Kirkland or Purina Pro Plan Salmon: A Simple Food Comparison

Okay, so I've been meaning to switch up my dog's food for a while. He's been on the same stuff since he was a pup, and honestly, I wanted to see if there was something better out there. My neighbor, bless her heart, keeps raving about Kirkland Signature, the Costco brand. But my vet, who I trust, always recommends Purina Pro Plan. So, I figured, why not do a little head-to-head comparison?

The Contenders

I grabbed a bag of Kirkland Signature Salmon & Sweet Potato and a bag of Purina Pro Plan Salmon & Rice (Sensitive Skin & Stomach). I wanted to keep the protein source similar to make it a fair-ish fight.

The Deep Dive

First, I checked the ingredients. Honestly, both lists looked pretty good. Lots of stuff I recognized, like salmon, sweet potatoes, and rice. There were some differences, of course, with the Pro Plan having a few more "sciency" sounding ingredients, but nothing that immediately jumped out as bad.

Next up, the sniff test. Seriously! I opened both bags and took a whiff. The Kirkland had a stronger, fishier smell, which, you know, makes sense. The Pro Plan was a bit milder. My dog, by the way, was losing his mind at this point, circling my feet like a furry shark.

Then, I checked for price . The price of kirkland is cheaper than purina a lot!

The Taste Test (aka My Dog's Opinion)

This is where it got real. I put a small amount of each food in separate bowls and let my dog go to town. He sniffed both, then went straight for the Kirkland. He scarfed it down! He did eventually eat the Pro Plan, but it definitely took him longer.

The Transition

I didn't want to upset his stomach, so I slowly mixed the new food in with his old food over a week. I started with just a tiny bit of the new stuff, gradually increasing the amount each day. No problems at all with the Kirkland. With the Pro Plan, I noticed his poops were a little...softer...for a couple of days, but that cleared up.

The Results (So Far)

It's been about a month now, and I've been rotating between the two foods. Honestly, my dog seems to be doing great on both! His coat is super shiny, he's got tons of energy, and his poops are, well, normal. I am so happy for my dog.

So, the winner? It's a tie! For my dog, at least. He seems to enjoy the taste of the Kirkland a bit more, but his body seems to handle both foods equally well. I'll probably keep alternating, just to keep things interesting for him.