Purina Dog Food Summary

Best Seller
Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Dog Food
9.8/10Our Score
  • High protein formula, with real beef as the first ingredient
  • Fortified with guaranteed live probiotics to support digestive and immune health. 
  • Vitamin A and omega-6 fatty acids to nourish skin and coat.

What is Purina Dog Food?

Purina Dog Food is one of the biggest names in the pet food industry.

Founded in 1894 in St. Louis, Missouri, Purina makes high-quality yet affordable dog and cat food. In 2001, Purina merged with a Nestlé subsidiary founding the Nestlé Purina PetCare Company.

Nestlé continued the fight for purity by advertising its intent to stop false advertising about pet food and what it contains.

Where is Purina Dog Food Made?

Purina Dog Food is made in Hartwell, Georgia, USA, and St. Louis, Missouri, USA. The brand also sources most of its ingredients from the USA.

How is Purina Dog Food Made?

Purina Dog Food is made in the USA with ingredients sourced in the USA.

Purina owns the factories in which its products are made, so they can better monitor the quality and safety of each ingredient that goes into its food from start to finish.

All Purina recipes are processed via cooking, drying, and grinding the ingredients into a paste or powder formed into kibble, treats, or wet dog food.

According to Purina, “Purina has been driven to use science to understand better how to improve the health and wellbeing of pets…Over the years, Purina scientists, nutritionists, and veterinarians have made groundbreaking discoveries to help dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives.”

Is Purina a Good Dog Food for Your Dog?

Yes, Purina Dog Food is good.

Purina Dog Food is known for pet nutrition derived by a staff of experts in pet nutrition. Purina has foods for every scenario and offers formulas for all life stages – from puppies to senior dogs. Purina also has e recipes for all dogs – from toy breed dogs with sensitive stomachs to giant breed dogs needing high-protein foods.

Purina is among the first pet food brands to acknowledge the importance of probiotics. The brand also recognizes that feeding dogs less may increase their lifespan by keeping them lean and active.

In short, Purina Pet Food has dedicated time and money to ensure its food helps dogs live longer and healthier lives.

Purina Dog Food Formulas Reviewed

Purina Dog Food offers recipes for dogs with different dietary needs. To help owners decide which formula is best for their dogs, we have reviewed some of the best-selling formulas from Purina.

Purina Pro Plan Dog Food

Summary: This dry kibble is made with semi-moist and crunchy bits to create a unique texture for dogs to enjoy. This high-protein formula is made using real meat as the first ingredient and includes probiotics to be easily digestible. It was previously known as SAVOR Shredded Blend and is now available in 35-pound bags.

Type: Dry dog food

Best for: Adult dry dog food

Flavor Options: Beef & Rice Formula

Price: $1.40/lb

Pros
  • Real beef is the first ingredient
  • Mix of crunchy kibble and tender meat chunks
  • Fortified with probiotics for gut health
  • Excellent source of dietary fiber
  • Vitamin A and omega-6 fatty for skin & coat health
Cons
  • Contains by-products and gluten
  • Menadione sodium bisulfite complex (controversial ingredient)

Ingredient Analysis: The first ingredient in this dog food is beef, which is a great source of protein and micronutrients. Whole-grain wheat and corn gluten meal are second and third, providing energy carbs. Poultry by-product meal is fourth, which may not be ideal for some dogs as by-products can cause indigestion. It is rounded out with vitamin A, B vitamins, and minerals like calcium and zinc proteinate to provide complete nutrition.

Review: This product line averages a 4.8-star rating on Amazon out of over 2,200 reviews. A whopping 95% of buyers rate this 4 and 5 stars, with the most common reason being their dogs seem to love the food. Only 2% of reviews are 1 and 2-star reviews. Reasons for negative reviews are widely varied, but a common complaint is using certain ingredients such as Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex and unnamed poultry by-products being part of the recipe.

Purina ONE Natural Dry Dog Food

Summary: Purina ONE is dry dog food for adult dogs made with high-quality protein sources like real lamb and chicken. It is rich in omega-6 fatty acids and antioxidants for a healthy immune system and fur. This dry kibble is available in three flavors and several sizes.

Type: Dry dog food

Best for: Adult dogs

Flavor Options: Lamb & Rice Formula

Price: $1.38/lb

Pros
  • 100% complete and balanced nutrition
  • Real meat is the first ingredient
  • Non-GMO verified
  • Made without fillers & artificial preservatives
  • Available in a bundle with calming supplements
Cons
  • By-product meals may make dogs sick

Ingredient Analysis: Real meat is the first ingredient. Real beef, lamb, or chicken provide high-protein content, while rice flour, whole grain corn, and whole-grain wheat provide complex carbs for energy.

Review: Nearly all 11,000+ reviews rate this food 4 and 5 stars. Consumers claim their dogs enjoy eating the food, and some even state the food has improved their dog’s allergies and sensitivities. Critical reviews say their dog didn’t like the food, or the food may have made their dog sick.

Purina Bella Natural Small Breed Pate Wet Dog Food

Summary: This wet dog food comes in various flavors, such as beef and smoked chicken, chicken and liver, and lamb. It is sold in variety packs to offer your dog a new flavor with each meal. It is formulated for small breed dogs and comes in an easy-to-open tin tray for easy feeding.

Type: Wet dog food

Best for: Small breed adult dogs

Flavor Options: Grilled Chicken; Grilled Top Sirloin; Porterhouse Steak; Turkey, Chicken & Smoked Bacon; Filet Mignon; Chicken & Liver; Beef; Beef & Smoked Bacon

Price: $0.95/can

Pros
  • Made with carefully selected ingredients
  • Rich in antioxidants for immune health
  • Formulated for adult small breed dogs
  • Available in a variety pack
  • Comes in a wide variety of flavors
Cons
  • Meat by-product is the first ingredient
  • Small-sized trays not fit for large breed dogs

Ingredient Analysis: Unnamed meat by-product is the first ingredient. This can be off-putting to some dog owners as it is not clear where the by-product is coming from. Chicken and liver are the second and fourth ingredients that are great for protein and mineral content. This food contains a rich profile of vitamins and minerals, including niacin and potassium iodide.

Review: This food averages 4.5 stars with over 4,700 reviews, and 87% of reviews are 4 and 5-star reviews. Satisfied customers are happy with the quality of the food, and their small dogs are happily eating it. Negative reviews are mostly concerned with the fact their dogs do not enjoy the food. One buyer even claims their dog tries to bury the food, so they don’t have to eat it, but that seems to be an extreme example.

Purina Beneful Originals Dry Dog Food

Summary: Made for adult dogs, this dry dog food is made with real meat as the first ingredient. It is antioxidant-rich and fortified with vitamins from whole foods like carrots, peas, and spinach. The ingredients combined offer a complete source of nutrition while using no artificial flavors.

Type: Dry dog food

Best for: Adult dogs

Flavor Options: Salmon; Beef

Price: $1.56/lb

Pros
  • Real meat is the first ingredient
  • Provides complete nutrition
  • Rich in antioxidants
  • Available in wet food varieties
  • No artificial flavors or preservatives
Cons
  • Package size options are limited

Ingredient Analysis: Real meat is the first ingredient, but it is quickly followed by whole grain corn, barley, rice, and corn gluten meal. This seems like a lot of plant-based ingredients that may upset the stomachs of dogs with food sensitivities. Spinach and peas are added for healthy fibers, while vitamins and minerals are supplemented to make this a complete source of nutrition for adult dogs.

Review: Although this food has fewer reviews than other products on this list, it averages 4.5 stars. Over 90% of consumers give this food a 4 or 5-star review while stating their dogs are “thriving” on this food. Negative reviews note a steep price increase and apparent drop in food quality for the reason of giving the product 1 and 2-star reviews while also noting the food made their dogs sick after eating.

Purina Beyond Grain-Free Natural Dry Dog Food

Summary: Purina Beyond is a grain-free dry dog food formulated for adult dogs. The high-protein formula uses real chicken raised steroid free as the first ingredient. It includes no corn, wheat, soy, poultry by-product meal, or artificial colors or flavors.

Type: Dry dog food

Best for: Adult dogs

Flavor Options: Chicken & Egg; Beef Jerky; Chicken

Price: $1.86/lb

Pros
  • Grain-free and delicious formula
  • Real meat is the first ingredient
  • With added taurine and accents of apples
  • Comes in several package sizes
  • Available with protein boost topper
Cons
  • More expensive than some similar products

Ingredient Analysis: Chicken and chicken meals are the first two ingredients making this a high-protein dry dog food. Beef fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols is added for better fat content, while vitamins and minerals are added to ensure a healthy nutritional profile. Overall, this is a very good ingredients list.

Review: Reviews on this food are more mixed than others on this list. Most buyers give this product a 4 or 5-star review. They claim their dogs enjoy the food, and it seems to agree with them, especially those with diabetic dogs. Critical reviews make up nearly 10% of total reviews, however. The most common complaint is the inconsistency with the appearance and apparent quality of this product when received from various vendors online.

Purina Dog Chow Complete Dog Food

Summary: Purina Dog Chow is Purina’s less expensive line of dog food that offers all essential nutrients to support a healthy and active lifestyle for a dog. Complete and balanced nutrition is made to be highly digestible and give your dog all of the energy it needs for day-to-day activities.

Type: Dry dog food

Best for: Adult dogs

Flavor Options: Beef, turkey & lamb, chicken, lamb

Price: $0.40/lb

Pros
  • High-quality protein for strong muscles
  • Source of complete & balanced nutrition
  • Formulated to be easily digestible
  • Extremely affordable price tag
  • Available in practical large bag sizes
Cons
  • Ingredients are mostly plant-based
  • Most of the meat ingredients are by-products or meals

Ingredient Analysis: Whole grain corn and corn gluten meal are two of the first three ingredients which may not be ideal for a lot of dogs. Chicken by-product meal and meat and bone meal are the only animal sources of protein and are not added in great quantity. Minerals and vitamins are added to make this a complete source of nutrition, but the protein and animal ingredients are too limited.

Review: Most reviewers on Amazon rate this product 4 and 5 stars while noting their dog enjoys the food and seems to do well on it. They are happy about the value for the money, but critical reviews note the low price comes with low-end ingredients. Negative reviews also often mention they received the wrong size bag, claiming they had ordered the 52 lbs bag but received a 46 lb bag instead.

What Dog Food Formulas does Purina Make?

Purina Dog Food makes hundreds of formulas categorized in different product lines. Here is an overview of the brand’s lines and some of the recipes within those lines:

Has Purina Dog Food Been Recalled?

Yes, Purina Dog Food has been recalled. Purina has had several recalls in its history, but that is normal considering the brand has been around for over a century.

The most recent Purina Dog Food recall was in March 2016 and was due to low levels of vitamins and minerals in their Pro Plan recipes.

Before that, in 2013, Purina voluntarily recalled a batch of Purina One dog food due to suspected Salmonella contamination.

Is Purina Dog Food Worth it?

Yes, Purina Dog Food is worth it.

Purina Dog Food offers a wide variety of product lines that offer high-quality nutrition to your dog to fit nearly every budget. They are widely considered a safe and reputable brand and have a long-standing history of making quality products for dogs at every stage of life.