Pedigree vs Purina – Which is better
Pedigree and Purina are the pet food brands constituting thousands of canines’ meal plans worldwide. Apart from their global distribution, these brands are further known for their philanthropic work dedicated to supporting animals through grants, free food, sponsorships and partnerships. Pedigree ranks globally as the number one brand because of its improved taste and food of a wide variety. Purina, purported to be superior to Pedigree in terms of nutrient value, ranks second best to that of Pedigree.
It is important to understand the two better for deriving a conclusion regarding their superiority.
About Pedigree
Pedigree petfoods is a subsidiary of the American group Mars and, since its inception in 1957, has been dominating the pet food market. Formulated by research conducted at the Waltman’s Centre For Pet Nutrition, Pedigree has the right balance of vitamins, proteins and minerals that keeps every dog breed healthy and happy.
Initially started as dry kibble, Pedigree has, in the years, branched out into several subcategories. Pedigree Wet, Pedigree Dry, Pedigree Professional, Pedigree Oral and Pedigree Treats are some of the chief varieties of the brand containing numerous flavours with customised nutrient content and kibble density. Chicken, vegetarian, meat, milk and lamb are the dominant flavours of Pedigree specialities’ chief ingredients.
The meat and animal derivatives used in Pedigree are sourced from animals passed fit for human consumption in compliance with EU regulations. The meat content forms 65% of wet foods and 39% of dry foods, including contents like liver, heart and kidneys that are a rich source of essential nutrients like vitamins and amino acids.
Every rising brand comes with its share of ups and downs; throughout the years, Pedigree has had a few issues leading researchers to question brand integrity. From time to time, contaminants like metal scrapes and wires with hair have been found within its products, making the company cancel the entire batch to make up for the discrepancies.
Corn forms a predominant part of the ingredients in Pedigree that some canine experts have purported as carrying the risk of affecting the canine liver and pancreas and leading to liver problems with obesity. Beet Pulp, corn gluten, animal fat and ground soybean meal are other Pedigree ingredients dubbed as mediocre in quality with cancerous properties. The addition of colours in some pedigree products further adds to the concerns and makes the overall review a bit disappointing.
About Purina
Purina or Nestle Purina Petcare is an American Subsidiary of Nestle specialising in pet foods and treats. Since its inception in 1894, Purina has been a pioneer in nutritional innovations and is dedicated to providing dog and cat food of the best quality. The Purina of today was established in 2001 with a combination of 3 companies; Purina, Spillers and Friskies.
Since 2012, it has been the second largest pet food company globally and the largest in The States. Purina established its research institute in 2018, consisting of a team of over 1500 members dedicated to the application of scientific research on pet nutrition for improved efficiency of pet feeds.
Brands and products related to Purina range from balanced nutritional offerings to specific health solutions delivering benefits of digestive health, weight management and senior cognition.
Chicken, cereals, dehydrated fish protein and milk solids form some of the chief ingredients of Purina that support the natural defences of your pet by improving their immunity. Additionally, the contents are rich in calcium that support bone development with brain and vision development obtained from the DHA of fish.
The kibbles in Purina are so designed to suit the different mouths of smaller and larger-sized breeds. Along with aiding in faster metabolism, omega -3 fatty acids add lustre to their coats and aid in a healthier and longer life. Purina also claims to be free of artificial colours or flavours that are harmful to your pet’s health.
Unfortunately, dog reviews have contradicted some of its claims and laid forward statements that do not match what the brand makers claim to be. A review into some of the brands of Purina has found artificial colours and the presence of carrageenan, a seaweed that is controversial, to say the least. Natural liver flavour and menadione are some other ingredients that are dubious, to say the least.
Pedigree vs Purina-Summary
The table compares Pedigree vs Purina in terms of cost, variety, fibre quantity, preservatives and more.
| Pedigree | Purina | |
| Established | 1988 | 1894 with Nestle collaboration in 2001 |
| variety | greater | Comparatively lesser |
| Cost | Cost-effective | Slightly expensive |
| Crude protein in Dry foods | 25.6% | 31.6% |
| Crude protein in wet foods | 41.2% | 45.3% |
| Crude fat in dry food | 11.7% | 17.2% |
| Crude fat in wet food | 22.3% | 25.8% |
| Crude fibre in dry food | 0.2% | 1% |
| Controversial ingredients | Corn | Carrageenan |
| Preservatives | BHA/BHT | Vitamin E |
| Synthetic Vitamin E | absent | present |
| Digestibility | mediocre | good |
| primary source of protein | chicken | meat and bone meal |
| primary source of carbohydrate | corn | wheat, corn and rice |
Pedigree vs Purina-Which is better?
If you are a non-fussy canine parent satisfied with a well-balanced meal for your pup and not overly particular about their dietary requirements, Pedigree is the right brand for your needs. If you are an overly particular pet parent and have time in your hands to research the nutritional requirements and dietary needs of your breed, Purina is the one brand that no one can beat. While Pedigree needs to work on the quality of its ingredients, Purina needs to improve its taste while simultaneously working on its affordability. Pet owners should keep in mind their pets’ health and taste preferences and include a mix of naturally obtained foods in their kibbles and wet foods to feed responsibly. We hope our research on Pedigree vs Purina would help you make the right choice.
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