Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Dog Food Review
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Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets dog food includes numerous formulas for all kinds of canine health problems ranging from minor issues to serious diseases. Purina’s veterinary diets require a prescription from a veterinarian so you can purchase them.
Each veterinary diet has to provide extensive research proving its medical claims before the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), a branch of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), will approve it. Does your dog need a therapeutic diet?
Wondering if one of the Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets dog foods is right for your dog? We’ll tell you what you need to know with our unbiased review.
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Dog Food – Top 5 Recipes Reviewed
| Product Name | Food Type | Protein (as fed) | kcal/Cup/Can/Tray |
| Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EN Gastroenteric Formula Canned Dog Food, 13.4-oz | Can | 8% | 405 kcal/can |
| Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets HA Hydrolyzed Formula Dry Dog Food | Dry | 18% | 311 kcal/cup |
| Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets OM Select Blend Overweight Management Formula Dry Dog Food | Dry | 28% | 218 kcal/cup |
| Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St Dry Dog Food | Dry | 21% | 408 kcal/cup |
| Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets NF Kidney Function Formula Canned Dog Food, 13.3-oz | Wet | 2.5% | 494 kcal/can |
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.
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
About Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Dog Food
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets dog food was originally called Purina Veterinary Diets until it was rebranded in 2015. The company felt that adding “Pro Plan” to the name would include the veterinary formulas with Purina’s other higher quality foods.
Purina has been making veterinary diets since at least 1988 when Purina Veterinary Diets introduced HA-Hypoallergenic Canine Formula.
In 2004, Purina Veterinary Diets was the first to apply molecular level nutrition to a therapeutic diet by developing a food for dogs suffering from arthritis. That food was Purina Veterinary Diets JM-Joint Mobility Canine Formula.
In 2007, Purina Veterinary Diets offered the first probiotic nutritional supplement that was also highly palatable and easy to use. Widely available and very popular, this product was Fortiflora Nutritional Supplement.
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.
With therapeutic diets some research may be proprietary and patented. Veterinary diets do not contain drugs or medications but they are overseen by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Although AAFCO still has some control over their labeling, these foods are different from the dog foods commonly sold online and in pet stores. The ingredients may look similar to regular dog foods but the formulations can be very different. (Purina Product Guide for Veterinary Clinics from 2014; PDF with some technical information.)
Nestle Purina PetCare, part of Nestle S. A. in Switzerland, has headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri.
Recall History
We found one recall affecting Purina’s veterinary foods.
In May 2012 a single lot of Purina Veterinary Diets OM Overweight Management Feline Formula (5.5 ounce canned cat food) was recalled because of possible low thiamine levels. The “Best by” date was June 2013 and the Production Code #11721159. No dog foods were affected.
Overall, Purina has a good safety record and runs countless checks and tests on the pet food they produce before it is shipped out.
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), and UR-Urinary Ox/St.
Canned formulas are similar to the dry formulas plus there are GI Acute Care and CN-Critical Nutrition formulas.
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets: Top Five Recipes Reviewed
We’re taking a look at five of the top-selling Purina Pro Plan Veterinary dog foods as found on Chewy.com so you can have an idea of what some of these different formulas are like.
When looking at nutrient percentages and calories, some of these foods are formulated to have very low levels of some nutrients for certain health conditions. If you need precise information about certain nutrient levels because of your dog’s health needs, contact Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets directly.
It’s also hard to assess the ingredients in these foods since they are formulated for health problems. For example, most of them contain soy products which may be necessary for dogs that need to avoid certain other proteins.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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?
As explained, Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets include more than two dozen foods for different health problems. If your dog is sick or has a health issue, it’s important to work with your veterinarian.
In some cases your vet might suggest one of these foods. We think they are good foods to try if your dog has a health problem.
Remember that most of these formulas are not intended to be a permanent solution for your dog. When your dog improves, you can find a different, usually less expensive, over-the-counter food that suits his improved health.
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.
