In this comparison article for Addiction vs Purina Puppy Chow, we'll
highlight the key differences between these two pet food brands. To properly
compare Addiction and Purina Puppy Chow, we'll use up-to-date nutritional
and price information.
There are many factors to consider when choosing the best pet food brand for your pet.
Factors such as ingredient quality, guaranteed analysis, product safety, brand history,
and cost are among the most important factors to consider.
Throughout this Purina Puppy Chow vs Addiction comparison, we've utilized
average data to make general comparisons. If you'd like to see individual product reviews,
visit our Addiction Review Page or
Purina Puppy Chow Review Page.
Guaranteed Analysis: Purina Puppy Chow vs. Addiction
According to AAFCO, all pet food labels must provide
a guaranteed analysis of nutrient content. The analysis
must provide guaranteed minimum percentages of crude
protein and crude fat, and maximum percentages of crude
fiber and moisture.
All percentages used in this comparison are averages reported on a
dry matter basis.
Addiction Dog Food vs. Purina Puppy Chow Dog Food
Dry Dog Food
Addiction
Purina Puppy Chow
Crude Protein
24.0%
31.4%
Crude Fat
13.7%
13.1%
Crude Fiber
5.7%
5.3%
Crude Protein Comparison For Dog Food
Dogs require twenty-two amino acids to sustain life. Twelve of these amino acids are synthesized naturally, the remaining ten are consumed. Protein is the nutrient which provides some or all of these ten essential amino acids.
The table shows that Addiction provides far less protein than Purina Puppy Chow. The difference in protein content is roughly 7.38%.
Crude Fat Comparison For Dog Food
Like protein, fats are an essential part of a dog's body. Fats are needed for the proper development and function of the canine body.
As you can see, Purina Puppy Chow and Addiction guarantee a similar amount of crude fat.
Purina Puppy Chow and Addiction both provide roughly the same amount of crude fiber.
Addiction Pet Food Ingredients vs. Purina Puppy Chow Pet Food Ingredients
Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Addiction.
Liver
Liver
Liver is a controversial ingredient because the source animal is not specified. Anonymous animal ingredients are typically very low quality and may contain almost any animal, including dogs and cats!
Garlic
Garlic
Garlic in very small quantities can be an acceptable addition, however, garlic can also be toxic. Therefore many pet owners choose to completely avoid garlic.
Canola Oil
Canola Oil
Canola oil is a plant-derived oil from the seeds of canola plants. Although fat is an essential component of any diet, canola oil is controversial in pet food. Proponents claim that canola oil provides a better fat profile in comparison to other plant based oils. However, opponents claim that canola oil is typically produced with genetically modified rapeseed and that rapeseed oil has multiple adverse health affects.
Canola Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
Canola Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
Canola oil is a plant-derived oil from the seeds of canola plants. Although fat is an essential component of any diet, canola oil is controversial in pet food. Proponents claim that canola oil provides a better fat profile in comparison to other plant based oils. However, opponents claim that canola oil is typically produced with genetically modified rapeseed and that rapeseed oil has multiple adverse health affects.
Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Purina Puppy Chow.
Brewers Rice
Brewers Rice
Brewer's rice is the small fragments of rice kernel that are separated from the larger kernels of milled rice. The fragments do not contain the same nutrition profile of the whole kernel and therefore brewer's rice is a lower quality grain. Brewer's rice is typically regarded as an inexpensive and low quality filler.
Animal Digest
Animal Digest
Animal digest is the result of undecomposed animal tissue after hydrolysis, a chemical reaction. It is typically used as flavoring to improve taste. Animal digest is considered by many as an undesirable low-quality ingredient. What's more, the source animal is not specified and therefore animal digest can contain almost any animal, including dogs and cats!
Soybean Hulls
Soybean Hulls
Soybean hulls are a by-product of soybean oil and meal processing. They are typically regarded as low quality and inexpensive fillers which lack any significant nutritional value.
Corn Gluten Meal
Corn Gluten Meal
Corn gluten meal is a by-product from the production of various corn products (corn starch, corn syrup, etc). It's very high in protein (nearly 60% protein) and therefore can significant boost the protein content of the product. Because plant based proteins such as corn gluten meal are inferior to meat based proteins (lack many essential amino acids), they are not suitable substitutes.
Whole Grain Corn
Whole Grain Corn
Whole grain corn is the entire corn kernel (the germ, bran, and endosperm). Corn is a cereal grain which provides a modest amount of vitamins, minerals, and plant based protein. It also happens to be one of the most controversial ingredients in pet food.
Proponents of corn claim that corn is highly digestible and an excellent source of protein, energy, vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids.
Opponents however believe that positive claims in regards to corn are either half-truths or completely false, we'll discuss a few of the opposing arguments.
In regards to digestibility, the claims of "highly digestible" are only true if corn is processed into a meal or flour and subsequently cooked. In regards to the protein contribution, we must note that corn is a plant based protein which does not contain all of the necessary amino acids required by pets to sustain life. Therefore substituting corn for meat is an unsuitable substitution and actually degrades the overall protein quality of the product.
Finally, we'll discuss the claims about vitamins and minerals in corn. Although corn does provide many vitamins and minerals, it not necessarily an exceptional ingredient in this regards. There are many other ingredients which are more complete and biologically appropriate. Therefore the usage of corn as the primary ingredient in pet food should certainly warrant further questioning.
Whole Grain Wheat
Whole Grain Wheat
Whole grain wheat contains the entire grain of wheat (the germ, bran, and endosperm). Wheat is the second most-produced cereal grain in the world (corn is the first). Although wheat is a controversial ingredient, it is not necessarily undesirable because it provides dietary fiber and many other nutrients. However, wheat contains a notable amount of plant based protein, which is inferior to meat based protein and therefore an undesirable substitution.
Wheat is also one of the most common ingredients to cause food allergies or intolerance. However, grains such as wheat are typically low offenders in comparison to certain protein sources (such as beef).
Meat And Bone Meal
Meat And Bone Meal
Meat and bone meal is produced by cooking meat and bone using a process called rendering. The rendering process dramatically reduces the natural moisture of meat and thereby results in a highly condensed protein source.
This ingredient is marked controversial because the source animal for the meat is not specified. These type of anonymous ingredient are typically very low quality and certainly inexpensive additions. The most unpleasing property of this ingredient is that the meat source can contain any mammal, even dogs & cats.
Chicken By-Product Meal
Chicken By-Product Meal
Chicken by-product meal is produced by cooking chicken by-products using a process called rendering. By-products are defined by AAFCO as the "non-rendered, clean parts, other than meat, derived from slaughtered mammals." Thus, chicken by-products contain nearly all parts of chickens which are typically not consumed by humans. These parts include the liver, lung, spleen, kidney, stomach, blood, intestine, bone, etc.
Like other meat by-products, chicken by-products are considered controversial, mainly because they are inexpensive ingredients which consumers have equated with slaughterhouse waste. However, manufactures and many experts claim that animal by-products are unjustly criticized. Proponents state that "named" by-products, such as chicken by-products, supply many important nutrients required by pets.
Poultry By-Product Meal
Poultry By-Product Meal
Poultry by-product meal is a controversial ingredient because the source animal is not specified. Anonymous ingredients such as poultry by-product meal are typically low-quality ingredients in comparison to named protein by-product meals (e.g. chicken by-product meal, turkey by-product meal, duck by-product meal).
Animal Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
Animal Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
Animal fat is a by-product of tissue rendering. The source animal is not specific and therefore we cannot be certain that the source does not include diseased animals or even euthanized dogs and cats.
We believe that certain pet food ingredients are linked to adverse health
affects; these ingredients are classified as harmful.
Here are some of the harmful ingredients used only by Purina Puppy Chow.
Blue 2
Blue 2
Blue 2 is an artificial dye which can increase the likelihood of tumors according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Like other dyes, blue 2 does not provide any nutritional value.
Red 40
Red 40
Red 40 is the most widely used artificial dye in consumer goods. Studies have shown that red 40 may accelerate the appearance of immune-system tumors in mice, cause allergy-like reactions and trigger hyperactivity in children.
Yellow 5
Yellow 5
Yellow 5 is an artificial dye which may be contaminated with several cancer-causing chemicals. Like other dyes, yellow 5 does not provide any nutritional value.
Yellow 6
Yellow 6
Yellow 6 is an artificial food dye which may be contaminated with cancer-causing chemicals. According to the Center For Science In The Public Interest, yellow 6 can cause adrenal tumors in animals.
Propylene Glycol
Propylene Glycol
Proplyene glycol is an artificial preservative which has been banned by the FDA for use in cat food. Unfortunately, proplyene gycol is approved for use in dog food. Studies have linked proplyene glycol to heinz body anemia, a blood disorder.
Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex
Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex
Menadione sodium bisulfite complex is a synthetic version of vitamin K that has been linked to many health concerns. Research has suggested possible toxic reactions in liver cells and red blood cells among other serious problems. In fact, one large chemical supplier warns, "The substance is toxic to kidneys, lungs, liver, mucous membranes. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage."
Product Safety: Recall History of Addiction & Purina Puppy Chow?
Addiction has been recalled once.
Sept. 8, 2016: Incorrect Vitamin/Minerals
According to our records, Purina Puppy Chow has never been recalled.
Price Comparison: Which Brand Is More Expensive?
Dry Dog Food
Addiction
Purina Puppy Chow
Per Pound
$6.71
$1.02
Per Calorie
$0.0042
$0.0006
The average cost-per-lb is heavily influenced by the varying amounts of moisture present in each
brand's food products (wet vs. dry food, dry vs. freeze-dried food, etc). However, the average cost-per-kcal eliminates
the influence of moisture. Therefore, the average cost-per-kcal is the better metric to consider.
If you'd like to calculate the average cost-per-day or cost-pet-year of feeding Addiction or Purina Puppy Chow,
input your pet's weight into our cost
analyzer widget.
Averages price data can identify whether or not there exists a significant price difference between two brands.
However, the actual price that you'll pay for Addiction or Purina Puppy Chow will depend on your shopping habits.
Cost Analyzer Widget
Cost of Feeding Addiction
Cost Per Day:
Cost Per Year:
Cost of Feeding Purina Puppy Chow
Cost Per Day:
Cost Per Year:
Pet owners who use our price comparison feature typically save more than 25% off retail prices for Addiction
and Purina Puppy Chow. In addition, we currently have some great coupons for our readers.
Disclosure: PawDiet has an affiliate relationship with stores featured (or linked-to) in this article.
We are compensated for referring customers. Thank you for shopping with our retail partners!
Where To Buy Addiction Pet Foods
You can purchase Addiction pet foods from the following stores:
25 Recipes In-Stock Today
18 Recipes In-Stock Today
12 Recipes In-Stock Today
Where To Buy Purina Puppy Chow Pet Foods
You can purchase Purina Puppy Chow pet food products from these retailers:
4 Recipes In-Stock Today
4 Recipes In-Stock Today
2 Recipes In-Stock Today
Type Of Pet Foods Available
Product
Addiction
Purina Puppy Chow
Dry Dog Food
7 Recipes
4 Recipes
Wet Dog Food
Dog Treats
4 Treats
Dry Cat Food
3 Recipes
Wet Cat Food
Cat Treats
Compare Pet Food Prices Across Multiple Pet Stores