Purina One Smartblend Canned DOG FOOD Review

With a score of 5.5/10, Purina One Smartblend wet dog food is considered a moderate risk dog food based on our criteria. These 2 recipes average 36% protein,  with average carbohydrates of 18% as calculated on a dry matter basis. This is higher than we expect to see 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. 

Also high on the ingredient list are plant proteins, which are a less expensive substitute for quality animal protein. You want to see animal sources because they’re more digestible and contain a wider array of amino acids than plant based protein sources.

There are added vitamins and minerals in these recipes to meet nutrient requirements. 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 vitamin premixes, so it’s preferable that most or all vitamins and minerals come from real foods. 

On the ingredient safety side, these foods are 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. 

These recipes also have ingredients known for high pesticide/herbicide residues. Crops that are spray-dried with Roundup, contain more herbicide residue than other crops, even genetically modified ones. Glyphosate is an antibiotic that can kill beneficial gut bacteria and has been linked to cancer and other diseases.  

carrageenan, 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 be contaminated with arsenic from the water it’s grown in. Arsenic is linked to chronic health issues.  

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