PURE puts named animal ingredients first and builds the rest of each recipe on sweet potatoes, potatoes, peas, lentils and garbanzo beans. All 17 recipes are grain free and all include peas or lentils. The kibbles use turkey and chicken most often (6 recipes each), then fish (4) and lamb (3), with single recipes built on duck, bison, wild boar and venison.
Kibble protein runs from 25% to 33% as fed, averaging 29.6% against a catalog kibble average of 26.9%. Estimated starch runs from 30% to 41%, averaging 36% against 37.4% for the catalog. Fat ranges from 9% to 19%, and calories average 499 kcal per cup against a catalog average of 395. The wet foods run from 7% to 9% protein, and their 8.3% average matches the catalog wet average of 8.3%.
The trade-offs are clear on the label. There is no grain-inclusive option, and owners avoiding peas or lentils will not find a recipe here. Chicken appears in 5 of the 6 wet foods, including cans named for lamb and beef, so the recipe name does not always tell the full protein story.
| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Starch | Kcal / cup | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grain-Free Real Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe | 33% | 14% | 32% | 484 | Salmon, Salmon Meal (Source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate), Sardine Meal (Source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate) |
| Grain-Free Real Duck & Sweet Potato Recipe | 32.5% | 15% | 31.5% | 513 | Duck, Duck Meal, Turkey Meal |
| Grain-Free Real Lamb & Pea Recipe | 32% | 18% | 30% | 509 | Lamb, turkey meal, chicken meal |
| Puppy Grain-Free Real Chicken, Lentil & Whole Egg Recipe | 30% | 12% | 38% | 520 | Chicken, Menhaden Fish Meal, Lentils |
| Grain-Free Real Chicken, Lentil & Pea Recipe | 30% | 19% | 31% | 534 | Chicken, Chicken Meal (Source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate), Lentils |
| Grain-Free Small Breed Real Chicken, Potato & Whole Egg Recipe | 30% | 12% | 38% | 520 | Chicken, Menhaden Fish Meal, Peas |
| Grain-Free Healthy Weight Real Chicken & Pea Recipe | 29% | 9% | 41% | 475 | Chicken, Chicken Meal, Turkey Meal |
| Grain-Free Senior Real Chicken, Sweet Potato & Garbanzo Bean Recipe | 29% | 10% | 40% | 475 | Chicken, Chicken Meal (Source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate), Turkey Meal (Source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate) |
| Grain-Free Real Bison, Lentil & Carrot Recipe | 28.5% | 13% | 37.5% | 498 | Bison, Lamb Meal (Source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate), Sweet Potatoes |
| Grain-Free Real Lamb, Goat & Venison Meals Recipe | 27% | 14% | 38.5% | 449 | Lamb, Goat Meal, Lentils |
| Grain-Free Real Wild Boar & Garbanzo Bean Recipe | 25% | 15% | 39% | 516 | Wild Boar, Pork Meal, Sweet Potatoes |
| Line average | 29.6% | 13.7% | 36% | 499 |
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Starch is our estimate, since no bag prints it. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
33% protein · 14% fat · 32% starch · 484 kcal/cup · Adult
The highest-protein recipe in the line at 33%, and the only kibble whose animal protein is all fish: salmon, salmon meal and sardine meal. With 32% estimated starch and 484 kcal per cup, it suits adult dogs whose owners want a poultry-free kibble.
Full review of Grain-Free Real Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe32.5% protein · 15% fat · 31.5% starch · 513 kcal/cup · Adult
The only kibble here with duck, listing duck and duck meal ahead of turkey meal, sweet potatoes and peas. With 32.5% protein and 31.5% estimated starch, it suits adult dogs whose owners want a high-protein kibble built on duck.
Full review of Grain-Free Real Duck & Sweet Potato Recipe32% protein · 18% fat · 30% starch · 509 kcal/cup · Adult
Lamb leads this recipe, followed by turkey meal and chicken meal, and fish is also among its animal proteins. With the least estimated starch in the line at 30%, plus 32% protein and 18% fat, it suits adult dogs that eat poultry and fish alongside lamb.
Full review of Grain-Free Real Lamb & Pea Recipe30% protein · 12% fat · 38% starch · 520 kcal/cup · Puppy
The line's only puppy recipe, with chicken and menhaden fish meal followed by lentils, peas and potatoes. It has 30% protein, 12% fat and 520 kcal per cup, and suits growing puppies that eat chicken, fish and egg.
Full review of Puppy Grain-Free Real Chicken, Lentil & Whole Egg Recipe30% protein · 19% fat · 31% starch · 534 kcal/cup · Adult
This recipe has the most fat (19%) and the most calories per cup (534) in the line, with chicken fat in the first five ingredients. Its 31% estimated starch is near the low end of the line, and it suits adult dogs that need a calorie-dense chicken kibble.
Full review of Grain-Free Real Chicken, Lentil & Pea Recipe30% protein · 12% fat · 38% starch · 520 kcal/cup · Adult
Sold for small breed adults, this recipe matches the puppy formula's 30% protein, 12% fat and 520 kcal per cup, but lists peas ahead of lentils. Chicken, menhaden fish meal and potatoes round out its top five, and it suits small adult dogs.
Full review of Grain-Free Small Breed Real Chicken, Potato & Whole Egg Recipe29% protein · 9% fat · 41% starch · 475 kcal/cup · Adult
Sold as a Healthy Weight recipe, it has the least fat in the line at 9% and 475 kcal per cup, but also the most estimated starch at 41%. It suits adult dogs whose owners want a lower-fat chicken and turkey kibble.
Full review of Grain-Free Healthy Weight Real Chicken & Pea Recipe29% protein · 10% fat · 40% starch · 475 kcal/cup · Senior
The line's only senior recipe, with chicken, chicken meal and turkey meal ahead of sweet potatoes and garbanzo beans. It has 10% fat, 40% estimated starch and 475 kcal per cup, and suits older dogs that eat chicken and turkey.
Full review of Grain-Free Senior Real Chicken, Sweet Potato & Garbanzo Bean Recipe28.5% protein · 13% fat · 37.5% starch · 498 kcal/cup · Adult
The only kibble here with bison, backed by lamb meal, with sweet potatoes, peas and lentils all in the first five ingredients. It sits mid-line at 28.5% protein, 13% fat and 37.5% estimated starch, and suits adult dogs on a bison-based rotation.
Full review of Grain-Free Real Bison, Lentil & Carrot Recipe27% protein · 14% fat · 38.5% starch · 449 kcal/cup · Adult
The only kibble here with venison, plus goat meal, and the only one using tapioca instead of potato or sweet potato. It has the fewest calories in the line at 449 kcal per cup, and suits adult dogs on a chicken-free lamb and venison rotation.
Full review of Grain-Free Real Lamb, Goat & Venison Meals Recipe25% protein · 15% fat · 39% starch · 516 kcal/cup · Adult
The only kibble here with pork, built on wild boar and pork meal, with garbanzo beans in the first five ingredients. It has the least protein in the line at 25%, with 39% estimated starch, and suits adult dogs whose owners want a poultry-free kibble.
Full review of Grain-Free Real Wild Boar & Garbanzo Bean Recipe| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Moisture | Kcal / kg | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pure, Lamb, Turkey & Chicken Grain Free Recipe | 9% | 6.5% | 78% | 1,220 | Lamb, Lamb Broth, Turkey Broth |
| Petite, Grain Free Chicken & Peas Pâté for Small Breed Dogs | 8.5% | 5% | 78% | -- | Chicken Broth, Chicken, Turkey |
| Petite, Grain Free Turkey & Green Beans for Small Breed Dogs | 8.5% | 3.5% | 82% | 933 | Turkey broth, chicken, chicken liver |
| Petite, Grain Free Morsels Lamb and Carrots for Small Breed Dogs | 8.5% | 3.5% | 82% | 956 | Lamb broth, chicken, chicken liver |
| Petite, Grain Free Minced Beef and Carrots Recipe for Small Breed Dogs | 8.5% | 3.5% | 82% | -- | Beef Broth, Chicken, Chicken Liver |
| Pure, Lamb Recipe Grain-Free | 7% | 6% | 78% | 1,344 | Lamb, Lamb Broth, Vegetable Broth |
| Line average | 8.3% | 4.7% | 80% | 1,113 |
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Wet food is mostly water, so compare it with other wet food only. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
9% protein · 6.5% fat · 1,220 kcal/kg
This all-breed can has the most protein (9%) and the most fat (6.5%) of the wet foods, with lamb first and turkey and chicken following. It is the only wet recipe that lists potato, and it suits dogs of any size that eat all three proteins.
Full review of Pure, Lamb, Turkey & Chicken Grain Free Recipe8.5% protein · 5% fat
The only pâté in the line, with chicken broth, chicken, turkey and chicken liver ahead of dried peas. At 5% fat it carries more fat than the other Petite cans, and it suits small dogs that eat chicken and turkey in a smooth texture.
Full review of Petite, Grain Free Chicken & Peas Pâté for Small Breed Dogs8.5% protein · 3.5% fat · 933 kcal/kg
This Petite can has the fewest calories in the line at 933 kcal per kg, with turkey broth first and dried egg whites in the top five. With 3.5% fat and 82% moisture, it suits small dogs whose owners want a lighter wet option.
Full review of Petite, Grain Free Turkey & Green Beans for Small Breed Dogs8.5% protein · 3.5% fat · 956 kcal/kg
Lamb broth leads this Petite morsels recipe, but chicken, chicken liver and dried egg whites come before lamb itself in the first five ingredients. At 956 kcal per kg, it suits small dogs that eat chicken and like a lamb-flavored can in morsel form.
Full review of Petite, Grain Free Morsels Lamb and Carrots for Small Breed Dogs8.5% protein · 3.5% fat
The only wet recipe in the line with beef, though chicken and chicken liver are listed before beef in the first five ingredients. In a minced texture with 8.5% protein and 3.5% fat, it suits small dogs that eat both beef and chicken.
Full review of Petite, Grain Free Minced Beef and Carrots Recipe for Small Breed Dogs7% protein · 6% fat · 496 kcal/can
The only wet recipe with lamb as its sole animal protein, using lamb, lamb broth and lamb liver. It has the least protein of the wet foods at 7% and the most calories at 1344 kcal per kg, and suits owners looking for a poultry-free can.
Full review of Pure, Lamb Recipe Grain-FreeYes. All 17 PURE recipes, 11 kibbles and 6 wet foods, are grain free. Every one of them also includes peas or lentils.
Among the kibbles, Grain-Free Real Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe has the most at 33%, followed by Real Duck & Sweet Potato at 32.5%. Among the wet foods, Pure, Lamb, Turkey & Chicken Grain Free Recipe leads at 9%.
Yes. The Duck, Bison, Salmon, Wild Boar and Lamb, Goat & Venison Meals kibbles do not list chicken among their animal proteins. In wet food, Pure, Lamb Recipe Grain-Free is the only can with lamb as its sole animal protein.
Protein runs higher than the average kibble we review (32.9% vs 30.1% on a dry matter basis).
100% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (89% across the site).
100% of recipes are grain-free.
this range, lowest to highest its average average of all 3,215 foods we review
Starch is our estimate from the guaranteed analysis, since no manufacturer prints it. How we work it out
Share of recipes that list each animal protein as an ingredient, not counting oils, fats or flavorings. Useful if your dog has a food sensitivity.
These are not unsafe. They are listed because readers ask about them.
Canidae dry dog and cat food made at Diamond Gaston, SC plant
Ten everyday foods. Safe, In Moderation or Never. No googling, no second guesses. Then share your score with your friends, however embarrassing it turns out to be.
115 foods in the deck. Grapes are in there. So is cheese.
Ten foods, one at a time. Call each one Safe, In Moderation or Never, then flip the card to see if you had it right. The ones you miss are listed at the end.
Keys: 1 Safe 2 Moderation 3 Never Enter Next
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