Purina Pro Plan vs. Wellness
In this comparison article for Purina Pro Plan vs Wellness, we'll highlight the key differences between these two pet food brands. To properly compare Purina Pro Plan and Wellness, 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 Wellness vs Purina Pro Plan comparison, we've utilized average data to make general comparisons. If you'd like to see individual product reviews, visit our Purina Pro Plan Review Page or Wellness Review Page.
Guaranteed Analysis: Wellness vs. Purina Pro Plan
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.
Purina Pro Plan Dog Food vs. Wellness Dog Food
| Dry Dog Food | Purina Pro Plan | Wellness |
| Crude Protein | 31.7% | 32.6% |
| Crude Fat | 17.8% | 15.6% |
| Crude Fiber | 4.3% | 5.7% |
| Wet/Canned Dog Food | Purina Pro Plan | Wellness |
| Crude Protein | 47.0% | 40.2% |
| Crude Fat | 16.7% | 23.9% |
| Crude Fiber | 7.2% | 5.6% |
Crude Protein Comparison For Dog Food
Protein is an extremely important part of your dog's diet. Without sufficient protein, dogs can develop a wide-range of serious health problems.
Both brands provide roughly the same amount of crude protein. For wet dog foods, Purina Pro Plan provides more protein (about 6.84% more).
Crude Fat Comparison For Dog Food
Dietary fats serves a multitude of roles in the proper development and function of our canine companions. Here are some of the benefits (not exhaustive):
- Help produce prostaglandins, which reduce inflammation among other critical functions.
- Aid in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
- Improve skin and coat health
- Improve the palatially of your dog's food
According to our average data, Wellness typically provides less fat than Purina Pro Plan. However, this difference is relatively small and doesn't represent a significant difference between the two brands. In addition, Wellness wet dog foods also provide more fat than Purina Pro Plan wet foods.
As you can see, Purina Pro Plan and Wellness guarantee a similar amount of crude fiber. With regards to wet dog food, Purina Pro Plan and Wellness also provide roughly the same amount of crude fiber.
Purina Pro Plan Cat Food vs. Wellness Cat Food
| Dry Cat Food | Purina Pro Plan | Wellness |
| Crude Protein | 45.9% | 42.0% |
| Crude Fat | 17.3% | 16.0% |
| Crude Fiber | 3.6% | 4.9% |
| Wet/Canned Cat Food | Purina Pro Plan | Wellness |
| Crude Protein | 51.6% | 44.6% |
| Crude Fat | 16.9% | 23.6% |
| Crude Fiber | 7.0% | 5.7% |
Crude Protein Comparison For Cat Food
Protein is an extremely important part of your cat's diet. Without sufficient protein, cats can develop a wide-range of serious health problems.
If you look at the average percentages of crude protein, you'll notice that Purina Pro Plan typically guarantees 3.96% more protein. This is a fairly small difference between Purina Pro Plan and Wellness, but still worth mentioning. In addition, Purina Pro Plan wet cat foods also provide more protein than Wellness wet foods.
Crude Fat Comparison For Cat Food
There are many ways in which dietary fat contributes to the overall health of our feline friends. Here is a short list of benefits provided by fats (not exhaustive):
- Aid in the digestion and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
- Improve the health of skin/coat
- Slow the growth of yeast infections
- Slow the development and spread of certain type of cancers.
- Maintain healthy blood pressure
Wellness and Purina Pro Plan both provide roughly the same amount of crude fat. For wet cat foods, Wellness provides more fat (about 6.68% more).
There is a relatively insignificant difference between the crude fiber content of the two brands. With regards to wet cat food, Purina Pro Plan and Wellness also provide roughly the same amount of crude fiber.
Purina Pro Plan Pet Food Ingredients vs. Wellness Pet Food Ingredients
Purina Pro Plan and Wellness both use the following controversial ingredients in many of their products:
Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Purina Pro Plan.
Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Wellness.
We believe that certain pet food ingredients are linked to adverse health affects; these ingredients are classified as harmful.
Purina Pro Plan and Wellness both use the following harmful ingredients in many of their products:
Here are some of the harmful ingredients used only by Purina Pro Plan.
Here are some of the harmful ingredients used only by Wellness.
Product Safety: Recall History of Purina Pro Plan & Wellness?
Purina Pro Plan has been recalled once.
- March 9, 2016: Incorrect Vitamins and Minerals
Wellness has been recalled 5 times.
- March 18, 2017: elevated beef throid hormone
- Feb. 10, 2017: foreign material
- Oct. 30, 2012: High Moisture
- May 4, 2012: Salmonella
- Feb. 28, 2011: Low Levels of Thiamine (Vitamin B1)
Price Comparison: Which Brand Is More Expensive?
| Dry Dog Food | Purina Pro Plan | Wellness |
| Per Pound | $1.93 | $4.35 |
| Per Calorie | $0.0011 | $0.0027 |
| Dry Cat Food | Purina Pro Plan | Wellness |
| Per Pound | $2.70 | $4.69 |
| Per Calorie | $0.0014 | $0.0028 |
| Wet Dog Food | Purina Pro Plan | Wellness |
| Per Pound | $2.84 | $5.51 |
| Per Calorie | $0.0063 | $0.0129 |
| Wet Cat Food | Purina Pro Plan | Wellness |
| Per Pound | $4.60 | $6.29 |
| Per Calorie | $0.0108 | $0.0166 |
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 Purina Pro Plan or Wellness, 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 Purina Pro Plan or Wellness will depend on your shopping habits.
Pet owners who use our price comparison feature typically save more than 25% off retail prices for Purina Pro Plan and Wellness. In addition, we currently have some great coupons for our readers.
- $10 Off + Free Shipping Orders $60+ @ PetFlow (Use Code SAVENOW)
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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 Purina Pro Plan Pet Foods
You can purchase Purina Pro Plan pet foods from the following stores:
Where To Buy Wellness Pet Foods
You can purchase Wellness pet food products from these retailers:
Type Of Pet Foods Available
| Product | Purina Pro Plan | Wellness |
| Dry Dog Food | 42 Recipes | 51 Recipes |
| Wet Dog Food | 29 Recipes | 62 Recipes |
| Dog Treats | 6 Treats | 30 Treats |
| Dry Cat Food | 24 Recipes | 16 Recipes |
| Wet Cat Food | 68 Recipes | 65 Recipes |
| Cat Treats | 9 Treats | 6 Treats |
