I am sharing with you my opinions on Purina Pro Plan Puppy
I see one (1) Probiotic ingredient. This is what Google has to say about bacillus coagulans
People take B. coagulans for constipation and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It is also used for diarrhea, gas, indigestion, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these other uses.
So could this be in there to help manage issues that may be part of the ingredients? Dogs eating fresh foods are far less gassy, have better stools, better digestion, etc. Do we all need probiotics – yes! but Id argue a single strain is not sufficient and that there are better probiotics to use.
you’ll also note that it’s a minimum amount.
You’ll most likely still need to supplement digestive enzymes and probiotics for dogs fed this food.
Chicken is your first ingredient, but NOT likely to be your largest protein source since you also see poultry-by-product-meal (trust me it may be from the chicken, but it’s not chicken meat), soybean meal, corn gluten meal (which is being rebranded to eliminate the word gluten and highlight the protein), egg product, fish meal.
So there are 5 other protein sources besides chicken as the first ingredient. Which do you think provides the most protein? The sum of the other 5.
Your dog does NOT need grain, wheat, corn, in any form.
Got allergies – they need to go for sure.
Got an over-adrenalyzed puppy (this is a puppy food) – chicken is a hot protein / inflammatory, common allergen – this food tracks in at about 39% carbohydrates. Lik a kid with too much candy/sugar. But I have seen many foods with over 50% carbs.
vitamins and minerals are synthetic
fat is added back to the food after processing-- usually as a spray on for both flavor and to meet fat requirements.
We know there would be some omega 3 in the food as required, but as they call out DHA which is vital for puppies development – you’ll note it’s a min amount. And we know these “fishes” and omegas begin to go rancid the minute you open the bag… but we also don’t know how long it’s been in the bag/storage, temps of storage facilities/trucking, etc
calcium here is noted at the min… for a growing puppy???
What I see at the bottom line is a food that needs to be supplemented to achieve a better nutrient profile for growing puppies and the ingredients are lesser quality than you are led to believe. So yes, it’s a lower cost per pound ---- but what else is it costing you? will it cost you?
If you want to talk about foods, supplement review, let’s do it. No pressure.
Meanwhile at least consider adding Endurance! a whole food vitamin mineral supplement and some real meat and veg to your dogs bowl when you make your own dinner!
Purina Pet Foods is owned by Nestle. All Purina products are manufactured in company owned facilities in the US (products sold or imported out of US). Company stated ingredients are USDA inspected and approved (human grade), however, the meat meal and by-product meal ingredients in this brand are (by definition) feed grade. Purina would not respond to pet food cooking time and temperature questions; stated confidential. Purina stated fish meal ingredients are preserved with ethoxyquin; stated meat ingredients are USDA inspected and approved. Purina pet foods are not GMO free. For more information visit https://www.purina.com/
Note to manufacturer’s human grade claim: FDA’s definition of human grade requires that all ingredients including supplements must be human grade, the pet food must be manufactured in a certified human food facility, and ingredients and finished products must be stored, handled, and transported according to human food regulation. This pet food states meat/vegetable ingredients are human grade, but it does not meet the full FDA requirement to state ‘human grade’ on the label or in advertising. Also – some ingredients used in this brand (example by-product meal) do not meet the definition of human grade. Petsumer Report acknowledges manufacturer quality of ingredient statement, however please know that the only true human grade pet food meets all requirements of the law.
Company Recall History:
2023 Recall – dry, elevated vitamin D levels
2022 Recall – wet, labeling error
2011 Recall – dry, Salmonella
2007 Recall – 3/16/07 – pouch, melamine, 3/30/07 – can, melamine
Minus:
- Supplements can be sourced from China; risk of poor quality control.
- The mineral listings do not read to be chelated or proteinated (for better mineral absorption).
- This food does not appear to contain probiotics (friendly bacteria that benefits the intestinal system and in turn the immune system of the pet).
- Contains animal fat, animal digest and poultry by-product meal; ingredients determined by the FDA to be possibly contain euthanized animals.
- Contains grain ingredients prone to deadly molds.
- Contains genetically modified (GM) grain ingredients linked to health risks.
- Contains copper sulfate, supplement recently linked to liver disease.
- Contains Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (source of Vitamin K activity); a controversial synthetic Vitamin K.
Ingredients
Chicken, Brewers rice, Poultry by-product meal (natural source of glucosamine), Corn gluten meal, Whole grain wheat, Animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), Whole grain corn, Corn germ meal, Brewers dried yeast, Fish meal (natural source of glucosamine), Animal digest, Dried egg product, Fish oil, Salt, Potassium chloride, Calcium carbonate, Calcium phosphate, Choline chloride, Zinc sulfate, Vitamin E supplement, Ferrous sulfate, Niacin, Manganese sulfate, L-Lysine monohydrochloride, Vitamin A supplement, Calcium pantothenate, Thiamine mononitrate, Copper sulfate, Riboflavin supplement, Garlic oil, Vitamin B-12 supplement, Pyridoxine hydrochloride, Folic acid, Vitamin D-3 supplement, Calcium iodate, Biotin, Menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of Vitamin K activity), and Sodium selenite