Purina Little Bites dry dog food has received the lowest possible rating of 1 star from Dog Food Advisor. This particular product line has been merged with the broader Purina Dog Chow reviews. Purina Little Bites is presented as a recipe that meets AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages. However, a closer examination of its ingredients and estimated nutrient content reveals significant concerns for canine health and nutrition.
The ingredient list begins with whole grain corn, a controversial cereal grain that offers only modest nutritional value to dogs. This is followed by meat and bone meal, an anonymous rendered product derived from mammal tissues, including bone. Meat and bone meal can have lower digestibility due to its higher ash and lower essential amino acid content. Its generic nature, without specifying the animal source, further diminishes its quality in our assessment.
Further down the list, corn gluten meal and soybean meal appear. These are plant-based proteins that can artificially inflate the total protein percentage reported on the label, potentially masking a lower actual meat content. While soybean meal is a by-product of soybean oil extraction, it possesses a lower biological value compared to animal-based proteins. Animal fat, also generic, is another ingredient of concern, as its source is not specified and could potentially include lower-quality materials.
Chicken is listed, which is a quality ingredient, but its nutritional contribution is reduced after processing due to water loss. Whole grain wheat is another cereal grain with similar nutritional considerations to corn. Egg and chicken flavor are added, followed by animal digest, a chemically treated mixture of animal by-products often used to enhance palatability. Brewers rice, a fragmented by-product of rice milling, offers only caloric energy and modest nutritional value.
Several other ingredients follow, but their impact on the overall rating is minimal unless they fall into specific categories of concern. These include artificial coloring, which serves no nutritional purpose for dogs and is used solely for human appeal. Garlic oil is noted as potentially controversial; while it may offer health benefits, garlic in rare instances has been linked to Heinz body anemia in dogs. However, definitive warnings regarding its use in small amounts are lacking in professional literature.
The absence of probiotics, beneficial bacteria that aid digestion, is a drawback. Additionally, the minerals listed are not chelated, which can make them more difficult for dogs to absorb, typically indicating a lower-quality food. Finally, the inclusion of menadione, a controversial form of vitamin K, is a significant concern due to its potential links to liver toxicity, allergies, and red blood cell breakdown. Since vitamin K is not required by AAFCO in dog food profiles, its inclusion is questionable.
Ingredient Analysis Summary
- Corn and Wheat: Inexpensive cereal grains with limited nutritional benefit for dogs.
- Meat and Bone Meal: Anonymous source, potentially lower digestibility.
- Corn Gluten Meal & Soybean Meal: Plant-based proteins that can inflate protein content and have lower biological value.
- Animal Fat: Generic, unspecified source.
- Artificial Coloring: Unnecessary for dogs, purely aesthetic.
- Garlic Oil: Potentially controversial, though risks in small amounts are unclear.
- Unchelated Minerals: May reduce nutrient absorption.
- Menadione (Vitamin K): Controversial form linked to toxicity.
Estimated Nutrient Content
The estimated dry matter nutrient content for Purina Little Bites is approximately 28.4% protein, 11.4% fat, and 52.2% carbohydrates. The fat-to-protein ratio is around 40%. While the protein content is near average, the fat level is below average, and carbohydrate content is above average compared to typical dry dog foods. Considering the protein-boosting effect of ingredients like corn gluten meal and soybean meal, this suggests a below-average actual meat content in the kibble.
Conclusion
Based on its ingredient list, Purina Little Bites Dog Food is considered a below-average dry product. The use of multiple controversial and lower-quality ingredients, combined with a significant reliance on plant-based proteins and an unspecified meat source, leads to a strongly unfavorable assessment. For these reasons, Purina Little Bites is not recommended for your dog.
Sources
Association of American Feed Control Officials, 2008 Edition
Shirley RB and Parsons CM, Effect of Ash Content on Protein Quality of Meat and Bone Meal, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Poultry Science, 2001 80: 626-632
Yamato et al, Heinz Body hemolytic anemia with eccentrocytosis from ingestion of Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum) and garlic (Allium sativum) in a dog, Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 41:68-73 (2005)
