Is there a better dog food than Purina Pro Plan

Purina ONE vs. Purina Pro Plan: Whats The Difference?

Comparing Purina Pro vs. Purina ONE as the potential food for your pup, but arent sure what the differences are? We look at both types of food from Purina and walk through whats different but whats similar and what you can expect if you choose this food for your dog.

Youll find that because Purina is the manufacturer, there are many similarities between each food. But at the core, the nutritional content is very different. Youll find that each formula has different protein, fat, and caloric content, which is important when picking a food for your dog.

Many people have successfully transitioned their pups to grain-free food, which is important to think through because neither of these brands has a grain-free offering. You are better off sticking with other brands weve compared, like Acana vs. Orijen or Blue Buffalo and Nutro. With that being said, Purina has a very good reputation for dog food, and below we look at each so you can determine which is best.

At a Glance: Purina ONE vs. Purina Pro Plan

Sensitive Stomachs

Purina Pro Sensitive Stomach

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Purina Brand History

Purina is currently owned by Nestle, and they are a huge global company headquartered in St Louis, Missouri. They produce multiple lines of pet food products, not just these two that we are comparing. The sprawling campus has 16 buildings over 50 acres which include a dedicated four-story research facility.

Founder William H. Danforth entered the farm animal feed business by founding the Robinson-Danforth Commission Company with other partners in 1894. 8 years later, the name of the company is changed to Ralston Purina, and soon after, they expand into the pet food arena after acquiring several smaller companies. They set their focus on researching and developing tasty pet food that is full of nutrition for animals.

Through the years, Purina created many firsts, including pet food made with a then-new technology called extrusion, which is now widely known as kibble, specific puppy formulas that address the specific needs of puppies. Products in the Purina ONE line use natural ingredients and were the first line of natural pet foods. In 1986 Purina developed Pro Plan, which was the first dry food to use real meat as the number 1 ingredient. Purina also conducted a groundbreaking 14-year study to understand the dietary needs of dogs as they age, which lead to the creation of hypo-allergenic products.

The Purina ethos is simple and unchanged, responsibly sourced, expertly prepared and nutritionally essential. They list every single ingredient that is put into all of their pet food recipes and explain exactly why they include it.

Overall Comparison

Nutritional Value Comparison

The food choices we make for our pooches dictate what nutrients, vitamins, and minerals their bodies get and, ultimately, what state their health is. There is a common misconception that dogs need only meat and protein to get what they need because thats all a wild dog would eat. While domesticated dogs are loosely related to wolves in their DNA, their digestive system and metabolism have adapted through the years. Therefore, they require a wider range of ingredients and nutrition in order to be at their healthiest, which is where kibbles come in.

The table below compares the average nutritional components of Purina ONE and Purina Pro Plans size-specific most popular food:

The three major components of food products that are measured as nutritional content are protein, fat, and fiber. These are the most important for a healthy balanced diet for good reason, so lets just recap their importance in your pups diet.

Protein Content

In this category, it is evenly matched across the board with a good amount of protein in each, all above the industry-recommended standard. The only difference is the Purina Pro Plan small breed kibble adds a tad more protein. Both list real meat as the first ingredient, but one of the other top ingredients is a meat by-product for both brands. With that being said, Purina Pro is one of our favorite foods for smaller breeds like the Yorkie or the Shih-Tzu, due to that added protein.

Meat by-products are somewhat controversial as a food source, made from grinding rendered parts of poultry carcasses, and can contain beaks, bones, and offal. Although not necessarily harmful for your pet, they are not the purest of ingredients, and there is a growing number of pet owners that object to these by-products being present in dog food. They are often used to boost the protein content within. However, all the above products are highly rated online, having produced good results for their pups, so dont let this put you off them.

Protein supplies our pups with amino acids, and these are critical for energy, cellular regeneration, muscle production and repair, and healthy hair, skin, and ligaments. The required amount of protein must be provided through their regular feeding routine as they cannot produce these naturally. This is the reason why poor-quality food can lead to the deterioration of your poochs health, simply because nutritional deficiencies cause an abundance of health problems.

Fat Content

This component is also evenly matched in each size-specific food. It is no surprise that both Purina ONE and Purina Pro Plan have similar nutritional breakdowns for their size-specific recipes, as their research into what constitutes a healthy balance for your pooch has led them to these well-matched numbers.

Fat is an essential part of all dogs diets as it delivers a host of benefits, such as a strong body and healthy blood pressure, enables the delivery of fat-soluble vitamins, as well as adding a punch to the taste.

The advised protein-to-fat ratio and is advised at 2:1. So the ratio in this food is somewhat on the higher side of the AAFCO guidelines. Your pups metabolism needs to gain the nutrients from the protein before heading to the fat for extra energy, and food with too much fat will mean your dog will absorb more energy from the fat and fewer nutrients from the protein leading to them gaining weight, so this could be a concern for inactive pooches.

Fiber Content

Again, across the board, there is only a slight difference on the medium-sized products for fiber, so there is no clear winner here either.

Fiber is an essential ingredient to aid digestion and keep your poochs stools firm and their bowel movements regular. A lack of fiber in his diet can lead to constipation and sometimes problems with their anal glands, so your vet may recommend foods like these to help clear it up. Fiber also aids in the absorption of nutrients when the food is in the gut, so it is an all-around essential part of a healthy diet. The levels in these products are well within industry-recommended standards.

Winner

When it comes to nutritional content, Purina Pro is the winner here. This food line has better nutrient values and a wide variety of formulas for your pup. If you can handle the increase in cost, your dogs health may thank you for it later in life.

Flavors

As dog owners, there has come a time in most of our lives when our pooches have turned their noses up at their food. Well, like humans, dogs can sometimes become bored with the same food for every meal of every day. Luckily most foods come in a variety of flavors, and the ingredients will be slightly different, you can transition him slowly to offer him a variety of flavors if he becomes bored with his food.

Purina ONEs standard flavor is Chicken, peas, and corn, and the alternatives are Lamb and rice or Chicken and rice. Their dietary-specific kibbles for puppies, seniors, and sensitive dogs offer a Salmon and rice flavor or Salmon and Tuna with added peas and carrots.

The standard flavor of Purina Pro Plans range is Chicken, rice, and corn, but there are also other flavors for sensitive pooches, puppies, and seniors, such as Lamb and rice, Salmon and rice, and Chicken and egg recipes.

Having a wide variety of flavors can make a difference, and some flavors are specifically designed to resolve issues like bad breath.

Winner

Purina Pro has a better flavor lineup. They have multiple flavors that will allow you to test different options for your dog so they can find the perfect food. Again, theres a cost component here, but there are more options with the Pro food line, so we have to give them the win in this category.

Cost

The battle between what is affordable and what is high quality still rages on with most owners. There have been many reports or studies that have found that certain brands exaggerate or even purposely mislead consumers claiming to have the next best recipe, the best proteins, and sometimes containing miraculous healing ingredients.

So, the question is, what brand should we trust, and how do we know if we are buying the right food for the right price? Both Purina ranges meet the required standards set by AAFCO, but are they good value for money?

On a pound-for-pound comparison, it is a mixed bag with some kibbles coming out cheaper for Purina ONE and others cheaper for Purina Pro Plan. Across the board, it appears to be very similar in cost per calorie too. There is a slight anomaly with the Purina ONE small breed kibble, but I believe this is because it is only offered in a small 6lb bag rather than a 30lb+. Usually, the bigger the bag, the better the price, so if you are a small breed owner and like to buy in bulk, Pro Plan might be a better option for you.

Winner

Purina ONE wins in the cost category. They are lower-cost dog food and dont have as many high-quality ingredients as the Pro Plan formulas. If budget is your primary concern, Purina ONE is a great option compared to other lower-cost brands like Pedigree or Iams.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between Purinas product lines?

Essentially, not a lot. They both provide various recipes for life stages and health requirements, and they both produce good quality products that have been popular with pet owners for many years. The only real difference is that Purina Pro Plan has a larger range of health-specific recipes.

Which product line is the tastiest?

Now, this is a tough one. Both are very highly recommended by Purina. According to the reviews, dogs love both just as much, so the simple answer is that its really budget-dependent.

Which product line is a better value?

All Purina kibbles are made with science research-backed recipes, they both offer very good value for money, and as our cost comparison shows, they also draw on the price.

Final Thoughts

Both foods within this brand have an incredible reputation. They are still firm favorites for pet owners across the globe. Their caliber and dedication to research and expanding their range of products for all pets are clear to see.

Not only are the recipes tasty for your pooch, but they are also well-balanced. Like American Journey, they are great value for the money. This comparison is probably the closest you will see between two product lines, but that is no surprise given that they are produced by the same company and their scientists, so all in all, there is no clear winner.

If we had to choose one line, then Purina Pro Plan has the largest range offering, so we would crown them on that basis. However, whichever brand you decide on, you can be sure that both you and your pooch would be happy with their kibbles.

Purina Pro Plan Vs. Nutro: Which Dog Food Is Better?

This post contains affiliate links.

There are a lot of dog foods on the market, so sometimes, it can be overwhelming deciding which dog food is right for your pet. Picking the right food is a big responsibility as a dogs diet plays a huge role in their overall health, so Im here to help. Two dog food brands you may be choosing between are Purina Pro Plan and Nutro.

Nutro is a better dog food brand than Purina Pro Plan because of its variety, non-GMO and natural ingredients, and commitment to sustainability and transparency with consumers.

Lets take a closer look at these dog foods and discuss their differences and what makes Nutro the better overall choice for dog food. If you feed your dog food that they love and make them feel good, they can live the happiest life possible!

If you are interested in checking out these two dog foods? You can find them by clicking here:Purina Pro PlanandNutro (on Amazon.com)

Reasons Why Nutro Is Better

Both of these dog food brands offer high-quality dog foods, but Nutro is the better choice because their ingredients are all-natural and non-GMO, and they have more overall options than Purina Pro Plan. They also operate their business sustainably and ethically.

Here are some reasons why Nutro is a better choice for your dog than Purina Pro Plan:

• Nutro follows their Feed Clean philosophy, ensuring that their recipes are purposeful and trustworthy. Nutro shines with its ingredients, which they guarantee are non-GMO and nutrient-rich. They never add artificial preservatives, flavors, or colors to their food.
• Nutro is extremely transparent about their ingredients on their website. Nutro is so confident in their recipes that they provide a full ingredient glossary on their website that features every ingredient used in every recipe they offer and explains why they choose to include that ingredient and its benefit for your dog.
• Nutro doesnt use chicken by-product meal, corn, wheat, or soy. These ingredients dont have a lot of nutritional value for dogs, and unfortunately, they are commonly used in Purina Pro Plan formulas.
• Nutro has more options. Both companies have wide product lines, but Nutro offers 54 dry dog food recipes compared to Purina Pro Plans 53 and 45 wet dog foods compared to Purina Pro Plans 43. Additionally, Nutro offers 12 varieties of dog treats, while Purina Pro Plan doesnt have any dog treats at all.
• Nutro offers more flavors. Both companies have formulas that feature chicken, lamb, beef, and salmon, but Nutro also offers duck, turkey, venison meal, and their trio of proteins option.
• You can experiment with texture with Nutro. Both Nutro and Purina Pro Plan have wet and dry dog food varieties, but Nutro has different textures available as well, including cuts in gravy, filets in gravy, hearty stews, and pate. If you have a picky dog, youll be sure to find food in a texture they like!
• Nutros Healthy Weight formulas are superior to Purina Pro Plans Weight Management formulas. Nutros Healthy Weight recipes include healthy nutrients with fewer fats and sugars, all while maintaining great taste.
• Nutro emphasizes sustainability. Nutro partners with suppliers that set targets to address climate impact. Additionally, they source barley from farmers that reduce soil disturbance and promote water usage efficiency.
• 100% of Nutros electricity needs are covered by wind power. To reduce their carbon footprint, Nutro purchases wind power from a farm in Texas to cover all the electricity they need for production.
• Nutro packages their food in clean packaging. Another win for environmentally-conscious shoppers is that all wet dog food cans are 100% recyclable. The company promises to get all their packaging to be completely reusable or recyclable by 2025.
• All of Nutros factories meet their Responsible Workplace Standards. Nutro regularly assesses their factories to ensure that they are operating ethically, focusing on fair compensation and benefits, reasonable work hours, and their workers overall health and well-being.

One significant drawback to Nutro is the price. Nutro dry dog food costs approximately 20 cents more per pound than Purina Pro Plan. The difference in price for wet dog food is even more extreme. Nutro wet dog food costs more than double the cost of Purina Pro Plan wet dog food.

For this reason, if you are on a tight budget, Purina Pro Plan may be the better choice. Even though I think Nutro is better, Purina Pro Plan is still a high-quality brand that makes great dog food, so your animal will still be happy.

However, if you can afford to splurge a bit on your dog food, Nutro is a great choice. Buying Nutro dog food in bulk makes it less expensive, and they do offer most of their foods in 40-pound (18.14-kg) bags, so this is a possibility.

Another situation I might recommend Purina Pro Plan over Nutro is if you have an extremely active dog, and youre on the hunt for food that supports this active lifestyle. Purina Pro Plan has their Sport line, but Nutro doesnt have a similar equivalent.

Finally, you should know that Purina Pro Plan dog food typically has more crude protein and fat than comparable Nutro foods. However, because Nutro uses overall better ingredients, I would still go with Nutro despite this. Nutro contains more crude fiber.

Now, lets look at each of these in more detail, starting with their similarities.

Basic Similarities: Purina Pro Plan vs Nutro

Purina Pro Plan dog food has over 80 formulas that you can choose from that vary based on your dogs size and lifestyle. If you arent sure which food is right for your dog, you can use the Purina My Plan feature to get an experts help in picking the right food. They offer wet and dry dog food varieties, and real meat is always their number one ingredient.

Similarly, Nutro has multiple natural wet and dry dog food lines that are specialized according to your dogs health needs, life stage, and breed size. You can also pick a food by flavor or texture.

Both brands offer the option of personalization according to your specific dog and its needs and preferences.

Lets take a look at the most popular Purina Pro Plan and Nutro foods available on Amazon.com:

This line features several different flavors and types, including:

• Giant Breed
• Small Breed
• Toy Breed
• Weight Management
• Sensitive Skin and Stomach, Salmon and Rice
• Sensitive Skin and Stomach, Lamb and Oatmeal
• Adult Shredded Blend Lamb and Rice
• Adult Shredded Blend Chicken and Rice
• Adult Shredded Blend Salmon and Rice
• Adult Shredded Blend Beef and Rice

The Adult Shredded Blend Chicken and Rice, is particularly of interest. Its main ingredients are:

• Chicken
• Rice
• Whole-grain wheat
• Poultry by-product meal
• Soybean meal
• Corn gluten meal
• Whole-grain corn
• Dried egg
• Fish meal
• Natural flavor
• Soybean oil

These are relatively uncontroversial ingredients. However, the third most popular ingredient, wheat, isnt ideal, as wheat doesnt have a lot of nutritional value for dogs.

The most recommended Purina Pro Plan recipes are:

• Pro Plan Adult Sensitive Skin and Stomach Salmon and Rice
• Pro Plan Adult Shredded Blend Chicken and Rice
• Pro Plan Sport All Life Stages Performance 30/20 Chicken and Rice
• Pro Plan Adult Large Breed Chicken and Rice
• Pro Plan Adult Shredded Blend Lamb and Rice

Purina Pro Plan Pros & Cons

Purina has been manufacturing dog food for over one hundred years, so they benefit from experience on their side. They were also the first company to start using real meat as the number one ingredient in their dog foods, and they have maintained that commitment to this day.

Purina Pro Plan has dog food for dogs of all life stages and every kind of breed. Dog owners can pick food for adult dogs, puppies, senior dogs, and some of their dog food is healthy for dogs of all ages.

You can personalize your food choice further with the several different product lines that are included under the banner of Purina Pro Plan. These include:

• Development Puppy
• Essentials
• Specialized
• Sport
• Senior
• Savor
• Savory Meals
• Focus
• Bright Mind

The most popular of these are Bright Mind, Focus, Savor, and Sport.

• Bright Mind. If you have a senior dog, this is the best choice for you. This food is designed to keep older dogs minds sharp and healthy.
• Focus. This line is primarily for dogs with specific struggles, such as obesity.
• Savor. Little dogs will benefit from the live probiotics in this food, supporting their immune health.
• Sport. If you have an ultra-active dog, this grain-free food will support their joints and mobility.

Here are the main ingredients:

• Chicken
• Brewers rice
• Chicken meal
• Whole-grain brown rice
• Whole-grain barley
• Whole-grain sorghum
• Chicken fat
• Rice bran
• Whole flaxseed
• Dried plain beet pulp
• Potassium chloride
• Citric acid
• Chia seed
• Dried coconut
• Dried tomato pomace
• Dried egg product
• Dried pumpkin
• Dried kale
• Dried spinach

Meat being the number-one ingredient is a benefit, and another positive aspect of this food is the presence of other superfoods that your dog will benefit from. The food also comes in various bag sizes, ranging from five-pound to 40-pound (2.26 to 18.14 kg) bags, so you can buy the right amount for what you need.

Here are the most popular foods from Nutro:

• Nutro Wholesome Essentials Adult
• Nutro Ultra the Superfood Plate
• Nutro Wholesome Essentials Healthy Weight
• Nutro Wholesome Essentials Small Breed

Nutro Pros & Cons

Nutro began as an independent pet food company, but in 2007, it was purchased by Mars, Incorporated. All of their products are made in the United States: dry foods are made in factories in California and Tennessee, whereas wet foods are made in Ohio, Arkansas, and South Dakota.

Now, Nutro is a premium dog food brand that makes food with non-GMO ingredients, and they have introduced rigorous GMO testing to ensure that their food only has the best ingredients.

None of their recipes have any artificial colors or flavors. They also try to avoid using wheat and soy in their products, so there isnt as much gluten in their formulas. They also supplement their foods with nutrient-packed side ingredients, such as flaxseed, sweet potatoes, and chickpeas.

Dog owners can choose from the following flavors:

• Chicken
• Lamb
• Beef
• Fish
• Duck
• Turkey
• Venison meal
• Trio of proteins (chicken, lamb, and salmon)

They can also choose from the following lines:

• Natural Choice. These food formulas have antioxidants that allow for healthy digestion in dogs one year old and older. They also have omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that help give your dog healthy skin. This line also includes weight-management foods.
• So Simple. This line ensures that dog foods are kept simple, meaning there is no chicken by-product meal, corn, wheat, or soy protein.
• Nutro Ultra. These foods feature a trio of chicken, lamb, and salmon for proteins and a superfood medley, including foods such as brown rice, flaxseed, tomatoes, blueberries, and others.
• Limited Ingredient Diet. These foods avoid ingredients that dogs are often sensitive to, such as chicken, beef, corn, wheat, soy, and dairy protein. Instead, these formulas use lamb as their main protein source.

Dog owners can then differentiate based on their breed size, whether its a toy, small, or large breed.

To go even further, Nutro offers different textures:

• Cuts in gravy
• Filets in gravy
• Hearty stews
• Loaf/pate

A Closer Look at Ingredients

The listed ingredients above may not mean a lot to you if you dont know what good or bad ingredients are for your dog. Lets discuss some popular dog food ingredients and their health value-or lack thereof-for your canine:

• Chicken. Chicken is a great source of protein for your dog, so seeing chicken or chicken meal as one of the main ingredients in dog food is a good sign. Its best if the chicken is pure chicken meat, so no organs are included.
• Lamb. Both Purina Pro Plan and Nutro offer dog foods that feature lamb, which is a good thing! Lamb is a high-protein meat, but it is also a lean meat with less fat than other meats, making it a good choice for dogs struggling with obesity.
• Salmon. Both companies also feature salmon in a large number of their recipes. Salmon contains a lot of omega-3 fatty acids, which help your dogs immune system, decrease inflammation, and make your dogs coat shinier.
• Brown rice. Brown rice is a good fiber source that encourages healthy digestion and helps give your dog the energy it needs.
• Flaxseed. This fiber source has a lot of essential nutrients that support healthy skin. It also has lignans, which help with cardiovascular health and prevent cancer.
• Canola oil. Dogs need a healthy amount of fats and oils in their diet to support their skin and coat health, and canola oil is one of the best sources of Omega 6 fatty acids.
• Sweet potatoes. First of all, dogs love the flavor that sweet potatoes bring to their food, and this ingredient offers dietary fiber and vitamins. Beware, though, as sweet potatoes can cause yeast infections in some dogs.
• Chickpeas. These beans are rich in protein, potassium, and magnesium, and they are known to help aid in digestion.
• Duck. Purina Pro Plan doesnt offer any foods made with duck, but Nutro does. Duck provides dogs with an easy-to-digest protein that is especially good for those doggies with sensitive stomachs. Duck also has a lot of amino acids, which support strong muscles.
• Venison meal. Just like duck, this is an option that only Nutro offers. Venison meal is a healthy source of protein for dogs and is good for managing their energy levels. Venison is high in vitamin B, iron, and zinc.
• Turkey. Turkey used in dog food is good for dogs because its rich in nutrients like protein and phosphorus. When turkey stops being good for dogs, though, is when people try to feed their pets Thanksgiving leftovers, as that turkey is typically cooked in butter and oils and seasoned with stuffing, onions, and garlic, which can upset digestion.

Lets discuss the ingredients that Nutro refuses to use in any of their recipes but that Purina Pro Plan still uses in some of their formulas:

• Chicken by-product meal. The ingredients used to make a by-product meal are leftovers of the meat and poultry industries, and rendering these ingredients can take away from the natural enzymes and proteins in these ingredients, lessening the nutritional quality of this protein source. Pets also tend to dislike the taste.
• Corn. Corn is technically safe for dogs to eat, and it does have some health benefits, but it is typically seen as a cheap way to add calories to dog food. Nutro prioritizes making every calorie nutritious, so they forgo supplementing their food with corn.
• Wheat. Wheat is another food that is technically okay for dogs to eat, but dogs are also prone to developing a food sensitivity to wheat if they eat too much of it. If your dog food has too much wheat in it, your dog may be overexposed to this product and get sick.
• Soy. Many soybeans grown in the US are genetically modified, making them an automatic no for Nutro foods. Genetically modified foods have high levels of glyphosate, which can destroy good bacteria in your dogs stomach that help them with digestion. For this reason, dogs that eat too many soy products often experience gas, diarrhea, and bloating.

Now that you know what to look for and what to avoid when purchasing dog food, you can make a knowledgeable decision about which dog food is best for you and your dog. Purina Pro Plan uses more questionable ingredients than Nutro does, but as long as youre feeding your pet according to their suggestion, they should be okay.

Purina Pro Plan and Nutro Recall History

Both companies have product recalls in their history. Lets take a look at these issues so you can be fully aware of each companys history before making a decision. The following table outlines the recall information:

These recalls dont mean that these companies are not to be trusted, but its nice to be in the know about these things before you make a dog food decision. If youre looking for a dog food that hasnt been recalled, the following brands are recall-free:

• The Farmers Dog Food
• Open Farm
• Pet Plate Dog Food
• Ollie Dog Food
• Nom Nom Dog Food

Final Thoughts

Both Purina Pro Plan and Nutro are high-quality dog foods that offer a variety of foods that could be suitable for your pet. However, Nutro is more committed to using natural, non-GMO ingredients sourced sustainably and ethically. They have more options for dogs with special needs, especially dogs with food allergies or sensitivities. Though Nutro is the more expensive option, you get more value for your money.

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