UR Urinary Ox/St Dry Dog Food, 25-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St Dry Dog Food is a dry formula for adult maintenance, listing chicken by-product meal as a primary protein source.
This formula has AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for adult maintenance, which is a strong indicator of nutritional adequacy. It also includes ingredients like egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse, high-bioavailability protein, and uses premium micronutrient forms such as chelated minerals.
The formula is heavily plant-protein dominated, with whole grain corn as the first ingredient. It also lacks a declared omega-3 source and contains menadione, a synthetic vitamin K3 banned in human supplements due to toxicity concerns.
Good fit for adult dogs whose vet has specifically recommended this formula. Less ideal if you prefer animal-first protein sources or natural vitamin K.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Good fit for active large sporting breeds, including the Labrador Retriever, navigating weight management. At 365 kcal/cup this formula runs on the moderate side, with crude fiber at 6.5% (above the catalog median, supports satiety). The landmark 14-year Purina Lifespan Study on 48 Labrador Retrievers demonstrated that dogs fed 25% fewer calories lived a median of 1.8 years longer and delayed the onset of chronic diseases. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention's 2023 survey, 59% of dogs in the United States were classified as overweight or obese by their veterinary healthcare professional, representing an estimated 55 million dogs (APOP, 2023) .
Looking at this for adult Labrador Retrievers or Labrador Retrievers with weight management ? We are building dedicated pages for these combinations.
Auto-matched from this product's measurements (ingredients, life stage, calorie density) to a breed archetype. Not a substitute for vet input on your specific dog.
Research informing this analysis
MethodologyThe Sniff System grades this product against 3 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.
- Brooks et al., 2014diagnostic · protocol · satiety· cited in 5 claims
- APOP, 2023prevalence
- Raffan et al., 2016genetics
Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
Sniff scored this formula 44/100, landing in D-tier territory. The biggest contributor was AAFCO compliance (+8 points): AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for adult maintenance. The biggest detractor was protein quality (-18 points): Plant-protein-dominated formula. whole grain corn as the #1 ingredient. The gap to C-tier is small (1.0 points). Addressing protein quality would likely close it.
AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for adult maintenance.
Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.
Premium micronutrient forms such as chelated minerals or natural vitamin E.
Plant-protein-dominated formula. whole grain corn as the #1 ingredient.
No declared omega-3 source. Fish oil, salmon oil, and algae oil all absent.
Contains menadione. Banned for human OTC use but tolerated at AAFCO-permitted levels in pet food. The only AAFCO-permitted vitamin K source..
- Lowest fat quality in Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets's lineup (2/16)
- Top quartile for crude fiber in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (7.4% DMB)
- Bottom 10% for carb quality in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (10/16)
Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.
Similar dog foods worth considering
Three lenses on products with formulation profiles similar to this one.
Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets Neurocare Dry Dog Food, 25-lb bag
Scores 25 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Adult Urinary UC Dry Dog Food, 18-lb bag
Egg instead of chicken, 12 points higher, different brand.
Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.
Controversial ingredients · 1
- menadioneSynthetic vitamin K3. Banned in human supplements due to toxicity concerns at high doses. Permitted in pet food but premium brands use natural vitamin K alternatives.
Every flagged ingredient has a published basis (confirmed harm / regulatory action / precautionary). See methodology →
Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.
- 1grainwhole grain corn
Whole corn with the kernel intact. Decent fiber and B vitamins, though it can crowd out meat in cheaper recipes.
Position 1 grain: primary carbohydrate base. This is a grain-inclusive formula with whole grain corn as the dominant carb.
- 2grainrice
Generic rice. Could be white or brown, the label doesn't say. Brown rice would be specified if it were.
Position 2: major carbohydrate source.
- 3protein animalchicken by-product meal
Ground organs, bone, and tissue. Nutritionally dense, especially the liver and gizzard fractions. Named species ('chicken') is what matters. Generic 'poultry by-product meal' is the one to worry about. See why →
Position 3: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 4corn protein meal
Concentrated corn protein. Similar in role to corn gluten meal, pads the protein number on the label without matching meat amino acids.
Position 4: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 5animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols
Position 5: secondary fat. Often where marine oils sit when present alongside a primary land-animal fat.
- 6fiberpowdered cellulose
Plant fiber, often from wood pulp. Cheap bulk filler. Not harmful, but a tell that the recipe is reaching for inexpensive bulk.
Position 6: functional fiber for digestion or satiety.
- 7egg and chicken flavor
Position 7: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 8glycerin
Humectant used in soft-moist foods to keep them chewy. Safe in moderation but a signal of a processed semi-moist product.
- 9othernatural flavor
Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.
- 10mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 11mineralcalcium carbonate
Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.
- 12phosphoric acid
- 13mineralpotassium chloride
Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 14mineralmagnesium sulfate
Source of magnesium, a required mineral. Standard inclusion in complete diets.
- 15l-lysine monohydrochloride
Stable form of L-lysine, an essential amino acid. Common in plant-heavy formulas to balance the amino acid profile.
- 16mineralzinc proteinate
Zinc bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form of the mineral, versus zinc oxide which sits cheaper on the label.
- 17vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 18supplementcholine chloride
Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 19potassium citrate
Source of potassium. Sometimes added in urinary-support formulas to help manage urine pH.
- 20mineralferrous sulfate
Inorganic iron. Standard mineral source. Iron proteinate is the gentler, better-absorbed premium form.
- 21mineralmanganese proteinate
Manganese bound to protein for better absorption. The chelated form most premium brands use.
- 22vitaminniacin supplement
B vitamin (B3). Required in complete dog foods, added as a supplement to standardize the dose.
- 23vitaminvitamin a supplement
Vitamin A in stable, standardized form. Required for vision, immune function, and growth.
- 24mineralcopper proteinate
Copper bound to protein for better absorption. Common in better-formulated diets.
- 25vitamincalcium pantothenate
Same as d-calcium pantothenate. Vitamin B5 in standardized form.
Showing first 25 of 35. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
22 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.
Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR Urinary Ox/St Canine Formula provides complete and balanced nutrition for maintenance of adult dogs.