Let’s be honest: Choosing the best Purina dog food to feed to your cherished companion is rarely as straightforward as you’d like.
AT A Glance: Our Top 5 Picks for Purina Dog Food
- Purina ONE SmartBlend Natural Adult Dry Dog Food – Our Top Pick
- Purina Beneful Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food
- Purina Beneful Grain-Free Adult Dry Dog Food
- Purina Pro Plan Focus for Sensitive Skin and Stomach
- Purina Pro Plan Sport High Protein Dry Dog Food
On the one hand, the fact that the world-renowned Purina brand has brought out so many different varieties of food means you’re certain that there’s at least one out there that is completely perfect for your prized pooch.
On the other, all those seemingly endless number of options can make finding that perfect recipe feels like a total chore.
That’s where we come in.
The team here at Canine Weekly recently rounded up dozens of Prunina’s best-selling dog food brands and put them up for judgment by our panel of four-legged experts.
Combining our pets’ verdicts with what we humans know about each one, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to the best Purina dog foods currently around.
Below, you’ll find our in-depth reviews on all top eight varieties, along with a buyer’s guide to help you determine which food is best suited to your dog.
Top 8 Best Purina Dog Food Reviews
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
 | Editor’s choice Purina ONE SmartBlend Natural Adult Dry Dog Food
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Purina Beneful Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Purina Beneful Grain-Free Adult Dry Dog Food
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Purina Pro Plan Focus for Sensitive Skin and Stomach
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Purina Pro Plan Sport High Protein Dry Dog Food
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Purina Beneful Prepared Meals
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Purina Moist & Meaty Steak Flavor Adult Dry Dog Food
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
 | Purina ONE SmartBlend Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
| VIEW ON AMAZON →READ REVIEWS → |
1. Purina ONE SmartBlend Natural Adult Dry Dog Food
Available in either chicken & rice or beef & rice flavors, the Purina ONE SmartBlend Natural Adult Dry Dog Food received the highest overall score in all of the categories we considered to be important when choosing a good quality dog food, including nutritional value, contents of the formula and, yes, how well our dogs respond to it.
The protein-rich recipe features real meat as its number one ingredient with a blend of rice flour, corn gluten meal, whole grain corn, and adding other nutritional content.
Unfortunately, that does rule this one out if you’re looking for a grain-free option (don’t worry, we’ll discuss a number of those later in this guide), it also means that Purina ONE SmartBlend offers an antioxidant blend of zinc, selenium, and vitamins A and E which not only support a strong immune system but also promote healthy eyes, teeth, and gums.
Elsewhere, the inclusion of glucosamine helps look after their joints while all that protein encourages muscle development.
While the brand do offer a version of their Purina ONE SmartBlend tailored specifically to large breed dogs, there’s no need to buy that one, especially if you’re already planning to buy this one for a multi-dog household as Purina promises that this adult dry dog food is perfectly suited for all grown-up dog breeds, just another reason why it’s one of the best value for money dog foods currently on the shelves.
2. Purina Beneful Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food
If you’re searching for a new dog food because your precious pup has been piling on the pounds as of late and you need to help them get their diet under control, then you’ll find a lot to like about Purina Beneful Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food.
Featuring 100% real US farm-raised chicken as its main ingredient with accents of vegetables and fruits that are safe for dogs, this Healthy Weight formula boasts 10% fewer calories per cup than other Purina varieties but doesn’t compromise when it comes to your dog’s health and wellbeing.
All told, each cup contains 24 grams of protein and no less than 23 different vitamins and minerals to promote strong muscles, bones, teeth, and eyes, as well as maintaining a healthy coat, all while helping your pup back to happy, healthy weight.
3. Purina Beneful Grain-Free Adult Dry Dog Food
As we discussed at length in our guide to the best grain-free dog food brands, it’s not uncommon for our four-legged friends to suffer from grain allergies which can result in all kinds of unpleasant side effects from gas, constipation, and acid reflux to full-on vomiting and diarrhea.
If you think grains might be contributing to your pup’s current health problems and you need a grain-free dog food while still sticking with a reputable brand you know and trust, then Purina Beneful Grain-Free Adult Dry Dog Food may be the one to go for.
While it eliminates corn, wheat, and gluten entirely from its recipe, this one still retains all of the essential things your dog needs to stay healthy, including ample vitamins and minerals and sufficient protein, which in this case is provided courtesy of the 100% real US farm-raised chicken that serves as its number one ingredient.
Speaking of ingredients, while there’s plenty of actual real chicken here, there’s no chicken or other meat by-products which, as we’ve discussed in the past, can be well worth avoiding.
Instead, there are accents of spinach, pumpkin, and blueberries, sources of omega-6 to keep their coat shiny and healthy, and a completely natural recipe to ensure they still get all the nutrition they need with nary a grain in sight.
4. Purina Pro Plan Focus for Sensitive Skin and Stomach
The Purina Pro Plan focus range offers a selection of dog foods designed for those pets with unique dietary and nutritional requirements including weight management issues, allergies, and more.
Of them all, it’s the Purina Pro Plan Focus for Sensitive Skin and Stomach that proves to be the best, consistently earning rave reviews among relieved pet owners for finally giving their cherished companions something they can eat without a negative reaction.
For those with sensitive stomachs, the combination of oatmeal and a natural, prebiotic fiber makes the food easy to digest, while the absence of corn, wheat, or soy can prove beneficial for pups with grain allergies.
Although this one is available in a variety of flavors, it’s the salmon variety that scored best with us as it contains no poultry, meat, or by-products of either, making it an all-around healthier, safer, and more natural meal for your pet.
5. Purina Pro Plan Sport High Protein Dry Dog Food
Sticking with the Purina Pro Plan next, we come to a brand of dog food that is specifically tailored towards working dogs, those engaged in sports like agility, and for shepherd breeds who benefit from a special diet to suit their high-energy nature.
Purina Pro Plan Sport High Protein Dry Dog Food packs 30% protein and 20% fat via the chicken and rice formula, with the former serving as the number one ingredients to help them maintain lean muscle and meet their metabolic requirements.
Earning strong reviews from happy dog owners who praise it for the positive effects it has on their pet’s skin, coat, and overall condition, this high protein dog food contains far more calories per cup than other leading brands. If you want your dog to lose weight then sure, this might not be the best option but, if you find that your high-energy dog burns through so many calories that it’s harder for them to maintain a healthy weight, then the extra calories in this high-quality kibble dog food will help them to do that.
Finally, for those working dogs and other active breeds, the amino acids will help to reduce muscle soreness and tiredness after exercise, while the combination of glucosamine and omega-6 promotes healthy joints and bones.
Unfortunately that omega-6 does come from corn, wheat, and soy, so if you need a grain free option you’d be better off looking elsewhere. Otherwise, this premium brand dog food should definitely be on the radar for anyone with an active pet.
6. Purina Beneful Prepared Meals
So far, we’ve predominantly featured picks from Purina’s impressive range of dry dog food, but that’s not to say the brand doesn’t have some solid options for those who prefer wet dog food.
If your poor pup’s teeth are troubling them and they struggle to eat dry dog food, or if you’re simply looking to add a little something different to their usual kibble, then these Purina Beneful Prepared Meals may be just the thing.
Each pack contains 12 10-ounce, single-serve wet food meals with a selection of flavors including savory rice & lamb stew, chicken stew, and beef stew. That means not only can you be sure your pup will never get bored of always eating the same thing, it also means that if they turn their nose up at one flavor, you’ve always got two more to choose from.
Not that this is the only benefit. Made without any artificial flavors, colorings, or preservatives, this popular wet dog food uses 100% US farm-raised meat and poultry as its first ingredient, combining them with accents of fruits and vegetables to ensure your pooch gets all of the protein he needs to stay fit, strong, and healthy, not to mention 23 other essential vitamins and minerals to care for their teeth, eyes, and coat.
7. Purina Moist & Meaty Steak Flavor Adult Dry Dog Food
Just because you feed your dog dry food doesn’t mean that food has to be bland. That’s the message behind the Purina Moist & Meaty Steak Flavor Dry Dog Food pouches which promise to “serve up the smiles” by combining tender, real-meat pieces with accents of other delicious foods such as bacon and eggs.
Much as with the wet dog food we looked at earlier, the moistness and tnederness make this a soft, easily-chewable dry dog food which makes it a solid option if you want the benefits of dry food while ensuring it’s still something your dog with dental problems can eat safely and comfortably.
According to customer reviews, this soft and chewable approach, combined with all the protein, vitamins, and minerals a dog could need, all help make Purina Moist & Meaty a great choice for elderly dogs and particularly for those cherished pets who are sadly reaching the end of their life.
Alternatively, these can be used to liven up their kibble, or simply to replenish them as a tasty post-exercise snack.
8. Purina ONE SmartBlend Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Last but not least, it would be a shame if we didn’t give Purina the credit they deserve for ensuring that most of their best-selling dog food varieties come in at least one grain-free option.
As we mentioned earlier, whole grains can provide plenty of nutrients for dogs, they can also be harmful to those with allergies. What’s more, grain-free varieties tend to use more natural ingredients, making them an all-round good choice for health-conscious, eco-conscious pet owners.
While the Purina Beneful Grain-Free food we looked at earlier remains our favorite, this wheat-free, corn-free, and soy-free take on their popular Purina ONE SmartBlend is certainly worth some serious consideration for anyone concerned about their dog’s health.
Not only is it grain-free, but it also comes without any fillers and without any meat by-products whatsoever, relying on a wholly natural combination of US farm-raised beef with fruit and vegetable accents to provide a formula that is rich in all the nutrients they need to maintain bright eyes, a shiny coat, and an abundance of energy.
It does all this without being overly dense in calories, making it a perfect choice to help your furry friend maintain a healthy weight and live a long, happy life.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Purina Dog Food for Your Dog
So, you’ve read our verdict on the top eight best Purina dog foods currently on the shelves at your favorite pet store, but if you still can’t work out which is the best one to buy for your beloved buddy, the following buyer’s guide lists all of the essential things you may need to consider to help you make an informed purchasing decision.
Your Dog’s Life Stage
Throughout this guide, we’ve focused almost exclusively on options for adult dogs as this is really where Purina’s strengths lie.
While the best puppy foods will contain lots of fat and fiber to help your furry little friend grow big and strong, adult dog foods are often more about maintenance, packing in enough nutrients to help them keep their coat shiny, their eyes bright and in good health, and their bones and joints in good, healthy condition.
As your dog gets older, it may be that they need more support for their bone health. What’s more, if they’re starting to slow down and move around less than they used to, then a calorie-controlled option like Purina Beneful Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food may prove to be a worthwhile purchase.
Their Activity Level
If you read through all of our Purina dog food reviews, you’ll no doubt have noticed that the brand does particularly well at providing high-protein formulas specifically designed for high-energy athletic dog breeds.
With that in mind, if you have a boisterous border collie or a boundlessly energetic boxer, then such varieties may just be the thing. However, it’s worth noting that one of the ways that Purina tailors these high-protein blends to active dogs is to make them more calorie-rich than other varieties.
That way, dog owners can be sure that even if their lively pup spends ages running around the garden, they’ll still be able to maintain a healthy weight. As such, you might want to rule these types of foods out for sedentary, indoor dogs, as it could soon lead to weight problems.
Dry or Wet Dog Food
It’s no secret that we’ve favored dry dog food over the wet stuff in this guide, but again, that’s because, again, this is what Purina seems to do best.
That said, their wet varieties can be every bit as nutritious, so often it might come down to simple preference, whether that’s yours or your dogs. For example, if you find that they just don’t take to kibble the way you’d like, swapping it out -or even just mixing it- with wet dog food may prove to be a useful option.
Alternatively, if your dog is getting on in years, is still only growing and hasn’t fully developed their teeth yet, or is recovering from a trip to the doggy dentist, then dry dog food may not be suitable for them and they’ll need wet dog food instead.
Grain or Grain-Free Dog Food
There are arguments for and against the inclusion of grains such as corn, wheat, and soy in dog foods. While some say that they provide essential omega-6 and nutrients that help dogs maintain good health, others note that many breeds can be particularly sensitive to grains and that those blends which include them can end up doing dogs more harm than good.
If your dog tends to suffer with allergies or a sensitive stomach, then you may find it a good idea to err on the side of caution with a grain-free approach to feeding time.
Final Thought: Which is the Best Purina Dog Food of 2022?
As you’ll see from our buyer’s guide, the best Purina dog food is ultimately the one that’s best suited to your pet.
If they’re having trouble with their teeth and thus need the best of the best from Purina’s range of wet dog foods, we recommend Purina Beneful Prepared Meals.
If you’re looking for the brand’s best grain-free formula, then you might want to check out Purina Beneful Grain-Free Adult Dry Dog Food which not only eliminates all wheat, corn, and soy from the recipe but also does without meat by-products, instead using a healthy blend of real meats and fruit and vegetable accents.
However, if you simply want to treat your dog to the best Purina dog food that money can buy, we’d have to say Purina ONE SmartBlend Natural Adult Dry Dog Food thanks to its array of flavors and exceptional nutritional value, making it a great choice for keeping your dog healthy for many years to come.
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Forrest is a lover of dogs, the wild outdoors, deep mysterious conversations… and coffee. He is the owner of several websites, including Canine Weekly. He resides in Austin, Texas.