Is Purina good for my puppy?

purinaWelcome to our review of Purina puppy food and dog food! Most of you will be familiar with the brand, given that Nestlé-Purina are the second-largest maker of pet foods worldwide. If you’re already feeding your little puppy with Purina, you’ll know that it’s both economical and reputable in terms of safety and nutrition. But what are the benefits of the different products? What’s Purina One? How about Beyond? Is there a Purina grain free dog food? Let’s take a look together and find out!

Quick Review: Top-5 Dog Foods From Purina

Purina Beyond Grain Free Wild-Caught Tuna & Egg Recipe Adult Dry Dog Food - 23 lb. Bag
Best Grain Free Food

Purina Beyond Grain Free Recipe

  • Suitable for the tiniest toy dogs
  • Protein’s at a wholesome 27% and fat at 16%
  • Glucosamine, and zinc, for joints and skin
Purina ONE Plus Healthy Puppy Formula High Protein Natural Dry Puppy Food with added vitamins, minerals and nutrients -...
Best Puppy Food

Purina ONE SmartBlend Healthy

  • Naturally-derived DHA from fish oil
  • Carrots and peas give iron and vitamins
  • 28% protein, along with 17% fat
Purina Pro Plan Wet Puppy Food, Chicken and Brown Rice Entree - (24) 5.5 oz. Cans
Best Wet Food

Purina Pro Plan FOCUS Classic Entree

  • With only 203 kCal in each 5.5oz
  • This one pretty economical
  • 10% protein, 7% fat
Purina Beyond Grain Free, Natural Dry Dog Food, Grain Free White Meat Chicken & Egg Recipe - 13 lb. Bag
Best Purina Beyond

Purina Beyond GFree - Chicken and Egg

  • Vitamins E, A, K, D, B and C
  • 1% calcium, balanced phosphorus
  • 16% fat
Purina HA Hydrolyzed Dog Food 25 lb
Best Hypoallergenic Food

Purina HA Hydrolyzed

  • 18% protein, 8% fat and 314 kCal per cup
  • Made with some antioxidants
  • For dogs and puppies of all ages

Who is Purina?

purina dry dog food Purina wasn’t always Nestlé-Purina. In fact, the company’s history dates all the way back to 1894, when three Americans surnamed Danforth, Robinson, and Andrews started up a farm animal-feeding business in St Louis. They were renamed Ralston Purina a few years later and opened their first center for pet care and nutrition in 1926 in Missouri. If we fast-forward a little more to around 1963, Purina started making their signature Puppy Chow with the red-and-white checkerboard trademark that we all now know so well.

Since then, they’ve published research related to pet care, branched out into specialized lines for doggy and cat treats, and gone nation-wide with their charity initiatives. As a result, there are so, so many lines of different Purina puppy and dog foods, from Pro Plan, through Puppy Chow and Purina One, to Beneful and Beyond.

What’s special and unique about Purina?

We are just LOVING the new Beyond range that Purina has released. The entire range is made with ingredients that can be tracked all the way back to their original source. Recipes are crafted with input from a nutritionist, and none of their kibble production is outsourced to other companies- it’s all made in the U.S., too. The Beyond line includes the gluten-free formulas we’ve included in our Purina Grain Free Dog Food Review and bonus Purina Beyond Dog Food Review- they’re both made with real and natural meat as the top ingredient and include veggies for vitamins.

We’re also liking the fact that Purina makes so many different kinds of food for our puppy friends. Some are made without any by-products, and most feature zero synthetic flavoring, coloring, or preserving agents. Some lines, such as the Pro Plan dog foods include specialized formulas for giant-, large-, and small-sized dogs and puppies. The Purina One line, on the other hand, always puts real meat at the top of the ingredients list, and contains no ‘filling’ agents at all.

Why the Purina dog food reviews and Purina puppy food reviews?

Well, there are so many different Purina dog foods and puppy foods that we just had to take a look! The brand is exceptionally popular, economical, makes super-healthy options, and even have heartbreakingly sweet and helpful blogs all about puppies.

best purina dog food reviewAs noted, they:

  • Are as serious as can be about safety when it comes to the ingredients in your puppy’s food and the way in which it is produced;
  • Have a natural puppy and dog food line that uses non-GMO ingredients;
  • Have an admirable stance on sustainability, including the mission to create zero landfill waste within 2 years;
  • Make senior dog food, size-specific kibbles and chow, weight management, and hypoallergenic options;
  • Make a delicious-looking line of treats.

What do you think? Let’s take a look at what Purina product might best suit your fluffy best friend!

The Purina Dog Food reviews

The Purina Grain Free Dog Food Reviews

  1. Purina Beyond Grain Free Recipe Adult

Purina Beyond Grain Free Wild-Caught Tuna & Egg Recipe Adult Dry Dog Food - 23 lb. Bag
1,205 Reviews
Purina Beyond Grain Free Wild-Caught Tuna & Egg Recipe Adult Dry Dog Food - 23 lb. Bag
You’ll find absolutely no grains in this excellent Purina Beyond formula for grown dogs. So, it’s entirely without gluten and very much suitable for all those dogs who might need to be on a gluten-free meal plan.
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Pros

  • Nothing artificial in the way of by-products, preserving agents, flavors, or even colors;
  • Tuna’s probably going to be a welcome change of protein for dinner for your dog, and egg, too!
  • Suitable for the tiniest toy dogs of 3 lbs to the largest giants who weigh over 100 lb;
  • Protein’s at a wholesome 27% in this blend, with fat at 16% for energetic or active dogs;
  • Glucosamine, and zinc, for joints and skin, respectively.
  • No artificial add-ins for coloring, flavoring, or preserving this food- and zero strange by-products from poultry.

Cons

  • Peas are the only green veggie in here, but that’s still great, we reckon!
Our Verdict: 5/5
The lack of by-product and artificial add-ins is what we love best about this, and the fact that it can be flexibly fed to all your adult dogs- large and small- to provide a holistic diet. Multiple protein sources are hard to argue with, too, unless you’ve got a dog with certain allergies.

The Purina Puppy Food Reviews

  1. Purina ONE SmartBlend Healthy

Sale
Purina ONE Plus Healthy Puppy Formula High Protein Natural Dry Puppy Food with added vitamins, minerals and nutrients -...
$16.68 −$6.10
$10.58
2,390 Reviews
Purina ONE Plus Healthy Puppy Formula High Protein Natural Dry Puppy Food with added vitamins, minerals and nutrients -...
This one’s technically a Purina One puppy food review because Purina One’s quite popular with you puppy lovers! Not for no good reason either, ‘cause there are zero icky fillers in this chicken dinner.
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Pros

  • Oatmeal and rice are two easily-digestible grains in this recipe, and oatmeal’s also a source of delicious protein;
  • Kibble that crunches when your puppy munches- for clean teeth and less tartar!
  • Naturally-derived DHA from fish oil;
  • Carrots and peas give your puppy iron and vitamins;
  • 28% protein, along with 17% fat are two healthy figures for your growing fluffy friend!

Cons

  • Made with by-products from chickens, although, this is also fairly high in joint-healthy glucosamine;
  • Not suitable for puppies on a grain- or gluten-free diet, as it’s made with corn and milled soybeans.
Our Verdict: 4/5
Some of the ingredients here aren’t exactly optimal, but as a complete recipe that’s also balanced, Purina One is pretty much all-around healthy. It’s got those essential nutrients and supplements for bouncy and happy puppies, too, like DHA and glucosamine.
  1. Purina Puppy Chow Natural

Purina Puppy Chow Natural High Protein Dry Puppy Food, With Real Chicken & Beef - 30 lb. Bag
146 Reviews
Purina Puppy Chow Natural High Protein Dry Puppy Food, With Real Chicken & Beef - 30 lb. Bag
This formula’s AAFCO-approved for all stages of doggy life, and is pretty high in protein, which is what puppies need to become big (or just bigger, if you’ve got a small-breed!) and strong.
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Pros

  • 27% protein;
  • 1% calcium for resilient puppy bones;
  • Suited for puppies of all breed sizes, from Daschunds to Labs, to Great Danes;
  • Rice makes this formula easily digestible for little puppy tummies;
  • Contains DHA from natural fish oil;
  • No artificial agents for preserving, flavoring, or coloring in this food!

Cons

  • Top, leading ingredients in this chow are corn products and by-products from chicken.
Our Verdict: 3.5/5
This is the Natural version of Purina Puppy Chow, which skips out on the synthetic add-ins like flavors. It’s got plenty of vitamin supplements and minerals, as well as beef and chicken.
  1. Purina Pro Plan SAVOR Shredded Blend

Sale
Purina Pro Plan High Protein Puppy Food Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula - 34 lb. Bag
$83.98 −$14.00
$69.98
4,656 Reviews
Purina Pro Plan High Protein Puppy Food Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula - 34 lb. Bag
Here’s a Pro Plan chicken dinner for your young puppy companion that’s based on chicken, rich in minerals and contains healthy fatty acids.
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Pros

  • Both DHA and fellow amino acid EPA in this recipe to promote good cerebral function;
  • At least 28% protein, most of which is from chicken;
  • Fish meal gives your puppy some glucosamine, which plays a large role in keeping up joint health in bigger pups especially;
  • Suitable to feed to your puppy until he’s up to eight months old;
  • Contains 18% fat;
  • Minerals in here include manganese, copper, iron, zinc, and potassium.

Cons

  • Made with grains, such as corn and also wheat;
  • There are milled by-products from poultry in this formula, too.
Our Verdict: 3.5/5
There are no veggies, and both by-products and grains can be found in this recipe. However, if you’re looking at the mineral, vitamin, protein, and fat percentages, everything’s there for development, energy, and growth. It’s also got those Omega acids that are important for shiny coats!

The Wet Purina Puppy Food Review

  1. Purina Pro Plan FOCUS Classic Entree

Purina Pro Plan Wet Puppy Food, Chicken and Brown Rice Entree - (24) 5.5 oz. Cans
$47.28
1,020 Reviews
Purina Pro Plan Wet Puppy Food, Chicken and Brown Rice Entree - (24) 5.5 oz. Cans
Real chicken’s the number one ingredient in this soft dinner for growing pups, and there’s also salmon in here.
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Pros

  • Brown rice is very gentle indeed on canine digestive systems, so this should be an easily digestible formula;
  • With only 203 kCal in each 5.5oz can and feeding instructions that are easy-as-pie to follow, varying your pup’s diet with this wet food will be super-simple;
  • As is very often the case with Purina, we consider this one pretty economical;
  • 10% protein, good for a wet food that’s designed for growth and development of lean muscle;
  • 7% fat is just spot on for a wet puppy food.

Cons

  • There aren’t any veggies in this formula;
  • Contains some ‘meat’ by-product, which is an ambiguous ingredient.
Our Verdict: 4/5
Wet puppy chow’s pretty much always super as a ‘topper’ for kibble, and an interesting way to make sure that your little one gets sufficient moisture in his daily diet. This recipe’s pretty neat as a first solid food, too, as you can mix it with water for that initial foray into real puppy food!

The Purina Beyond Dog Food Review

  1. Purina Beyond Grain Free Recipe Adult

Purina Beyond Grain Free, Natural Dry Dog Food, Grain Free White Meat Chicken & Egg Recipe - 13 lb. Bag
1,205 Reviews
Purina Beyond Grain Free, Natural Dry Dog Food, Grain Free White Meat Chicken & Egg Recipe - 13 lb. Bag
Purina Beyond is quickly getting super-popular with puppy and dog owners who care about their pets’ health. This formula’s got at least 4 protein sources that we counted, with chicken playing the starring role.
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Pros

  • Apples, peas, and supplements to give your adult dog Vitamins E, A, K, D, B and C. Not the whole alphabet, but pretty good, right?
  • 1% calcium that’s optimally balanced against phosphorus;
  • 16% fat, so ideal for dogs with a lot of lean muscle such as Rottweilers and Pit Bulls;
  • Contains glucosamine, which is excellent for joint health, and zinc, which is great for skin care;
  • No milled by-products, and no grains at all.

Cons

  • There’s egg in this one, but it’s clearly stated on the label, so no confusion here.
Our Verdict: 5/5
We really like Purina Beyond because it has no wheat, and is free of gluten. The fat’s naturally preserved, and there are zero synthetic agents for coloring or flavor. Just good, hearty nutrition.

The Hypoallergenic Purina Food Review

  1. Purina HA Hydrolyzed

Purina HA Hydrolyzed Dog Food 25 lb
$118.87
48 Reviews
Purina HA Hydrolyzed Dog Food 25 lb
Suitable for all ages, this formula’s designed to reduce the risk of allergic reactions through the use of soy protein that’s been hydrolyzed. Technically, it’s a vegetarian dog food. Pretty unique, no?
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Pros

  • 18% protein, from soy molecules that have been broken down into smaller pieces;
  • At 8% fat and 314 kCal per cup, you won’t need to worry too much that your dog’s getting excess energy- although you may need to feed a little more to ensure your puppy’s getting enough calories for growth;
  • If your puppy can handle hydrolyzed chicken, this formula also comes in chicken flavor for a nice change;
  • Made with some antioxidants for healthy cell function;
  • It’s developed to be appropriate for dogs and puppies of all ages who are susceptible to tummy upsets, or at risk of pancreatitis.

Cons

  • Corn starch is this food’s first ingredient- not real meat.
Our Verdict: 4/5
Soy’s the main protein source for this veggie dog food, and this helps puppies and dogs with allergies to develop the lean muscle they need without having to eat any of the meats they may be allergic to. Soy’s considered a ‘novel’ source of protein in dog foods, meaning pups and adults alike are less likely to have been exposed to it and developed allergies over time.

FAQ

What do veterinary professionals think of Purina dog food?

Purina is one of the all time favorite store bought dog foods in the veterinary community. It can be challenging to find a diet that is not only affordable for the average pet owner, but also has something to offer in terms of quality. Purina is passionate about the ingredients in their diet and how they serve our furry friends, and it always shows in their recipes. With having so many options in terms of diet, every dog owner can find a veterinary approved diet for their pup.

What is a hydrolyzed dog food, exactly?

Allergic reactions tend to take place within your pup’s body when his immune system recognizes some molecule as potentially harmful. When this happens, you might notice such symptoms as sneezing, itchiness or runny, watery eyes. It’s best to take your puppy to the vet if you notice anything like this, as they may find it necessary to put him onto a hypoallergenic food, or something with hydrolyzed protein.

The protein molecules in hydrolyzed protein puppy foods and dog foods have been broken into much smaller pieces if they haven’t been broken entirely into their constituent amino acids. In this smaller form, they are less likely to be triggers for an allergic reaction. The HA dog food we’ve recommended in our Hypoallergenic Purina Dog Food Review is soy-based, so if you’ve got a puppy who cannot handle any of the more popular meats that are so common in puppy foods, this could be a great option.

My puppy won’t stop begging for human food! What do I do?

It can be so funny at first, and maybe even cute when your puppy shows an interest in your human dinner. But after a while, yes, it might make you wonder whether something’s the matter with his puppy food! If your puppy is begging for food at the dinner table, it’s not necessarily because something’s wrong with his own kibble, and there are some simple steps you might want to try before you start stressing out.

Puppies can quite easily be trained using positive reinforcement, so if they’re begging at the dinner table each night and you give them a little nibble of food to keep them quiet, they’ll probably think something like “Hey…that worked!”. If you simply ignore your pup’s begging, they will most likely realize it isn’t working anymore and quit the behavior. Do bear in mind that this might take a little while, but be patient and you’ll both soon be able to eat in peace.

Last update on 2024-03-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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Comments
  1. Avatar
    Courtney E.

    My partner and I have been on a mission for the very best kibble for our Corgis. Nothing was going to stop us, for real, and we were ready to try them all as both Trixie and Maisie are show dogs. When we found this Purina Beyond dog food review we decided to try the Beyond grain free and it was the only one they have actually wanted to eat – talk about picky!

    Before they started with the tuna Beyond kibble Mais was losing a bunch of weight and slightly listless. Our vet said to try something more natural as they were eating expensive food but it had a bunch of low-quality ingredients. Now she’s in awesome shape!

  2. Avatar
    Gemma Saunders

    I ordered the Purina ONE formula for my Cupcake and she has much better breath, to be honest. I guess her teeth are cleaner now and also, she digests it much better. Thanks for the Purina dog food review!

  3. Avatar
    Richard M.

    My mother-in-law swears by Purina puppy chow for her little Terrier. She sent us the link to this site but after seeing the Purina One puppy food review we decided to go for that recipe instead.
    Our three Cocker Spaniels get so excited every time they hear my wife open the Tupperware, and they now have such smooth, silky coats compared to before. Their eyes are shinier and clearer as well. A super choice, we’re really satisfied, just like our puppies.

  4. Avatar
    Heather Parks

    The packaging on the grain free chicken Beyond recipe says that there are no by-product meals at all and it’s what made me buy it for my Coonhound. Everything arrived as expected and the kibble was v. fresh. Phoebe is growing very fast and wants to eat a lot so I appreciate that it is not an unreasonable price.

  5. Avatar
    Craig Setis

    We also bought the same recipe for our two Yorkiepoos and our Rottie who all eat it up and leave the dish clean. It saves us a lot of time that the one recipe is great for dogs of different sizes.

    Previously we had heard only bad things about Purina, in fact, we were told that they use poor quality ingredients despite being a big name brand. That’s why we were quite surprised to see the Beyond range and decided to give it a shot. No regrets at all.

  6. Avatar
    Leo K.

    Two months back my Irish Setter had some serious stomach problems and would not quit vomiting. I had no clue what might be wrong and it emerged that he was hypersensitive to the chicken Kirkland food that he was eating. His vet strongly suggested that hypoallergenic dog food would provide the protein he requires without setting off his allergies.

    I searched different brands of hydrolyzed protein food and this seemed the most suitable choice. There are not many brands that make hydrolyzed dog food and this Purina recipe is a reliable one, got rid of his tummy aches like a charm once he was on it 100%.

  7. Avatar
    Elle Jacobson

    Is Purina Pro Plan puppy food good? I’m a first-time puppy owner and I have been told to pick a high protein recipe for my Golden Retrievers. The family that I got her from was feeding her with the salmon version of this but I want to try this shredded chicken recipe and see how they like it. What are the benefits compared to other dog food?

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