Pro Plan Medium Puppy Chicken vs Nature's Variety Selected Junior Chicken

Pros

• ✓Named chicken as #1 ingredient — no by-products, no meat meal
• ✓Colostrum inclusion supports immune defences and gut microbiome in young puppies
• ✓Excellent palatability across multiple breeds, including reported fussy eaters
• ✓Complete and balanced for puppy growth — DHA, Vitamin D, calcium/phosphorus ratios for bone and joint development

Cons

• ✗Premium pricing with a small 3kg pack — cost per kg is high compared to mid-market alternatives
• ✗Full ingredient list not disclosed in listing — likely contains grain-based carbohydrate fillers (corn, wheat, rice) typical of Pro Plan formulas
• ✗Sized and formulated for medium breeds (10–25kg); several reviewers using it for toy/small breeds, which is an off-label use
• ✗Oversized cardboard packaging noted as wasteful by buyers

Best For

Pros

• ✓Named free-range chicken as primary protein — no generic meat derivatives, by-products or meat meal
• ✓Fish oil provides natural DHA, meeting developmental needs for puppy brain, vision and nervous system maturation
• ✓Consistently high palatability reported across multiple reviewers and dog breeds over long periods
• ✓Free from artificial colours, preservatives and flavourings — clean label for a growing puppy

Cons

• ✗At least one reviewer reported a possible recipe reformulation removing chicken inclusions, with no response from the brand — ingredient consistency should be verified
• ✗Full ingredient list and guaranteed analysis not provided, making precise FEDIAF compliance (calcium:phosphorus ratio, crude protein %) difficult to confirm
• ✗Premium price point flagged as high relative to perceived value after suspected reformulation
• ✗Occasional Amazon fulfilment errors reported (wrong product or wrong size delivered) — not a product fault, but worth ordering directly from trusted retailers

Best For