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Zack Keithy, our author, is a certified veterinarian technician (UC Blue Ash) for over 6 years (contact him here). The articles written here are based on his expertise and experience, combined with a review by our expert vet reviewers including Dr M. Tarantino. Learn more about us here.
Are you faced with the dilemma of deciding between Farmina vs Purina Pro Plan dog food?
When you’re trying to decide between these two brands, it can be difficult to know which one is right for your pet.
You want to make sure that you’re getting the best possible food for them and that they will enjoy eating it.
How do you make the right decision then?
In this comparison between Farmina and Purina Pro Plan, I will share in detail information about these two dog food companies using 6 important factors.
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Overview: Farmina vs Purina Pro Plan Dog Food Comparison
⚠️ Consider the following when choosing dog food:
- Life stage
- Size of dog
- Grain-inclusive or grain-free
What’s most important in choosing the right type of food for your dog is understanding its breed (activity levels) and any existing allergies.
If you need more help, consult your vet or find a veterinary nutritionist at the American College of Veterinary Nutrition (AVCM).
The first thing to know about Farmina and Purina Pro Plan dog food is that they are both premium brands.
This means that they use high-quality ingredients, such as fresh real meat and nutritious vegetables in their foods and have strict standards when it comes to quality control.
Both of these brands are also made by large companies with a long history in the pet nutrition industry.
Let’s find out more about them in the following sections:
- Brand Reputation
- Ingredients
- Key Nutrients
- Range of formulas
- Product Safety and Recall History
- Price
1. Brand Reputation
Farmina
Italian pet food manufacturer Farmina has been in business since 1965, producing goods for both dogs and cats.
It provides numerous formulae with a wide range of protein sources, including chicken, lamb, herring, and duck.
The company is well known across Europe, and in recent years, Farmina has also established a steady reputation in the United States.
Purina Pro Plan
Purina offers a variety of product lines, with Purina Pro Plan being one of their most popular and premium offerings.
William H. Danforth established Purina, formerly known as Purina Mills, in 1894, and the company started as a business making animal feed that eventually focused on domestic pet food.
It is today one of the most well-known brands of pet food in the world and is available in most places.
They provide a wide range of facilities for both research and manufacturing, including one exclusively for the study of animal health.
Purina’s mission is to deliver tailored nutrition based on scientific research for every dog’s specific dietary, size, and age demands.
2. Ingredients
In this comparison of Farmina and Purina Pro Plan dog food, we will focus on the following dry food product from each company:
⚠️ A few points to note about the product label
Product name – tells you the percentage of the main ingredient
- “Chicken” – at least 70% of the product.
- “Chicken entree”, “Chicken platter”, “Chicken dinner” – at least 10% of the product.
- “With chicken” – at least 3% of the product
- “Chicken flavor” – less than 3% of the product
Ingredients – The first few items listed are the most important and make up the majority of the product (determined by weight).
Meat-meal – Can have much more protein than actual meat. To further understand, refer to this guide by AAFCO.
Farmina
The company is committed to providing dog owners with all-natural, wholesome, and delectable dog food that is free of artificial flavors or preservatives.
This particular dry dog food product has no corn whatsoever and contains beef as the source of 90% of the protein.
This is a fantastic special combination that is not frequently found across other dog food companies because it contains the intake of ancient cereals like spelt and oats.
Ancient grains have changed the least over time when contrasted with more recent grains like rice and corn.
The advantages themselves, though, are up for debate, therefore I think this is a matter of personal preference.
Additionally, no meat by-products are used by the company.
Purina Pro Plan
The science-driven Purina employs over 500 scientists and dog nutritionists and invests millions of dollars across multiple research centers to develop the best dog food formulas.
The first ingredient in Purina Pro Plan, which comes in grain and grain-free varieties, is real meat.
You will also come across the use of meat by-products, in this case, from poultry, which might not sit well with some people.
One of its best-selling products, the Probiotics Shredded Blend High Protein Adult Dry Dog Food, has additional supplements to aid dogs’ digestion.
3. Key Nutrients
Every pet food label must include a guaranteed analysis of the nutrients, according to AAFCO (The Association of American Feed Control Officials) regulations.
It has strict requirements to make sure that a product is in fact complete and balanced for dogs.
This means that complete and balanced diets must contain the minimum amount of all of the nutrients necessary for dogs, which is also indicated in the “guaranteed analysis.”
The analysis must validate minimum crude protein and crude fat percentages as well as maximum crude fiber and moisture percentages.
The tables below will show you the data from the two brands.
Take note: When comparing dog food nutrients percentages, you should remove the amount of moisture to make it a more even comparison.
This is also referred to as calculating its dry matter basis (use this calculator).
This approach is a more accurate way to understand the true nutrient contents of dog food, instead of just relying on the number on the label (which is an ‘as-fed’ basis).
Farmina vs Purina Pro Plan Dog Food Guaranteed Analysis
| Nutrient | Farmina | Dry matter basis | Purina Pro Plan | Dry matter basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crude protein | 30% min | 32.97% | 26% min | 29.55% |
| Crude Fat | 18% min | 19.78% | 16% min | 18.18% |
| Crude Fiber | 2.5% max | 2.75% | 3% max | 3.41% |
| Moisture | 9% max | – | 12% max | – |
Crude Protein
For a dog’s diet to be healthy and balanced, there needs to be plenty of protein.
The body uses protein for a variety of functions, including the development and maintenance of muscles and other tissues.
Additionally, it is important for the growth of new muscle, skin, and hair cells.
It also aids in the production of enzymes and hormones, two essential physiological substances.
Finally, it supports a robust immune system and creates energy, much like carbs.
Dogs can synthesize half of the 22 amino acids required to make proteins; the other half must be consumed.
It can be observed that Farmina has a higher protein level and uses more real meats in this particular range.
Crude Fat
A balanced diet for dogs must include fats and oils.
For ordinary, healthy adult dogs, a diet that contains between ten and fifteen percent fat (a minimum of five percent) is optimum.
Only when animals are permitted to consume excessive amounts of calories and fat (from extra snacks and table scraps, for example), without getting enough activity to make up for it, does fat in the diet becomes an issue.
Both brands produce enough fats for your dog’s daily requirements.
Crude Fiber
Fiber assists in the creation of solid, well-formed stools and promote regular bowel movements by increasing mass and absorbing extra water.
Additionally, fiber promotes intestinal pH balance, which prevents the development of harmful bacteria in your dog’s digestive system.
It also improves their digestive health and leaves them feeling full, which may reduce their appetite and help them avoid overeating.
Both of these products have sufficient fiber for your dog, but a higher number would have been more desirable.
4. Range of formulas
If a company provides me with lots of choices compared to another brand of dog food, I will probably go with the first one since I can get everything in one go.
The good thing here is that both companies have found success in providing a broad selection of dog food products, including both dry and wet dog food.
There are also formulas catered to specific needs, such as grain-free options, nutritional sensitivity, and weight control, are available.
Some of their top-selling products are listed below:
Most Popular Farmina Dog Food
Most Popular Purina Pro Plan Dog Food
5. Product Safety and Recall History
I’m sure you want to know that your money isn’t going to a company that has had any major issues in the past.
I try to update this section as much as possible, but if you find anything amiss, you may double-check on the FDA’s site or its archives for accuracy.
Farmina
Farmina dog food has never been recalled before in the United States or Canada.
Purina Pro Plan
In March 2016, a few varieties of Pro Plan wet dog food sold in tubs were recalled because of inadequate vitamin/mineral levels.
6. Price
The price could be a big factor when choosing dog food, especially if you have a few dogs to feed and are on a limited budget.
And it’s also no secret that prices can vary widely between brands and types, so if you want to save money, it’s important to carefully consider the costs involved before making a purchase.
The table below shows the price per pound for the options discussed in this article:
| Brand | Adult Dry Food |
|---|---|
| Farmina | $2.93/lb |
| Purina Pro Plan | $1.83/lb |
In Conclusion: Farmina vs Purina Pro Plan Dog Food Comparison
Overall, both Purina Pro Plan and Farmina N&D are good options for dog owners looking to feed their pets a quality diet.
Each brand has its own particular strengths and weaknesses, so it’s important to consider the factors discussed above in each formula before making your final decision.
At the end of the day, you can’t go wrong with either brand.
Both are known for producing quality dog food that your pet will love and enjoy eating.
However, if you want to save money and find a more affordable option for your dog’s nutritional needs, then Purina Pro Plan could be a better choice.
That said, I have switched out of dry kibbles to a fresh diet for my dogs, and now I chose Ollie instead. (read my Ollie dog food review)
What about you?
