Purina Pro Plan vs Purina One

This is our comparison of the Purina Pro Plan vs. Purina One dog food lines.

I’m a former vet tech who researched both of these popular product lines to help you determine which option is best for your pup.

Both Purina products share the same manufacturer. But Purina Pro Plan has a broader range of premium recipes, while Purina One offers more budget-friendly formulas.

Let’s get started with an in-depth look at what sets these brands apart.

Product Range Comparison

Purina Pro Plan is the company’s top of the line pet food range. These products feature the most advanced nutritional considerations of any Purina line.

The Pro Plan range includes specialized formulas for weight management, sensitive stomachs, and aging. Many of these dog foods also feature fortification with canine-specific probiotics to balance your pet’s gut bacteria. [1]

Purina One dog foods prioritize using natural ingredients to produce affordable, high-quality formulas. This product range also offers specialized nutrition but does not have as many options as the Pro Plan line.

Pet food products from Purina One do not feature some of the premium ingredients in Purina Pro Plan formulas. But the Purina One line is a more affordable option for pet owners on a budget.

Our Picks

We’ve chosen to compare Purina Pro Plan Adult Shredded Blend Chicken and Rice Food with Purina One SmartBlend Chicken and Rice Food.

These two formulas represent the most popular general recipes in each product line.

Chicken is one of the most common protein sources found in dog food. Most dogs love the taste of this lean animal product, which provides a high protein content without excess calories.

Some dogs may have chicken allergies, but most pups can safely eat these formulas. These products also have nutritional values suitable for small, medium, and large breeds.

Both adult formulas feature similar core ingredients, making them ideal for direct comparison. And all recipes in these Purina dog food lines meet AAFCO canine nutrition guidelines.

Remember always to consult your veterinarian when determining the best diet for your pup.

Ingredients Quality

Purina uses very similar ingredients in nearly all of their recipes. Both Pro Plan and Purina One dog foods boast recipes with a generally good overall quality of ingredients. But both product ranges include some similar controversial additives.

Neither of these product ranges feature grain-free dry dog food formulas. If you prefer to feed a grain-free diet, you should consider different brands.

Both recipes in this comparison use real chicken as the first ingredient. A high-quality animal protein should provide the foundation of any dog’s diet. Real meat is an excellent source of the essential amino acids your pup’s body needs every day. [2]

The second ingredients of these formulas differ slightly. This Pro Plan formula includes rice, while our Purina One example uses rice flour. 

Both components provide digestible carbohydrates as a source of energy. But increased processing to produce rice flour can lower nutritional quality. [3]

Shared controversial ingredients include soybean meal, corn gluten meal, and wheat gluten. Some dogs with sensitive stomachs may react poorly to these common allergens. So neither of these formulas may be suitable for pups with food allergies.

Whole grain wheat is a digestible carbohydrate that is high in vitamins and minerals. Additional carbohydrates include whole-grain corn. Corn is high in energy but has lower levels of other nutrients.

Both use chicken by-product meal as a natural source of glucosamine. This chondroprotective ingredient helps protect cartilage and minimize joint discomfort. [4] But, poultry by-products can be controversial as many believe they represent lower quality options.

Purina formulas also feature Menadione. This synthetic form of vitamin K may contribute to liver toxicity, allergies, and abnormal red blood cell break-down. [5] AAFCO does not recommend specific daily requirements of this vitamin for dogs.

Purina One recipes include some artificial additives like caramel color. Artificial coloring can cause digestive upset in particular pups.

Garlic oil is a controversial ingredient found in Pro Plan formulas but not used in Purina One recipes. Although often added to help boost immune system function, scientific research links garlic oil to Heinz Body Anemia cases. [6]

But, Purina Pro Plan dog food formulas also include several beneficial ingredients that the Purina One line lacks. Probiotics highlight this recipe and support the good bacteria in your pup’s gut. Good bacteria improve nutrient absorption by helping break down food. [7]

Both formulas provide dogs with omega fatty acids from animal fat.  But only Purina Pro plan formulas include fish oil. Fish oil is the prime source of omega-3 fatty acids. This type of fat is essential for skin, coat, brain, and eye health. [8]

Purina One depends on omega-6 fatty acids from beef fat to support skin and coat health. Omega-6 has several benefits in the body. But this fatty acid may increase inflammation without adequate amounts of omega-3 from the diet.

Purina Pro Plan is also fortified with additional vitamin A to support eye health and immune function. Purina One formulas provide balanced nutrition with adequate vitamins and minerals, but they do not have the same supportive nutrients.

Overall, both formulas have similar recipes that meet your dog’s nutritional needs with quality ingredients. But, you can find controversial additives in both product ranges. 

Ultimately, the additional beneficial ingredients in Purina Pro Plan formulas give them the edge over Purina One alternatives for ingredient quality.

Winner: Purina Pro Plan

Nutritional Value Comparison

All dog food formulas from Purina meet the nutrient profiles recommended by AAFCO. And both of the versatile adult recipes we selected for our comparison have nearly identical nutrient content.

Protein Content

AAFCO nutrient profiles recommend a diet of at least 18% crude protein for adult dogs. These recipes are both adult formulas designed for dogs of all sizes and breeds.

The identical 26% crude protein content of these two formulas is suitable for many dogs. Your pup will get enough of the amino acids he needs for energy, muscle development, and cellular regeneration no matter which formula he eats.

To see if either formula has a slight advantage, we’ll have to examine the sources of that crude protein. Both recipes use chicken as the first ingredient and include several similar additional sources of protein.

Real meat, like chicken, is the preferred primary protein source in canine diets. Animal proteins are more bioavailable and provide more essential amino acids than plant-based proteins.

Both pet food brands use some plant protein sources like soybean meal to boost protein content. Soy is an inexpensive protein source, but dogs can’t digest plant protein as effectively as meat. [9]

Although these products are considered higher protein, your dog may not benefit from plant protein content.

Additional animal protein in both recipes comes from chicken by-products. By-products are considered lower quality ingredients than real meat. But poultry meat concentrates can also provide nearly 300% more digestible protein than the same amount of fresh chicken.

Fresh meat has a high moisture content that may provide reduced crude protein percentages after cooking. By-product meals from rendered, dry meat have concentrated protein that does not decrease with cooking.

Purina Pro Plan surpasses Purina One by offering more sources of animal protein. In addition to chicken, our example also features egg products and fish meals. These ingredients are excellent sources of protein that are rich in essential amino acids.  [10]  

Fat Content

Dogs use fat as a primary source of energy. The average adult dog needs a minimum of 5.5% crude fat from their diet.

Both formulas exceed that need with a 16% crude protein content. Just like every other macronutrient, Purina formulas all offer similar nutritional breakdowns depending on the target market.

A moderately higher fat content can benefit many different types of dogs. Fat can be beneficial for coat health, energy levels, and the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. [11]

But, you may not want to feed either of these recipes to obese dogs. Chunky pups often have dietary fat restrictions to limit the intake of excess calories.

High fat is especially useful for active dogs and small breeds as a source of energy. These pups have higher metabolisms that require high-calorie levels from this macronutrient.

Although we can’t compare crude percentages, there are differences in fat sources between the two formulas. Beef fat is the primary source of omega-6 fatty acids in both recipes, but Purina One does not include any significant sources of omega-3 fatty acids.

Both forms of fat are vital for pups, but a lack of omega-3 fatty acids can contribute to health problems. Excess omega-6 fatty acids can boost inflammatory processes in the body, while omega-3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation. [12]

The fish meal and fish oil in Purina Pro Plan are rich in DHA and other omega-3s. Dogs who eat this formula may have a healthier coat and less allergic reactions than pups on Purina One diets.

Purina Pro Plan may be a better choice for pet owners with pups who need extra immune, skin, and eye support due to the better fat sources.

Fiber Content

Dogs generally don’t need high concentrations of fiber in their diet. They don’t use this macronutrient for energy, but it is essential for digestive health.

Fiber acts as a prebiotic to nourish the good bacteria in your dog’s digestive system. If your dog does not eat enough fiber, his gut may become unbalanced. This can result in constipation and even anal gland issues. [13]

Both formulas have a 3% crude fiber content, which is relatively standard for most dry dog food. Whole grains like rice and wheat provide the majority of the fiber in these recipes.

Neither formula contains high-fiber ingredients like beet pulp. But the vegetables in Purina One Smartblend dog food offer more sources of fiber than Purina Pro Plan.

Nutritional Value Winner: Purina Pro Plan

Flavors

As a picky dog owner, I know how critical flavor is when shopping for dog food. You can buy your furry best friend the best chow in the world, but it doesn’t matter if he won’t eat it.

Both product ranges include wet dog food with appealing flavors for incredibly picky dogs. The dry dog food formula of both Purina Pro Plan and Purina One consists of various flavor options to suit different tastes.

If your dog quickly bores of his food, you can also easily change the flavor without drastically changing his diet with either brand. Just remember to always transition your pup slowly to a new diet.

Popular alternatives to the Purina One Chicken Formula used in this comparison include Lamb, Turkey, and Salmon flavors. Purina Pro Plan alternatives include the same core flavors and offer an even greater collection of flavors available in specialized formulas.

Pet owners find that pups enjoy both product lines’ flavor and experience difficulty with fussy eaters very rarely.

In addition to offering a wide variety of flavors, Purina Pro Plan also increases palatability with a unique texture. Purina Pro Plan dry dog food recipes have a mixture of crunchy kibble and soft pieces that many dogs find appealing.

Winner: Purina Pro Plan

Cost

Purina has an excellent reputation for producing quality dog food at an affordable price. Unfortunately, you sometimes have to sacrifice premium ingredients in favor of affordability.

These pet foods meet the nutritional requirements set by AAFCO with relatively inexpensive ingredients. But, affordable may not always mean low quality.

Some of the controversial ingredients in Purina products do have lower cost points than better alternatives. Some pups may react to the wheat, corn, and soy in these formulas. But these ingredients provide the correct amount of nutrients at a low cost.

Soybean meal is an inexpensive source of protein that can boost crude protein percentages in low-cost formulas. But, plant sources of protein do not have the same bioavailability to dogs as meat. Pups cannot digest the amino acids in plant protein as efficiently as animal protein.

Purina Pro Plan and Purina One set themselves apart from other affordable formulas by using real meat as the first ingredient. Many other low-cost pet food brand options use a grain or by-product as the primary ingredient to lower cost.

Real meat is the most critical aspect of your dog’s diet. Domestic dogs are omnivores who descend from carnivorous wolves, so their digestive systems evolved to digest meat efficiently.

Meat can provide essential amino acids, lean energy, as well as vitamins and minerals. Although the poultry by-product meal included in these formulas may be less than ideal, py-products also provide a concentrated animal protein at a low cost.

Still, price information for Purina Pro Plan vs. Purina One differs slightly. 

The Purina One product range prioritizes affordability with a simple formula. In contrast, Purina Pro Plan has a higher cost per pound of dog food with additional ingredients and specialized recipes.

Winner: Purina One

Customer Reviews

Pet owner reviews for the Purina Pro Plan line frequently praise the health benefits experienced by dogs who eat the specialized formulas with extra digestive, coat, and immune support.

Most dog owners also recommend these pet food formulas for fussy dogs due to the unique texture that increases palatability.

The Purina Pro Plan Shredded Blend Chicken and Rice formula has an average review rating of 4.7 out of 5. One review shares:

“I have gone through countless different types of food for Finn, but we finally found one he loves… He was leaving food behind with every brand/flavor I’ve tried up until this point, even the more expensive ones, but he licks the bowl clean with this food.”

Read more Purina Pro Plan reviews

Purina One Smart Blend Chicken and Rice Dog food has an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars.

Pet parents recommend the formula for other dog owners on a budget. Reviewers often compare this dog food recipe to more expensive food with the same quality. One dog owner stated:

“Purina Smart blend is a very high quality food, at a much lower cost than the other brands, and my four Bostons approve… They love the taste, and their coats are shiny and beautiful.”

Read more Purina One reviews

But, some dog owners report that the formula did not help dogs with itchy allergies.

Recalls & Product Safety

The FDA will issue recalls for certain dog food brands if they receive reports of contamination or health problems associated with a particular diet. You can search for a full list of FDA Recalls here.

There are no current recalls active for either product line.

Overall Winner

Purina Pro Plan pet foods are the overall winner of our Pro Plan vs. Purina One comparison.

The Pro Plan product range has a better selection of specialized formulas that generally use higher quality ingredients. Their dry dog food also features added probiotics and omega-3 fatty acids to boost the overall health of your dog.

But, the premier features of Purina Pro Plan options come at a higher cost. And Purina One is an excellent budget-friendly option for pet parents shopping for nutritious and affordable kibble.

Purina is known for producing quality products at affordable prices. But if you have a dog that needs specialized support, talk to your vet to see if Purina Pro Plan formulas can help your four-legged friend thrive.