Pro Plan Development Puppy Canned Dog FOOD Review

With a score of 6/10, Purina Pro Plan Development Puppy wet dog food is considered a moderate risk dog food based on our criteria. It is one of the better scoring Purina sub-brand and a higher scoring food compared to the Purina Pro Plan Development Puppy Food Dry. There is 1 recipe with 42% protein and 17% carbohydrate as calculated on a dry matter basis. 

It’s good to see this level of protein, however the carbohydrates are higher than we expect in a wet dog food. Excessive carbohydrate is an indicator of lower food quality as it can be used to reduce manufacturing cost. Foods that are high in carbohydrates can increase insulin levels, increase the risk of obesity and cause unwanted changes to the gut microbiome. 

There are added vitamins and minerals to meet nutrient requirements in this recipe. This usually reflects poor quality or overly processed ingredients. They are listed as undefined which is concerning because it’s assumed they are a standard premix, and it’s difficult to know the sources. Vitamin and mineral excesses, especially vitamin D and copper, can also result from added vitamin premixes, so it’s preferable that most or all vitamins and minerals come from real foods. 

This recipe contains meat by-products which is an unnamed animal protein source. When unnamed animal proteins are used they’re a sign of low quality and can be made from any type of meat. Unnamed animal ingredients are often a less expensive, low quality ingredient that can be made from rendered waste of many proteins.

On the ingredient safety side, this food is highly processed, using heat that destroys nutrients. Canned foods are heated before and during canning, which will cause significant losses in some active enzymes, vitamins, amino acids and phytonutrients. Processed foods are also linked to higher mortality rates in many species. 

Carrageenan, which is a highly processed derivative of seaweed, is used as a thickener or texturizer and may be linked to intestinal inflammation and other negative health effects.  

Finally, rice is an ingredient that can contain arsenic since rice naturally absorbs arsenic that can contaminate the water it’s grown in. Arsenic is linked to chronic health issues.  

Purina doesn’t provide the omega-6:omega-3 ratio, which is a concern since AAFCO allows a very inflammatory ratio of 30:1.