Pro Plan

Pro Plan Medium Puppy OptiStart review

Name: Pro Plan Medium Puppy OptiStart
Brand: Pro Plan

46.3/100Average

DryPuppy

A dense, high-energy growth kibble with its calcium declared, which plenty of puppy labels skip. Energy reaches 405 kcal per 100g and the added panel is printed in full. Cereal and plant protein make up the bulk behind the chicken, and that holds it in our Average band.

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Our view

Likely to suit

Medium breed pups in their fast-growing months
Owners who read the calcium line first: it is declared and converts to 1.63% of dry matter
Hungry pups that need the energy, at 405 kcal per 100g against 376 for a typical puppy dry food
Trace elements written out, iron at 120 mg/kg and zinc at 110 mg/kg among them
Feeding by expected adult size, which is how the pack's guide is laid out

Worth watching

Wheat and soya near the top of the list
Calcium above the ceiling large breed growth is held to
Animal fats and digest both unnamed, so no exclusion diet from this label
Fat at 20.7% of dry matter, so weigh portions for a steadier pup

Written by our editorial team. Independent guidance, not veterinary advice.

How this scores

How we score

46.3/100Average

Protein and processingAverage

Nutritional balanceGood

TransparencyGood

ValueAverage

The details

Dog fit

Listed for medium breed puppies. A pup heading for a large frame belongs on the maker's large breed recipe, given where the calcium sits.

Food type

Dry

Life stage

Puppy

Breed size

Medium

Main protein

Chicken

The score, in context

Pro Plan Medium Puppy OptiStart 46.3

All one Average. Typical dry food: Good.

The recipe leans on cereal and plant protein behind a fifth of chicken, and the well-dosed panel cannot lift it past that.

What's in it

High quality chicken (back and chest)20%The cuts are named, unusual for a mainstream kibble. It is fresh, so much of it is water lost in the kiln.
Dried poultry proteinWhere the lasting protein comes from. Poultry covers any farmed bird.
WheatA binder, and often the first suspect when a pup does not agree with its food.
Soya mealPlant protein, digested less completely than meat.
Animal fatsNo species named.
Rice, corn8% riceA broad cereal side.
DigestAn animal-derived coating that makes the kibble go down readily. Source unnamed.
Dried beet pulp, corn protein meal, minerals
Fish oil, dried eggLong-chain omega 3 for brain and retina; egg lifts protein quality.
Dried colostrum0.1%The OptiStart element, there for early immune support.

Fully dosed, from 29000 IU/kg of vitamin A down to 0.13 mg/kg of selenium, with tocopherol extracts keeping the fats fresh.

Calcium converts to 1.63% of dry matter, workable for a medium frame and above the ceiling for large breed growth.

Named ingredients

High quality chicken (including back and chest) (20%), Dried poultry protein, Wheat, Soya meal, Animal fats, Rice (8%), Corn, Digest, Dried beet pulp, Corn protein meal, Minerals, Fish oil, Dried egg, Dried colostrum (0.1%)

Against the range

A single growth kibble for medium breed pups: chicken at 20% leads, then dried poultry protein, wheat and soya meal, with rice at 8% and corn behind. Animal fats and digest name no species. Fish oil, dried egg and colostrum at 0.1% close the list, and calcium is declared.

Nutritional analysis

Declared analysis

Energy

405 kcal/100g

Protein

30%

Fat

19%

Fibre

Ash

7.5%

Moisture

Dry weight

Protein

32.6%

Fat

20.7%

Fibre

2.2%

Ash

8.2%

Carbs

36.3%

As-fed composition

Estimated breakdown of the finished product by ingredient category, from the declared ingredient list and ingoing weights. These are estimates, not measurements.

Meat

53%

Carbs

35.9%

Oils

4.3%

Other

6.7%

Pricing & size