Purina Pro Plan

Purina Pro Plan scores in the top tier on Chowmark. Introduced in 1986 by Nestlé Purina PetCare, Purina Pro Plan is the brand most consistently recommended by veterinary nutritionists and is one of the five brands most cited as meeting WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines.

The brand has recorded one lifetime recall: a February 2023 voluntary recall of Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets NF Kidney Function Early Care and St/Ox Urinary formulas due to elevated Vitamin D levels. This affected only the prescription veterinary diet line, not the main Pro Plan retail range. No recalls have been recorded for the main Pro Plan retail line.

Purina Pro Plan meets WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines. The brand employs board-certified veterinary nutritionists, conducts AAFCO feeding trials, and has an extensive body of peer-reviewed research behind its formulas — particularly in the areas of cognitive health (the Bright Mind line), athletic performance (the Sport line), and breed-specific nutrition. The Purina Institute publishes ongoing research that is peer-reviewed and publicly accessible.

The WSAVA conflict-of-interest note: Purina Institute is one of the funding sources for WSAVA's Global Nutrition Committee, alongside Hill's Pet Nutrition and Royal Canin. That is a real conflict of interest that Chowmark discloses on its methodology page. It does not invalidate the research, but it is context every pet owner should have.

The bottom line: Purina Pro Plan is one of the strongest evidence-based pet food brands on the market. It meets WSAVA guidelines, has a clean retail recall record, and has genuine research behind its formulations. The 2023 Veterinary Diets recall is limited to the prescription line and has been resolved. For pet owners who want WSAVA-compliant nutrition with a strong research foundation, Purina Pro Plan is a top recommendation alongside Hill's Science Diet and Royal Canin.