veterinary diet
This is a medical nutrition decision. Speak to your vet.
This is a veterinary diet product: a "dietetic" feed designed for a particular nutritional purpose and intended for use under veterinary direction. The score and figures below are readings of the label, the same as for any other food: they can't tell you whether this product is right for your dog.
Our verdict
Is Pro Plan DM Diabetes Management 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".
Complete extruded dry food for dogs of all life stages, with dehydrated poultry proteins, barley and maize as the main ingredients.
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.
Who is this food for?
Suits
- Labelled by the manufacturer for all lifestages
- Doesn't list beef, lamb, venison, duck as ingredients
Consider something else if:
- Your dog avoids chicken: the label lists dehydrated poultry proteins
- Your dog avoids turkey: the label lists dehydrated poultry proteins
- Your dog avoids fish: the label lists fish oil
- Your dog avoids pork: the label lists pork fat
- Your dog avoids grain: the label lists barley
- 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. Find foods that fit your dog.
Nutrition and feedingProtein 37% · Fat 12%
Typical analysis (as fed)
| Nutrient | As fed |
|---|---|
| Protein | 37% |
| Fat | 12% |
| Fibre | 7% |
| Ash | 7% |
| Carbohydrates | 29.50% |
Energy: 342 kcal/100g
Additives & feeding info
Feeding and storage
Feeding guide
The recommended period of use is initially up to 6 months. It is recommended that a veterinarian’s opinion be sought before use or before extending the period of use. Water should always be available. Daily feeding quantity: 2.5 kg 75 g/day; 5 kg 120 g/day; 10 kg 190 g/day; 15 kg 250 g/day; 25 kg 350 g/day; 35 kg 440 g/day; 45 kg 520 g/day; 70 kg 700 g/day. For dogs over 70kg: for each additional 5kg of body weight, feed an additional 30g.
Additives declared on the label
Nutritional additives
Vit A: 30,600 IU/kg; Vit D3: 1000 IU/kg; Vit E: 560 IU/kg; Vit C: 140 mg/kg; Iron (II) sulphate monohydrate (Fe: 120 mg/kg); Calcium iodate anhydrous (I: 1.9 mg/kg); Copper (II) sulphate pentahydrate (Cu: 13 mg/kg); Manganous sulphate monohydrate (Mn:47 mg/kg); Zinc sulphate monohydrate (Zn: 110 mg/kg); Sodium selenite (Se: 0.13 mg/kg); Taurine: 1000 mg/kg
Technological additives
Antioxidants
Ingredients (15)100% of the recipe is estimated
Estimated composition
- carb 38.6%
- fibre 19.4%
- meat 15.1%
- oil 12.2%
- supplement 10.1%
- unknown 4.6%
| # | As declared | Matched | Label reading | Declared % | Est. % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dried poultry protein | Dehydrated Poultry Proteins | meat · good | - | 8.7 |
| 2 | Barley | Barley | carb · medium | - | 8.4 |
| 3 | Corn | Maize / Corn | carb · medium | - | 8.1 |
| 4 | Soya meal | Soya | carb · poor | - | 7.8 |
| 5 | Pea hulls | Pea Hull Fibre | fibre · medium | - | 7.5 |
| 6 | Corn protein meal | Maize gluten | carb · poor | - | 7.2 |
| 7 | Pea protein | Pea protein | carb · medium | - | 7.0 |
| 8 | Pork fat | Pork Fat | oil · medium | - | 6.7 |
| 9 | Digest | Digest | meat · poor | - | 6.4 |
| 10 | Dried beet pulp | Beet Pulp | fibre · medium | - | 6.1 |
| 11 | Cellulose | Cellulose | fibre · medium | - | 5.8 |
| 12 | Fish oil | Fish Oil | oil · good | - | 5.5 |
| 13 | Minerals | Vitamins and minerals | supplement · medium | - | 5.2 |
| 14 | source of amylase inhibitor | Amylase | supplement · good | - | 4.9 |
| 15 | Carbohydrate sources | unmatched | - | - | 4.6 |
- 1. Dried poultry protein8.7% estimated
- 2. Barley8.4% estimated
- 3. Corn8.1% estimated
- 4. Soya meal7.8% estimated
- 5. Pea hulls7.5% estimated
- 6. Corn protein meal7.2% estimated
- 7. Pea protein7.0% estimated
- 8. Pork fat6.7% estimated
- 9. Digest6.4% estimated
- 10. Dried beet pulp6.1% estimated
- 11. Cellulose5.8% estimated
- 12. Fish oil5.5% estimated
- 13. Minerals5.2% estimated
- 14. source of amylase inhibitor4.9% estimated
- 15. Carbohydrate sources4.6% estimated
Trust and sourceNo recalls recorded in our database · checked 2026-09-12
Brand and contact: Pro Plan
- Phone
- 0800 212 161
- Contact page
- www.purina.co.uk
Trust and provenance
- Recall history
- No recalls recorded in our database
- Label data last checked
- 2026-09-12
- Scored with
- Model v3 (methodology)
- Product page
- www.purina.co.uk
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.
Brand and retailer reviews
External platform ratings are not scores for this individual recipe.
Trustpilot: 1.8/5 · 628 reviews
Spotted a mistake in this listing? Report it here and we'll take a look.
Score details and methodologyCalculations, history and evidence
Recipe: how the 1-100 score is calculated
Why this score?
The product received a score of 40 out of 100. Undeclared ingredient shares, where the label shows ingredients without printed percentages, contributed -10.6 points. The processing format contributed -6.7 points, and the carbohydrate content contributed -4.6 points. On the positive side, the overall quality of the ingredient list added +2.6 points. This is a general explanation of how the score works, not veterinary advice. For any health condition, food choice is a decision for your vet.
Scored with model v3 on 2026-10-25. Each component is the feature value for this product multiplied by the model's published coefficient.
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.3 | 9.191 | +2.64 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 40.2% | -0.115 | -4.62 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 14.1% | -0.092 | -1.30 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 11.0% | -0.012 | -0.13 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 2.7% | -0.027 | -0.07 |
| Recipe graded poor | 21.4% | -0.065 | -1.39 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 6.4% | -0.179 | -1.14 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 3 | -0.876 | -2.63 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 7.8% | 0.060 | +0.47 |
| Undeclared quantities | 100.0% | -0.106 | -10.56 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | yes | -3.158 | -3.16 |
| Processing multiplier | 0.98 | 33.786 | +33.11 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | yes | -6.713 | -6.71 |
Show all 40 components
| Component | Input | Coefficient | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base score | - | 30.909 | +30.91 |
| Average ingredient quality | 0.3 | 9.191 | +2.64 |
| Meat share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.096 | +0.00 |
| Carb share of dry matter | 40.2% | -0.115 | -4.62 |
| Oil share of dry matter | 14.1% | -0.092 | -1.30 |
| Vegetable share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.005 | +0.00 |
| Additive share of dry matter | 0.0% | 0.163 | +0.00 |
| Supplement share of dry matter | 11.0% | -0.012 | -0.13 |
| Other share of dry matter | 0.0% | -0.375 | +0.00 |
| Unrecognised share of dry matter | 2.7% | -0.027 | -0.07 |
| Recipe graded poor | 21.4% | -0.065 | -1.39 |
| Poor-quality meat in recipe | 6.4% | -0.179 | -1.14 |
| Number of poor ingredients | 3 | -0.876 | -2.63 |
| Largest single poor ingredient | 7.8% | 0.060 | +0.47 |
| Undeclared quantities | 100.0% | -0.106 | -10.56 |
| Prints ingredient percentages | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Complete diet | yes | 2.294 | +2.29 |
| Frozen or chilled fresh | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| High meat (30%+ of dry matter) | no | 0.707 | +0.00 |
| Low meat (under 10% of dry matter) | yes | -3.158 | -3.16 |
| High carb and low meat | no | -1.180 | +0.00 |
| Meat share × printed percentages | 0.0 | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Meat share × fresh | 0.0 | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Fresh × high meat | 0.0 | 11.084 | +0.00 |
| Additive penalty | 0.00 | 0.222 | +0.00 |
| Processing multiplier | 0.98 | 33.786 | +33.11 |
| Processing: Raw | no | -0.054 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Chilled | no | -2.354 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Frozen | no | -2.354 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Refrigerated | no | 0.000 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Fresh Shelf | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Freeze Dried | no | 6.629 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Air Dried | no | 6.331 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Cold Pressed | no | -6.713 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Baked | no | -6.713 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Extruded | yes | -6.713 | -6.71 |
| Processing: Dry Semi Moist | no | -6.174 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Dry Muesli | no | -10.146 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Pate | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
| Processing: Wet Chunks | no | -0.672 | +0.00 |
- Processing-type offset
- +0.02
- Additives declared on label
- +2 transparency bonus
- Subtotal
- 39.7
- 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.
Score history across model versions
The score shown above is always computed with the latest published model. Earlier scores are kept for the record and are never edited or deleted; a scoring change ships as a new model version with a public write-up on the methodology page.
Nutritional: declared analysis vs reference ranges
How the declared analysis compares with FEDIAF reference ranges for adult dogs. 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.
| Nutrient | As fed (label) | Dry matter (scored) | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein | 37 | 40.9 (band 18 to 40%) | 100 |
| Fat | 12 | 13.3 (band 5.5 to 20%) | 100 |
| Fibre | 7 | 7.7 (band 0.5 to 5%) | 100 |
| Energy (kcal/100g) | 342 | 377.9 | 100 |
Scored over 4 declared nutrients (combined weight 60); undeclared nutrients do not affect the score. Moisture was not declared and was estimated at 9.5% from the food type.
Declared fortification: 11 nutritional additives on the label
- Vit A: 30,600 IU/kg
- Vit D3: 1000 IU/kg
- Vit E: 560 IU/kg
- Vit C: 140 mg/kg
- Iron (II) sulphate monohydrate (Fe: 120 mg/kg)
- Calcium iodate anhydrous (I: 1.9 mg/kg)
- Copper (II) sulphate pentahydrate (Cu: 13 mg/kg)
- Manganous sulphate monohydrate (Mn:47 mg/kg)
- Zinc sulphate monohydrate (Zn: 110 mg/kg)
- Sodium selenite (Se: 0.13 mg/kg)
- Taurine: 1000 mg/kg
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.
| Item | Points |
|---|---|
| Ingredient list on the label (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Printed percentages on the label (voluntary) - not on file | 0/20 |
| Analytical constituents declared (mandatory) - not on file | 0/15 |
| Additives declared (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Energy value declared (voluntary) | 5/5 |
| Complete/complementary designation (mandatory) | 5/5 |
| Feeding guidance given (mandatory) | 10/10 |
| Manufacturer identity and address (mandatory) | 5/10 |
| Country of manufacture stated (voluntary) | 10/10 |
| Batch and date labelling (mandatory) - not on file | 0/5 |
Capped at 60: mandatory items missing (Analytical constituents 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.
See all current recalls we track.
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
| Claim | Type | Check | Substantiation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glucose control (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Specially formulated for the nutritional management of diabetes (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Contains Amylase inhibitor Phaseolamin from white bean extract to help reduce carbohydrate digestion (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Helps reduce post-prandial blood glucose fluctuations (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Helps reduce oxidative stress commonly found in diabetic patients (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Helps maintain joint mobility (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Supports patient compliance (on page) | Functional | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Contains antioxidants including vitamin E and C (on page) | Nutrient | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Thanks to a source of chondroitin and glucosamine (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Contains selected sources of dietary fibre and low glycaemic index carbohydrates sources (on page) | Content | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Complete dietetic dog food for the regulation of glucose supply (Diabetes mellitus) with low level of total sugars (mono- and disaccharides). (on page) | High/low level | not checkable | Manufacturer assertion |
| Low carbohydrate to help limit postprandial hyperglycaemia (on page) | High/low level | not checkable | Manufacturer 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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