Purina Dog Food Reviews: Is It the Right Choice for Your Pup?

Okay, here's my personal take on Purina dog food, based on what I've actually tried with my own pups:

So, I've got two dogs – a hyperactive Jack Russell mix named Pepper and a lazy, food-loving Labrador named Gus. Feeding these two is like feeding a tiny tornado and a furry black hole. I've gone through a ton of different dog foods, trying to find something that works for both of them (and my wallet!). Purina has been a recurring name, so I figured I'd share my experiences.

The Purina Pro Plan Experiment

First up, I tried the Purina Pro Plan – the "Savor" line, specifically. I think it was the shredded chicken and rice formula. My main goal here was to see if it would help Gus, my Lab, with his, um, "digestive issues." He tends to get a bit gassy, and I was hoping a "higher-end" Purina would help.

• The Good: Gus absolutely loved the taste. He'd practically inhale it. Pepper, surprisingly, was also a fan, which is rare because she's picky. Their coats did look a bit shinier after a few weeks.
• The Not-So-Good: Gus's gas problem? Didn't really improve. Maybe a tiny bit, but not enough to justify the higher price. Also, the kibble size was a little big for Pepper, and she'd sometimes leave some pieces behind.

Conclusion: The dogs love it, it is good for shiny fur, but did not really work for my dog's "digestive issues."

Venturing into Purina ONE

Next, I decided to give Purina ONE a shot. I picked the "SmartBlend" line, thinking it might be a good middle ground – better than the basic stuff, but not as pricey as Pro Plan. I went with the lamb and rice formula this time, just to switch things up.

• The Good: Gus still enjoyed it, though maybe not quite as much as the Pro Plan. Pepper ate it without complaint. And, surprisingly, Gus's gas did seem to improve a bit more on this one!
• The Not-So-Good: Their energy levels seemed a little... lower? It's hard to say for sure, but they didn't seem quite as bouncy as usual. Also, I noticed their stools were a bit softer than I'd like.

Conclusion: Help a bit for Gus's gas problem, but maybe not so good for their energy levels.

The "Regular" Purina Dog Chow Test

Finally, out of curiosity (and a bit of budget-consciousness), I grabbed a bag of the classic Purina Dog Chow – the complete and balanced, chicken flavor. I figured, "Hey, it's been around forever, so it can't be that bad, right?"

• The Good: It's cheap! Seriously, the price difference is significant. And, surprisingly, both dogs ate it without any issues. They didn't gobble it down like the Pro Plan, but they didn't turn their noses up at it either.
• The Not-So-Good: Their coats definitely looked duller on this one. And Gus's gas came back with a vengeance. Also, I felt like I had to feed them more of it to keep them satisfied, which kind of negated the cost savings.
• Conclusion: Cheap, but maybe not so good for Gus's gas and their fur.

My Overall Thoughts

Honestly, after all this experimenting, I'm still a bit torn. Purina has so many options, it's almost overwhelming! I think Pro Plan is probably the "best" in terms of quality, but it's also the most expensive. Purina ONE seems like a decent compromise, but it didn't quite hit the mark for my dogs. And the regular Dog Chow? It's okay in a pinch, but I wouldn't want to feed it to them long-term. What I did learn is I should keep trying different food and switch them to get a better result.

I guess I'm still on the hunt of the best food for Gus and Pepper.