I've been feeding the Purina Pro Plan Selects Salmon and Rice and my 3 appear to be doing really good on it. Problem is Petsmart doesn't restock it very often and I don't feel the bags on the shelf are very fresh. Today there was one bag left with a use by date of August 2008 and I like a use by date further away than that. It had a hole in it also so I didn't buy it. I just bought a small (fresh) 7lb bag until I got some feedback from you guys. I could go to Petco, but there's a $10.00 difference in price!

I was comparing the ingredients between the Pro Plan Selects and the regular Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach which is also salmon based.

Can someone tell me if there's a huge difference in the two based on the comparison sheet I did.

Pro Plan Selects has Blueberry Pomace, Dried egg product, dried sweet potatoe and dried tomato that the regular Pro Plan doesn't have.

Pro Plan Selects uses Brown Rice where the Reg uses Brewers Rice.

Pro Plan Selects uses copper, manganese and zinc "proteinate" where the reg uses "sulfate".

The Regular Pro Plan Sensitive Skin has Salmon meal as well as salmon that the Selects doesn't have.

Other than those differences the ingredients, vitamins and minerals are the same.

Of all the brands I've tried from Blue Buffalo to the super Premium brands, they are doing the best on the Purina line. I'm just wondering if switching to the regular Pro Plan would be that big of a difference.

My understanding is that the Selects has a higher meat content (or in this case, fish) than the regular Pro Plan. I wonder if you have a Petco near you? Comparison shopping had my local Petco's prices better than my local Petsmart. Also, they should be able to order it for you. The Petco got a shipment in for us in less than a week. If this doesn't work, I would expect the Selects and Pro Plan varieties are close enough to switch over without a problem.

Good luck!!

Thanks Lisa. There is a Petco near me, but their PPS Salmon and Rice is 34.99 for a 17# bag whereas Petsmart is 24.99. Petco in our area is higher on just about everything than Petsmart.

I wasn't to concerned about the fruits being in PPS and not in the Regular Pro Plan, but I was wondering if there is a huge difference between minerals being proteinate based vs a sulfate based. One thing I was surprised about is the regular Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach has salmon meal whereas the Pro Plan selects doesn't.

Do you know if there is a huge difference between (for example) Copper or Zinc Proteinate vs Copper or Zinc Sulfate. I'm sure the Proteinate is probably better, but is there that big of a difference?

Honestly, I have no idea. This might be a good question for the folks at Purina, though.

Do you know if there is a huge difference between (for example) Copper or Zinc Proteinate vs Copper or Zinc Sulfate. I'm sure the Proteinate is probably better, but is there that big of a difference?

I don't think there would be such a difference that it would actually make a difference..If that makes sense:D Actually some pet foods have both zinc proteinate and zinc sulfate in them:)

The biggest difference and the reason for the price difference is that the Selects has more protein closer to the top of the list while the Sensitive has more grains at the top of the list. Alot of it seems similar and it's probabaly negligible. If you are feeding one and can't find it, the other would be a good interim substitute, though for long term, I would prefer the Selects version.

SELECTS
Salmon, brown rice, fish meal (natural source of glucosamine), oat meal, canola meal, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), pearled barley, dried egg product, brewers dried yeast, natural flavor,

SENSITIVE STOMACH
Salmon, brewers rice, canola meal, oat meal, fish meal (natural source of glucosamine), animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), salmon meal (natural source of glucosamine), pearled barley, brewers dried yeast,

Thanks for all your replies. I just found out there's a Pet Supermarket near me and I'm going to check them out today. I think they carry the PPSelects as well as some premium brands.

We are using the regular PP sensitive skin and stomach and have noticed a dramatic difference in Sawyers skin on his belly. He's not licking himself raw but.... his coat is becoming very dull. I'm not sure at this point if it's a Spring thing or his food. We were discussing this last night and it seems to us he did this last Spring so we are going to give another bag a try before we switch. Also, have any of you noticed a "fishy" breath odor that lingers?

We are using the regular PP sensitive skin and stomach and have noticed a dramatic difference in Sawyers skin on his belly. He's not licking himself raw but.... his coat is becoming very dull. I'm not sure at this point if it's a Spring thing or his food. We were discussing this last night and it seems to us he did this last Spring so we are going to give another bag a try before we switch. Also, have any of you noticed a "fishy" breath odor that lingers?

I haven't had the same experience with the Selects salmon, but then again Drum is also on megadoses of EFAs for his SLO. Grip's coat looks the same (excellent, shiny, not too soft).

Neither he nor Grip have fishy breath, and in fact Grip's breath has improved from his last food (which was an excellent food, but made his breath smell yeasty).

Thanks Lisa,
Sawyers breath is very fishy to the point of cringing when he wants to smooch ...lol They are both drinking a ton of water after each meal too. I dispise this food game. My neighbors dog is beautiful and she eats what-ever they have a coupon for. They think I'm nuts to worry so.

Noels coat looks great since she's been on the Pro Plan Selects, so I might skip trying the regular Pro Plan since you mentioned the dull coat. All of mine get the BOG granules so they have garlic breath. I've never noticed a fishy smell at all except when I open the bag.

I despise the food game too. They've done really good on the Pro Plan Selects Salmon and Rice and I keep telling myself I would be a fool to switch again unless I need to.

Have you tried the Pro Plan Selects Salmon and Rice or have you just tried the Regular Sensitive Skin and Stomach?

Stick with the Selects if it works.. More of the Protein is coming from fish rather the grains in the reg. PP

I would call Pro Plan and complain about the Petsmart inventory. They most likely would send a rep. to check it out... They pay for that shelf space.

Stick with the Selects if it works.. More of the Protein is coming from fish rather the grains in the reg. PP

I would call Pro Plan and complain about the Petsmart inventory. They most likely would send a rep. to check it out... They pay for that shelf space.Great idea. I even checked out another Petsmart not to far from me and got the same response basically that it all depends on their distributor and when it ships. I spent 2 hours on the road looking for PPSelects. The Pet Supermarket didn't carry it. He says they don't stock it because it doesn't sell, but pointed me in the direction of this neat dog food store called "Red Bandana" up the road. Talking with the salesperson there, I picked up a bag of TOTW Salmon. It doesn't have flaxseed so I figured I would give it a try since I'm going to play hell finding the Purina Pro Plan Selects around here. Petco carries the Pro Plan Selects, but I just can't see paying $35.00 for a 17# bag.

Have you tried the Pro Plan Selects Salmon and Rice or have you just tried the Regular Sensitive Skin and Stomach?

Just the regular sensitive skin and stomach and last night he started licking a spot right under his hind leg again.... sigh. The selects is so expensive around here that I can't afford to feed it to two dogs (unless I quit eating which could be a good thing :) It's time for their vet check so I'm going to have her look at the spot he won't leave alone. His breath is killing us though. I swear my house smells like dead fish.

With the price of fuel so high look into shipping

Pet food direct 10 % coupon here

http://www.thepetcenter.com/imtop/dm.html

it will be added at checkout.. As long as you time the purchases right you will always have food.

The coupon just about pays for shipping and they have a great inventory of other supplies.