Our review today takes us to another one of Purina’s dog food for sensitive systems – the Purina Pro Plan Select Adult Classic Sensitive Skin and Stomach Salmon and Rice Entrée Canned Dog Food.
Overall, we’d say that this is a good product, although, definitely not the best in the market. Plus, reports have shown that many dogs like the food, even though there were some who couldn’t care less. In all, reception in the market is a mixed bag for this product.
You could also check out this article for tips on how to handle your dog who’s been stooling a lot recently.
Table of Contents
Who Is The Purina Pro Plan Select Adult Classic Sensitive Skin And Stomach Salmon And Rice Entrée Canned Dog Food For?
As its name suggests, this is a dog food specifically made for dogs with sensitive stomachs and/or skin.
Dogs who have shown allergic symptoms in the form of flaky, itchy, or dry skin and fur, as well as consistent stomach upsets might experience some relief trying out this food.
First ingredient here is fish. So, if your pooch is also allergic to the more common sources of protein like chicken or beef, this makes a better choice for them. Kindly avoid if the dog in question is sensitive to fish.
Now, because this is a wet dog food, it is naturally more savory than dry dog food. So, if your pooch has been in the dumps for a while and hasn’t been eating, this might help to perk them up a little and get them to eat something.
Lastly, this is a dog food for adults and not for puppies.
Ingredients Of The Purina Pro Plan Select Adult Classic Sensitive Skin And Stomach Salmon And Rice Entrée Canned Dog Food
Water
According to the US Food and Drug Administration, when water is added to pet food, it must be listed in the ingredient statement following the normal rule – in descending order. In this product, it is listed as the first ingredient.
In wet dog foods, it is common to have about 75% to 80% of the food consist of just water. So, it’s really no surprise that water comes as the first ingredient in this canned food, being a wet dog food.
Talking about wet dog food, the Purina Pro Plan Select Salmon and Rice, like we explained, is great for dogs without an appetite.
Being a wet food, it naturally comes with more protein and fat than dry dog foods. Hence, it is more savory and might be more appealing to your dog.
Salmon
The next ingredient listed on the ingredient list of this product is salmon. Salmon is a high-quality fish that’s rich in proteins and good fatty acids necessary for the growth and health of your dog.
A truly oily fish, salmon has a high concentration of unsaturated fats and a low concentration of saturated ones.
By the way, even though saturated fats might not cause cardiovascular diseases in dogs, they do cause gastrointestinal issues.
Unsaturated fats, on the other hand, are a much healthier source of fatty acids for your dog. They give his coat and skin that shine and bounce.
Plus, they also help to protect other vital organs in your dog’s body such as his heart and brain.
Now, besides amino acids and fatty acids, salmon also supplies vitamin D, as well, which is another vital vitamin important for the healthy growth of your dog.
Rice
Though many might have their reservations about feeding their dogs food with grain. Grains are not a terrible idea, much less rice.
Grains are a rich source of carbohydrates which your dogs need as an energy source.
Besides, studies have shown that there is no perceptible improvement in dog health when they are placed on non-grain diets.
Also, contrary to popular opinion, there is no direct link between sensitivities in dogs and grains. Yeah, some dogs might be sensitive to grain, but it’s the same way some are also sensitive to some meats.
Now, of all the grains available, rice is about the most tolerable grain among dogs in general.
Also, rice is a commonly recommended meal among dogs with sensitive stomachs because it is super easy to digest compared to other kinds of food.
Moreover, besides carbohydrates, rice also supplies other essential minerals and vitamins that are important for a balanced diet and the healthy functioning of your dog’s brain.
Plus, they are also free from harmful nutrients such as cholesterol, fats, and sodium.
In addition, rice as an ingredient in dog foods provides fantastic support for dogs suffering from loss of appetite, an upset stomach, diarrhea, colitis and other colon problems.
The only small confusion we have here is that we don’t know if the rice used here is of the brown or the white variety (by the way, brown rice is healthier).
We have seen Purina product ingredient lists where they list brown rice as an ingredient. So, we are naturally tempted to conclude here that this isn’t brown rice in this product.
Fish
Now, this gets us understandably worried as the fish here isn’t exactly named. It just says “fish”.
In truth, dogs love fish for many reasons. They are an excellent source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids.
They also make great alternatives to chicken which some dogs have been known to react to.
With salmon already listed as the second ingredient in this food, this second “fish” was definitely added to support the protein quantity in the food.
Now, salmon, like most fish, is about 60% water. So, by the time the fish is cooked for the food, the actual meat is really small and the protein content insufficient.
For this reason, therefore, it is important to have other sources of protein in this meal.
Fish is a great idea because it provides an animal source of protein. The only challenge is that it is unnamed which makes us believe that it is not the best type of fish they could have used for this product.
You should be careful, too. The only small comfort we have is that Purina runs a test on its product for over 150 substances including mercury. So, the fish used is probably not laden with heavy metals.
Potato Protein
Potato is cheap and easy to source, which is one of the reasons it is commonly found in dog foods.
It’s also a great source of carbohydrates, by the way, especially when used included in smaller proportions in dog foods. However, just how good (or not) is potato protein?
Potato protein is actually a by-product which occurs as a liquid with a high protein content. This liquid is then heated till all that’s left is a protein-rich powder.
One reason potato protein is used is because, as we mentioned, potato is quite cheap. It’s definitely a lot cheaper than chicken and fish, for instance.
So, pet food makers use potato protein as a way to boost protein levels in their food without having to spend so much on more biologically appropriate sources like meat and fish.
But here’s the small problem with potato protein; it is plant-based and, as such, does not contain all the amino acids that dogs need for a healthy growth.
Also, dogs find potato protein a lot harder to digest than animal-sourced protein.
Corn Oil
From the result of studies conducted in Brazil and published in the journal of Animal Feed Science and Technology, corn oil can make an excellent alternative oil obtained for the offal of poultry.
Corn oil has been known to increase palatability and digestibility in dog foods. Also, from research, we find that dog foods containing corn oil are just as acceptable and as easy to digest as those with poultry offal oil.
Carrots
We all know that not all veggies are good for dogs. But good news, carrots are great for dogs – they are very healthy, in fact. They are quite low in calories and high in fiber.
Also, carrots are great for your dog’s dentition as they slow down the progression of dental disease in dogs.
Besides that, carrots are also rich in vitamin A and antioxidants. Vitamin A strengthens bones, improves reproductive health, aids proper cellular differentiation, and boosts the immune system of your dog.
It’s also great for his vision as it comes packed with potassium, calcium, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, beta-carotene, and vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K.
Finally, carrots also come with lutein and lycopene that protect the eyes from ultraviolet radiation and damage from free radicals.
Pros Of The Purina Pro Plan Select Adult Classic Sensitive Skin And Stomach Salmon And Rice Entrée Canned Dog Food
1. Super affordable.
2. Being a wet dog food, it comes with a higher concentration of fatty acids and proteins. This makes the food tastier and more appealing to dogs. Great idea if your dog has been losing appetite.
3. Contains salmon and rice which are great ingredients for dogs with sensitive skin or stomach. Good fatty acids for great skin and coat and high digestibility for a sensitive gut.
4. Contains carrots which are packed full with phytonutrients and essential vitamins great for your dog’s teeth and eyes.
Cons Of The Purina Pro Plan Select Adult Classic Sensitive Skin And Stomach Salmon And Rice Entrée Canned Dog Food
1. This contains protein from unnamed animal sources. This isn’t advisable. Plus, it is characteristic of low-quality dog food.
2. Potato protein and several other non-animal protein sources are included in this food which isn’t advised.
Alternative To The Purina Pro Plan Select Adult Classic Sensitive Skin And Stomach Salmon And Rice Entrée Canned Dog Food
Dry Food Variety – The Purina ONE SmartBlend Sensitive Systems Adult Formula Dry Dog Food?
If you don’t want a wet dog food or you also want to get some kibble, you could try the Purina ONE SmartBlend Sensitive Systems Adult Formula Dry Dog Food.
It’s a little more expensive than our featured product, however, all things considered, it is quite affordable.
Lamb Variety – The Purina Pro Plan Focus Adult Sensitive Skin and Stomach Lamb and Oatmeal Dry Dog Food
Also for dogs with sensitive skins and stomachs, the Purina Pro Plan Focus Adult Sensitive Skin and Stomach Lamb and Oatmeal Dry Dog Food offers a different protein source.
If your dog is allergic to fish, you could try this instead which comes with lamb as its main protein source. Click here to read our comprehensive of this food.
Toy/Small Breed – The Purina Pro Plan Focus Small Breed Sensitive Skin and Stomach Formula Dry Dog Food Formula
Is your small breed also showing symptoms of a sensitive stomach or skin? The Purina Pro Plan Focus Small Breed Sensitive Skin and Stomach Formula Dry Dog Food Formula might be a better product for them. Click here to read our comprehensive review of this product.
Quick Comparison Table
| Featured Product | Kibble Variety | Different First Ingredient | Small Breed Formula | |
Product |
Purina Pro Plan Select Adult Classic Sensitive Skin And Stomach Salmon And Rice Entrée Canned Dog Food |
Purina ONE SmartBlend Sensitive Systems Adult Formula Dry Dog Food |
Purina Pro Plan Focus Adult Sensitive Skin and Stomach Lamb and Oatmeal Dry Dog Food
|
Purina Pro Plan Focus Small Breed Sensitive Skin and Stomach Formula Dry Dog Food Formula |
Ingredients |
Water sufficient for processing, Salmon, Rice, Fish, Potato Protein, Corn Oil. | Salmon, Rice flour, Pearled Barley, Oat meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken By-product, Beef Fat (naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols) | Lamb, Oat Meal, Canola Meal, Fish Meal, Brewers Rice, Animal Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols). | Salmon, Brewers Rice, Barley, Canola Meal, Fish Meal, Brewers Dried Yeast, Animal Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Oat Meal, Salmon Meal. |
Kibble/Canned |
Canned | Kibble | Kibble | Kibble |
Sizes |
13 Ounces, Case of 12 | 16.5-pound bag. 31.1-pound bag | 4-pound bag, 16-pound bag, and 24-pound bag available | 5-pound bag, 16-pound bag, and 30-pound bag available. |
Best For |
Dogs with sensitive skins and stomachs | Dogs with sensitive skins and stomachs | Alternative to fish as first ingredient. | Small breeds |
What Customers Have To Say About The Purina Pro Plan Select Adult Classic Sensitive Skin And Stomach Salmon And Rice Entrée Canned Dog Food
It seems to be a mixed bag of reactions over here with this product.
On the one hand, a good number of customers report that their vets recommend this product. This is great news. However, the reaction from dogs hasn’t been a consensus.
There are dogs who loved the taste of the food. But more importantly, the Purina Pro Plan Select Adult Classic Sensitive Skin and Stomach Salmon and Rice Entrée Canned Dog Food seemed to work well for them – both dogs with sensitive G.I and those with sensitive skin.
However, there were dogs who didn’t seem to like the taste of the food at all.
Well, the most important thing is that this food works for most dogs as reported by most dog owners.
Our Verdict
Well, not everything about the Purina Pro Plan Select Adult Classic Sensitive Skin and Stomach Salmon and Rice Entrée Canned Dog Food pleases us.
It is a great product and seems to work well. Veterinarians also recommend the food which is a good thing.
However, we are not sure we can give this product a 5-star rating.
It has a number of non-animal protein sources. Plus, it also contains “fish” which is an unnamed protein source and could literally be any kind of fish.
In all, as with all dog foods, be watchful when feeding your dog this particular food. For the most part, we do not anticipate that this food will compound issues for your dog. But hey, better watchful than sorry, right?
