If you’re looking for a review of Purina One Smartblend, you’ve come to the right place. Read our complete Purina One Smartblend dog food review below for everything you need to know about this popular dog food.
As a dog owner, I know the struggle of trying to find a dog food that is good for your dog and your wallet.
Purina One Smartblend promises to be good for both, but the reality is a bit more complicated.
This dog food is a bit less expensive than other options, which makes it great for those on a budget. However, it also contains a few controversial ingredients — some of which are a large reason that the food is so cheap.
Overall, this food seems to be about mid-tier. It isn’t our favorite, but it may be a good option for some dogs.
Keep reading for our complete analysis, including a nutritional review, an ingredients review, and customer reviews.
Purina One Smartblend Overview
Purina One Smartblend is advertised as containing “smart” ingredients that work together to produce nutritionally complete dog food. In many ways, this particular pet food brand isn’t much different from other Purina One lines.
This premium dog food line includes formulas that are mostly designed for adult dogs, though they do offer a puppy line. There is also an “all life stages” option, which is suitable for both adults and puppies.
There is no official designation for senior dog food from the AAFCO. But, Purina One Smartblend does contain some formulas that are advertised for seniors. They also have formulas specifically for large breed dogs as well as other similar specialty formulas.
This is a common food that you can find at most pet stores, though all of the recipes may not be available everywhere.
In total, there are about 12 different dry dog foods and 16 different wet dog foods that this brand produces. These all have varying qualities depending on the exact ingredients used — some are quite good, while others are on the lower side.
Here are some of their most popular formulas:
- Purina ONE SmartBlend Chicken & Rice Adult Formula
- Purina ONE SmartBlend Lamb & Rice Adult Formula
- Purina ONE SmartBlend Large Breed Puppy Formula
- Purina ONE SmartBlend Vibrant Maturity 7+ Adult Formula
- Purina ONE SmartBlend Healthy Weight High Protein Formula
- Purina ONE SmartBlend Small Bites
- Purina ONE SmartBlend Tender Cuts in Gravy Lamb & Brown Rice Entree
- Purina ONE SmartBlend Large Breed Adult Formula
- Purina ONE SmartBlend Sensitive Systems Adult Formula
- Purina ONE SmartBlend Healthy Puppy Formula
In this review, we’ll specifically take a look at the Purina ONE SmartBlend Lamb & Rice Adult Formula — a pet food that is rather popular.
Recipe and Label Analysis
In this section, you’ll find a detailed look at this food’s ingredients, as well as the nutritional content.
Purina ONE SmartBlend Lamb & Rice Adult Formula Dry Dog Food
Ingredient List: Lamb (Source of Glucosamine), Rice Flour, Whole Grain Corn, Whole Grain Wheat, Chicken By-Product Meal (Source of Glucosamine), Corn Gluten Meal, Soybean Meal, Beef Fat Naturally Preserved with Mixed-Tocopherols, Mono and Dicalcium Phosphate, Glycerin, Calcium Carbonate, Liver Flavor, Salt, Caramel Color, Soybean Oil, Potassium Chloride, Dried Carrots, Dried Peas, Vitamins [Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin (Vitamin B-3), Vitamin A Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9), Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K), Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Biotin (Vitamin B-7)], Minerals [Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite], Choline Chloride, L-Lysine Monohydrochloride, Sulfur.
* Bold denotes controversial items
Estimated Nutrient Content
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guaranteed Analysis | 26% | 16% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 30% | 18% | 44% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 25% | 38% | 38% |
Moisture: 12.0% max
Calorie Content: 380 kcal/cup
Ingredient Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is lamb. This is whole meat and a great source of protein and fat for most dogs, assuming that they are not allergic to it. This particular meat is also a relatively good source of glucosamine.
After that is rice flour. While this isn’t the best option for our dogs, it isn’t considered controversial either. Rice flour is a gluten-free alternative to wheat flour, which is a common ingredient in dry dog food.
However, the next few ingredients are a bit controversial.
Whole grain corn follows as the third ingredient. Generally, dog food manufacturers use whole grain corn as a cheap source of calories. It doesn’t provide much nutrition for dogs, but it does raise the calorie content of the food.
The use of whole grain corn is one reason that this dog food is so inexpensive.
The next ingredient is whole grain wheat — another common cereal grain. This ingredient is extremely similar to corn and has many of the same issues. It isn’t nutritionally dense, but it does raise the calorie content of the food at a very low price.
Next, we briefly get away from grains with chicken by-product meal. This ingredient receives a lot of debate within the dog food community. [1]
Chicken by-product is made from the leftovers after the human-grade pieces of chicken are removed. As the name suggests, it is a by-product. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the ingredient is bad, though.
Some parts of the chicken that humans don’t eat are quite nutritious, like the organ meats. However, other parts are not in the least — and we don’t know which exact by-products this ingredient contains.
The main problem isn’t that by-products are automatically low-quality. It’s that there is no way to know the quality of by-products that this dog food manufacturer obtains.
Corn gluten meal comes next. This gluten is the residue that is left behind after the starchy part of the corn is removed. Because it is basically the protein-containing part of corn, it is extremely high in protein.
However, this protein may be less bioavailable to dogs, as it is plant-based. Therefore, this ingredient raises the content of the food through the use of low-quality protein — an inexpensive way to make the food higher in value without actually using meat.
Keep this in mind when looking at the total protein content of the food. A decent amount of the protein and essential amino acids will come from corn gluten meal — not meat.
This recipe also uses soybean meal. This soybean derivative is very similar to corn gluten meal, with many similar problems. It is protein-rich, but it may be less biologically available than meat sources of protein.
Furthermore, soybeans also tend to be quite high in pesticides, which are never good for our dogs. [2]
Further down the list, caramel coloring is included. Firstly, coloring is absolutely not necessary in dog food — dogs don’t care what color their food is. [3]
This particular type of coloring has also been linked to cancer in some animals. Therefore, we typically don’t recommend it in any dog food. It is unnecessary and potentially dangerous.
This ingredient is followed by soybean oil. Again, as a derivative of soybeans, this additive could contain high amounts of pesticides.
Dried peas are also in this ingredient list, though they are very far down. This ingredient is currently being investigated by the FDA for a possible connection to specific heart problems in dogs. [5]
There has yet to be any sure findings, but you may want to avoid peas until the FDA rules them as safe. It appears that they may affect taurine absorption or use, which is an essential amino acid for heart health.
Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex is listed as the source of vitamin K in this dog food. Vitamin K is a common additive, but this particular type is associated with some health problems, like liver toxicity. [6]
Nutrient Analysis
All dog foods contain protein, carbohydrates, and fat. These are the essential macronutrients that all mammals need to survive, including our dogs.
In general, dogs need a high amount of fat and protein. They don’t need many carbohydrates at all. [7]
Sadly, Purina One Smartblend seems to be mostly carbohydrates.
This food contains only 26% protein, which is about average when compared to other brands, but nothing close to the high level that science shows us dogs thrive on.
Fat is also relatively low at 16%, when it needs to be the food’s main source of calories.
Furthermore, much of the protein in this food comes from lower-quality ingredients like corn gluten meal. This means that the protein in the food may not be as bioavailable as in other foods.
Overall, this pet food is about average when compared to other dry dog foods. There are quite a few things we could complain about, such as the low-fat content and poor protein sources.
However, these are, unfortunately, common complaints across most dog foods currently on the market.
Purina One Smartblend may not have the best nutritional analysis, but it doesn’t have the worst either.
Purina One SmartBlend Reviews
Based on this food’s ingredient list and nutritional output, this food is about average. However, many of the customer reviews are quite good.
Many dogs love this food, despite its lower-quality ingredients. It is likely that the use of beef fat makes it tastier.
Beef fat is also a good source of fat for dogs, so no complaints here!
One particular review stated this about the Purina ONE SmartBlend Lamb & Rice Adult Formula Dry Dog Food:
“My 3-year-old beagle lab mix is extremely picky. He has tried many brands, flavors, etc and would rather starve himself for days than eat any of them. We got this to try and he ASKED me to open the bag. I was trying to finish off his old food but we ended up donating it because he wanted this kind. I give him meds 4x a day and mix his pills with his breakfast, snacks, and dinner. we split up his daily feeding into 4 so he gets his meds with food. So far, he’s been eating this for over a month and he has a shiny coat, good stool, and a happy belly.”
You can read more Purina One Smartblend reviews on Chewy.
There are a number of similar dog food reviews across this dog food brand. This formula seems to be a great option for picky eaters.
Purina One SmartBlend Recalls
Purina One Smartblend specifically hasn’t been recalled. However, this brand has had to recall other lines, as all big companies do.
Because this brand uses the same manufacturing process for all their foods, you need to look at all of the recalls — not just those that are related directly to this dog food.
Luckily, this company seems to have a below-average number of dog food recalls when you consider their size and longevity. Purina has been around for a relatively long time and produces many different dog foods, including many Purina One Smartblend recipes. The fact that they haven’t had more recalls is very surprising.
Many of the recalls were voluntary as well, which means that the company initiated the recall without the FDA forcing them to. This action shows that they are proactive regarding their food’s safety.
To stay updated on possible recalls, you can visit the FDA website. Because the FDA handles all pet food recalls, they will have the most up to date information.
Alternatives
If you’re interested in similar dog foods, you have a lot of options.
Instinct Original Grain-Free Recipe with Real Chicken Freeze-Dried Raw Coated Dry Dog Food
For those looking for better dog food, we recommend the Instinct Original.
This grain-free food is one of the best on the market, thanks to its high-quality ingredients. Plus, it is great for dogs that thrive on grain-free diets.
Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
Pet owners may also like Taste of the Wild High Prairie. This recipe contains high-quality ingredients and is another grain-free option.
It provides complete and balanced nutrition for dogs, though it is a bit more expensive.
If you need to stick to a lower budget, then we recommend Natural Balance L.I.D.
Natural Balance is one of the better dog food brands out there, providing balanced nutrition. It is surprisingly inexpensive for what it provides.
Our Verdict
Purina One Smartblend uses a mixture of high-quality and low-quality ingredients throughout its formulas. They use whole meats and animal fat, as well as meat by-products. You can expect to find ingredients like fresh chicken and poultry by-product meal.
Due to the mix-mash of ingredients, we can rate this as an average dog food. It isn’t the best, but it isn’t the worst either. And for the price, it is actually quite good.
If you’re stuck getting a budget dog food, this may be your best option. Based on the customer reviews, it may also be good for picky eaters. Many dogs seemed to like it more than other brands.
