We have another dog food for sensitivities up for review today. This time, we will be looking at the Purina Pro Plan Savor Adult Grain-Free Classic Turkey And Sweet Potato Entrée Canned Dog Food.
This product is from Nestle Purina Petcare, a top brand in the pet food industry. The brand has been making some of the best dog foods for many years now and is AAFCO approved.
So, in other words, the American Animal Feeds Control Officials consider this food complete enough to provide adult dogs with balanced nutrition.
That said, we still intend to review this product to confirm that it is actually good enough for dogs with sensitivities to consume.
So far, and from the name alone, the Purina Pro Plan Savor Adult Grain-Free Classic Turkey And Sweet Potato Entrée Canned Dog Food seems great. It comes with turkey as the first ingredient and also comes with some sweet potato as well.
But as a responsible dog owner, you’ve probably learned not to judge a food by its cover. This article will help you make an informed decision on whether or not you should be getting this food for your pooch. Come with us.
But while you’re here, why not check out this article on vitamin supplements for dogs?
Table of Contents
Who Is The Purina Pro Plan Savor Adult Grain-Free Classic Turkey And Sweet Potato Entrée Canned Dog Food For?
Because this is grain-free, it makes the product great for dogs with grain sensitivity. If you’ve confirmed a grain sensitivity in your dog from your vet, then you can consider this product.
Also, since it comes with a common meat source, most dogs can take this food without issues. Plus, this is wet dog food, so, it’s more savory and more palatable, which makes it wonderful for that pooch who has been disinterested in food lately.
Please, keep in mind that this was made with adult dogs in mind. This food is not for puppies and should not be fed to them.
Ingredients In The Purina Pro Plan Savor Adult Grain-Free Classic Turkey And Sweet Potato Entrée Canned Dog Food
Turkey
Research shows that turkey is safe for dogs, which is one of the reasons it is a common ingredient in many commercial dog food products like this one under review.
Turkey is nutrient-packed, coming with all kinds of nutrients which include riboflavin, protein, as well as phosphorus.
It is pretty similar to chicken in many regards besides the obvious fact that they are both domestic birds. Both of these meats are lean and white and they are important in helping your dog build some healthy muscles. Plus, the protein that turkey serves, just like chicken, is super easy to digest for dogs.
For dogs who have shown some form of allergy or another to chicken or beef, a turkey-based recipe might be a more preferable diet for your pooch.
Now, something you might want to keep in mind is that, like most meats, turkey is over 60% water.
So, understandably, after the turkey has been cooked as part of the recipe, the meat content is greatly reduced. This means that turkey would have to be supported by other meat for the food to produce the necessary protein content needed.
Water
You might have read that as “water sufficient for processing.” Well, what does that mean?
First off, it is required of pet food makers by the US Food and Drug Administration that they list water on the ingredient list if added to the pet food. And, of course, it should be listed in the normal descending order of weight. So, understandably, there’s a lot of water here being that it is a wet dog food variety.
Now, because wet dog foods come with about 75% to 80% water, it is important that they are consumed in a short space because they have such a short shelf life.
Liver
Liver is so full of nutrients. According to experts, the nutrients contained in liver are 100 times more than those found in meat. So, you see? Great food choice!
The liver supplies your dog’s body with vitamin A, proteins, and fat. And besides these, the liver is also a fantastic source of copper, zinc, iron, niacin, as well as phosphorus. But that’s not even all. From the liver, your furry friend is sure to also get some good omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, with vitamin B as well.
And lest we forget, the liver is also a trusted supplier of essential amino acids for dogs; enough to keep them in shape as they grow.
Meat By-Products
According to the American Animal Feeds Control Officials, meat by-products refer to all “non-rendered, clean parts, other than meat, derived from slaughtered mammals.”
So, in essence, meat by-products refer to all the parts of an animal that humans can’t eat. These parts usually include lung, spleen, blood, bone, intestine, liver, and kidney.
Usually, these are okay as long as they are sourced from healthy, slaughtered mammals.
In most cases, if the mammal slaughtered is healthy, it is usually named which is where we have some issues with this product we are looking at today.
The meat used in this product is unnamed which is bad news being that it could be sourced from any kind of animal in any kind of condition, typically in poor conditions.
Animals used in this food called “meat by-product” could have been in any condition from diseased to euthanized.
Chicken
Chicken is about the most popular meat used in most dog foods you find, for obvious reasons. Chicken is really tasty, and quite inexpensive.
But beyond that, it’s an excellent source of all the vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients necessary for your dog’s growth.
Also, dogs digest chicken quite easily, which is another reason it is popular. This advantage, though, has its disadvantages.
The fact that it is easily digestible by all dogs makes it commonly used in all dog foods. This has, therefore, led to an increase in chicken intolerance among dogs. For this reason, chicken is not usually recommended for dogs with stomach sensitivities.
In this case, though, it is not the first ingredient, so, it might not be a huge deal. Plus, this is particularly for dogs with grain sensitivities.
Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes have plenty of nutrients to offer our canine friends, including vitamins A, B6, C, as well as other essential minerals and vitamins.
Vitamin A helps to maintain your pup’s skin, eyes, nerves, muscles, as well as their coat. Plus, they also contain beta-carotene which helps to fight infection and disease.
Besides these, sweet potatoes are a great source of fiber. They also provide calcium, iron, and potassium, too.
One reason sweet potatoes are commonly used in dog food is because of how easy they are on a dog’s digestive systems. So, for dogs suffering symptoms of stomach sensitivity, sweet potato makes the food easier for their digestive system to process.
Also, sweet potatoes are gluten-free and that’s great news because no one wants their pet eating gluten.
Moreover, they are excellent sources of carbohydrates, which is another reason they are commonly found in grain-free dog foods as alternative sources of carbohydrates.
A little bit of advice though, if your dog is diabetic, we recommend that you see your vet before feeding them a diet that includes sweet potatoes.
Yes, they are quite low on the glycemic index, at least, when compared to white potatoes, but all the same, they might not be best for them.
Guar Gum
Guar gum is, mostly, a thickening agent commonly used in pet food. It’s a good additive that gets its superior linking abilities from the side chains which form by the linking of the units that make up the substance.
It is affordable and yet very effective. In fact, of all the thickening agents known in the pet food industry, guar gum gives the highest viscosity and the best consistency.
Furthermore, guar gum functions as a highly soluble fiber which can help to improve the digestibility of amino acids in animals.
Click here to get it from Chewy!
Potassium Chloride
This is usually added to dog food to serve as a form of potassium supplement.
Salt
Salt is okay in a dog diet as long as it is not excessive. In this case, we can’t tell the exact quantity. So, we are not completely sure if the salt level here is safe.
If we were to deduce, though, we’d say salt levels are okay. We haven’t noticed any report of any dog on this diet present any symptom consistent with excessive salt intake like diarrhea, tremors, depression, high temperatures, seizures, and sometimes, death.
Carrageenan
Carrageenan is often used as an emulsifier or as a thickener in pet food just like guar gum.
However, there are controversies surrounding the use of carrageenan as experts say this additive as no known nutritional value.
In truth, thickening is necessary if the protein and co in wet dog food are to have the appearance and taste that would keep dogs interested.
This is why it’s mostly added to wet dog foods as a thickener.
Problem is, carrageenan is known to cause a host of troubles in dogs from gastrointestinal inflammation, organ failure, to decreased immunity.
Why it is included in this food, especially since there is already guar gum which scientists name as a worthy alternative, beats us all.
Pros Of The Purina Pro Plan Savor Adult Grain-Free Classic Turkey And Sweet Potato Entrée Canned Dog Food
1. Most of the protein found in this food is sourced from animals which is great. Animal protein contains more of the essential amino acids as needed by dogs than plant protein.
2. It is quite affordable.
3. As wet food, it is more savory and palatable to dogs in general and those who seem disinterested in eating.
4. It contains liver which is highly nutritious.
Cons Of The Purina Pro Plan Savor Adult Grain-Free Classic Turkey And Sweet Potato Entrée Canned Dog Food
1. It contains carrageenan, a known carcinogen that causes a wide range of dysfunctions in a dog’s system.
2. It contains an anonymous meat source which makes us unsure of the condition of the animal from which the by-product was obtained.
Alternative Products To The Purina Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Skin and Stomach Lamb and Oatmeal Formula Dry Dog Food
Kibble Option
Purina ONE SmartBlend Sensitive Systems Adult Formula Dry Dog Food
This is an affordable dog kibble option if you don’t want wet food. It has fish as its first ingredient as well as other great ingredients necessary for dog growth.
There is corn gluten meal in this, though. Even though it does not actually contain gluten, we understand that a number of dog owners are averse to the idea of feeding their dogs corn gluten meal, so fair warning.
Click here to read a full review of this product.
Chicken Option
Purina Pro Plan Savor Adult Grain-Free Classic Chicken And Carrots Entrée Canned Dog Food
Not so excited about the turkey variety? Why not try this food with the chicken as the main source of protein?
It’s more likely to cause an allergic reaction, bear in mind. However, not all dogs react to chicken.
Plus, the product is also grain-free which is great news for dogs with grain sensitivities.
It’s also a wet dog food variety that comes in packs of 12 at 13 ounces each.
Lamb Option
Purina Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Skin and Stomach Lamb and Oatmeal Formula Dry Dog Food
Finally, there’s the lamb variety for those with dogs that are better off with fish. It comes with lamb and oatmeal and makes a great alternative to turkey in case your dog has shown sensitivity to it.
Like most Purina products, this is available in three sizes which include the 4-pound bag, the 16-pound bag, and the 24-pound bag.
Quick Comparison Table
Featured Product |
Kibble Variety |
Chicken Variety |
Lamb Variety |
|
Product |
Purina Pro Plan Savor Adult Grain-Free Classic Turkey and Sweet Potato Entrée Canned Dog Food
Click here to get it from Amazon!
|
Purina ONE SmartBlend Sensitive Systems Adult Formula Dry Dog Food
Click here to get it from Amazon!
|
Purina Pro Plan Savor Adult Grain-Free Classic Chicken And Carrots Entrée Canned Dog Food
Click here to get it from Amazon!
|
Purina Pro Plan Focus Sensitive Skin and Stomach Lamb and Oatmeal Formula Dry Dog Food
Click here to get it from Amazon!
|
Ingredients |
Turkey, Water sufficient for processing, Liver, Meat By-products, Chicken, Sweet Potatoes. | Chicken, Brewers Rice, Whole Grain Corn, Corn Gluten Meal, Whole Grain Wheat, Beef Fat Naturally Preserved with Vitamin E, Chicken By-Product Meal (source of glucosamine), Soybean Meal. | Chicken, Water Sufficient for Processing, Liver, Meat By-Products, Carrot, Guar Gum | Lamb, Oat Meal, Canola Meal, Fish Meal, Brewers Rice, Animal Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols). |
Kibble/Canned |
Canned | Kibble | Canned | Kibble |
Sizes Available |
13 Ounces, Case of 12 | 16.5-pound, 31.1-pound bag | 13 Ounces of 12 | 4-pound bag, 16-pound bag, and 24-pound bag available |
Best For |
Dogs with grain sensitivities or allergies. | Dogs with sensitive stomachs | Alternative to fish as first ingredient. | Alternative to fish as first ingredient. |
What Customers Have To Say About The Purina Pro Plan Savor Adult Grain-Free Classic Turkey And Sweet Potato Entrée Canned Dog Food
We figure most dog owners liked the Purina Pro Plan Savor Adult Grain-Free Classic Turkey And Sweet Potato Entrée Canned Dog Food.
For one, their dogs seem to enjoy the food. Some even mixed it into their pooch’s kibble, and that went down well.
Another thing customers liked about this product was its affordability. Though a lot of people felt like it was overpriced, the majority found this well within their budget and well worth their money as well.
One thing we couldn’t help but notice, as well, was that, according to comments from dog parents, even dogs who wouldn’t eat anything gobbled this up.
Conclusion
This is a great product. However, a number of things worry us about it.
Our biggest worry is the presence of carrageenan. This is really worrisome as carrageenan has been known to be a carcinogen. But beyond that, this product has most of its proteins sourced from animals which we like. The few unnamed meat sources are a little worrisome mostly because there’s no way to ascertain for ourselves where this product is from.
But Purina says it tests for over 150 harmful substances, so, we want to assume this is in passable condition. Dogs also seem to be doing well on it as well.
