Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Adult Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula
The value benchmark of this ranking: feeding-trial validated, 4.6/5 from about 14,600 ratings, and roughly $1.16 per 1,000 kcal. The ingredient list has by-products and soy; the research behind it does not apologise.
Score breakdown
The overall score of 80/100 is a weighted sum of the six dimensions below. Each dimension shows what we found in this specific formula.
Weight 30% · Algorithm-computed score 74/100
Algorithm: first ingredient “Chicken” is named whole meat; 1 named animal ingredients in the top five; protein 29.5% on a dry-matter basis (target for this stage: 24%). Deductions: Named by-product meal; Plant protein concentrate — dilutes animal share.
Weight 20% · Algorithm-computed score 62/100
Algorithm: first ingredient is a named animal source; among the top five, 1 by-product/unnamed and 1 plant-protein concentrate items.
Weight 18% · Editorially assessed score 90/100
AAFCO statement: Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that this formula provides complete and balanced nutrition for maintenance of adult dogs.. Formulated-to-meet profiles are acceptable but weaker evidence than feeding trials, which caps the score here.
Weight 14% · Editorially assessed score 84/100
Nine voluntary recalls since 2011, most of them small and lot-specific. Recent events cluster in the prescription channel: a December 2022 mislabelling of Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EN cans and a February-March 2023 elevated-vitamin-D withdrawal of EL Elemental dry food. No mainstream retail Pro Plan dry food has been recalled.
Weight 10% · Algorithm-computed score 100/100
Algorithm: about $1.16 per 1,000 kcal ($ tier), normalized against same-species peers, wet and dry together (cheapest = 100, most expensive ≈ 15).
Weight 8% · Editorially assessed score 92/100
Owner ratings are consistently high across major retailers, with few recurring palatability complaints.
Pros and cons
What we like
- Feeding-trial validated and made in Purina-owned US plants, with roughly 400 scientists behind the line
- About $1.16 per 1,000 kcal - the cheapest food in this ranking per calorie
- 4.6/5 across roughly 14,600 Chewy ratings, and the dual kibble-and-shred texture wins over most picky eaters
- Real chicken first, with rice and whole grain wheat rather than a legume-heavy base
What we don't
- Poultry by-product meal and soybean meal both appear in the top five
- 12% moisture is higher than most dry foods, so you are paying for a little water
- 26% protein is respectable but not high; working dogs will want more
Ingredients & nutrition analysis
The first five ingredients tell most of the story:
Pro Plan was the first dry dog food built on real meat as the first ingredient, and this Shredded Blend formula still leads with chicken before rice and whole grain wheat. It is substantiated by AAFCO feeding trials rather than formulation math, and Purina manufactures it in company-owned US facilities with its own quality-control programme.
At $2.13/lb from a 35 lb bag it works out to roughly $1.16 per 1,000 kcal, which is the lowest figure in this entire ranking - about half what Orijen costs per calorie. The compromise is the ingredient panel: poultry by-product meal and soybean meal both sit in the top five, and moisture is a high 12%.
Alternatives to consider
Other products ranked in Best Dry Dog Food:
85/ 100 Blue Buffalo Wilderness Salmon Recipe High-Protein Adult Dry Dog Food
84/ 100 Wellness Complete Health Grain-Free Deboned Chicken & Chicken Meal Recipe
Frequently asked questions
Is Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Adult Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula right for my pet?
It is our pick for: Adult dogs of any size on a budget, and picky eaters that respond to mixed textures. It is not the best fit for: Owners avoiding by-product meals and soy, and dogs with grain sensitivities. Individual animals vary — if your pet has diagnosed health conditions, confirm the choice with your veterinarian.
How much does Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Adult Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula cost?
Expect roughly $2.13 per pound ($ tier) depending on bag size and retailer. Check the linked retailers for current pricing; our value score compares cost per 1,000 kcal against comparable formulas.
How should I switch to this food?
Transition over 7–10 days, mixing increasing proportions of the new food into the old. Go slower for puppies, kittens, seniors and pets with sensitive stomachs, and watch stool quality during the switch.
Score history
Every change to this product's score is logged here, including the reason. Scores are recomputed by algorithm whenever ingredient or price data changes.
- 2026-10-19 — Product data refreshed: guaranteed analysis, ingredient list, AAFCO statement, calorie content and price replaced with values verified against the manufacturer's current US label and current US retail listings. Editorial scores for standards, safety and reviews reassessed against that data.