alpo wet puppy food
Best Wet Puppy Food
Wellness Just for Puppy is one of 8 canned recipes included in our review of the Wellness Complete Health product line.
Wellness Just for Puppy derives the bulk of its meat protein from chicken and chicken liver. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 41% protein, 27% fat and 24% estimated carbs with a fat-to-protein ratio of about 67%.
An exceptional wet puppy food. Highly recommended.
Read our review of the full Wellness Complete Health Dog Food (Canned) range here
Main Ingredients Chicken broth, chicken, chicken liver, salmon, ground barley Texture Wet Type Grain-inclusive Protein Percentage 41% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For All puppies including large breeds Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"We adopted a baby Basset hound. We fed wellness puppy to our Cletus 8 years ago. He is thriving today because of it. We wanted the same for Darwin. He's 3 months old and loves this food. We mix it with the large breed wellness puppy. Highly recommend it and our vet recommended this food to us too. Darwin gives it 2 paws up!"
Nom Nom Beef Mash is one of 4 fresh recipes included in our review of the Nom Nom Dog Food product line.
This Nom Nom recipe derives the bulk of its meat protein from fresh beef. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 35% protein, 17% fat and 40% estimated carbs which creates a fat-to-protein ratio of about 50%.
Ideal for those who want to feed a scientifically balanced, fresh-cooked meal thats designed by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist.
Not cheap. Enthusiastically recommended.
Read our review of the full Nom Nom Dog Food (Fresh) range here
Main Ingredients Ground beef, russet potatoes, eggs, carrots, peas Texture Wet Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 35% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For All puppies including large breeds Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at NomNomNow.com"Tula gets so excited when it's mealtime. She no longer has skin issues, her coat looks wonderful and her stools are the best they've ever been. I can't imagine ever feeding her anything but Nom Nom!"
Instinct Grain Free Real Chicken Recipe for Puppies is one of 6 wet recipes included in our review of the Instinct Original product line.
This specific Instinct Original recipe derives the bulk of its meat protein from chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 46% protein, 27% fat and 19% estimated carbs which creates a fat-to-protein ratio of about 60%.
An excellent formula by an established company.
Read our review of the full Instinct Original Dog Food (Canned) range here
Main Ingredients Chicken, chicken broth, beef liver, salmon, carrots Texture Wet Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 46% AAFCO Standards Growth Best For Small and medium breed puppies Beef Recipe is one of 4 fresh formulas covered in our review of the The Farmers Dog product line.
This Farmers recipe acquires much of its animal protein from fresh beef. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 39% protein, 29% fat and 24% estimated carbs delivering a fat-to-protein ratio of about 73%.
A fresh, human-grade recipe custom designed and packaged to fit the nutritional needs of all puppy breeds. As close to a homemade dog food as you can get. Not cheap. Highly recommended.
Read our review of the full The Farmers Dog Food (Fresh) range here
Main Ingredients USDA Beef, sweet potato, lentils, carrot, USDA beef liver Texture Wet Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 39% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For All puppies including large breeds Chicken Soup for the Soul Puppy is one of 10 canned recipes included in our review of the Chicken Soup for the Soul product line.
This Chicken Soup for the Soul product derives the majority of its meat protein from chicken, turkey and chicken liver. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 41% protein, 27% fat and 24% estimated carbs which results in a fat-to-protein ratio of about 67%.
An impressive growth formula. Highly recommended.
Read our review of the full Chicken Soup for the Soul Dog Food (Canned) range here
Main Ingredients Chicken, chicken liver, turkey, chicken broth, turkey broth Texture Wet Type Grain-inclusive Protein Percentage 41% AAFCO Standards Growth Best For Grain-inclusive Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"I love the healthy ingredients of this moist food for puppies; the ingredients seem comparable to more expensive dog food brands, but at a better price. My puppy seems to enjoy it. He's pretty picky, so for the benefit of his health and my wallet, hopefully he will continue to enjoy it!"
Merrick Grain-Free Puppy Plate Chicken is one of 10 wet recipes included in our review of the Merrick Classic product line.
This Merrick Grain-Free canned food recipe derives the bulk of its animal protein from deboned chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 50% protein, 28% fat and 14% estimated carbs which creates a fat-to-protein ratio of about 56%.
An exceptional grain-inclusive canned puppy food. Highly recommended.
Read our review of the full Merrick Grain Free Dog Food (Canned) range here
Main Ingredients Deboned chicken, chicken broth, deboned turkey, sweet potatoes, carrots Texture Wet Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 50% AAFCO Standards Growth Best For All puppies including large breeds Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"This food is high quality and my 11 week old Shih Tzu loves it! So much comes in the can and it's such a great price. I bought can covers to keep it fresh and one can will last me about a week! Definitely recommend!"
Chicken and Rice Formula is one of 4 wet recipes included in our review of the Canidae All Life Stages product line.
This Canidae wet formula derives the bulk of its animal protein from fresh chicken and chicken liver. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 41% protein, 29% fat and 44% estimated carbs which creates a fat-to-protein ratio of about 75%.
A super-popular, fully-balanced grain-inclusive wet puppy food. Highly recommended.
Read our review of the full Canidae All Life Stages Dog Food (Canned) range here
Main Ingredients Chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, dried egg product, brown rice Texture Wet Type Grain-inclusive Protein Percentage 41% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For All puppies including large breeds Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"My dog has never eaten new food with gusto until now. He really surprised us by eating without any coaxing. This is the first time, and we were thrilled. No more dry food. We've tried everything. Now, if I could get my husband to stop giving him too many treats!"
Nulo Freestyle Puppy Turkey, Cod and Sweet Potato is one of 11 canned recipes included in our review of the Nulo Freestyle product line.
This Nulo Freestyle formula derives most of its animal protein from turkey. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 43% protein, 23% fat and 26% estimated carbs producing a fat-to-protein ratio of about 53%.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Read our review of the full Nulo FreeStyle Grain Free Dog Food (Canned) range here
Main Ingredients Turkey, turkey broth, salmon broth, turkey liver, cod Texture Wet Type Grain-free Protein Percentage 43% AAFCO Standards Growth Best For Small and medium breed puppies Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"I love the Nulo puppy food. My Chihuahuas puppies and my older chihuahuas really love this food. You can actually see the chunks of vegetables in this food. If the chunks are too big, they are easy to smash and blend in with the food."
Homestyle Puppy Chicken Dinner is one of 12 canned recipes included in our review of the Blue Buffalo product line.
This Blue Buffalo formula gets the bulk of its meat protein from fresh chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 41% protein, 27% fat and 24% estimated carbs which yields a fat-to-protein ratio of about 67%.
We also note this above-average puppy food includes omega-rich DHA to support healthy eye and brain development.
A finely-chopped, pate-style formula containing no corn, wheat, soy, artificial flavors or preservatives for optimal safety. Highly recommended.
Read our review of the full Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipes Dog Food (Wet) range here
Main Ingredients Chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, carrots, peas Texture Wet Type Grain-inclusive Protein Percentage 41% AAFCO Standards Growth Best For All puppies including large breeds Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"Oh my gosh..my gsd LOVES the taste of this! He literally would eat the entire pallet if I let him. I also feel good about it, because I do a lot of research on my dog's foods, and it's really one of the healthiest wet foods out there for dogs."
Healthy Grains Puppy is one of 13 wet recipes included in our review of the Whole Earth Farms canned product line.
This Whole Earth Farms canned recipe derives most of its meat protein from chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 41% protein, 30% fat and 22% estimated carbs producing a fat-to-protein ratio of about 72%.
An excellent, budget-friendly option. And an ideal option for growing puppies, including large breeds. Highly recommended.
Read our review of the full Whole Earth Farms Dog Food (Canned) range here
Main Ingredients Chicken, chicken broth, chicken liver, salmon, brown rice Texture Wet Type Grain-inclusive Protein Percentage 41% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For All puppies including large breeds Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"Top off dry kibble with this tasty blend of wet food for fussy eater. It works! My puppy literally jumps like crazy every time I open the can! She even licks the empty bowl to get the last of it! I'm glad it's nutritious."
Chicken is one of 4 fresh recipes evaluated in our review of the Ollie product line.
This fresh-cooked recipe draws most of its meat protein from chicken. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 37% protein, 11% fat and 44% estimated carbs which yields a fat-to-protein ratio of about 30%.
Ollie is an exceptional dog food. Its made with real, human-grade ingredients and its professionally designed by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist (DACVN).
A top, grain-inclusive wet option for puppies worthy of its premium price. Recommended with confidence.
Read our review of the full Ollie Dog Food Chicken Recipe (Fresh) range here
Main Ingredients Chicken, carrots, peas, rice, chicken liver Texture Wet Type Grain-inclusive Protein Percentage 37% AAFCO Standards All Life Stages Best For All puppies including large breeds Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at MyOllie.com"Javi, my mini goldendoodle has been LOVING meal time. He licks his bowl clean at every meal. Before Ollie, we'd have to basically beg him to eat."
Puppy Savory Stew with Chicken and Vegetables is one of 4 wet recipes analyzed in our review of the Hills Science Diet product line.
This Science Diet recipe derives most of its animal protein from fresh chicken and pork liver. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 28% protein, 17% fat and 48% estimated carbs yielding a fat-to-protein ratio of about 60%.
Moderate meat content. Reasonably priced.
Read our review of the full Hills Science Diet Dog Food range here
Main Ingredients Chicken broth, chicken, pork liver, brown rice, wheat flour Texture Wet Type Grain-inclusive Protein Percentage 28% AAFCO Standards Growth Best For Small and medium breed puppies Sample buyer review...
Read more buyer reviews at Chewy.com"My puppy had been eating Hills Science dry food. Got this to see if wet appealed to him. He absolutely loves it! I add some dry to it and its gone in a flash. Will be convenient for travel."
Alpo Prime Cuts Dog Food Review (Canned)
Alpo Prime Cuts Dog Food Review (Canned)
By Mike Sagman
Updated: March 19, 2024
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Which Alpo Prime Cuts Wet Recipes Get Our Best Ratings?
Alpo Prime Cuts canned dog food receives the Advisors second-lowest tier rating of 2 stars.
What's the best dog food?
The Purina Alpo Prime Cuts product line includes the 5 canned dog foods listed below.
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile when available Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Purina Alpo Prime Cuts with Lamb and Rice | 2 | M |
| Purina Alpo Prime Cuts with Beef | 2 | M |
| Purina Alpo Prime Cuts Stew with Beef and Vegetables | 2 | M |
| Purina Alpo Prime Cuts with Turkey | 2 | M |
| Purina Alpo Prime Cuts with Chicken | 2 | M |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Purina Alpo Prime Cuts Stew with Beef and Vegetables was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.
Purina Alpo Prime Cuts Stew with Beef and Vegetables
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Water sufficient for processing, meat by-products, chicken, wheat gluten, beef, soy flour, corn starch-modified, carrots, potatoes, added color, peas, tricalcium phosphate, choline chloride, minerals [potassium chloride, zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, manganese sulfate, potassium iodide], sodium selenite, vitamins [vitamin E supplement, niacin (vitamin B-3), thiamine mononitrate (vitamin B-1), calcium pantothenate (vitamin B-5), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B-6), vitamin B-12 supplement, riboflavin supplement (vitamin B-2), vitamin A supplement, folic acid (vitamin B-9), vitamin D-3 supplement, biotin (vitamin B-7)]
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Guaranteed Analysis | 8% | 3% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 44% | 14% | 34% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 40% | 30% | 30% |
Ingredient Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is water, which adds nothing but moisture to this food. Water is a routine finding in most canned dog foods.
The second ingredient includes meat by-products, an item made from slaughterhouse waste. This is whats left of slaughtered animals after all the prime striated muscle cuts have been removed.
With the exception of hair, horns, teeth and hooves, this item can include almost any other part of the animal.1
Whats worse, this particular item is anonymous. So, the meat itself can come from any combination of cattle, pigs, sheep or goats which can make identifying specific food allergies impossible.
Although most meat by-products can be nutritious, we do not consider such vaguely described (generic) ingredients to be as high in quality as those derived from a named animal source.
The third ingredient is chicken. Chicken is considered the clean combination of flesh and skin derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken.2
Chicken is naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The fourth ingredient is wheat gluten. Gluten is the rubbery residue remaining once wheat has had most of its starchy carbohydrate washed out of it.
Although wheat gluten contains 80% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.
And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
The fifth ingredient is beef. Beef is defined as the clean flesh derived from slaughtered cattle and includes skeletal muscle or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus.3
Beef is naturally rich in all ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The sixth ingredient is soy flour, a high-protein by-product of soybean processing.
Although soy flour contains about 51% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.
And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
The seventh ingredient is corn starch, a starchy powder extracted from the endosperm found at the heart of a kernel of corn. Corn starch is most likely used here to thicken the broth into a gravy.
Corn starch isnt a true red flag item. Yet weve highlighted here for those wishing to avoid corn-based ingredients.
The eighth ingredient lists carrots, which are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The ninth ingredient is potato. Potatoes can be considered a gluten-free source of digestible carbohydrates. Yet with the exception of perhaps their caloric content, potatoes are of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this Purina product.
With 4 notable exceptions
First, we find peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, theyre rich in natural fiber.
However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.
Next, were always disappointed to find artificial coloring in any pet food. Thats because coloring is used to make the product more appealing to humans not your dog. After all, do you really think your dog cares what color his food is?
In addition, this recipe contains sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.
And lastly, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually associated with higher quality dog foods.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Purina Alpo Prime Cuts Dog Food looks like a below-average canned product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 44%, a fat level of 14% and estimated carbohydrates of about 34%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 44% and a mean fat level of 14%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 34% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 31%.
Above-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to a typical canned dog food.
When you consider the protein-boosting effect of the wheat gluten and soy flour, this looks like the profile of a wet product containing a moderate amount of meat.
Our Rating of Alpo Prime Cuts Canned Dog Food
Alpo Prime Cuts is a grain-inclusive canned dog food using a moderate amount of named meats and unnamed meat by-products as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 2 stars.
Not recommended.
What's the best dog food?
Alpo Prime Cuts Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Purina through April.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
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More Purina Brand Reviews
The following Purina dog food reviews are also posted on this website:
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