One of the largest pet food producers in the world, Purina has a dozen brands to suit every dog’s taste and every pet owner’s budget. Known for its commitment to high quality and home-turf manufacturing facilities, Purina is one of the select few companies that veterinarians advise new dog owners to purchase. Today, we examine Dog Chow, the company’s most affordable offering.
In Missouri, Purina was founded in 1926 as a facility for pet nutrition and care. The first pet product to use the extrusion method to create dry food we now know as kibble was Dog Chow, which was introduced in 1956. Since then, numerous additional product lines, such as Pro Plan, Beneful, and others, have been introduced, but Dog Chow continues to be the most reasonably priced and straightforward of all Purina’s offerings.
Purina joined Nestle at the end of 2001, which allowed the business to expand far beyond US borders and launch pet foods around the world. Purina is the second-largest pet food producer in the world and the biggest in the US as of 2021. This has the advantage of lowering the cost of mass production but the disadvantage of sporadic quality control.
All Purina Dog Chow products are manufactured in the US, according to the company’s official website, but it is less clear where the ingredients are sourced.
No matter how you feel about the brand, it is undeniably one of the most reasonably priced options offered by a reputable pet food manufacturer. While Dog Chow does rely heavily on grains and plant-based protein sources, most dog owners will pick Purina Dog Chow over Pedigree if given the choice.
Not only is it essentially available everywhere in the world, but it also has a number of flavors and a variety of bag sizes that can satisfy even the pickiest eaters. Given that the company has been in business for more than 70 years without ever experiencing a recall, it merits at least a quick look.
Here’s a quick rundown of the available kibble options before we dive right into our reviews of Purina Dog Chow.
Which Purina Dog Chow Recipes Get Our Best Ratings?
The Advisor assigns Purina Dog Chow a 1 for its lowest tier rating. 5 stars.
The following 6 dry dog foods are part of the Purina Dog Chow product line.
When available, the AAFCO nutrient profile of each recipe is included. These profiles include Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental, or Unspecified.
| Product | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Purina Dog Chow Complete Adult Chicken Flavor | 1.5 | M |
| Purina Dog Chow Tender and Crunchy | 1.5 | M |
| Purina Dog Chow Little Bites | 1.5 | M |
| Purina Dog Chow Complete Adult Beef Flavor | 1.5 | M |
| Purina Dog Chow High Protein with Real Lamb | 1.5 | M |
| Purina Dog Chow Complete Adult Lamb Flavor | 1.5 | M |
For a thorough recipe and nutrient analysis, Purina Dog Chow Complete Adult Chicken Flavor was chosen to represent the other products in the line.
Using a dry matter basis, the label and nutrient data below were calculated.
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient ContentProtein =
Whole grain corn, beef fat preserved with mixed tocopherols, beef and bone meal, corn gluten meal, soybean meal, chicken by-product meal, egg and chicken flavor, whole grain wheat, natural flavor, salt, potassium chloride, calcium carbonate, l-lysine monohydrochloride, choline chloride, mono and dicalcium phosphate, minerals [zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, manganese sulfate, copper sul
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5.1%
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 21% | 10% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 24% | 11% | 57% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 22% | 26% | 52% |
The first ingredient in this dog food is corn. Corn is an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain. Additionally, this grain has only modest nutritional value for a dog, aside from its energy content.
A dry “rendered product from mammal tissues, including bone, exclusive of any added blood, hair, hoof, horn, hide trimmings, manure, stomach and rumen contents,” is the second ingredient.
Compared to most other meat meals, meat and bone meal can have a lower digestibility.
According to scientists, the ingredient’s higher ash content and lower content of essential amino acids may be the cause of this decreased absorption.
What’s worse, this particular item is anonymous. Therefore, it can be difficult to identify specific food allergens because the meat itself can come from any combination of cattle, pigs, sheep, or goats.
Despite the fact that meat and bone meals are still regarded as protein-rich meat concentrates, we do not view a generic ingredient such as this as a quality product.
The third ingredient is corn gluten meal. When most of the starchy carbohydrates in corn have been washed out, gluten is what’s left behind.
Despite having 60% protein, corn gluten meal is anticipated to have a lower biological value than meat.
Additionally, less expensive plant-based products like this one can significantly increase the total protein stated on the label, which is a factor to take into account when determining the actual meat content of this dog food.
The fourth ingredient is beef fat. Rendering, a process akin to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid, is most likely how beef fat (or tallow) is obtained.
Despite not sounding particularly enticing, beef fat is a high-quality ingredient.
The fifth component is soybean meal, which is typically found in farm animal feeds as a byproduct of the production of soybean oil.
Despite having a protein content of 48 percent, soybean meal is anticipated to have a lower biological value than meat.
Additionally, less expensive plant-based products like this one can significantly increase the total protein stated on the label, which is a factor to take into account when determining the actual meat content of this dog food.
Chicken by-product meal, a dry rendered by-product of slaughterhouse waste, is the sixth ingredient. It’s made from the chicken carcass after all the desirable cuts have been removed.
Fortunately, by-product meals are meat concentrates and have almost three times as much protein as fresh chicken.
Depending on the standard of the raw materials the manufacturer uses, this ingredient’s quality may vary.
After the egg and chicken flavor, we find wheat. Wheat is a different type of cereal grain that shares the same problems as corn (which were previously covered).
The list continues with a number of additional items after this.
But realistically, ingredients this far down the list (aside from nutritional supplements) are unlikely to have an impact on how this Purina product is rated as a whole.
With 6 notable exceptions…
First off, adding artificial coloring to any pet food makes us sad. Because of this, coloring is used to enhance the product’s appeal to humans rather than your dog. Do you really believe that your dog is bothered by the color of his food?
Next, it doesn’t seem like the minerals listed here have been chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually associated with higher quality dog foods.
Additionally, this recipe includes sodium selenite, a contentious selenium mineral form. In terms of nutrition, selenium yeast appears to be a more natural source of selenium than sodium selenite.
Next, garlic oil can be a controversial item. Garlic has been connected to Heinz body anemia in dogs, despite the fact that many people prefer the ingredient due to its alleged health benefits.
Therefore, one must balance the potential advantages of feeding garlic with its known propensity to harm an animal’s red blood cells subclinically.
Additionally, there is no mention of probiotics, which are beneficial bacteria added to kibble surfaces after processing to aid in digestion.
Last but not least, this food contains menadione, a contentious vitamin K form associated with allergies, liver toxicity, and the abnormal breakdown of red blood cells.
We question the use of vitamin K in any dog recipe because AAFCO doesn’t specify that it be included in its nutrient profiles.
Purina Dog Chow appears to be a subpar dry dog food based solely on its ingredients.
The dashboard shows a reading of 24% for dry matter protein, 11% for fat, and an estimated 57% for carbohydrates.
The brand’s average protein content is 26%, and its average fat content is 12%. All things considered, these numbers point to a 54% carbohydrate content for the entire product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 47%.
Which means this Purina product line contains…
Near-average protein. Below-average fat. Moreover, it contains more carbs than usual compared to a typical dry dog food.
This profile appears to be that of a kibble with only a moderate amount of meat when you take into account the effects of the corn gluten and soybean meals on protein levels.
Is Purina Dog Chow Healthy for Your Dog?
Nestle Purina produces a line of dog food under the name Dog Chow. Dog Chow produces a variety of dog foods, including kibble and wet dog food as well as specialized food for small dogs and puppies, for both adult dogs and puppies.
The answer to the question of whether Purina Dog Chow is healthy for your dog is both yes and no.
The good news is that Purina Dog Chow satisfies The Association of American Feed Control Officials’ (AAFCO’s) nutritional standards for dog food. Thus, Purina Dog Chow is safe for dogs.
The bad news is that it may not be beneficial to them.
Preservatives, Dyes, and Other Synthetic Ingredients
Unfortunately, many synthetic chemical ingredients are used in cheaper formulas. These components are used to increase a product’s appeal or extend its shelf life. In most cases, these ingredients are unnecessary.
Although there are more affordable natural alternatives that can produce the same effects, many manufacturers choose not to use them.
FAQ
Is Chow dog food good for dogs?
Yes, Purina Dog Chow is good for dogs. It is a nutrient-dense food made with carefully chosen components, including premium protein sources and 23 necessary vitamins and minerals. It’s also safe food that’s crafted in USA facilities. Visit the Dog Chow website to learn more.
Do vets recommend Purina Dog Chow?
Yes, Purina Pro Plan is good for dogs. Pro Plan dog food formulas provide advanced nutrition and the highest-quality ingredients to nourish your dog’s best life. They are supported by more than 400 Purina scientists, including nutritionists, behaviorists, and veterinarians. Pro Plan is recommended by veterinarians.
How does Purina Dog Chow rate as a dog food?
Purina Dog Chow Natural is a grain-free dry dog food that uses a significant amount of named by-product meal as its main source of animal protein, earning the company 4 stars.
What is the most healthiest dog food?
- Blue Buffalo. …
- Merrick Grain-Free Food. …
- Nature’s Logic Sardine Meal Feast. …
- Taste of the Wild High Prairie. …
- CANIDAE All Life Stages. …
- Diamond Naturals. …
- CANIDAE Wet Food. …
- Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diet.