6 Best Purina Dog Foods for Golden Retrievers 

Since Purina is one of the best-selling dog food brands on the market, you can find a vast range of formulas specific to your golden retriever’s health, age, and nutrition, and making the right choice can be hard. 

We have created this well-researched buying guide to help you find the most appropriate Purina dog food for your golden retriever without wasting time and ensuring their health and wellbeing. 

Quick Picks 

Best Purina Dog Foods for Golden Retrievers 

1.    Best for Senior Dogs: Purina Pro Plan Senior Dog Food With Probiotics for Dogs

This senior dog food contains real chicken as the number 1 ingredient in tender shredded pieces with hard kibble to enhance palatability while providing high-quality protein to maintain ideal body condition. 

This formula has 100% complete and balanced nutrition tailored to senior dog needs. It also contains EPA, an Omega-3 fatty acid, and glucosamine for joint health and mobility, which can be a concern for senior dogs. Prebiotic fiber and guaranteed live probiotics support a healthy digestive and immune system.

RECOMMENDED READING: 13 Best Senior Dog Foods for Golden Retrievers

Main Features

👍 First Five Ingredients: Chicken, Rice, Poultry By-Product Meal, Soybean Meal, Corn Gluten Meal

👍 Age Range: Adult

👍 Type: Grain-inclusive

👍 Item Form: Pellet

Pros

✅ Can improve the condition of your dog’s skin and coat 

✅ Ideal for picky eaters

✅ Also comes in beef flavor

Cons

❌ A bit pricey for some

2.    Best for Puppies With Sensitive Skin and Stomach: Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach Large Breed Puppy Food

This puppy food contains salmon, rice, barley, fish meal, canola meal, oatmeal, and dried yeast as the top ingredients to not only support the needs of a growing puppy without causing allergic reactions but also being gentle on the digestive system.

It is packed with omega-6 fatty acids and vitamin A for healthy skin and coat, antioxidants for a strong immune system, DHA for brain and vision development, and calcium, phosphorus, and other minerals for building strong teeth and bones.  

Main Features

👍 First Five Ingredients: Salmon, Rice, Barley, Fish Meal, Canola Meal, Oat Meal

👍 Age Range: Large-breed puppy

👍 Type: Grain-inclusive

👍 Item Form: Kibble

Pros

✅ Free of corn, wheat, soy, and artificial colors or flavors

✅ Helps improve the puppy’s digestive health

✅ Great flavor

Cons

❌ Kibble may be too small for older puppies

3.    Best for Weight Management: Purina Pro Plan Large Breed Weight Management Dog Food

For your golden retriever who is less active or overweight, this Purina dog food contains less fat as compared to comparable Pro Plan formulas. It is also enhanced with high-quality chicken as a primary protein source to maintain muscle mass during weight loss. 

With 27% protein and 9.5% fat, your dog can maintain a perfect weight and body condition. Natural prebiotic fiber sourced from wheat bran helps with digestive and immune health. Glucosamine and EPA, an omega-3 fatty acid, ensure joint health and mobility.  

RECOMMENDED READING: 8 Best Foods for Overweight Golden Retrievers

Main Features

👍 First Five Ingredients: Chicken, rice, whole grain wheat, poultry by-product meal, corn gluten meal

👍 Age Range: Adult

👍 Type: Grain-inclusive

👍 Item Form: Kibble

Pros

✅ 100% complete and balanced nutrition for overweight or less active adult dogs

✅ Great taste and texture

✅ Easy to digest

Cons

❌ May trigger intestinal gas in some dogs

4.    Best Wet Dog Food: Purina Pro Plan Gravy Wet Dog Food for Large Dogs

This Purina Pro Plan wet dog food contains real chicken without any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. It offers 100% complete and balanced nutrition with 23 essential vitamins and minerals and a high protein level to maintain lean muscle.

It also comes with calcium and phosphorus for the maintenance of strong bones and teeth, omega-6 fatty acids for a healthy coat and skin, and natural prebiotic fiber for digestive health.

(You can also check out our detailed review on the best wet foods here – 5 Best Canned Wet Foods for Golden Retrievers)

Main Features

👍 First Five Ingredients: Water, Chicken, Liver, Wheat Gluten, Rice

👍 Age Range: Adult

👍 Type: Grain-inclusive

👍 Item Form: Chunks in gravy

Pros 

✅ Easy-to-open can

✅ Excellent food quality

✅ Available in a variety of flavors 

Cons

❌ May not smell great when opening the can for the first time, but the smell tends to get better after keeping it in the fridge 

5.    Best for Adult Dogs with Sensitive Skin and Stomach: Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Stomach 

This corn-, wheat-, and soy-free dog food is made without artificial colors or flavors and contains real salmon as the first ingredient. Some other ingredients include barley, rice, oatmeal, canola meal, fish meal, and salmon meal while preventing allergic reactions.

Glucosamine and EPA omega-3 fatty acid support joints, omega-6 rich sunflower oil promotes healthy coat and skin, antioxidants support the immune system, and prebiotics and probiotics for healthy digestion. 

Main Features

👍 First Five Ingredients: Salmon, Rice, Barley, Oat Meal, Fish Meal

👍 Age Range: Adult

👍 Type: Grain-inclusive

👍 Item Form: Crunchy kibble

Pros

✅ Kibble has the perfect size, i.e., neither too big nor too small

✅ Helps with shedding

✅ Good for allergies

Cons

❌ Most pet parents complain about it being expensive

6.    Most Affordable: Purina ONE Chicken and Rice Formula Dry Dog Food 

This affordable dog food contains chicken as the number 1 ingredient to support your dog’s strong muscles and healthy heart. It has all the essential nutrients for complete and balanced nutrition for your adult golden retriever while being adequately priced.

It comes with prebiotic fiber for immune support and gut health. Omega-6 fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and four antioxidant sources also boost the immune system. Natural sources of glucosamine promote joint health, and added calcium supports strong teeth and bones. 

Main Features

👍 First Five Ingredients: Chicken (Source Of Glucosamine), Rice Flour, Corn Gluten Meal, Whole Grain Corn, Chicken By-Product Meal (Source Of Glucosamine)

👍 Age Range: Adult

👍 Type: Grain-inclusive

👍 Item Form: Kibble

Pros

✅ Veterinarian recommended

✅ Contains tender chicken chunks

✅ Ideal for picky eaters

Cons

❌ Some say the quantity of chicken pieces is quite less

How to Choose the Best Purina Dog Food for Golden Retrievers? 

To be honest, it’s not about the “best” dog food but more about what works best for your golden retriever’s nutritional needs. 

Factors like age, activity level, and health condition greatly help you determine the right Purina dog food for your golden retriever. 

It’s crucial to talk to your vet and give the right diet to your golden retriever. However, here are some things you need to consider when looking for the best Purina dog food. 

Factor #1: Age 

It’s important to consider your golden retriever’s life stage, as their diet greatly depends on it. Whether your dog is a puppy, adult, or senior, they will have different nutritional requirements for optimal growth and development. 

Puppy food has higher nutrients and calories to support their growing needs, and adult food has relatively lower levels of nutrients to maintain their weight and health. 

Whereas, senior dogs usually need food to maintain weight and support their joint and bone health.

What’s great is that Purina offers a variety of options formulated especially for different life stages, from puppy and adult to senior. 

Factor #2: Activity Level

Another factor to consider is the activity level of your golden retriever. If your canine companion isn’t physically active, they should go for dog food for weight management because it isn’t dense in calories (we have also mentioned this product above). 

However, a super physically active dog will need a nutrient-dense formula. For instance, the one that contains more proteins and fats to cope with their high energy needs. 

You can easily find protein-rich Purina dog foods that significantly help support muscles. 

Factor #3: Food Sensitivities or Allergies 

According to research, the most common food allergens for dogs are beef, dairy products, chicken, and wheat. 

Your golden retriever may react to a specific ingredient or ingredients and have an upset stomach or adverse skin reactions. 

If you know the ingredient they are allergic to, you must read the ingredient list on the food packaging. 

Purina specifically produces dog foods ideal for sensitive skin and stomachs (we have also mentioned these products above). 

These dog foods don’t contain ingredients like wheat, beef, chicken, or other dairy products. Some even contain probiotics and prebiotics for gut health and digestion!

Factor #4: Health Issues

If your golden retriever has health issues like joint problems or a poor immune system, their dietary requirements will differ.  

You can easily find Purina dog food for specific health benefits, from healthy skin and coat, digestive support, and joint health to cognitive health support.  

Factor #5: Food Form and Flavor

It’s totally your golden retriever’s preference as to whether they like eating crunchy kibble or gravy, and the kind of flavor that tempts them more to eat. 

Of course, you may already know what they like and not by their eating behavior. Gravy may also be a better option to increase water intake if your dog doesn’t have an adequate water intake. 

Purina offers a variety of food form options like shredded blend, kibble, ground, and gravy, as well as flavors including beef, chicken, duck, lamb, salmon, and sweet potatoes. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

1.    Is Purina dog food good for golden retrievers?

Purina dog food is good for golden retrievers as long as you buy the right food based on their nutritional requirements. Purina produces high-quality dog food and offers a variety of options, from life stages to ingredients and special formulas.  

2.    Is Purina Pro Plan salmon and rice good for golden retrievers?

Purina Pro Plan salmon and rice for golden retrievers with skin and stomach sensitivities is good because this formula contains salmon as an alternate source of protein, beneficial nutrients for overall well-being, and is free of wheat, corn, and soy. However, you must consult your vet before making any changes to your dog’s diet. 

3.    Do vets recommend Purina Pro Plan?

Purina Pro Plan is recommended by veterinarians, and its innovative nutrition is backed by a team of more than 500 veterinarians, nutritionists, and scientists. It’s also a trusted choice of experts and vets all across the US. 

Conclusion

Now that we have discussed the best Purina dog foods for golden retrievers, it’s also important to consider your dog’s health, activity level, age, and allergies to pick the right one for their individual needs. Discussing with your vet is equally essential to not compromise their health. 

If you’re looking for the best foods for your golden retriever puppy, we recommend you check out this review next – 7 Best Puppy Foods for Golden Retrievers