Buying dog food can be difficult, especially if you’re looking for the best value for your money. While some brands may be inexpensive, they’re usually made with fillers and other unnecessary ingredients. Thankfully, we’ve done the research and compared two of the most popular brands in the industry.
Purina Dog Chow and Kibbles ‘n Bits have been around for a while, often advertising taste and quality in their foods. While both brands have some less than stellar ingredients, one brand stood out in quality, value, and ingredients. Here’s our comparison of Purina Dog Chow and Kibbles ‘n Bits.
A Sneak Peek at the Winner: Purina Dog Chow
Purina Dog Chow shines in comparison to Kibbles ‘n Bits with higher quality ingredients and a wide variety of recipes and flavors to choose from. Although Kibbles ‘n Bits may be tastier, Purina Dog Chow is the healthier option. We recommend trying Purina Dog Chow Natural or Complete for tasty, affordable dog foods.
The Winner of Our Comparison:
About Purina
Purina’s History
Though Purina was not officially formed until 2001, Purina’s origins go much farther than that. What started as a small animal feed business in 1894 named the Robinson-Danforth company slowly grew into a booming business called the Ralston Purina company in 1901.
Eventually, Ralston Purina was purchased by Nestle, combining with their current cat products to become one of the largest animal food companies at that time. After the merger, the Purina Pro Plan dog food selection was created to give dogs a nutritious, balanced diet.
Purina as a Company
Purina and its origins have been around for a while, so they have been involved in multiple areas. In 2011, Nestle Purina sponsored the Westminster Dog Show, one of the largest dog shows around.
Nestle Purina also won an award in 2011 for its organized manufacturing productions and waste reduction called the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.
Legal Issues and Controversy
Purina sued Blue Buffalo in 2014, regarding their advertisements about their ingredients. Blue Buffalo claimed to have no by-products, but Purina’s lab testing said otherwise. Blue Buffalo counter-sued with the same claim, with both lawsuits eventually settling.
Purina was sued in 2015 after a consumer’s dog had gotten sick from their food. This was due to the additive propylene glycol, which has little to no information on its impact on canine health. After a second lawsuit in 2017 for false advertising, the company has not had any lawsuits since.
- A long history of making animal products
- Purchased by Nestle
- Sponsored the Westminster Dog Show
- Won award for manufacturing practices
- Has been sued by consumers
- Used questionable ingredients in the past
About Brand Kibbles ‘n Bits
Kibbles ‘n Bits’ History
Created in 1981, Big Heart Pet Brands created Kibbles ‘n Bits as the first dog food featuring two different textures. It’s now one of the most popular brands on the market to this day, with nearly five hundred million pounds of Kibbles ‘n Bits made each year.
Big Heart Pet Brands was purchased by J. M. Smucker Company in 2014, one of the largest manufacturers in the world. A family-run corporation, the Smucker Company has often been on the list for best companies to work for.
Big Heart Pet Brands as a Company
While Big Heart Pet Brands is part of a larger company, it has been recognized by the Grocery Manufacturers Association. In 2014, they were awarded CPG Awards for Innovation and Creativity for improving and creating new ways to feed our furry friends.
Legal Issues and Controversy
Although the company is popular, there aren’t many lawsuits against the company. In 2019, customers sued Big Heart Pet Brands (owned by The Smucker Company) for falsely advertising their pet food as all-natural dog foods.
In 2018, Big Heart Pet Brands was sued and multiple products including Kibbles ‘n Bits were recalled for possibly containing low levels of pentobarbital, which is used to euthanize pets. Though this is the most major recall, it’s a very serious one.
- First dog food to have two textures
- One of the most popular brands
- Purchased by The Smucker company
- Received CPG Award for Innovation and Creativity
- Sued for false advertisement
- Recalled several products for contamination
Recalls
- 2016: Purina Pro Plan Savor (wet food) was recalled due to low nutritional value
- 2013: Purina ONE dog food was voluntarily recalled due to potential contamination with salmonella
- 2012: Purina Veterinary Diets OM Weight Management was recalled because of the low taurine levels
- 2011: Purina cat food (unknown varieties) were recalled for suspected salmonella contamination
- 2019: Big Heart Pet Brands recalled multiple brands for possible contact or contamination with pentobarbital (animal euthanasia drug)
The 3 Most Popular Purina Dog Chow Dog Food Recipes
1. Purina Dog Chow Natural
- 4 Lb. Bag - Purina Dog Chow Natural With Real Chicken & Beef Adult Dry Dog Food
- Made With Real Beef And Farm-Raised Chicken
Purina Dog Chow Natural dog food is one Purina Dog Chow’s most popular recipes, made with real chicken and beef. It’s fortified with vitamins and minerals for a balanced diet at a great value. It also contains no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives, which are found in lower-quality dog food brands. However, it’s made with soy, corn, and wheat filler ingredients.
- Popular recipe made with chicken and beef
- Fortified for a balanced diet
- No artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives
- Contains corn, soy, and wheat
2. Purina Dog Chow Complete with Red Meat
- One (1) 46 lb. Bag - Purina Dog Chow Dry Dog Food; Complete With Real Beef
- Made with real beef
Purina Dog Chow Complete with Red Meat is the beef version of Purina Dog Chow, made with real beef and meat ingredients. Similar to other Dog Chow blends, it’s a good value for your money. It contains no artificial flavors or preservatives and fortified with 23 vitamins and minerals. While dogs love the taste of this dog food, it’s unfortunately made with corn as the first ingredient.
- Real beef and meat
- Good value for your money
- Fortified with 23 nutrients
- Corn is the first ingredient
3. Purina Dog Chow Healthy Weight
- Light in calories
Purina Dog Chow Healthy Weight dog food is similar to Purina’s Natural Dog Chow recipe without the extra calories. Made with real chicken and nutrients, it’s a lean dog kibble that can help with weight management. Although it’s not as rich as the other blends, there are tender and crunchy bits for a tastier meal. However, the first ingredient is corn, which is not ideal in dog food.
- Similar to higher calorie Dog Chow blends
- Lean kibble for weight management
- Tender and crunchy bits
- The first ingredient is corn
The 3 Most Popular Kibbles ‘n Bits Dog Food Recipes
1. Kibbles ‘n Bits Original (Beef & Chicken flavor)
- Contains 1 - 31 Lb Bag
- 100% Complete and Balanced Nutrition for Adult Dogs
Kibbles ‘n Bits Original Savory recipe is the most popular of the Kibbles ‘n Bits brand, featuring that savory taste most dogs go crazy for. While it’s not known for being the healthiest dog food, it does contain essential nutrients that dogs need every day. This dry dog food has a mixture of different kibble shapes, with tender bits and crunchy kibble pieces. However, it’s loaded with filler ingredients like corn, soy, and wheat, which have no real nutritional value.
- Original savory recipe
- Contains essential nutrients
- A mixture of different kibble bits
- Contains corn, soy, and wheat
2. Kibbles ‘n Bits Meaty Middles (Prime Rib flavor)
- Dry dog Food features dual-texture Bits, tender Bits, and crunchy kibble for the perfect mix of...
- Made with real Beef
Kibbles ‘n Bits Meaty Middles dog food is an innovative take on dry dog food. Each kibble piece consists of a prime rib flavored chewy center surrounded by an outer layer of crunchy kibble. It’s made with real meat and nutrients, fortified for a complete diet. However, the Meaty Middles recipe is made with fillers, additives, and artificial colors that have controversial data on their safety in dogs’ food products.
- Prime rib flavored recipe
- Chewy center kibble with an outer crunchy layer
- Made with real meat ingredients
- Made with fillers and artificial ingredients
3. Kibbles ‘n Bits Homestyle Grilled (Beef & Vegetable flavor)
- Home-Style Flavors Of Roasted Chicken & Vegetables
- Thoughtfully Prepared With Crunchy Kibble And Soft Meaty Bits
Kibbles ‘n Bits Homestyle Grilled recipe is made with real beef and vegetables for a savory, tasty blend. It contains a mixture of soft pieces and crunchy kibbles for different textures and flavors. It’s made with vitamins and minerals that dogs need, but it’s not the healthiest dog food choice. The first two ingredients are corn and soybean meal, both used as fillers to cut costs in the long run.
- Made with real beef and vegetables
- Soft and crunchy kibble blend
- Made with vitamins and minerals
- Corn and soy are the first two ingredients
Purina Dog Chow vs. Kibbles ‘n Bits
Purina Dog Chow and Kibbles ‘n Bits are two of the most purchased dog food brands, with ingredients and recipes being similar in quality and taste. Here are the categories that we based our comparisons off, and the winner of each category:
Variety: Dog Chow
Out of the two brands discussed, Purina Dog Chow has an overall better variety of Dog Chow blends. They have different blends for puppies, adults, and seniors to support your dog throughout the years. Purina Dog Chow also has a weight management recipe for dogs that need help with their weight.
Flavor: Kibbles ‘n Bits
When it comes to flavor, Kibbles ‘n Bits will have almost any dog food beat, including Purina Dog Chow. It’s almost considered the dog version of junk food, but dogs love the taste of it. If your dog refuses to eat anything, you may want to try Kibbles ‘n Bits as a last-ditch effort.
Ingredients: Dog Chow
Both dog food brands have less than stellar ingredients, but Purina Dog Chow just barely beats Kibbles ‘n Bits. Both brands contain filler ingredients, but Dog Chow has higher quality meats thank Kibbles ‘n Bits.
Value: Dog Chow
At an initial glance, Kibbles ‘n Bits seems like the better deal compared to Purina Dog Chow. However, the Dog Chow recipes have better quality ingredients without a big increase in price, making it the better value of the two.
Conclusion
When compared to Kibbles ‘n Bits, Purina Dog Chow is our dog food of choice. It has better ingredients and recipes, without the artificial colors that Kibbles ‘n Bits contains. Both brands are packed in flavor, but Kibbles ‘n Bits may be the better choice for picky eaters. Otherwise, Purina Dog Chow is overall the better choice of the two.
Hopefully, this comparison will help you find the right dog food. These dog food brands are popular, but they may not be the right kind of food your dog needs. When in doubt, ask a veterinarian for a recommendation.
