When bringing a new puppy home, one of the first big decisions pet parents need to make is choosing the right puppy food. With so many options on the market, it can be overwhelming trying to determine which brand and formula will provide your pup with the nutrition they need. Two popular puppy food brands are Rachael Ray Nutrish and Purina Pro Plan. But how do you decide between them? In this article we talk about Rachael Ray Nutrish Vs. Purina Pro Plan-Puppy Diet Showdown.
Key Differences
Rachael Ray Nutrish and Purina Pro Plan take different approaches when formulating their puppy foods. Here are some of the major differences:
Ingredients: Nutrish uses chicken, chicken meal, and whole grains as primary ingredients. Pro Plan lists chicken and poultry by-product meal first. Nutrish avoids by-product meals.
Specific Formulas: Nutrish offers an all life stages formula suitable for puppies and adults. Pro Plan has formulas tailored to each life stage.
Added Nutrients: Pro Plan adds more supplemental vitamins, minerals, and nutrients like DHA and antioxidants. Nutrish focuses on nutrients from whole food ingredients.
Price: Nutrish costs less per pound compared to Pro Plan’s premium formulas. But you may need to feed more Nutrish to meet nutritional requirements.
Rachael Ray Nutrish Puppy Food Overview
Rachael Ray Nutrish is a more budget-friendly brand that aims to provide quality nutrition using simple, whole food ingredients. Their Little Bites line caters to small breed puppies, but their all life stages formula can work for larger breeds too. Here are some key details:
Ingredients: Real chicken, chicken meal, whole grains, veggies, and supplemental vitamins and minerals. No by-product meals, artificial preservatives or flavors.
Nutrition Profile: 30% protein, 20% fat, guaranteed levels of glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health. Vitamin E and omega fatty acids support skin and coat.
Feeding Instructions: Feeding amounts vary based on puppy’s current and expected adult weight. Provide fresh water at all times.
Price: Approximately $1.17 per pound.
The Nutrish puppy formula relies on quality proteins like chicken, fish, and chicken meal as the first ingredients. Whole grains like brown rice provide carbohydrate energy. Dried veggies add nutritional variety. Natural preservatives like mixed tocopherols keep fat sources fresh.
Reviewers like that their puppies enjoy the tasty chicken and veggie flavor. The kibbles are smaller sized for little breeds but can still work for larger puppies that don’t mind crunching them up. Some pet parents supplement with extra proteins or probiotics.
Purina Pro Plan Puppy Food Overview
Purina Pro Plan is a premium brand from a well-known company. Their formulas target specific life stages to provide age-appropriate nutrition. The Puppy Chicken & Rice Formula offers complete and balanced nutrition tailored for growing puppies. Details include:
Ingredients: Chicken, rice, poultry by-products, whole grains, fish meal, animal fat, vitamins and chelated minerals.
Nutrition Profile: 28% protein, 17% fat. DHA for brain development. Prebiotic fiber. Antioxidants and immune boosting nutrients.
Feeding Instructions: Feed a fixed amount based on puppy’s adult weight, divided into 2-3 meals/day. Provide fresh water daily.
Price: Approximately $1.94 per pound.
This Pro Plan formula packs a protein punch from quality animal-based proteins like chicken, fish, poultry by-products, and egg. Grain ingredients provide carbohydrate energy with supplemental fats, fruits, and veggies for a balanced profile. It has high amounts of DHA from fish oil for healthy brain, eye, and nerve development.
Many reviewers mention the smaller kibble size is perfectly bite-sized for tiny puppy mouths. They also note increased energy, less digestive issues, brighter eyes, and softer fur when feeding this formula. Some pups may experience temporary loose stools when transitioning over.
Comparing Ingredients
Let’s take a closer look at some of the major ingredients in both Rachael Ray Nutrish and Purina Pro Plan puppy formulas:
Protein Sources
Both contain chicken and fish proteins. Nutrish relies more on whole meat like chicken. Pro Plan uses by-product meals too. Poultry by-products can vary in quality but still provide nutrition. Pro Plan also adds egg product.
Grains
Nutrish lists more recognizable whole grains like brown rice. Pro Plan uses corn, wheat, and processed grain ingredients. Whole grains provide more nutrients.
Fruits and Veggies
Nutrish includes carrots, beet pulp, peas and natural preservatives from produce. Pro Plan doesn’t list fruits or veggies, instead relying more on synthetic supplements.
Added Nutrients
Pro Plan has a long list of added vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, probiotics, and omega fatty acids. Nutrish focuses more on deriving nutrients from whole foods.
In a nutshell, Nutrish puppy food uses simpler whole food ingredients while Pro Plan offers more supplemental additions. One isn’t necessarily better than the other. It comes down to your nutritional preferences.
Choosing What’s Best For Your Pup
When selecting a puppy food formula, keep the following tips in mind:
Consider your budget – Pro Plan costs more per pound than Nutrish but you may feed less volume. Calculate cost per day or month when determining affordability.
Match nutrition to life stage – Growing puppies need more protein, calories, vitamins and minerals compared to adults. Make sure to choose a puppy-specific formula.
Complement your pup’s diet – Mixing kibble with canned wet foods or healthy leftovers adds taste and nutrition variety.
Adjust amounts as needed – Use feeding guidelines as a starting point but increase or decrease to maintain an ideal weight and body condition.
Transition slowly between formulas – Mix more and more of the new food in over 5-7 days to prevent digestive upset.
Monitor your puppy’s health – Contact your veterinarian if you have any concerns about food reactions, improper growth, or deficiencies.
Every pup has unique nutritional requirements. Assessing ingredient differences between Nutrish vs Pro Plan formulas equips you to select the best one to support your puppy’s needs. Provide plenty of care and affection in addition to tasty, nutritious meals to raise a happy, healthy dog! I sincerely hope you find this “Rachael Ray Nutrish Vs. Purina Pro Plan-Puppy Diet Showdown” article helpful.
