Purina is one of the largest pet food companies in the United States. In 2020 1 alone, this massive company earned over $15.4 billion in revenue.
Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Nia Perkins
Veterinarian, DVM
Reviewed & Fact-Checked By
Dr. Nia Perkins
Veterinarian, DVM
The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.
With over 15 lines of dog food brands under its belt and multiple recipes in each brand, it can easily become overwhelming looking for Purina dog food that best matches your dog’s needs. So, we have created our reviews of some of the most popular Purina dog food brands for today’s dog owners.
A Glance at Our Winners in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Purina Pro Plan Adult Dry Dog Food
Chicken is first ingredient
Contains live probiotics
Palatable texture
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Best Value
Purina Beneful Originals Dry Dog Food
Beef is first ingredient
23 essential vitamins and minerals
Rich in antioxidants
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Premium Choice
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Dry Dog Food
High-protein diet
Support healthy cartilage and joints
Reduce inflammation
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Best for Puppies
Purina Pro Plan Puppy Sensitive Dry Dog Food
Salmon is first ingredient
No artificial colors or flavors
Rich source of protein and omega fatty acids
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Purina Beyond Dry Dog Food
No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
Beef and chicken meal are top ingredients
No corn, wheat, or soy
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The 10 Best Purina Dog Foods
Purina Pro Plan Adult Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food is one of the most well-rounded recipes for adult dogs. It uses chicken as its first ingredient and contains a mixture of crunchy kibble and softer shredded pieces, so it’s a palatable texture for dogs.
First Five Ingredients: Chicken, rice, whole grain wheat, poultry by-product meal, soybean meal
Caloric Intake: 387 kcal/cup
Crude Protein: 26%
Crude Fat: 16%
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The formula is infused with live probiotics to support digestive and immune health. It also contains essential vitamins and omega-6 fatty acids for healthy skin and coat.
The recipe does contain various sources of other meats, including beef and fish, so it may not be the best option for dogs with food allergies. However, it’s still very nutritious and covers all the bases for a balanced meal, which makes it the best overall Purina Dog Food formula.
Chicken is the first ingredient
Contains live probiotics
Palatable texture
Contains all the essential nutrients for dogs
- Chicken is the first ingredient
- Contains live probiotics
- Palatable texture
- Contains all the essential nutrients for dogs
Not for dogs with food sensitivities
- Not for dogs with food sensitivities
Purina Beneful Originals with Real Beef Dry Dog Food is one of the most affordable options with a nutritious formula. It has beef as its first ingredient and has 23 essential vitamins and minerals that support an adult dog’s overall health and well-being. The formula is also rich in antioxidants for a healthy immune system.
First Five Ingredients: Beef, whole grain corn, barley, rice, whole grain wheat
Caloric Intake: 382 kcal/cup
Crude Protein: 23%
Crude Fat: 12%
One thing that did raise concerns for us was that whole-grain corn is listed as the second ingredient. Whole grain corn does have some good nutrients in it, but it’s also high in carbs and can be difficult for dogs to digest.
However, every cup of food contains 24 grams of protein, so your dog’s still getting a healthy amount of protein from this diet. Considering the price and nutritional value of this recipe, it’s still the best Purina dog food for the money you pay.
Beef is the first ingredient
23 essential vitamins and minerals
Rich in antioxidants
24 grams of protein per cup
- Beef is the first ingredient
- 23 essential vitamins and minerals
- Rich in antioxidants
- 24 grams of protein per cup
Whole wheat corn is the second ingredient
May be difficult to digest
- Whole wheat corn is the second ingredient
- May be difficult to digest
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diet is one of Purina’s premium dog food brands. Formulas under this brand were developed with keen scientific research and veterinarian consultation to provide high-quality nutritious diets for all types of dogs.
First Five Ingredients: Brewers rice, trout, salmon meal, corn gluten meal, poultry by-product meal
Caloric Intake: 401 kcal/cup
Crude Protein: 30%
Crude Fat: 12%
The JM Joint Mobility Dry Dog Food is one great example of an expert Veterinary Diet formula. It contains mostly fish and is a healthy blend of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine, antioxidants, and vitamin E. These are all components that support healthy cartilage and joints and reduce inflammation. The recipe is also high in protein, which promotes lean muscle mass.
Although the recipe is marketed as pea-free, it does contain corn gluten meal as one of the main ingredients. This is an inexpensive filler. Corn gluten meal is fine for dogs in small amounts, and can even be a good source of protein and amino acids.
Veterinary Diets require a veterinarian’s authorization, so ensure that you work with a veterinarian to provide the best diet for your dog.
High-protein diet
Support healthy cartilage and joints
Reduce inflammation
Promotes lean muscle mass
- High-protein diet
- Support healthy cartilage and joints
- Reduce inflammation
- Promotes lean muscle mass
Corn gluten meal is the main ingredient
- Corn gluten meal is the main ingredient
Puppies have specific nutritional needs for healthy growth and development, and they can also have particularly sensitive stomachs. Purina Pro Plan Puppy Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Dry Dog Food is a great formula for many puppies because it uses nutritious ingredients to support your puppy’s development.
First Five Ingredients: Salmon, rice, barley, fish meal, canola meal
Caloric Intake: 428 kcal/cup
Crude Protein: 28%
Crude Fat: 18%
The recipe lists salmon as its first ingredient, which is a rich source of protein and omega fatty acids that are essential for healthy brain development. The formula also promotes a healthy digestive system with the inclusion of antioxidants. It also doesn’t contain any artificial flavors or colors.
Because the recipe contains a lot of fish, it may have a strong odor, especially right when you open a new bag. Not only is this smell unpleasant to humans, but puppies may not also like this smell. So, make sure that your puppy generally likes fish before switching to this formula.
Salmon is the first ingredient
Rich source of protein and omega fatty acids
No artificial colors or flavors
- Salmon is the first ingredient
- Rich source of protein and omega fatty acids
- No artificial colors or flavors
Strong fish odor
- Strong fish odor
Purina’s Beyond brand uses natural ingredients in all its recipes and doesn’t contain any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
First Five Ingredients: Beef, chicken meal, whole barley, canola meal, pea starch
Caloric Intake: 445 kcal/cup
Crude Protein: 27%
Crude Fat: 16%
This particular recipe lists beef and chicken meal as its first ingredients and also uses cage-free eggs. It doesn’t contain any corn, wheat, or soy. The rest of the ingredients are relatively easy for most dogs to digest, and they’re also very nutritious. The formula also has natural probiotics to provide further support to the digestive system.
Since this recipe contains various types of meat protein, it may not be the best option for dogs with food allergies or sensitivities.
Another large component of the Beyond brand is its environmentally conscious efforts. All the food is produced in Purina-owned facilities that work on improving water efficiency and reducing waste.
No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
Beef and chicken meal are the top ingredients
No corn, wheat, or soy
Natural probiotics
Manufactured with environmentally conscious efforts
- No artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
- Beef and chicken meal are the top ingredients
- No corn, wheat, or soy
- Natural probiotics
- Manufactured with environmentally conscious efforts
Not for dogs with food allergies
- Not for dogs with food allergies
6. Purina ONE SmartBlend Canned Dog Food
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First Five Ingredients: Turkey, turkey broth, chicken, pork lungs, liver
Caloric Intake: 483 kcal/cup
Crude Protein: 40%
Crude Fat: 36%
Purina also produces many different kinds of wet dog food. Purina ONE SmartBlend Grain-Free True Instinct Classic Ground with Real Turkey & Venison Canned Dog Food is one of the best-canned dog foods because it uses high-quality ingredients and omits artificial colors, flavors, and fillers.
The formula also contains four sources of antioxidants to support the immune system. It contains omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat.
Although the name only mentions turkey and venison, the ingredient list includes chicken and pork. So, this recipe isn’t safe for dogs with chicken allergies. It also has a very high percentage of protein, which can end up being detrimental for some dogs, especially if they’re not highly active or require a low-protein diet. Therefore, it may be better to use this dog food as a meal topper rather than a whole meal. We do recommend consulting with your veterinarian before offering this diet since it is grain-free 1.
A high-protein diet for active dogs
No artificial colors, flavors, and fillers
Four sources of antioxidants
Omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat
- A high-protein diet for active dogs
- No artificial colors, flavors, and fillers
- Four sources of antioxidants
- Omega fatty acids for healthy skin and coat
Contains chicken
Too much protein for some dogs
- Contains chicken
- Too much protein for some dogs
This formula is easily digestible and doesn’t use any corn, wheat, or soy. It lists salmon as its first ingredient and contains a healthy amount of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids to support healthy skin and coat.
First Five Ingredients: Salmon, barley rice, oatmeal, canola meal, fish meal
Caloric Intake: 467 kcal/cup
Crude Protein: 26%
Crude Fat: 16%
The recipe also contains probiotics and prebiotic fiber to further help dogs’ digestive health and boost the immune system.
Overall, the recipe is good for sensitive stomachs, but it does contain some beef. Therefore, dogs with beef allergies should avoid this food.
No corn, wheat, or soy
Salmon is the first ingredient
Contains probiotics and prebiotics
- No corn, wheat, or soy
- Salmon is the first ingredient
- Contains probiotics and prebiotics
Not for dogs with beef allergies
- Not for dogs with beef allergies
This recipe contains a nutritious blend of ingredients that’s appropriate for dogs of all ages. It has lamb as its first ingredient and also contains poultry by-product meal, beef fat, eggs, and fish oil. The variety of meat flavors can be appealing to many dogs, but it’s also not a recipe for dogs with particularly sensitive stomachs or food allergies.
First Five Ingredients: Lamb, rice, corn gluten meal, poultry by-product meal, whole grain wheat
Caloric Intake: 474 kcal/cup
Crude Protein: 27%
Crude Fat: 17%
What makes this dog food stand out from others is the kibble. The size of the kibble is intentionally smaller and the texture is light and crunchy. So, it’s great for dogs that tend to swallow kibble whole or have difficulty chewing it.
Lamb is the first ingredient
A blend of meat protein is palatable for most dogs
Kibble is small and easy to chew
- Lamb is the first ingredient
- A blend of meat protein is palatable for most dogs
- Kibble is small and easy to chew
This tasty meal is a part of Purina’s small Moist & Meaty brand. Each serving comes in a convenient pouch that makes feeding your dog a simple and mess-free process. The recipe comes in the form of kibble, but it also has a high moisture level, so it’s good for dogs that don’t like to drink water.
First Five Ingredients: The beef by-product, soy flour, soy grits, high fructose corn syrup, water
Caloric Intake: 474 kcal/cup
Crude Protein: 26%
Crude Fat: 10%
This formula is fortified with essential vitamins and minerals, but it also contains high fructose corn syrup. So, this dog food would be better served as a meal topper or a treat. Dog breeds that are prone to obesity should also avoid this food.
High moisture content
Fortified with essential vitamins and minerals
Convenient packaging
- High moisture content
- Fortified with essential vitamins and minerals
- Convenient packaging
Contains high fructose corn syrup
- Contains high fructose corn syrup
10. Purina Dog Chow Complete Adult Dry Dog Food
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First Five Ingredients: Whole grain corn, meat and bone meal, corn gluten meal, beef fat, soybean meal
Caloric Intake: 416 kcal/cup
Crude Protein: 21%
Crude Fat: 10%
Dog Chow is another one of Purina’s affordable brands. The Purina Dog Chow Complete Adult with Real Chicken Dry Dog Food is generally a good recipe for dog breeds that don’t have any particular health concerns or chronic illnesses.
If you look at the ingredient list, it doesn’t list meat as the first ingredient. However, it still has a healthy percentage of crude protein and fat. The recipe also contains 23 vitamins and minerals to support daily body function.
The recipe doesn’t contain any premium ingredients, but it’s important to remember that the Dog Chow brand is an affordable option. It’s reliable and sufficiently meets a dog’s basic nutritional needs.
Affordable
Contains 23 vitamins and minerals
Healthy levels of crude protein and fat
- Affordable
- Contains 23 vitamins and minerals
- Healthy levels of crude protein and fat
Meat protein isn’t the first ingredient
No premium ingredients
- Meat protein isn’t the first ingredient
- No premium ingredients
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Purina Dog Food
Description of Purina Dog Food Brands
Purina is a massive company that produces and manufactures various dog food and treat brands. Here’s a basic breakdown of the different dog food brands under its name.
ALPO
ALPO dog food is for meat lovers. The recipes center around meat and meat flavors, but it doesn’t necessarily contain a lot of meat. For example, the ALPO Prime Cuts Savory Beef Flavor Dry Dog Food lists ground yellow corn as its first ingredient.
ALPO dog food also tends to have low crude protein percentages. So, they may be ideal options for dogs in need of a low-protein diet, but they’re not great options for high-energy dogs.
Bella
Bella is specifically for small dog breeds. This brand has a line of wet food, dry food, and meal toppers. The recipes are tailored to meet the nutritional needs of small dogs. Bella dog food is relatively affordable, and you can find it in most pet supply stores and some general grocery stores.
Beneful
Beneful is one of Purina’s largest dog food brands that cater to dogs of all ages. All dry dog food recipes list real meat as the first ingredient and don’t contain any artificial flavors, or added sugars. Most, but not all, dry dog food recipes also don’t have artificial preservatives.
Beyond
Beyond is Purina’s natural dog food line. None of the recipes contain corn or soy. They also don’t have any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. Along with using healthy ingredients, the Beyond brand also works to use ethically-sourced ingredients. Sustainability is also a priority for this brand.
Dog Chow
Dog Chow is an affordable brand that uses high-quality ingredients and real meat. It offers food for dogs of all life stages and breeds. It also has a high-protein line. Dog Chow also started the Service Dog Salute Program, which connects PTSD service dogs to military veterans.
Moist & Meaty
This brand sticks to producing wet dog food. The food in this brand can be served as a main meal, meal topper, or treat. There isn’t a wide variety of Moist & Meaty dog food recipes, and the recipes are mostly made with chicken, beef, and bacon. This brand does offer one high-protein recipe.
Pro Plan
Pro Plan is Purina’s premium dog food brand. This brand highlights its science-based and veterinarian-approved formulas that target specific needs that dogs have. For example, you can find recipes developed just for urinary tract health, allergen management, and cognitive health support.
Puppy Chow
Just as the name states, this brand is specifically for puppies and focuses on their unique nutritional needs. The recipes tend to have more protein, DHA, calcium, and antioxidants to help puppies grow healthy and strong. They’re meant to support puppies until they reach 2 years old.
Purina ONE
Purina ONE is another large dog food brand that develops food for dogs of all ages and breeds. It also includes specialized diets, such as grain-free and weight management. All the recipes use natural ingredients and little to no fillers. This brand also promotes and supports pet adoptions.
- See Also: 8 Best Dog Foods at Target
Final Thoughts
Based on our reviews, Purina Pro Plan Adult Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food is the best Purina dog food because it has a high-quality ingredient list and a tasty kibble texture for dogs. Purina Beneful Originals with Real Beef Dry Dog Food is another great option because it contains nutritious foods while being relatively affordable. Our premium choice goes to Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diet as it was developed with keen scientific research and veterinarian consultation.
Overall, Purina has a vast selection of dog food and offers something for everyone. You’ll most likely be able to find a Purina formula that matches your dog’s specific nutritional needs.
Featured Image Credit: M Burke, Unsplash
