Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Dog Food Review

Dog Food Reviews March 14, 2024
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Dog Food Review

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Dog Food Review

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Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Dog Food Review

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets offers a range of dog food formulas for various health issues, including minor and serious diseases.

These diets require a veterinarian’s prescription and extensive research to prove their medical claims. The Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) approves of this brands diet.

If you’re wondering if Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets is right for your dog, this unbiased review will provide information on the best options.

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Dog Food: Top 5 Recipes Reviewed

Brand Score

Our reviews are based on extensive research and years of professional knowledge of dog food brands. In order to remain objective, we do not accept gifts of free products or write sponsored posts on this site.

We’ve examined Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets dog food closely and graded the brand according to the PupJunkies.com standard. Our criteria include ingredients, quality, customer experience, recall history, working with veterinary nutritionists to formulate the food, nutritional standards, research, and price.

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Dog Food
Brand
Overall Score
Pros
  • Formulas are nutritionally developed to help veterinarians manage specific health conditions
  • Purina has high manufacturing and testing standards at their facilities with relatively few recalls over the years
  • Enormous amounts of testing goes into creating and developing veterinary/therapeutic diets
Cons
  • Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets can only be obtained with a prescription from your veterinarian
  • Veterinary diets are typically much more expensive than other dog foods, including premium foods
  • Ingredients in therapeutic diets are often very similar to ingredients in other dog foods, causing some dog owners to wonder why the foods are more expensive
Pros
  • Formulas are nutritionally developed to help veterinarians manage specific health conditions
  • Purina has high manufacturing and testing standards at their facilities with relatively few recalls over the years
  • Enormous amounts of testing goes into creating and developing veterinary/therapeutic diets
Cons
  • Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets can only be obtained with a prescription from your veterinarian
  • Veterinary diets are typically much more expensive than other dog foods, including premium foods
  • Ingredients in therapeutic diets are often very similar to ingredients in other dog foods, causing some dog owners to wonder why the foods are more expensive
Ingredients
Overall Quality
Customer Experience
Recall History
Formulation
Nutritional Standards
Research
Price

About Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Dog Food

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets dog food, re-branded in 2015, is a high-quality veterinary formula that was introduced in 1988. The company has been producing veterinary diets since 1988, including the HA-Hypoallergenic Canine Formula.

In 2004, they developed the JM-Joint Mobility Canine Formula for dogs with arthritis. In 2007, they introduced Fortiflora Nutritional Supplement, the first popular and palatable probiotic nutritional supplement.

Purina Veterinary Diets has been making veterinary diets since 1988, and their unbiased review provides information on which Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets dog food is suitable for your dog.

Not every dog needs a veterinary diet, even if the dog has a health issue. But for some health problems these foods are a blessing.

Sourcing And Manufacturing

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets dog foods are manufactured by Nestle Purina at their own facilities in the United States. Purina has at least 21 manufacturing plants in the U.S.

Purina provides less information about sourcing their ingredients. You can see some information about their ingredients here. You can find an overview about Purina here.

Therapeutic diets may be proprietary and patented, while veterinary diets are overseen by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) without drugs or medications.

Although AAFCO has some control over labeling, these foods differ from dog foods sold online and in pet stores. Ingredients may look similar, but formulations can be significantly different.

Nestle Purina PetCare, part of Nestle S. A. in Switzerland, has headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri.

Recall History

Purina Veterinary Diets OM Overweight Management Feline Formula was recalled in May 2012 due to low thiamine levels. The “Best by” date was June 2013, and the Production Code was #11721159.

No dog foods were affected. Purina has a good safety record and conducts numerous checks and tests on their pet food before shipping.

What Kinds Of Dog Food Does Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Offer?

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets currently include 18 dry foods, nine canned foods, five supplements, and four treats.

The formulas offered include diets for :

  • dental problems
  • dermatologic management
  • gastroenteric issues
  • gastroenteric fiber needs
  • gastroenteric low fat needs
  • HA-Hydrolyzed protein (vegetarian) formula
  • HA-Hydrolyzed protein (chicken) formula
  • JM-Joint Mobility formula
  • NC-NeuroCare
  • NF-Kidney Function
  • OM-Overweight Management
  • OM-Overweight Management Select Blend (chicken)
  • OM-Overweight Management Select Blend (lamb)
  • UR-Urinary Ox/St.

Canned formulas are similar to the dry formulas plus there are GI Acute Care and CN-Critical Nutrition formulas.The top-selling Purina Pro Plan Veterinary dog foods on Chewy.com are formulated with low nutrient levels for certain health conditions.

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets: Top Five Recipes Reviewed

1.

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EN Gastroenteric Formula Canned Dog Food

Product Info

  • Protein: 8% Min
  • Fat: 2.5% Min
  • Fiber: 1.5% Max
  • Moisture: 75% Max
  • Caloric Content: 1,066 kcal/kg, 405 kcal/can
Ingredients: Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EN Gastroenteric Formula Canned Dog Food, 13.4-oz is the bestselling Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diet dog food on Chewy.com. This food can be appropriate for dogs with gastritis and enteritis, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, and other diseases of the intestinal tract.

Here’s a look at the main ingredients in this food:

Meat By-Products, Water Sufficient For Processing, Barley, Chicken, Rice, Soy Protein Isolate, Glycerin, Vegetable Oil (Source Of Medium-Chain Triglycerides), Tricalcium Phosphate, Guar Gum, Inulin, Potassium Chloride, Calcium Sulfate, Fish Oil, Vitamin E Supplement, Magnesium Sulfate, Salt, L-Lysine Monohydrochloride, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin (Vitamin B-3), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Copper Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), Manganese Sulfate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9), Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Biotin (Vitamin B-7), Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite.

This formula is made to be easy to digest and to promote nutrient absorption. It is said to be very palatable with low carbs and moderate fat levels.

According to the dry matter basis (DMB), this food has 32 percent protein, 10 percent fat, and 6 percent fiber. This formula has an estimated 40 percent carbohydrates. It has 405 kcal per 13.4 ounce can.

Our rating for this food is 4 out of 5 stars.
2.

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets HA Hydrolyzed Formula Dry Dog Food

Product Info

  • Protein: 18% Min
  • Fat: 8% Min
  • Fiber: 4% Max
  • Moisture: 10% Max
  • Caloric Content: 3,723 kcal/kg, 311 kcal/cup
Ingredients: Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets HA Hydrolyzed Formula Dry Dog Food is formulated for dogs with food sensitivities. This is a vegetarian formula with a single hydrolyzed protein source that is highly digestible. Hydrolyzed ingredients are so small that they are unlikely to provoke an allergic response from a dog.

Here are the ingredients:

Corn Starch, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein Isolate, Vegetable Oil, Dicalcium Phosphate, Partially Hydrogenated Canola Oil Preserved with Tbhq, Powdered Cellulose, Corn Oil, Potassium Chloride, Guar Gum, Choline Chloride, Dl-Methionine, Salt, Magnesium Oxide, Lecithin, Taurine, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Manganese Sulfate, Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, Garlic Oil, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Calcium Iodate, Biotin, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K Activity), Sodium Selenite.

This food has a single protein source and a single, low-allergen carbohydrate source. It can be suitable for dogs that have food allergic gastroenteritis or dermatitis, food intolerance, inflammatory bowel disease, or pancreatitis.

Yes, we see the TBHQ preservative. Again, this food is intended to be a therapeutic food for your dog. You probably won’t like every ingredient in a therapeutic dog food.

This food has 20 percent protein and 8.9 percent fat, according to the dry matter basis (DMB). It has 4.4 percent fiber. Our estimate of the carbohydrates in the food came out to 58.9 percent, DMB. It contains 311 kcal per cup.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars.
3.

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets OM Select Blend Overweight Management Formula Dry Dog Food

Product Info

  • Protein: 28% Min
  • Fat: 5% Min
  • Fiber: 8.5% Max
  • Moisture: 15% Max
  • Caloric Content: 2,929 kcal/kg, 218 kcal/cup
Ingredients: Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets OM Select Blend Overweight Management Formula Dry Dog Food is a high protein, low calorie, low fat recipe to help your overweight or obese dog lose or maintain weight without losing lean muscle.

You can take a look at the ingredients:

Ground Yellow Corn, Soybean Meal, Soybean Germ Meal, Soybean Hulls, Soy Flour, Corn Gluten Meal, Poultry By-product Meal, Pea Fiber, Natural Flavor, Powdered Cellulose, Beef Fat Preserved With Mixed-tocopherols, Glycerin, Chicken, Tricalcium Phosphate, Malted Barley Flour, Salt, L-lysine Monohydrochloride, Mono And Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Carbonate, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Choline Chloride, Dl-methionine, Manganese Proteinate, L-carnitine, Ferrous Sulfate, Sulfur, Niacin (Vitamin B-3), Vitamin A Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Soybean Oil, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Garlic Oil, Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9), Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K), Calcium Iodate, Biotin (Vitamin B-7), Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Sodium Selenite.

Natural fiber in the food is said to keep your dog feeling full. Available in both dry kibble and canned formulas. This food has a very low fat percentage and small amount of calories. It would be suitable to help your dog lose weight under a vet’s supervision but you should discuss whether your dog should continue eating this food on a long-term basis.

According to the dry matter analysis for this food, it has 32.9 percent protein, 5.9 percent fat, 10 percent fiber, 41.2 percent carbohydrates, and 218 kcal per cup.

Our rating for this food is 3.5 out of 5 stars.
4.

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St Dry Dog Food

Product Info

  • Protein: 21% Min
  • Fat: 9% Min
  • Fiber: 6.5% Max
  • Moisture: 12% Max
  • Caloric Content: 3,542 kcal/kg, 408 kcal/cup
Ingredients: Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St Dry Dog Food is made for urinary tract health. This food is typically prescribed for dogs with a history of urinary stones. It promotes a urinary environment that is unfavorable for the development of struvite and calcium oxalate crystals.

You can take a look at the ingredients:

Whole Grain Corn, Brewers Rice, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Animal Fat Preserved With Mixed-Tocopherols, Powdered Cellulose, Egg And Chicken Flavor, Animal Digest, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Phosphoric Acid, Potassium Chloride, L-Lysine Monohydrochloride, Magnesium Sulfate, Zinc Proteinate, Choline Chloride, Vitamin E Supplement, Potassium Citrate, Manganese Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Copper Proteinate, Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Folic Acid, Calcium Iodate, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source Of Vitamin K Activity), Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Biotin, Sodium Selenite.

According to the dry matter analysis for this food, it has 23.9 percent protein, 10.2 percent fat, 7.4 percent fiber, 48.9 percent carbohydrates, and 408 kcal/cup.

Our rating for this food is 4 out of 5 stars.
5.

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets NF Kidney Function Formula Canned Dog Food

Product Info

  • Protein: 3.8% Min
  • Fat: 5.5% Min
  • Fiber: 2% Max
  • Calories: 483 kcal/cup
Ingredients: Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets NF Kidney Function Formula Canned Dog Food, 13.3-oz has been specifically formulated to minimize the signs of kidney failure and help slow the progression of the disease. This formula has low sodium, low phosphorus, and low protein to help reduce the work the kidneys need to do and to help your dog feel better.

Here are the ingredients:

Water Sufficient for Processing, Meat By-Products, Rice, Corn Grits, Beef, Liver, Chicken By-Products, Animal Fat (Preserved with Tbhq and Citric Acid), Calcium Sulfate, Guar Gum, Fish Oil, Potassium Citrate, Locust Bean Gum, Carrageenan, Potassium Chloride, Magnesium Sulfate, Added Color, Choline Chloride, Natural Flavor, Vitamin E Supplement, Calcium Carbonate, Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Phosphate, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Sulfate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenite.

Dogs with chronic renal failure, hepatic disease associated with encephalopathy, and any condition that benefits from restricted sodium levels are often prescribed this diet.

According to the dry matter analysis for this food, it has 9.6 percent protein, 21.2 percent fat, 7.7 percent fiber, 52.9 percent carbohydrates, and 494 kcal per 13.3 ounce can.

Our rating for this food is 4 out of 5 stars.

How Much Does Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Dog Food Cost?

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets are expensive. All veterinary diets are expensive. They typically cost as much as or more than premium dog foods.

What Do Customers Think Of Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Dog Food?

Most customers give these veterinary diets high ratings, despite the cost. Not every food will help every dog but many customers report that their dogs improved after eating these foods. A large majority of customers on Chewy.com said they would recommend these foods to others.

Keep in mind that there are no guarantees when a dog is diagnosed with a disease. If your dog is showing symptoms of being ill, the sooner he sees a veterinarian, the better.

Overall, Is Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Dog Food A Good Choice?

Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets offer over two dozen foods for various health issues in dogs. It’s crucial to consult with your veterinarian if your dog is sick or has health issues. Some vets may suggest these foods, but they are not permanent solutions.

Once your dog improves, you can find a cheaper, over-the-counter food that suits their improved health. The ingredients in these foods are difficult to assess, as they are formulated for health problems, such as soy products, which may be necessary for dogs avoiding certain proteins.

For precise information on nutrient levels, contact Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets directly. The ingredients in these foods are difficult to assess due to their health benefits, such as the presence of soy products, which may be necessary for dogs avoiding certain proteins. For more information, contact Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets directly.

Where Is Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Dog Food Sold?

You can buy Purina Pro Plan Veterinary dog foods from Chewy.com and other online retailers with a prescription or approval from your vet. You can also buy them from many veterinarians.

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Carlotta Cooper is a long-time contributing editor for the weekly dog show magazine DN Dog News. She's the author of The Dog Adoption Bible, a Dog Writers Association of America (DWAA) award winner. In addition, she is an American Kennel Club Gazette breed columnist and the author of several books about dogs. She has been reviewing pet foods and writing about dog food for more than 10 years.
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