Purina Pro Plan Savor Review 2024

This is our review of Purina Pro Plan Savor dog food.

I’m a former veterinary technician and lifelong dog owner. And I’ve researched Purina Pro Plan Savor in-depth to help you determine if this dog food is the best formula for your pup.

Purina Pro Plan Savor is an above-average kibble that provides complete and balanced nutrition for most dogs.

Purina is an industry-leading brand that has produced pet food for nearly a century in the United States. But, this formula does include some controversial ingredients.

This comprehensive dog food review will analyze the ingredients and nutritional content of this brand. We will also discuss customer reviews, possible recalls, and potential alternatives for this pet food from Purina.

Let’s get started!

Purina Pro Plan Savor Overview

Purina Pro Plan Savor dog foods are premium formulas suitable for most dogs. Recently, Purina recategorized many of its Pro Plan products by life stages. [1]

These formulas feature real meat as the first ingredient. All dry dog food options in the Pro Plan line also include crunchy and tender kibble to achieve an appealing texture.

Owners can choose from an extensive collection of different recipes to suit their pup’s size and age. But all formulas meet AAFCO canine nutrition guidelines.

The Pro Plan Savor product line includes 19 dry and 30 wet dog food recipes. Here are some of their most popular formulas.

1. Purina Pro Plan Adult Shredded Blend Lamb & Rice Formula
2. Purina Pro Plan Adult Shredded Blend Beef & Rice Formula
3. Purina Pro Plan Adult Shredded Blend Salmon & Rice Formula
4. Purina Pro Plan Adult Weight Management Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula
5. Purina Pro Plan Adult Small Breed Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula
6. Purina Pro Plan Adult Large Breed Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula
7. Purina Pro Plan Puppy Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula
8. Purina Pro Plan Adult 7+ Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula
9. Purina Pro Plan Savor Adult Classic Chicken & Rice Wet Dog Food
10. Purina Pro Plan Savor Adult Beef & Vegetables Entree Wet Dog Food

We selected the Purina Pro Plan Adult Savor Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice formula for detailed analysis.

This formula is suitable for a wide variety of dogs. And the chicken & rice flavor is the most popular option of this Purina line.

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Recipe and Label Analysis

Here is a detailed analysis of the label found on our sample Purina Pro Plan dry dog food. Controversial ingredients are bold.

Purina Pro Plan Savor Adult Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Dry Dog Food Formula

Ingredient list: Chicken, Rice, Whole Grain Wheat, Poultry By-product Meal (Source Of Glucosamine), Soybean Meal, Beef Fat Preserved With Mixed-tocopherols, Corn Gluten Meal, Whole Grain Corn, Dried Egg Product, Fish Meal (Source Of Glucosamine), Natural Flavor, Glycerin, Wheat Bran, Calcium Carbonate, Mono And Dicalcium Phosphate, Salt, Soybean Oil, Potassium Chloride, Fish Oil, Minerals [Zinc Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Proteinate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite], 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), Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K), Biotin (Vitamin B-7)], Choline Chloride, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (Vitamin C), Dried Bacillus Coagulans Fermentation Product, L-lysine Monohydrochloride, Garlic Oil.

* 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%

Crude Fiber Content: 3.0% Max

Total Caloric Content: 387 kcal/cup

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Ingredient Analysis

Purina uses mostly high-quality ingredients in their Pro Plan Savor formulas. Although the recipe contains some controversial items, this formula is safe for most pups. Still, you should always seek your veterinarian’s advice when selecting a new diet for your dog.

This Purina recipe features chicken as the first ingredient. Real meat provides an excellent source of lean animal protein and should provide the foundation for any dog’s diet. [2] A high-quality protein source is critical for premium name brands.

Real chicken provides high protein for optimal body condition without excess fat or calories. And most pups find the taste of chicken appealing. But this animal meat is also one of the most common allergens in dogs. [3]

Additionally, raw chicken can contain up to 73% water. When the product cooks, the meat content decreases. So this first ingredient may not make up that much of the final product.

Rice is the second ingredient and one of the best grains for dogs. It provides easily digestible carbohydrates and high concentrations of minerals. If you prefer a grain-free diet, consider the wet dog food varieties of this Purina line.

Unfortunately, the label on this dog food does not clarify if the ingredient is brown, white, or whole rice. So the quality of this item is hard to judge.

The third ingredient is another excellent source of energy from digestible carbohydrates, whole grain wheat. But wheat is more controversial than rice. Some dogs with gluten sensitivities may have adverse reactions to wheat. [4]

Whole grains offer better nutrition than refined carbohydrates. But if your pup has a sensitive stomach, he may do better on a wheat-free formula.

Further down the list, we find poultry by-product meal. By-products consist of a dry rendered blend made from the leftovers of slaughtered poultry after removing prime cuts. This blend may include beaks, feet, and undeveloped eggs.

By-product meals are generally considered lower quality ingredients in dog foods. But this meat concentrate can provide 300% more protein than fresh real chicken. [5] 

The extra cartilage in the meal acts as a natural source of glucosamine. This chondroprotective ingredient can help ease joint pain in your dog. [6]

Soybean meal is the fifth ingredient in this recipe. Soy is high in protein, but plant-based sources of this macronutrient have a low bioavailability for dogs. [7]

This is another ingredient that may not be ideal for more sensitive dogs. It is a common allergen that can trigger reactions. Soy primarily serves as a low-cost way to boost protein content.

The next ingredient, beef fat, may not sound appetizing to us. But it can be a useful ingredient in high-quality dog food for adult dogs.

Beef tallow is an animal fat from rendering that can help improve palatability. This feature helps ensure that even the most picky eaters find Pro Plan food appealing. However, this fat is not high in healthy omega fatty acids.

Corn gluten meal is another controversial dog food ingredient. Many pups suffer from corn and gluten sensitivities. This formula is unsuitable for them, but this ingredient is a safe option for most pets.

This meal has most of the starch removed, leaving mostly protein. This plant-based protein source boosts total protein but is not readily bioavailable to dogs.

Other Notable Ingredients

Other notable ingredients include fish meal and fish oil, which are high in omega-3 fatty acids. These healthy fats are vital for the immune system, coat, skin, brain, and eye health. [8]

Soybean oil has the same issues in sensitive dogs as soybean meals. It is high in omega-6 fatty acids but does not provide as much healthy fat as fish oil.

Another controversial ingredient is garlic oil, sometimes used to boost the immune system. But garlic is also sometimes linked to canine Heinz body anemia. [9]

Menadione is the last controversial ingredient in this recipe. This synthetic form of vitamin K may cause allergies, liver toxicity, and abnormal red blood cell break-down. [10] AAFCO does not produce guidelines for vitamin K in dogs. [11]

Other essential vitamins and minerals come as chelates. Chelated minerals are linked to amino acids, enhancing bioavailability. [12]

The probiotics featured on the label highlight this recipe. Probiotics help keep the good bacteria in your dog’s stomach healthy. Good bacteria help break down food to improve nutrient absorption, so probiotics are critical for digestive health. [13]

This dog food includes natural sources of glucosamine. But additional glucosamine and chondroitin could potentially help make the formula more valuable for dogs with joint issues.

Nutrient Analysis

Purina Pro Plan Savor Adult dog food has similar nutritional content to most average dry food options.

26% crude protein content from real chicken supports muscles and helps maintain excellent body condition. When you account for moisture, this formula features a dry matter protein content of 30%.

This high protein concentration is ideal for active and muscular dogs. Small pups and large breed dogs can both benefit from above-average protein. 

But this macronutrient is not excessively high. And a lean protein source like chicken limits excess calories that may contribute to obesity.

A 16% crude fat content and 18% dry matter fat content is near-average and suitable for most pups. Fat is a primary source of energy for your dog. And healthy omega fatty acids are essential for his overall health.

The fat-to-protein ratio of this Purina dog food is 52%. Fat and protein provide the primary source of this formula’s moderate 387 kcal/cup caloric content.

Although this formula is grain-inclusive, the carbohydrate content of around 40% is below average.

Purina Pro Plan Savor Reviews

96% of dog owners on Chewy would recommend Purina Pro Plan Savor to a friend. Over 1000 dog food reviews give this product an average rating of 4.7/5 stars.

Most reviews share that their picky dog happily ate these dog foods. Owners also appreciate this product’s affordable price, with many dog food reviews mentioning difficulty finding other quality dog foods in their budget.

“I have gone through countless different types of food for Finn, but we finally found one he loves. I’ve been looking for quality food that doesn’t break the bank, but he is a very, very picky eater, so we’ve had to try quite a few. He left food behind with every brand/flavor I’ve tried until this point, even the more expensive ones, but he licks the bowl clean with this food. He likes wet food too. Definitely recommend it!”

You can read more Purina Pro Plan Savor reviews on Chewy.

Recalls

There are no current recalls on this particular product.

The FDA will issue recalls for dog food found to contain contamination, cause health issues, or have other serious problems. You can find a full list of FDA Recalls here.

Alternatives

If Purina Pro Plan Savor dog food isn’t the ideal choice for your pup, there are several similar alternatives you can consider.

Our Verdict

We recommend Purina Pro Plan Savor Adult dog food for owners seeking a versatile formula from a reputable brand at an affordable price.

This dog food review demonstrates that the Pro Plan Savor line from Purina has several premium features that compensate for a recipe that includes some controversial ingredients.

Using real meat as the first ingredient, standard probiotics, and an innovative texture make this line an above-average formula. But if your dog has particular sensitivities, he may not do well on this diet.

Talk to your veterinarian about Purina Pro Plan Savor today to determine if it is the best formula for your four-legged best friend.