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Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Variety Pack Grain-Free Canned Dog Food, 13-oz, case of 12
Purina Pro Plan

Complete Essentials Variety Pack Grain-Free Canned Dog Food, 13-oz, case of 12

Evidence Fair
AAFCO compliance inferred from product name
wet $3.53/lb

Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Variety Pack Grain-Free Canned Dog Food, 13-oz, case of 12 earns a Sniff Score of 38/100 (D) with Fair evidence. 3 controversial ingredients flagged. Score capped at 64 due to 3 WATCH ingredients.

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).

FQI

AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for not stated.

ACF

Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.

STACK

Score capped at 64 due to 3 WATCH ingredients.

CAP why?

Low protein quality. liver delivers limited bioavailable amino acids.

PQI

Contains carrageenan. Plausible rodent colitis mechanism, no direct canine clinical evidence at food-grade levels. Concern elevated for dogs with IBD..

CIP

Controversial ingredients · 3

  • meat by-products
    Unspecified species. AAFCO definition allows organs, blood, bone. but the lack of a named source means quality and consistency are not auditable.
  • sodium selenite
    Synthetic selenium source. Selenium is essential, but sodium selenite has a narrower safety margin than organic alternatives like selenium yeast. Better-formulated foods use the organic form.
  • carrageenan
    Seaweed-derived thickener; some studies link it to gastrointestinal inflammation. Most common in wet foods but appears in some kibble gravies.

Every flagged ingredient has a published basis (confirmed harm / regulatory action / precautionary). See methodology →

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 41% ⓘ
Protein
9%
min (as fed)
Fat
6%
min (as fed)
Fiber
1.5%
max (as fed)
Moisture
78%
max

Wet and fresh foods contain more water than kibble (typically 65-78%). On a dry-matter basis, this food's protein content is roughly 41%, comparable to premium kibble (typically 30-45% DMB protein).

Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

35 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    chicken carrots entree classic: chicken
  2. 2
    water

    Just water. Counted on the label of any wet or fresh food. The number tells you the moisture content.

  3. 3
    liver

    Generic liver, usually chicken or beef. Among the most nutrient-dense ingredients a dog can eat. Named species is more informative.

  4. 4
    meat by-products Flagged

    Unnamed organ meats and tissue. Could be nutritious, but no species is listed, so quality varies by batch.

  5. 5
    carrots

    Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, and a small amount of antioxidant value.

  6. 6
    guar gum

    Thickener common in wet food. Emerging research on emulsifiers and the gut microbiome, but no smoking gun in dogs yet.

  7. 7
    potassium chloride

    Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.

  8. 8
    zinc sulfate

    Inorganic zinc. Effective at AAFCO doses but less well-absorbed than chelated forms like zinc proteinate.

  9. 9
    ferrous sulfate

    Inorganic iron. Standard mineral source. Iron proteinate is the gentler, better-absorbed premium form.

  10. 10
    copper sulfate

    Inorganic copper. Standard, effective at small doses. Premium formulas tend to use copper proteinate instead.

  11. 11
    manganese sulfate

    Inorganic manganese. Functional but less well-absorbed than the chelated proteinate form.

  12. 12
    potassium iodide

    Source of iodine, an essential trace mineral for thyroid function. Required for AAFCO-complete formulas.

  13. 13
    sodium selenite Flagged

    Inorganic selenium. Effective at AAFCO levels, no documented safety concern in dogs despite what some pet food blogs claim. Selenium yeast is a marginal upgrade, not a necessity. See why →

  14. 14
    salt

    Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.

  15. 15
    carrageenan Flagged

    Seaweed-derived thickener. Some lab studies suggest gut inflammation, but the evidence in pets is mixed.

  16. 16
    fish oil

    Concentrated omega-3s. The reason 'EPA' and 'DHA' get to show up on the bag.

  17. 17
    choline chloride. e437122
  18. 18
    turkey sweet potato entree classic: turkey
  19. 19
    water

    Just water. Counted on the label of any wet or fresh food. The number tells you the moisture content.

  20. 20
    liver

    Generic liver, usually chicken or beef. Among the most nutrient-dense ingredients a dog can eat. Named species is more informative.

  21. 21
    meat by-products Flagged

    Unnamed organ meats and tissue. Could be nutritious, but no species is listed, so quality varies by batch.

  22. 22
    chicken

    Real meat. Primary protein source, with the amino acid profile dogs actually evolved to eat.

  23. 23
    sweet potato

    Complex carb with fiber and beta-carotene. Gentle on the stomach.

  24. 24
    guar gum

    Thickener common in wet food. Emerging research on emulsifiers and the gut microbiome, but no smoking gun in dogs yet.

  25. 25
    potassium chloride

    Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.

Showing first 25 of 35. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

22 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.