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If you’re on the prowl for excellent and healthy food for your pet, we have a solid comparison of the best. Here are our picks for VICTOR Dog Food vs. Purina Pro.
VICTOR Dog Food is nutritious and high quality with unique formulations that benefit Fido’s health and happiness. Purina Pro Plan offers formulas that support specific taste preferences and individual nutritional requirements.
Let’s dig in to find which best suits your needs, taking an in-depth look at the brands, recall histories, formulations, and more.
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Brand History
Branding speaks to a dog food manufacturer’s underlying motivations and a company’s reputation. So, let’s start with the company histories to better understand what they stand for and who they are.
VICTOR Dog Food
VICTOR Dog Food creates high-end nutritional pet food for our four-legged friends. In existence since the 1940s, its current branding was born in 2007. That’s when the company began developing and implementing its current philosophy and manufacturing practices.
Headquartered in Texas, VICTOR Dog Food pulls all-natural elements from local farms, ranches, and trusted suppliers. Testing for high standards is a priority. This is well known by outdoorsmen, professional trainers, breeders, and families who love and rely on VICTOR foods.
Purina Pro Plan
For almost a century, Purina has been producing quality dog food. The company has a mission to continually drive the well-being of pets to the next level. Purina Pro promises advanced nutrition and optimized formulas that keep dogs active and healthy.
It started with a feeding farm in 1894. In 1926, Purina set up its first care center in Missouri. In 2014, Purina launched Just Right, a food service that combines Purina’s expertise with the pet owner’s knowledge of their pet. And all during the time in between, the manufacturer supported communities and pets.
Recalls
Best intentions do not mean everything works out for the best. Our VICTOR Dog Food vs. Purina Pro comparison takes into account if either dog food producer has fallen victim to products that don’t meet the standards set by governing bodies like the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, let alone their own.
VICTOR Dog Food
Victor has had one recall in its history. In cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Mid America Pet Food, the parent company of VICTOR, issued a voluntary recall of several brands due to potential Salmonella contamination in October of 2023. The recall also affects select other cat products and other pet foods sold by Mid America. These are under the brand names Wayne Feeds Dog Food, Eagle Mountain Pet Foods, and Member’s Mark Dog Food.
This recall affects 20 of Victor’s dog food products. The products affected all have a Best By date before 10/31/2024. Visit the company’s information on this recall for a complete list of affected products. This information includes product pictures to see if your food matches any affected products.
Salmonella affects dogs when they eat it and can affect humans when they come into contact with it and do not thoroughly wash their hands. Salmonella can also spread to surfaces and other people. If you happen to have any of these products, throw them away in a secure container.
Purina Pro
The Purina Pro brand has had no recalls, according to the FDA website. However, they voluntarily recalled select lots of its Beneful and Purina Pro Plan wet dog foods. This was because they might not have contained the recommended level of vitamins and minerals.
Food Ingredients
In a VICTOR Dog Food vs. Purina Pro comparison, you find both companies use quality ingredients. But that doesn’t make choosing the right one easy.
Complete and balanced, small and large breeds, special dietary needs, dry or wet, and how much to feed are all on the agenda when picking the best ingredients.
Monitor your pet’s behavior, energy, and reaction to food. Sure, you can read labels. Only labels can be troubling, while everyone claims they have the best. Let’s take a close look at how VICTOR Dog Food and Purina Pro stack up in this arena.
VICTOR Dog Food
While VICTOR Dog Food uses standards like fish, turkey, chicken, vegetables, and beef in their recipes, as well as other natural ingredients, what makes their product distinctive is the VPRO Blends. This is a group of elements formulated to maximize a dog’s genetic potential regardless of age, breed, or activity level.
Prebiotics
Prebiotics support immune system response. That, in turn, promotes high levels of energy, growth, and overall well-being. The compound contains hundreds of bioactive metabolites. Another benefit is prebiotics increase good bacteria activity. It releases short-chain fatty acids in the intestines, creating energy sources for colon cells.
Selenium Yeast
Selenium yeast has an incredible influence on metabolism, immune system response, and cellular regeneration. It’s absorbed into the bloodstream, where it’s stored in cells. Selenium yeast is then used whenever the animal is stressed. The element boosts disease- and infection-fighting white blood cells. The compound produces glutathione peroxidases and thyroid hormones, important antioxidants.
Mineral Complexes
Complex elements like manganese, iron, and zinc are easily absorbed in the digestive system, promoting metabolic function. These essential minerals support the immune system and paw pad cohesion. They are instrumental in cell division, wound healing, skeletal growth, reproductive system integrity, and joint cartilage health.
Probiotics
The difference between probiotics and prebiotics is that the former is a bacteria, and the latter is food for bacteria. Probiotics are high in beneficial metabolites. They directly feed good bacteria, promoting a healthy digestive system. Like many VICTOR Dog Food elements, probiotics promote strong immune systems, good health, and longevity.
Purina Pro Plan
Purina Pro Plan is an advanced nutritional diet that supports reduced allergens, healthy aging, live probiotics, and more. The formulations are uniquely distinguished for performances that include managing sensitive digestive systems and promoting mental sharpness.
Active Ingredients
As a personalized line of dog food, Purina Pro uses a variety of formulas, both healthy and tasty. For meats, there’s chicken, beef, turkey, salmon, and lamb. You’ll find rice and barley.
The foods may contain meat concentrates. Also referred to as “meat meal,” it might surprise some to find this is a great protein source. Meat concentrates are by-products dried and left after the rendering cooking process.
Several of Purina Pro’s compositions include soybean meal. This is a by-product of soybean oil. The compound is a superior amino acid and an advocate of digestibility. It increases metabolizable energy and lowers fiber content. There’s also the benefit of high phosphorus content.
Another quality ingredient is beef fat. Also known as tallow, beef fat is another component acquired through rendering. It contains impressive amounts of lipids, which provide essential nutrients (such as essential fatty acids) and dietary energy.
Dried egg product is of high biological value (a scientific term that compares the nutritional worth of various protein ingredients). In this case, the value measures how a protein supplies any of the ten essential amino acids.
Range Of Formulas
A smart brand offers a nice range of recipes. Formulations should meet exact needs so that you have the perfect option for your overweight or large breed dog, as well as other circumstances. Fortunately, there is a nice selection of formulas.
VICTOR Dog Food
VICTOR Dog Food starts with the Classic line. Nutritional-rich and scientifically advanced, its density minimizes intake and puts your dog in a healthier position. The Select line is suitable for all stages of dog life.
If you have a dog suffering from low carbs or joint health, consider Purpose. The protein levels come from meats that address specific conditions. Realtree is a super-premium food designed for adult hunting and working dogs. Its nutrients boost stamina and energy through added chondroitin and glucosamine to support joint health.
Purina Pro
Purina Pro Plan engineers its products to give your dog its best life through groundbreaking formulations that promote advanced nutrition, from nourishing your puppy’s performance to supporting Rover’s sensitive systems.
The Sensitive Skin & Stomach line is a daily nutritional treat, promoting digestive health, a shiny coat, and healthy skin. Weight Management products feature low fat alongside nutrition that supports muscle mass. Purina tailors its Sports formulas to the needs of dogs expected to provide high performance on the job.
Puppy Formulas
The first twelve months of dog life are as important as the first twelve of any child. Without the proper nourishment, you risk putting a damper on what could be a life of quality, sustained energy, and happiness.
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VICTOR Dog Food
Unfortunately, the manufacturer’s line of foods for puppies seems to be general selections with the word “For Puppy” tagged on it. And even then, the options feel limited. For instance, its Purpose dry food is for the “Active Dog & Puppy” and others listed as “Food for All Stages.”
While we’d never claim this doesn’t mean the food won’t benefit your little pup, we can’t say VICTOR Dog Food designed these products specifically for younger canines.
Purina Pro
Purina Pro offers a solid line of food for Lil Fido. Own personal experiences find us leaning towards Purina Pro Plan Puppy Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula. It uses AAFCO protocols to ensure balanced nutrition, especially in the healthy growth of large-sized dogs.
Winner
We applaud both brands for their exceptional entries, but we have to go with Purina Pro’s Puppy Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula. With real chicken (for musculature) and rice (energy carbs), it’s one of the healthiest feeds you’ll find.
What makes it the best food for puppies is, for starters, its digestible formula for optimized nutrient delivery. And through minerals like calcium and phosphorus, the meal builds teeth and bones. The rich Omega in the fish oil nourishes vision and brain development, while antioxidants promote your puppy’s immune system. It’s also chock full of protein for lean musculature and fortified with live probiotics for immune and digestive health.
Adult Formulas
Your pooch has pretty much reached its adult stage by year one. Now, it’s time to maintain its nutritional balance with a sound food choice.
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VICTOR Dog Food
VICTOR’s Grain-Free Yukon River Canine choice, made from fish-based protein sources, is the alternative for doggies allergic to certain grains or proteins. The Beef Meal & Brown Rice Formula is a premium meal optimized to support dogs with normal activity levels.
Many pooches are especially impressed with the Grain-Free Formula Turkey and Sweet Potato Cuts in Gravy. It’s a mesh of nutritional elements with a different taste. The food makes for a nice mix with any VICTOR kibble.
Purina Pro
The Purina Pro Plan comes with an overwhelming 80 formulas. Categories encompass Specialized, Senior, Savory, Bright, Sport, and Focus, all engineered to match a canine’s need for stronger bones, maturity, and more.
The Purina Pro Plan Adult Complete Essentials Shredded Blend Lamb & Rice has a ton of minerals (calcium iodate, manganese proteinate, zinc proteinate, and more), and enough vitamins to choke a dino-dog (to name a few, niacin (Vitamin B-3), Vitamin A supplement, Vitamin E supplement, Vitamin B-5 (calcium pantothenate), thiamine mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Vitamin B-12 supplement).
Winner
This tasty meal is entirely free of grains and offers adult dogs a formulation that meets several nutritional levels. As with all VICTOR Dog Foods, it meets AAFCO Dog Food compliance. We’re calling VICTOR the victory for adults due to real ingredients like turkey, turkey broth, chicken liver, and sweet potatoes.
The finickiest pup appreciates the texture and flavor, while the food encourages bowel function, healthy digestion, and healthy muscles. It’s packed with amino acids, essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and protein while being 100% free of colors, flavors, and preservatives.
Senior Formulas
Many dog owners have seen how Rover slows down as the years catch up with him. We love him all the more and seek ways to help him maintain his energy and vitality. Senior dog food formulas are engineered to help with mental sharpness, joint issues, activity, and more.
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VICTOR Dog Food
VICTOR Senior Healthy Weight is formulated for the older or adult dog that’s slowing down or in need of diet management. It’s a multi-protein meal, full of nutrients, developed to attack joint issues and overall health. It features quality chicken, fish, and beef meals. The food contains aids that convert fat to energy. And, of course, features the manufacturer’s VPRO Blend.
Purina Pro
The Purina Pro BRIGHT MIND dog food is for adult dogs seven years and older. It’s AAFCO-approved for nutritional levels required to match the profiles of adult dogs. It has enhanced botanical oils that promote mental sharpness and alertness, promising you’ll see a difference within 30 days.
Winner
There are two specific reasons we go with Purina Pro on this one. First, we like the fact this is wet food. We like to spice up our dog’s diet between kibble and moist meals. Second, we are disappointed that VICTOR doesn’t have a food formulated specifically for senior dogs. The Senior Healthy Weight is a formulation designed for weight management that seniors can eat, too.
The Final Outcome
When comparing VICTOR vs Purina Pro Plan, we found winners on both sides of the ring. VICTOR Dog Food has an inventory of specialized formulas that deliver quality meals on every level. Purina Pro is a treasure chest filled with dozens of unique tastes and recipes that guarantee every dog owner can match a taste and value to an animal.
Picking The Best Food For Your Pup
In the end, you will want to make your decision about which dog food is best for your pup based on health, age, size and weight, nutritional needs, activity level, and more. Choosing the right, healthy food is one of the most vital contributions you will make to your dog’s life, so we hope we helped you make a more informed decision.
Along with traditional kibble and wet food, many owners are looking to newer options like a raw diet, fresh dog food, and even freeze-dried options. Remember that age matters, and puppies, adults, and senior dogs all have changing nutritional needs. Not all dog foods work for every pup, especially those who are picky eaters or have a medical condition, so you might also want a second opinion from your vet, who can help target nutrition that supports your pet’s unique situation.
