Purina CA Puppy Large Breed Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food

Dry Extruded complete

Poor
our rating

Is Purina CA Puppy Large Breed Chicken & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food a good dog food?

We score it 40/100 (Poor). The main reasons are set out in "Why you might not" below, and every step of the calculation is shown under "How we calculated this score".

How we score

Why this score?

This recipe achieves an overall rating of 40 out of 100 based on several key factors. The overall quality of the ingredient list contributed +4.6 points to the total. However, ingredients without printed percentages reduced the score by -10.6, the processing format subtracted -6.7, and the additive load contributed -1.6 points.

Only part of the analytical constituents are declared, so the nutritional picture is incomplete.

100% of this recipe has no printed percentage. Estimated shares are model estimates, not label facts.

The Recipe score measures how attractive and transparent the declared ingredient list is. It is not, by itself, proof that the food is nutritionally appropriate for long-term feeding. The Nutritional and Evidence scores measure what we can verify towards that stronger claim.

Why you might choose it

  • Declares energy content, which most labels omit.
  • Nutritionally complete: formulated to be fed as the whole diet.

Why you might not

  • Meat makes up an estimated 8% of the dry matter (12% as fed); carbohydrates dominate.
  • 100% of the recipe mass has no printed percentage, so the exact split cannot be verified.

View the source page

Estimated composition

supplement53.3%
carb12.8%
meat12.4%
oil8.7%
additive5.6%
fibre3.0%
mineral2.6%
veg1.7%

Typical analysis (as fed)

Protein
28%
Fat
13%
Fibre
4.75%
Moisture
12%
Omega-3 fatty acids
0.10%
Omega-6 fatty acids
1.60%
Calcium
1.10%
Phosphorus
0.90%

Energy: 393.4 kcal/100g

Additives & feeding info

No additives recorded yet.

Storage

Store in a cool, dry place.

Feeding guide

Recommended Daily Feeding Amounts: Up to 50 lb adult weight – 1/2 to 1-1/4 cups (1.5–3 mo) increasing to 2-1/3 to 3-1/2 cups (1–2 yr); Up to 75 lb – 2/3 to 2 cups rising to 3 to 5-1/4 cups; Up to 100 lb – 1 to 2-1/4 cups rising to 6-1/2 to 9-1/4 cups; Up to 130 lb – 2-1/4 to 3-1/3 cups rising to 9-1/4 to 10-1/3 cups. One 8 oz/250 ml cup ≈ 106 g. Puppies start to nibble solid foods at 3–4 weeks; keep moistened food available at all times until fully weaned (6–8 weeks). Transition over 7–10 days when switching.

Reviews

Trustpilot: 1.8/5 · 190 reviews

Who is this food for?

Suits

  • Labelled by the manufacturer for puppies
  • Labelling or feeding guide is aimed at large dogs
  • Doesn't list lamb, venison, pork, duck as ingredients

Consider something else if:

  • Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists chicken
  • Your dog avoids beef: the label lists beef fat
  • Your dog avoids turkey: the label lists poultry
  • Your dog avoids fish: the label lists fish meal
  • Your dog avoids grain: the label lists rice - white
  • You want a single-protein recipe: this one lists more than one animal protein

These points are derived from declared ingredients and analysis, not a substitute for veterinary advice. If your dog has a diagnosed condition, food choice is a medical nutrition decision: speak to your vet. Use the homepage filter to find foods that fit your dog.

Ingredients (40)

#As declaredMatchedCategoryTierDeclared %Est. %
1ChickenChickenmeatmedium-3.3
2RiceRice - whitecarbmedium-3.3
3Corn Gluten MealMaize glutencarbpoor-3.2
4Whole Grain CornWhole Grainscarbgood-3.2
5Poultry By-Product MealPoultrymeatmedium-3.1
6Whole Grain WheatWheatcarbpoor-3.1
7Beef FatBeef Fatoilmedium-3.1
8Pea FibrePea Fibrefibremedium-3.0
9Egg ProductEggmeatgood-3.0
10Fish MealFish Mealmeatmedium-2.9
11Natural FlavoursArtificial flavouringsadditivepoor-2.9
12Fish OilFish Oiloilgood-2.9
13Soybean OilSoybean oiloilmedium-2.8
14Mono And Dicalcium PhosphateDicalcium phosphatesupplementmedium-2.8
15Calcium CarbonateCalcium Carbonatesupplementmedium-2.7
16SaltSaltadditivemedium-2.7
17Potassium ChloridePotassium Chloridesupplementmedium-2.6
18Potassium CitratePotassium Citratemineralgood-2.6
19L-Lysine MonohydrochlorideLysinesupplementmedium-2.6
20Choline ChlorideCholinesupplementgood-2.5
21Zinc SulphateZinc sulfatesupplementmedium-2.5
22Ferrous SulphateIron sulfatesupplementgood-2.4
23Manganese SulphateManganese sulfatesupplementmedium-2.4
24Copper SulphateCopper sulphatesupplementgood-2.4
25Calcium IodateCalcium iodatesupplementmedium-2.3
26Sodium SeleniteSodium selenitesupplementpoor-2.3
27Vitamin E SupplementVitamin Esupplementgood-2.2
28Niacin (Vitamin B3)Niacinsupplementgood-2.2
29Vitamin A SupplementVitamin Asupplementgood-2.1
30Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5)Calcium pantothenatesupplementgood-2.1
31Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1)Thiamine mononitratesupplementgood-2.1
32Vitamin B-12 SupplementVitamin B12supplementgood-2.0
33Riboflavin Supplement (Vitamin B2)Riboflavinsupplementgood-2.0
34Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6)Pyridoxine hydrochloridesupplementgood-1.9
35Folic Acid (Vitamin B9)Folic acidsupplementgood-1.9
36Menadione Sodium Bisulphate Complex (Source Of Vitamin K Activity)Vitamin Ksupplementgood-1.9
37Vitamin D3 SupplementVitamin D3 supplementsupplementgood-1.8
38Biotin (Vitamin B7)Biotinsupplementgood-1.8
39Dried Bacillus Coagulans Fermentation ProductDried Bacillus coagulans fermentation productsupplementgood-1.7
40Garlic OilGarlicvegmedium-1.7

Brand

Purina CA

Phone
1.800.268.5345
Address
ATTN: CONSUMER CARE, 2500 ROYAL WINDSOR DRIVE, MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO L5J 1K8
Contact page
www.purina.ca

Trust and provenance

Recall history
No recalls recorded in our database
Label data last checked
2026-09-19
Scored with
Model v3 (methodology)
Product page
www.purina.ca

Recall history is presentation-only and never affects the score. Dates are when we recorded the data, not when the manufacturer last changed the recipe.

Spotted a mistake in this listing? Report it here and we'll take a look.

Recipe: how the 1-100 score is calculated

Scored with model v3 on 2026-09-26. Each component is the feature value for this product multiplied by the model's published coefficient.

ComponentInputCoefficientContribution
Base score-30.909+30.91
Average ingredient quality0.59.191+4.55
Carb share of dry matter13.0%-0.115-1.50
Oil share of dry matter10.0%-0.092-0.92
Additive share of dry matter5.8%0.163+0.94
Supplement share of dry matter56.5%-0.012-0.69
Recipe graded poor11.5%-0.065-0.75
Number of poor ingredients4-0.876-3.50
Largest single poor ingredient3.2%0.060+0.19
Undeclared quantities100.0%-0.106-10.56
Low meat (under 10% of dry matter)yes-3.158-3.16
Additive penalty-6.990.222-1.55
Processing multiplier0.9833.786+33.11
Processing: Dry Extrudedyes-6.713-6.71
Show all 40 components
ComponentInputCoefficientContribution
Base score-30.909+30.91
Average ingredient quality0.59.191+4.55
Meat share of dry matter0.0%0.096+0.00
Carb share of dry matter13.0%-0.115-1.50
Oil share of dry matter10.0%-0.092-0.92
Vegetable share of dry matter0.3%-0.005-0.00
Additive share of dry matter5.8%0.163+0.94
Supplement share of dry matter56.5%-0.012-0.69
Other share of dry matter0.0%-0.375+0.00
Unrecognised share of dry matter0.0%-0.027+0.00
Recipe graded poor11.5%-0.065-0.75
Poor-quality meat in recipe0.0%-0.179+0.00
Number of poor ingredients4-0.876-3.50
Largest single poor ingredient3.2%0.060+0.19
Undeclared quantities100.0%-0.106-10.56
Prints ingredient percentagesno0.000+0.00
Complete dietno2.294+0.00
Frozen or chilled freshno0.000+0.00
High meat (30%+ of dry matter)no0.707+0.00
Low meat (under 10% of dry matter)yes-3.158-3.16
High carb and low meatno-1.180+0.00
Meat share × printed percentages0.00.000+0.00
Meat share × fresh0.00.000+0.00
Fresh × high meat0.011.084+0.00
Additive penalty-6.990.222-1.55
Processing multiplier0.9833.786+33.11
Processing: Rawno-0.054+0.00
Processing: Fresh Chilledno-2.354+0.00
Processing: Fresh Frozenno-2.354+0.00
Processing: Fresh Refrigeratedno0.000+0.00
Processing: Fresh Shelfno-0.672+0.00
Processing: Dry Freeze Driedno6.629+0.00
Processing: Dry Air Driedno6.331+0.00
Processing: Dry Cold Pressedno-6.713+0.00
Processing: Dry Bakedno-6.713+0.00
Processing: Dry Extrudedyes-6.713-6.71
Processing: Dry Semi Moistno-6.174+0.00
Processing: Dry Mueslino-10.146+0.00
Processing: Wet Pateno-0.672+0.00
Processing: Wet Chunksno-0.672+0.00
Processing-type offset
+0.02
Subtotal
40.4
Final score
40/100

Contributions are rounded to two decimals, so they may not sum exactly to the subtotal. The full coefficient table is published on the methodology page.

Nutritional: declared analysis vs reference ranges

How the declared analysis compares with FEDIAF reference ranges for puppies and growth. The label prints as-fed values; we convert to a dry-matter basis before scoring, and the bands are dry-matter ranges. Scores rise to 100 at the band midpoint: the reference is adequacy, not maximisation. Nutrients with a published upper limit taper again above it; fat is policed through calorie density rather than a direct penalty.

Scored against FEDIAF growth minima; puppy scoring is under review; Guaranteed-analysis FEDIAF score: crude minimums and maximums are bounds, not typical values; moisture (a maximum) uses the processing median where available; experimental US score.

NutrientAs fed (label)Dry matter (scored)Score
Protein2830.9100
Fat1314.4100
Calcium1.11.2100
Phosphorus0.91100
Calcium:phosphorus ratio1.21.2100
Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3)--100
Energy (kcal/100g)393.4434.7100

Omega fatty acids (omega-6 and omega-3): scored as the mean of its declared components (omega-6 100, omega-3 100). The FEDIAF minimum for omega-6 is linoleic acid specifically.

Scored over 7 declared nutrients (combined weight 90); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 9.5% from the food type.

Low confidence: partial analysis or moisture estimated from the food type.

This measures agreement with published reference ranges, not suitability for an individual dog. For medical conditions, follow veterinary guidance.

Transparency: what the label discloses

How much the manufacturer discloses, measured against the FEDIAF Code of Good Labelling Practice and Regulation 767/2009. Mandatory items dominate the weighting.

ItemPoints
✓ Ingredient list on the label (mandatory)10/10
✗ Printed percentages on the label (voluntary) - not on file0/20
✗ Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) - not on file0/15
✗ Additives declared (mandatory) - not on file0/10
✓ Energy value declared (voluntary)5/5
✓ Complete/complementary designation (mandatory)5/5
✓ Feeding guidance given (mandatory)10/10
✓ Manufacturer identity and address (mandatory)10/10
✓ Country of manufacture stated (voluntary)10/10
✗ Batch and date labelling (mandatory) - not on file0/5

Capped at 60: mandatory items missing (Analytical constituents declared, Additives declared, Batch and date labelling).

Safety: recall history

Recall and safety-notice history, time-decayed. This dimension is shown alongside the score and never feeds the headline number.

No recalls recorded in our database.

Evidence: what the brand claims, and what supports it

The claims made on the pack and product page, checked against the declared label. We record claims as stated; "consistent" means our stored label data supports the claim, "contradicted" means it conflicts with it. Functional claims are recorded but never scored.

Claims on file; none we can check against the label

ClaimTypeCheckSubstantiation
Glucosamine supports developing joints and cartilage (on pack)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Fortified with guaranteed live probiotics for digestive and immune health (on pack)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
DHA from omega-rich fish oil helps nourish brain and vision development (on pack)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Rich in antioxidants to help support a puppy's developing immune system (on pack)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
Formulated to support an appropriate growth rate for large breed puppies (on pack)Functionalnot checkableManufacturer assertion
High protein formula, with real chicken as the first ingredient (on pack)Contentnot checkableManufacturer assertion

The full scoring method is published. See the methodology for exactly how the headline score and each dimension are calculated.

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