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Scanned by Randall Saunders · April 11, 2026
Purina Pro Plan Pro Plan Puppy Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice Formula
87/100
Grade A− — Very Good
📦 Product Overview
BrandPurina Pro Plan
TypeDog Food - Dry/Kibble
Life Stagepuppy (all life stages including growth of large sized dogs 70 lb. or more as an adult)
Size4 LB (1.81 kg)
AAFCO Compliant✅ Yes
Label states: 'Formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages, including growth of large sized dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult).' This is a formulation claim, not a feeding trial. Meets AAFCO Growth & Reproduction minimums. 28% protein and 18% fat exceed the 22.5% protein / 8.5% fat minimums for growth.
☠ Rendering / 4D Animal Warning

Fish meal is listed without a named species. While this is not as concerning as 'animal by-product meal' or 'meat and bone meal,' unspecified fish meal means the exact species, sourcing, and quality are unknown. The remaining rendered ingredients (salmon meal) are at least named and traceable.

🧪 Ingredient Breakdown
✅
Salmon
Named whole meat, first ingredient. Good. However, salmon is roughly 70% water — once cooked and dehydrated, it drops significantly in the ingredient list by actual dry-matter contribution.
✅
Rice
The label says 'rice' which is ambiguous — could be white or brown. On a sensitive stomach formula, rice is a reasonable easily-digestible carb. Giving benefit of the doubt as whole rice, but if this is white rice it would warrant a penalty. Purina's US formulations typically use brewers rice in similar products, but this label simply says 'rice.'
✅
Barley
Whole grain, good digestible carbohydrate with fiber. Solid choice.
🟡
Fish Meal
Unspecified species of fish. 'Fish meal' is not the same as 'salmon meal' — the species is unknown. Oxidation risk and unknown sourcing. Should be named (e.g. 'salmon meal' or 'menhaden fish meal').
−1 pts
🟡
Canola Meal
By-product of canola oil extraction. Plant-based protein filler. Low nutritional value for dogs. Inflates protein numbers cheaply.
−1 pts
✅
Beef Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols)
Named animal fat with natural preservation. Acceptable.
✅
Dried Yeast
Source of B vitamins and prebiotics. Acceptable ingredient.
✅
Oat Meal
Whole grain, good digestible carb with soluble fiber. Good choice for sensitive stomachs.
❌
Pea Protein
Legume protein isolate that inflates crude protein numbers without providing animal-source amino acids. FDA DCM investigation flagged pea protein specifically. Used to make the guaranteed analysis look more protein-rich than the actual meat content warrants.
−3 pts
🟡
Salmon Meal
Named rendered protein — traceable source. Concentrated protein but rendered. Acceptable but not premium.
−1 pts
⚠
Natural Flavor
Source never disclosed on the label. Could be animal digest by another name. 'Natural' is not meaningfully regulated by FDA for pet food.
−2 pts
✅
Fish Oil
Source of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids. Unspecified fish species, but the guaranteed analysis shows EPA and DHA at 0.1% each, which is adequate for puppy brain development.
🟡
Sunflower Oil
Omega-6 only oil. No omega-3. Cheap filler fat. Contributes to omega-6/omega-3 imbalance.
−1 pts
✅
Dried Chicory Root
Prebiotic fiber (inulin source). Supports gut health. Good ingredient for sensitive stomach formula.
✅
Salt
Sodium source. Necessary in small amounts. Appearing this far down the list indicates appropriate levels.
✅
L-Lysine Monohydrochloride
Essential amino acid supplement. Common in fish-based diets to ensure adequate lysine.
✅
Calcium Carbonate
Calcium supplement. Standard.
✅
Potassium Chloride
Potassium supplement. Standard.
✅
DL-Methionine
Essential amino acid. Important for skin and coat health.
✅
Taurine
Amino acid supplement. Good to see added, especially since this food contains pea protein which may interfere with taurine absorption.
✅
Zinc Sulfate
Mineral supplement. Standard.
✅
Ferrous Sulfate
Iron supplement. Standard.
✅
Manganese Sulfate
Mineral supplement. Standard.
✅
Copper Sulfate
Mineral supplement. Standard.
✅
Calcium Iodate
Iodine supplement. Standard.
⚠
Sodium Selenite
Inorganic selenium. Toxic in excess. Selenium yeast (organic form) is preferred and safer. Many premium brands have moved away from sodium selenite.
−2 pts
✅
Choline Chloride
Essential nutrient for liver function. Standard.
✅
Mono and Dicalcium Phosphate
Calcium and phosphorus supplement. Standard.
✅
Vitamin E Supplement
Antioxidant vitamin. Standard.
✅
Niacin (Vitamin B-3)
Standard vitamin supplement.
✅
Vitamin A Supplement
Standard vitamin supplement.
✅
Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B-5)
Standard vitamin supplement.
✅
Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1)
Standard vitamin supplement.
✅
Vitamin B-12 Supplement
Standard vitamin supplement.
✅
Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B-2)
Standard vitamin supplement.
✅
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
Vitamin B-6. Standard.
✅
Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9)
Standard vitamin supplement.
⚠
Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Vitamin K)
Synthetic Vitamin K3. Banned in human supplements in many countries due to toxicity concerns. Can cause liver damage and oxidative stress. Premium brands use Vitamin K1 or K2 instead. Purina continues to use this cheap synthetic form across many of their lines.
−2 pts
✅
Biotin (Vitamin B-7)
Standard vitamin supplement. Good for skin and coat.
✅
Vitamin D-3 Supplement
Standard vitamin supplement.
✅
L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (Vitamin C)
Stabilized form of Vitamin C. Antioxidant support.
⚖ What's Good / What's Bad
Good
✅ Named whole salmon as first ingredient
✅ Barley and oatmeal — quality whole grains for digestibility
✅ Dried chicory root — prebiotic fiber for gut health
✅ Taurine supplemented — important given pea protein presence
✅ DHA and EPA guaranteed for puppy brain and vision development
✅ Beef fat preserved with mixed tocopherols — natural preservation
✅ No corn, wheat, or soy — appropriate for sensitive stomach formula
✅ No artificial colors or artificial preservatives detected
✅ Complete vitamin and mineral panel
✅ AAFCO compliant for all life stages including large breed puppy growth
✅ Made by company with full-time board-certified veterinary nutritionists (WSAVA criteria)
Bad
❌ Pea protein — plant protein isolate that inflates crude protein numbers; FDA DCM investigation ingredient
❌ Fish meal — unspecified species; should be named
❌ Canola meal — low-value plant by-product filler
❌ Natural flavor — undisclosed source
❌ Menadione sodium bisulfite — synthetic Vitamin K3 banned in human supplements
❌ Sodium selenite — inorganic selenium; organic selenium yeast is safer
❌ Sunflower oil — omega-6 only, contributes to inflammatory fatty acid imbalance
🧬 Potential Cancer-Linked Ingredients
✅ None found.
📊 Score Breakdown
Start score100 pts
Ingredient penalties−13 pts
Final score87/100
💬 The Verdict

A solid, science-backed puppy formula from a WSAVA-compliant manufacturer with full-time veterinary nutritionists on staff. Salmon as the first ingredient is good, but the protein number is inflated by pea protein and canola meal — the actual animal-source protein is less impressive than 28% suggests. The presence of menadione (synthetic Vitamin K3) and sodium selenite are outdated ingredient choices that premium brands have moved away from. Fish meal should be species-identified. No artificial colors, no artificial preservatives, no cancer-linked ingredients detected. This is a respectable mid-tier puppy food — not elite, but competently formulated.

🧨 Final Verdict

Purina Pro Plan Puppy Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice earns an A− (87/100). This is a competently formulated puppy food from one of the few pet food companies that actually employs board-certified veterinary nutritionists and conducts peer-reviewed research. The salmon-first formula avoids corn, wheat, and soy — appropriate for sensitive puppies. The negatives: pea protein inflates the protein percentage without real meat, fish meal is unnamed, and Purina still uses menadione (synthetic Vitamin K3) and sodium selenite when safer alternatives exist and cost pennies more. Natural flavor remains a black box. For a sensitive stomach puppy formula from a research-backed manufacturer, this is a reasonable choice — not the best money can buy, but far better than most of what sits on store shelves. The protein inflation from plant sources is the biggest knock. Puppies need animal protein for proper development, and some of that 28% is coming from peas and canola, not fish.