Royal Canin vs Purina
Royal Canin against Purina, measured across 86 and 105 kibble recipes: 25.2% vs 27.1% protein and 40% vs 35% starch, as fed.
How They Differ
- Protein is close: 25.2% for Royal Canin and 27.1% for Purina as fed.
- Purina is lower in starch, about 35% of the food as fed against 40%.
- Purina is more calorie dense, 408 kcal per cup on average against 339, so its portions run smaller for the same dog.
- Purina more often leads with meat, fish or egg as the first ingredient (88% of recipes against 41%).
Side by Side
Protein and fat:
| Measure | Royal Canin | Purina | Average kibble |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kibble recipes compared | 86 | 105 | 1,742 in total |
| Protein, as fed | 25.2%19.0% to 32.0% | 27.1%18.0% to 34.0% | 27.2% |
| Fat, as fed | 14.5%9.0% to 23.0% | 14.4%8.0% to 20.0% | 14.4% |
| Starch, as fedEstimated, not measured. It is what is left of the guaranteed analysis once protein, fat, fiber and moisture are taken out, with ash assumed at 6%. That leftover is mostly starch but also carries sugars and the fiber a crude-fiber test misses, so read it as a close estimate rather than an exact figure. Measured as fed, the same basis as the bag. | 40%32% to 49% | 35%21% to 50% | 37% |
| Calories per cup | 339229 to 485 | 408280 to 534 | 398 |
| Meat, fish or egg listed first | 41% | 88% | |
| Grain-free recipes | 0% | 4% | |
| Most used proteins | Chicken 95%, Pork 10%, Egg 3% | Chicken 76%, Fish 51%, Egg 50% | |
| Recipes with corn, wheat, soy | Corn 93%, Wheat 95%, Soy 1% | Corn 80%, Wheat 65%, Soy 70% | |
| By-products | 95% | 69% | |
| FDA recalls, last 5 years | None | 3Latest 20233 older in the archive | |
| Made by | Mars | Nestlé Purina |
Brand figures are averages over every kibble recipe we review from that brand, with the lowest and highest recipe underneath. Freeze-dried, frozen, wet food and toppers are left out so the numbers compare like with like, and so are prescription diets, which are fed for a medical condition on a vet's advice. Everything is as fed, the way the bag prints it; the switch above the table shows protein and fat on a dry matter basis instead, which takes the water out so foods of different moisture compare evenly. Why we use as fed.
The Closest Matching Recipes
Brand averages hide the recipe you would actually buy. These are the pairs that come closest on protein, fat and starch, preferring recipes built on the same main protein, which is where a like-for-like choice gets made.
Royal Canin Labrador Retriever Adult 5+ Dry Dog Food
Protein 28%
Fat 9%
Starch 41%
Purina Pro Plan Adult Weight Management Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food
Protein 27%
Fat 9%
Starch 41%
Compare these two in full
Which Fits Your Dog
- For a dog that gains weight easily, Royal Canin is less calorie dense, so a normal-looking portion carries fewer calories.
- If you are cutting back on starch, Purina starts lower.
- Royal Canin has fewer FDA recalls in our record over the last five years (0 against 3). Read the list below before counting it against Purina: most recalls cover a few lots, not a whole range.
- The brands overlap more than the averages suggest: Royal Canin runs from 19% to 32% protein as fed and Purina from 18% to 34%, so the right recipe matters more than the name on the bag.
Recall History
FDA recall notices from the last five years that name the brand or its maker. Older notices sit in each brand's archive below: still on the record, but not counted, since a recall that old says more about how a company used to run than how it runs now.
Royal Canin
No FDA recalls in our record for Royal Canin in the last five years.
Purina
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets. EL Elemental dry dog food, two additional lots (expansion)
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets. EL Elemental prescription dry dog food (8 lb, 20 lb)
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets. PPVD EN Gastroenteric Low Fat wet dog food 13.4 oz cans (contained Purina ONE True Instinct Turkey & Venison)
Archive: 3 older recalls
Beneful; Purina Pro Plan. Beneful Prepared Meals, Beneful Chopped Blends and Pro Plan Savory Meals 10 oz wet dog food tubs, Best Before Jun-Aug 2017
Purina ONE beyOnd. Purina ONE beyOnd Our White Meat Chicken & Whole Barley Recipe Adult dry dog food, limited bags
Waggin' Train; Canyon Creek Ranch. All Waggin' Train and Canyon Creek Ranch dog treats (chicken jerky) sold in US (market withdrawal)
About the Brands
Royal Canin
Royal Canin is a pet food brand owned by Mars, Incorporated, and Royal Canin USA operates as a Mars subsidiary. It is known for breed-specific, size-specific and veterinary therapeutic diets, and the company says it focuses on science-based health nutrition for cats and dogs.
Based in St. Louis, MO, since 1968. Every Royal Canin food we review
Purina
Purina is made by Nestlé Purina PetCare, the pet food business of Nestlé, which is based in St. Louis, Missouri. Its dog food brands include Pro Plan, Purina ONE, Dog Chow, Beneful and Alpo.
Based in St. Louis, Missouri, since 1894. Every Purina food we review
More Brand Comparisons
How we compare: every figure comes from the guaranteed analysis and ingredient list of recipes we review, not from the brands' own claims. Starch is our estimate, since no manufacturer prints it. Figures refreshed October 20, 2026.
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