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According to the Purina website, this Purina Pro Plan Wet Dog Food Focus Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon and Rice Entrée is designed especially for dogs with sensitive skin and stomachs. Many dogs suffer from food allergies and this canned food formula is free from some of the most common food allergens like wheat, soy, and gluten. This formula is also rich in linoleic acid, a type of omega fatty acid, which supports healthy coat and skin. If you are looking for a canned dog food that will be gentle on your dog’s sensitive stomach and help to improve the condition of his skin and coat, this Purina Pro Plan Wet Dog Food Focus Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon and Rice Entrée might be one to consider. Before you purchase this brand of dog food, however, you would be wise to consider the ingredients used to make this dog food and how they impact the total nutritional value of the product.
How to Choose a Healthy Canned Dog Food
When it comes to evaluating the nutritional value of dog foods, there are some key differences between dry dog food and canned food. For dry dog foods, moisture levels are fairly low and protein is the most important nutrient to consider. A high-quality dry dog food will list a whole source of protein or a meat meal (from named sources) first on the ingredients list and it is a good thing if more than one protein source shows up within the first five ingredients. Protein is equally important for canned dog foods, though moisture levels will be much higher. For this reason, it is not uncommon to find water or some type of broth listed second or third on the ingredients list. Just as you would for dry dog food, avoid canned dog food products that use inexpensive and non-nutritious fillers like wheat gluten and corn – you should also avoid products that have more carbohydrates than proteins and those that have a fat content that is too low.
Ingredients List
Water sufficient for processing, salmon, rice, fish, potato protein, corn oil, carrots, potassium chloride, carrageenan, locust bean gum, xanthan gum, guar gum, tricalcium phosphate, choline chloride, Vitamin E supplement, zinc sulfate, mono and dicalcium phosphate, ferrous sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, niacin, copper sulfate, calcium pantothenate, manganese sulfate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, Vitamin B 12 supplement, riboflavin supplement, Vitamin A supplement, folic acid, Vitamin D 3 supplement, biotin, potassium iodide, and sodium selenite.
Explanation of Top 5 Ingredients
The top 5 ingredients included in Purina Pro Plan Wet Dog Food Focus Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon and Rice Entrée are: salmon, rice, fish, potato protein, and corn oil. Below you will find a brief explanation of each of these ingredients:
Salmon – Salmon is an excellent source of animal-based protein and it is also rich on omega-3 fatty acids like DHA and EPA. The fact that this ingredient is listed first is beneficial, but it is important to keep in mind that fresh meats like salmon contain up to 80% water. When the food is cooked, the resulting weight of the ingredient is much less than the original weight – this means that there might actually be more rice in this canned food than salmon, even though salmon is listed first.
Rice – There are several different kinds of rice that are used in dog food and the fact that it isn’t specified here which type of rice is used sends up a red flag. Whole grain brown rice is a complex carbohydrate that, as long as it is cooked, is a good source of digestible carbohydrates for your dog. White rice, on the other hand, is lower in fiber and provides little nutritional value for your dog. Because it is unclear which type of rice is used here, this ingredient can be said to only provide moderate nutritional value for your dog.
Fish – Having another source of animal-based protein listed within the top five for this Purina Pro Plan Wet Dog Food Focus Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon and Rice Entrée is a good thing, but it is somewhat troubling that the fish is not named. There are many different types of fish and some are more nutritious than others. Because the type of fish is not named, it is difficult to judge the value of this ingredient.
Potato Protein – Potato protein is the dry residue that remains after the starchy part of the potato has been removed. Potato protein contains about 80% protein, but that protein is much less biologically valuable for your dog than any animal-based source of protein. It is also important to note that dog food manufacturers sometimes use plant-based proteins like potato protein to increase the protein content of their pet foods without actually adding more meat.
Corn Oil – This ingredient is somewhat troubling for two reasons. For one thing, corn is one of the most common food allergens affecting dogs. Second, corn products are very low in nutritional value for dogs when compared to other carbohydrates. Corn oil does contain some omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, but it is high in calories for providing relatively low nutritional value. It would be better to see an animal-based fat here like salmon oil.
Other Notable Ingredients
Aside from the top five ingredients, there are several other notable ingredients found in Purina Pro Plan Wet Dog Food Focus Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon and Rice Entrée. Some of these ingredients include: carrageenan, locust bean gum, xanthan gum, and mineral supplements. Carrageenan is a thickening agent derived from seaweed and there is some debate regarding its long-term biological safety for pets. Locust bean gum is derived from the seeds from the carob tree and it has not been known to harm pets, though its nutritional value is limited – the same can be said for xanthan gum.
While it is usually good to see mineral supplements listed on the ingredients list for dog foods, the minerals in this Purina Pro Plan Wet Dog Food Focus Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon and Rice Entrée are not chelated. Chelated minerals are those that have been chemically bound to protein molecules which makes them easier for your dog’s body to absorb. Non-chelated minerals are common in low-quality dog foods which sends up a red flag. It is also worth noting that this product does not contain any probiotics. Probiotics are beneficial bacteria that help to support healthy gut flora to aid in healthy digestion.
Conclusion
Overall, this Purina Pro Plan Wet Dog Food Focus Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon and Rice Entrée provides below-average nutritional value when compared to other canned dog food formulas. The fact that this product includes fresh salmon at the top of the ingredients list is one of the few things about this dog food, but it is negated by the fact that so many controversial ingredients are used. Corn oil, for example, may spark allergic reactions in some dogs and it is much less biologically valuable than an animal-based oil like salmon oil. The fact that the type of rice used here is not named sends up a red flag, as does the inclusion of potato protein. There are several ingredients included in this Purina Pro Plan Wet Dog Food Focus Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon and Rice Entrée which provide little to no nutritional value for your dog. For this reason, this canned food formula is best avoided.
Paw Rating
This Purina Pro Plan Wet Dog Food Focus Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon and Rice Entrée receives a paw rating of 2 out of 5. Though this formula does include fresh salmon as one of the top five ingredients, the other four provide moderate nutritional value at best. The sources are not named for the type of fish and rice used in this formula, and potato protein may be used to increase the protein content of the food without adding any additional meat. Overall, you would better serve your dog by finding an alternative food to this Purina Pro Plan Wet Dog Food Focus Adult Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon and Rice Entrée.
