Which pet food & nutrition brands
AI recommends in the US
Brands ranked by mention rate on ChatGPT, Gemini, Google AI Mode and Perplexity
- Brands
- 53
- Questions
- 368
- Answers
- 4,416
- AI engines
- 4
01 · Brand leader
Top 10 brands by mention rate
No single brand runs away with the category.
Several brands compete for the top places.
| # | Brand | Mention rate Share of questions where Google AI Mode names the brand | Share of voice The brand’s share of all brand mentions in the engine’s answers | 95% range The interval the true mention rate most likely falls in | In top 20 of The brand’s place inside each engine’s own top 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11–4 | Hill's Science Diet | 18.0% | 6.6% | 14.4–22.3 | ChatGPT3Gemini1Google AI Mode1Perplexity5 |
| 21–4 | Royal Canin | 18.0% | 5.1% | 14.4–22.3 | ChatGPT2Gemini2Google AI Mode2Perplexity3 |
| 31–5 | Purina Pro Plan | 17.1% | 5.6% | 13.6–21.3 | ChatGPT1Gemini3Google AI Mode3Perplexity2 |
| 41–5 | Hill's Prescription Diet | 16.5% | 7.1% | 13.0–20.6 | ChatGPT4Gemini4Google AI Mode4Perplexity1 |
| 53–8 | Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets | 10.4% | 3.2% | 7.7–14.0 | ChatGPT5Gemini5Google AI Mode5Perplexity6 |
| 65–16 | Blue Buffalo | 6.7% | 3.3% | 4.6–9.7 | ChatGPT6Gemini6Google AI Mode6Perplexity4 |
| 75–16 | Royal Canin Veterinary Diet | 6.5% | 2.4% | 4.4–9.5 | ChatGPT7Gemini9Google AI Mode7Perplexity7 |
| 85–18 | Stella & Chewy's | 6.1% | 3.1% | 4.1–9.0 | ChatGPT10Gemini7Google AI Mode8 |
| 96–20 | JustFoodForDogs | 4.9% | 2.3% | 3.1–7.6 | ChatGPT9Gemini8Google AI Mode9Perplexity10 |
| 106–20 | Weruva | 3.5% | 1.1% | 2.1–5.9 | Gemini15Google AI Mode10Perplexity17 |
| 116–20 | The Farmer's Dog | 3.1% | 1.6% | 1.7–5.4 | ChatGPT20Gemini19Google AI Mode11 |
| 126–20 | Nutramax Laboratories | 3.1% | 1.4% | 1.7–5.4 | ChatGPT14Gemini18Google AI Mode12Perplexity9 |
| 136–20 | Oxbow Animal Health | 2.7% | 1.2% | 1.5–4.9 | Google AI Mode13Perplexity20 |
| 146–20 | Iams | 2.6% | 0.9% | 1.4–4.8 | ChatGPT13Google AI Mode14Perplexity14 |
| 156–20 | Tiki Cat | 2.6% | 1.2% | 1.4–4.8 | Gemini13Google AI Mode15 |
| 166–20 | Ollie | 2.4% | 1.5% | 1.3–4.6 | Gemini10Google AI Mode16Perplexity8 |
| 178–20 | Instinct | 2.2% | 1.3% | 1.1–4.2 | ChatGPT15Gemini16Google AI Mode17 |
| 188–20 | Primal Pet Foods | 2.1% | 1.4% | 1.0–4.1 | ChatGPT17Gemini12Google AI Mode18Perplexity13 |
| 199–20 | Orijen | 2.0% | 0.9% | 1.0–4.0 | ChatGPT16Gemini11Google AI Mode19Perplexity12 |
| 209–20 | Zesty Paws | 1.8% | 0.8% | 0.9–3.8 | Gemini17Google AI Mode20Perplexity15 |
02 · Engine consensus
Where each brand ranks
inside every engine’s top 10
There is no single AI top 10.
Only 8 of 13 brands rank in the top 10 of all 4 engines.
| Brand | ChatGPT | Gemini | Google AI Mode | Perplexity | In top 10 of |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Purina Pro Plan | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | ChatGPTGeminiGoogle AI ModePerplexity |
| Royal Canin | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | ChatGPTGeminiGoogle AI ModePerplexity |
| Hill's Science Diet | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | ChatGPTGeminiGoogle AI ModePerplexity |
| Hill's Prescription Diet | 4 | 4 | 4 | 1 | ChatGPTGeminiGoogle AI ModePerplexity |
| Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | ChatGPTGeminiGoogle AI ModePerplexity |
| Blue Buffalo | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | ChatGPTGeminiGoogle AI ModePerplexity |
| Royal Canin Veterinary Diet | 7 | 9 | 7 | 7 | ChatGPTGeminiGoogle AI ModePerplexity |
| JustFoodForDogs | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | ChatGPTGeminiGoogle AI ModePerplexity |
| Stella & Chewy's | 10 | 7 | 8 | – | ChatGPTGeminiGoogle AI Mode |
| Ollie | – | 10 | – | 8 | GeminiPerplexity |
| Pedigree | 8 | – | – | – | ChatGPT |
| Nutramax Laboratories | – | – | – | 9 | Perplexity |
| Weruva | – | – | 10 | – | Google AI Mode |
Rank inside each engine’s own top 10 · a dash means the brand is not in that engine’s top 10.
The rest depend on which engine the buyer opens — so a rank from a single engine is not a market position.
Source: Findrix's research. Where each brand ranks inside every engine's top 10, pet food & nutrition, United States.
04b · Most cited domains
Which sites each engine cites, and
how much of its answers they carry
| Domain | ChatGPT | Gemini | Google AI Mode | Perplexity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| youtube.com | <0.1% | 0.1% | 18.6% | – |
| google.com | – | 17.5% | 13.5% | <0.1% |
| merckvetmanual.com | 7.8% | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.4% |
| nih.gov | 6.4% | 0.4% | 3.0% | 7.8% |
| vcahospitals.com | 6.5% | 1.4% | 0.6% | 2.1% |
| aaha.org | 5.9% | – | 1× | 0.1% |
| aafco.org | 5.8% | – | 0.7% | 0.5% |
| fda.gov | 5.8% | 0.1% | 0.5% | 0.4% |
| petmd.com | 1.6% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 4.0% |
| chewy.com | 1.8% | 1.4% | 2.6% | 3.3% |
| wsava.org | 2.9% | <0.1% | 0.3% | 0.2% |
| cornell.edu | 2.7% | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.9% |
05 · The questions we asked
368 buyer questions, each
asked three times per engine
This isn’t a branded-prompt study.
78% of questions are problem- or solution-aware.
| Intent | Questions |
|---|---|
| Solution-aware | 160 |
| Problem-aware | 128 |
| Informational | 40 |
| Branded comparison | 24 |
| Branded sentiment | 16 |
By intent
Examples · Solution-aware
“What are the main pros and cons of Raw & Fresh Pet Food versus canned wet food for addressing High protein content as of latest information?”
“What are the top-rated brands offering Jerky/meat strips that focus on Brand trust as of latest information?”
Examples · Problem-aware
“My dog is constantly scratching and losing fur, could switching to Allergy/dermatology diets resolve this issue as of latest information?”
“My dog is constantly scratching and losing fur, could switching to Frozen raw resolve this issue as of latest information?”
Examples · Informational
“What should I look for in pet food ingredients to effectively support Ingredient transparency and clean labeling as of latest information?”
“What should I look for in pet food ingredients to effectively support Alternative protein innovation as of latest information?”
Examples · Branded comparison
“Milk-Bone vs Purina Beggin' for Everyday value, aroma, high-reward meat flavor (bacon strips), and treat softness as of latest information?”
Examples · Branded sentiment
“Is Kaytee a good choice in small animal food & nutrition as of latest information?”
“Is Nutramax Laboratories a good choice in supplements & nutraceuticals as of latest information?”
Source: Findrix research. 368 buyer questions by intent, pet food & nutrition, United States.
05b · By product type
Which product segments
the questions cover
The study doesn’t hinge on one product category.
Questions span 9 pet food & nutrition segments.
| Segment |
|---|
| Dry Pet Food (Kibble) |
| Treats & Chews |
| Supplements & Nutraceuticals |
| Wet & Canned Food |
| Veterinary/Prescription Diets |
| Fresh & Gently Cooked Food |
| Raw & Fresh Pet Food |
| Small Animal Food & Nutrition |
| Alternative & Plant-Based Nutrition |
9 segments
Examples · Dry Pet Food (Kibble)
“How does Premium/super-premium kibble compare to standard commercial kibble when evaluating Price per pound/value as of latest information?”
Examples · Treats & Chews
“What are the top-rated brands offering Jerky/meat strips that focus on Brand trust as of latest information?”
Examples · Supplements & Nutraceuticals
“What are the top-rated brands offering Multivitamins/general wellness that focus on Ingredient purity/sourcing as of latest information?”
Examples · Wet & Canned Food
“What should I look for in pet food ingredients to effectively support Ingredient transparency and clean labeling as of latest information?”
Examples · Veterinary/Prescription Diets
“What are the top-rated brands offering Urinary care diets that focus on Brand trust/clinical research backing as of latest information?”
Examples · Fresh & Gently Cooked Food
“Is Ollie a good choice in fresh & gently cooked food as of latest information?”
Examples · Raw & Fresh Pet Food
“What are the main pros and cons of Raw & Fresh Pet Food versus canned wet food for addressing High protein content as of latest information?”
Examples · Small Animal Food & Nutrition
“Is Kaytee a good choice in small animal food & nutrition as of latest information?”
Examples · Alternative & Plant-Based Nutrition
“Is Wild Earth a good choice in alternative & plant-based nutrition as of latest information?”
Source: Findrix research. 9 product segments covered by the question set, pet food & nutrition, United States.
Frequently asked questions
What does this Pet Food & Nutrition AI Search report measure?
Which pet food & nutrition brands ChatGPT, Gemini, Google AI Mode and Perplexity name when buyers in the United States ask them for advice. We asked 368 buyer questions, each three times to each engine, and counted how often every brand appears and which websites the engines cite. Measured Sep 2026.
What does “mention rate” mean?
The share of questions where an engine names the brand in its answer. A 10% mention rate means the brand came up in about one question in ten. Every rate carries a 95% range: the interval the true value most likely falls in.
How are the top Pet Food & Nutrition brands ranked?
By mention rate, separately for each engine — pick the engine above the table. When two brands’ 95% ranges overlap, their order is not really different — tick “Only distinguishable places” to see the ranks the data can actually separate.
Why does a brand rank differently across AI engines?
Each engine retrieves from different sources and weighs them differently, so the brands it knows best differ too. Only 8 of 13 brands make the top 10 of every engine here; the rest depend on which engine the buyer opens.
What counts as a citation?
A link or source an engine shows alongside its answer. We record every cited domain, whether it appears inline or in the source list.
Why can AI mention a brand without citing its website?
Engines learn brand names from reviews, expert sites, retailers and forums, then cite those sources rather than the brand’s own pages. A brand can be named often while its own site is rarely among the sources.
What does “share of citations” mean?
Of all the citations one engine gave across our questions, the share that went to a given domain. The shares of one engine add up to 100%.
What types of Pet Food & Nutrition questions are included?
Questions real buyers ask across 9 product segments, from problem-aware to solution-aware, informational and branded ones. 78% are problem- or solution-aware; this is not a branded-prompt study.
Will I get the same answers if I ask these questions myself?
Not word for word. AI answers vary between runs, accounts and locations, which is why we ask every question three times per engine and report a 95% range instead of a single answer.