The scores
Purina Puppy Chow Complete With Real Chicken: D (39/100) — Whole grain corn first, chicken by-product meal second, corn gluten meal third. Animal digest for palatability. Marketed for puppies despite a weak nutritional foundation.
Purina Dog Chow Complete Adult Chicken: D (39/100) — Whole grain corn first, meat and bone meal second, corn gluten meal third. A marginally cleaner formula for adult dogs, but still fundamentally corn-based.
How the ingredients compare
Puppy Chow: Whole Grain Corn, Chicken By-Product Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Beef Fat, Soybean Meal
Dog Chow: Whole Grain Corn, Meat and Bone Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Soybean Meal, Beef Fat
The formulas are almost interchangeable. Both lead with corn, follow with a low-quality protein source, then pile on corn gluten meal and soybean meal. The positions of beef fat and soybean meal are simply swapped between the two products. This isn't two different formulas — it's the same cost-optimized approach with minor variations and different label claims.
Where Dog Chow pulls ahead
No by-product meal: Dog Chow uses meat and bone meal — which is vague and unspecified — but Puppy Chow uses chicken by-product meal, which is rendered from feet, heads, intestines, and other parts that aren't muscle meat. Neither is good, but by-product meal is specifically the lowest-quality rendered protein available. At least meat and bone meal could theoretically contain some muscle tissue.
No animal digest: Puppy Chow includes animal digest — a chemically processed palatability enhancer made from unspecified animal tissues. Its presence suggests the base formula isn't appealing enough for dogs to eat without it. Dog Chow manages to be palatable without this additive, which is a low bar but a real one.
No garlic oil: Puppy Chow includes garlic oil, which is controversial in dog food. Garlic contains thiosulfates that can damage red blood cells in dogs. The amount in kibble is almost certainly too small to cause harm, but quality brands avoid it entirely. Dog Chow doesn't include it.
Four extra points: Dog Chow's D/39 is marginally better positioned — still deep in D territory, but further from the F threshold at 34. Puppy Chow's D/35 is one point from failing entirely. Shop on Amazon →
Where Puppy Chow holds its own
AAFCO growth formulation: Puppy Chow is formulated to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for growth and reproduction, meaning it provides the minimum vitamins, minerals, and protein levels required for a developing puppy. Dog Chow meets adult maintenance standards only. If you have a puppy and these are your only two choices, Puppy Chow at least targets the right life stage.
Named species protein: Chicken by-product meal is a low-quality ingredient, but at least it identifies the animal species. Dog Chow's meat and bone meal doesn't — "meat" could come from any mammal. For owners who need to avoid specific proteins due to allergies, at least Puppy Chow tells you what's in it.
Actual chicken appears: Whole chicken shows up at position #7 in Puppy Chow. It's a small amount this far down the list, but it's there. Dog Chow's ingredient list includes no whole named meat at all — just rendered meals and by-products. Shop on Amazon →
The bottom line
Same score, same verdict: both are corn-first formulas with bottom-tier protein sources, and neither provides the nutrition dogs deserve. The 39-point gap between either product and a B-tier brand like Diamond Naturals (B/78) is the number that actually matters. If you have a puppy, Puppy Chow at least targets the right life stage. If you have an adult dog, Dog Chow avoids by-product meal and animal digest. But if you can stretch the budget even slightly, the upgrade to any C or B grade food will make a dramatically bigger difference than choosing between Purina's two cheapest options.