy preservatives, so this one is hardly essential)

You’re starting to see why Purina is one of the dog food brands you should stay away from, we hope!

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein (Min)	18.0%
Crude Fat (Min)	7.0%
Crude Fiber (Max)	3.0%
Moisture (Max)	33.0%

Bella Paté Wet Small Dog Food Porterhouse Steak Flavor in Savory Juices

Let’s see if Bella Pat’s Wet Small Dog Food Porterhouse Steak Flavor in Savory Juices lives up to its claim of being a natural dog food.

• Meat by-productsare the primary ingredient — natural it is, but this time around, we don’t even know if it’s poultry, cattle, domestic animals, game, roadkill, supermarket waste… “meat” is just not good enough
• Chicken, water, liver — natural and we like it, but raw meat is filled with water, and the fact remains that not a lot of it does (meat should be the first ingredient so that your pooch gets the most of it possible!)
• Carrageenan — it does come from seaweed, so it’s natural, but this thickening agent is controversial, to say the least, and best avoided

We didn’t want to give the food we didn’t trust to our tiny dogs. Despite the fact that they are not the best choices, all of the ingredients are from nature. Some are blatantly toxic over time, such as carrageenan. The best dry dog food for small dogs as well as the best dog food in cans are what we much prefer.

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein (Min)	8.0%
Crude Fat (Min)	3.5%
Crude Fiber (Max)	1.0%
Moisture (Max)	82.0%

Purina Pro Plan FOCUS Adult Large Breed Beef & Rice Entrée Chunks in Gravy

Purina Pro Plan FOCUS Adult Large Breed Beef & Rice Entrée Chunks in Gravy is wet food, which is why water is listed first, but we don’t like the fact that it is the first ingredient. Again, that should be meat, especially if you’re talking about the best large breed dry dog food.

We like that this canned Real meat, like beef, chicken, and liver, is present in Purina grub. What we like less is that, again, we find wheat gluten, unnamed by-products, and added color among the first dozen items on the label. Another ambiguous ingredient is rice: is it whole grain, white rice, or brown rice? Although it would affect nutrition, we don’t know.

Conclusion: We cannot recommend this blend because there are simply too many unknowns about it.

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein (Min)	9.0%
Crude Fat (Min)	2.0%
Crude Fiber (Max)	1.5%
Moisture (Max)	82.0%
Vitamin E (Min)	100 IU/kg
Ascorbic Acid (Min)	20 mg/kg

Purina Puppy Chow Natural Dry Puppy Food Plus Vitamins & Minerals

Whelping time is when puppies are the most vulnerable. They should only be fed food of the highest caliber during that time because they have the greatest nutritional needs. Here is why Purina Puppy Chow Natural Dry Puppy Food Plus Vitamins & Minerals is not a good option for gentle pupperinos:

• Corn, corn gluten meal, chicken by-product meal, and soybean meal are all sub-par protein ingredients in comparison to REAL MEAT
• We want to see liver, not natural liver flavor,among the ingredients selected for our puppies
• Rice is too vague — if we feed rice to our fuzzy puppers, we want it to be whole-grain brown rice
• Menadione is a controversial form of vitamin K, suspected of causing liver failure, red blood cell breakdown, and allergies — that is not the start in life we want for our cubs

Instead, give your little yapper the best puppy food, and then put an end to the situation.

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein (Min)	27.5%
Crude Fat (Min)	12.0%
Crude Fiber (Max)	4.5%
Moisture (Max)	12.0%
Linoleic Acid (Min)	1.6%
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) (Min)	0.05%
Calcium (Ca) (Min)	1.1%
Phosphorus (P) (Min)	0.9%
Iron (Fe) (Min)	150 mg/kg
Vitamin A (Min)	10,000 IU/kg
Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) (Min)	70 mg/kg

Purina Pro Plan BRIGHT MIND Adult 7+ Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food

Let’s see if this food is suitable for our grandpa-dogs since senior dogs have particular nutritional needs and frequently have weakened immune systems. We had high hopes for Purina Pro Plan BRIGHT MIND Adult 7+ Chicken & Rice Formula dry dog food because it is one of Purina’s best Pro Plan formulas.

The first component is finally chicken, which is considered to be real meat. This ensures that your woofer is obtaining the maximum amount of protein from meat. Another option is poultry by-product meal, which we don’t care for but which contains animal proteins that your dog can digest.

Gluten-free ground rice (rice flour) is a much preferable alternative to wheat flour that contains the protein. However, since brown rice has a different nutritional profile from white rice, we are still unsure if it is the latter.

Just when we thought this blend looked promising, we were disappointed to see the following ingredients:

• Corn
• Wheat
• Corn gluten meal,a protein filler
• Fish meal, which is an unspecified source, and it is impossible to decipher its nutritional value
• Natural liver flavor, a flavor enhancer
• Garlic oil— garlic is toxic for dogs, so this item is another flavor enhancer and an unnecessary one

We are not entirely pleased with this food because there are so many better options available for senior dogs. Anytime of the day, we would suggest these best senior dog food options.

Guaranteed Analysis

Crude Protein (Min)	29.0%
Crude Fat (Min)	14.0%
Crude Fiber (Max)	3.0%
Moisture (Max)	12.0%
Arginine (Min)	1.2%
Linoleic Acid (Min)	1.3%
Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) (Min)	0.15%
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) (Min)	0.15%
Calcium (Ca) (Min)	1.0%
Phosphorus (P) (Min)	0.8%
Selenium (Se) (Min)	0.35 mg/kg
Vitamin A (Min)	10,000 IU/kg
Vitamin E (Min)	500 IU/kg
Pyridoxine (Min)	3.0 mg/kg
Folic Acid (Min)	0.6 mg/kg
Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) (Min)	90 mg/kg
Glucosamine (Min)	500 ppm
Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Min)	0.4%
Omega-6 Fatty Acids (Min)	1.9%

Is Purina Actually Good for Your Pet?

Being a company with over 100 years of experience in the industry, they have the first advantage of being one that knows what it is doing. Today’s Purina is a subsidiary of Nestlé, whose motto is “Good food, good life.”

This business places the welfare of animals above all else. To further clarify this, in 2005 they voluntarily removed all of their dry pet food products from the market after discovering through an internal investigation that a component of their product was causing illness in animals.

Purina Dog Food Recalls and Lawsuits

Purina dog food has had five product recalls in the last 15 years:

1. All Purina dry pet food produced at their facility in La Encrucijada, Venezuela, was subject to a significant voluntary product recall in 2005.Their internal investigation revealed that those products had impurities that made pets sick.
2. Along with many other brands, Purina was involved in a nationwide recall of pet food in 2007. Their American-made Alpo Prime Cuts in Gravy were recalled. shelves because the products contained Chinese wheat gluten that was contaminated with melamine. That chemical results in kidney failure, which can be fatal for the affected human or animal.
3. In 2013, the company recalled the Purina ONE Beyond White Meat Chicken & Whole Barley Recipe Adult Dry dog foodbecause one bag was infected with salmonella.
4. In the same year, a customer claimed that the Waggin’ Train product had killed their pet, forcing Purina to recall its dog treats. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received over 900 complaints regarding the same product, but no test results indicated that it was tainted. Eventually, tests showed that both Dog treats from Waggin’ Train and Canyon Creek were recalled because they may have contained trace amounts of an illegal antibiotic. A $6.5 million settlement brought the scandal to an end.
5. In 2016,Pro Plan Savory Meals and Beneful products were taken off the market because they contained inadequate amounts of vitamins and minerals.

This is a list of dog food recalls that Purina has experienced; their cat food lines have also experienced a fair share of contaminated goods. Overall, Purina is a brand that cannot seem to shake off its reputation of using low-quality, cheap ingredients that often trigger alarms on random tests.

It is not surprising that the business has been the target of numerous lawsuits. We will not take into account its sporadic legal battles with Blue Buffalo, which may all be a smear operation. Instead, we will mention the following:

1. In 2015, a class-action lawsuitwas initiated against Thousands of dogs are said to have fallen ill and even died after eating Purina’s Beneful brand of dog food. The main ingredient of this grub, which is mold made from grains, was said to be the antifreeze compound propylene glycol, which was also claimed to be present in the dog food. These toxins are known to cause internal bleeding, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, weight loss, bloating, and kidney and liver failure. The judge ultimately decided that the evidence was insufficient and dismissed the lawsuit. This incident, which received a lot of media coverage, severely damaged the brand’s reputation.
2. Another lawsuit was filed against Purina in 2017. This time around,their Beggin’s dog food line came under fire for misrepresenting to consumers that it contained a lot of bacon. Although the lawsuit was ultimately dropped, the public was well aware of it.

FAQs

Wrap Up

In general, it can be inferred from the Purina testimonials that this brand is a good one for your pet! Customers have discovered that the quality of the ingredients matches the price point and they are satisfied with that, which is why this company has been in business longer than many other dog food companies.

Experts would agree that these ingredients may not be top-of-the-line (especially not when someone compares the list to premium dog foods), but they do agree that the ingredients are healthy and safe for your pooch. While it’s always a good idea to read other people’s reviews and ratings, keep in mind that your dog’s needs and particular health should come first.

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