Review of Proplan dog food

With so many options available, selecting the best dog food can be difficult, but Proplan is a brand that frequently stands out. Proplan is well-known for emphasizing balanced nutrition and provides a variety of formulas to support dogs with varying needs and at every stage of life.

We’ll look more closely at what Proplan dog food has to offer in this article. We’ll go over the main components, the advantages of their recipes, and whether or not this brand would be a good fit for your pet.

This review will help you determine whether Proplan is a good fit for your dog’s diet, whether you’re thinking about moving your pet to it or you’re just interested in learning more about its advantages.

Review of Pro Plan dog food

Proplan come in a variety of forms. However, the majority of them are fairly similar to one another and belong to the same type. Let’s take a look at the most widely used diet, Pro Plan OptiBalance, for adult medium-sized dogs in order to better understand this brand.

The first six ingredients, arranged in descending order of percentage content in the composition, form the foundation of any dish.

Regarding the particular kind, these are:

1. Chicken (20%) . Source of animal protein. However, it is not indicated which parts of the carcasses are used: it can be both fillet and second-rate raw materials – wings, necks, bones. In addition, the meat is not fresh – otherwise the company would have made a note “fresh” or at least “fresh frozen”.
2. Wheat . No percentage specified. But we can assume that the mass fraction of the ingredient is large, because.. it is second on the list. Cheap raw materials that cause allergies in dogs.
3. Dry poultry protein . This name hides dried and processed meat. This is a good component, but there are nuances: the percentage content, the specific type of bird and parts of the carcasses that were used to obtain dry protein are not indicated.
4. Corn . Similar in properties to wheat. Low-grade raw materials, causes allergies, is a source of extra calories and vegetable protein. Added simply to “stuff” the dry food and make it cheaper.
5. Rice (9%) . A healthy cereal that is often used even in super-premium and holistic class diets. But there is little of it compared to other grain crops.
6. Animal fat . Not the best source of energy, increases the caloric content of the feed and worsens its digestibility.

Based on Pro Plan OptiBalance Medium Adult’s primary ingredients, the feed hardly qualifies as premium. There are products that cause allergies, the quality of the raw materials is unknown, and there are more plant-based ingredients than animal-based ones.

Further analysis of the composition reveals additional noteworthy details:

1. Split names. This term hides the designation of the same product under different names. This is done to visually reduce the percentage of unwanted components (vegetable) and bring the desired (meat) to first place in the composition. So, in OptiBalance Medium Adult it is corn gluten (essentially the same corn, which is already listed in 4th place) and wheat gluten (another name for wheat, No. 2 on the list). If you combine these ingredients, their share will outweigh the volume of the bird.
2. There is a flavoring food additive. Used to improve the smell and taste of the granules and make them more attractive to pets. In addition, dogs eat more dry food with such additives than normal – therefore, the food is used up faster, and the owner overpays.
3. Marketing tricks with names. In English, 2 ingredients are listed: “Soya Meal” (“soy flour”) and “Dehydrated soya protein” (“dried soy protein”). But in the Russian version of the composition, the term “processed plant products” appears instead of them. This move helps to hide the presence of soy in the granules.
4. Egg powder. On the one hand, it is a good source of calcium, potassium, sulfur, sodium and vitamins (A, C, E, D, group B). On the other hand, the product often causes allergies.

Positively, we have fish oil, antioxidants, vitamin and mineral supplements, dry beet pulp (which enhances intestinal peristalsis), and other ingredients.

However, among premium rations, Purina Pro Plan OptiBalance for adult medium-sized dogs isn’t the best food in general.

Types and types of food

There are two lines of Proplan dog food: veterinary and everyday. They consume food from the first variety more frequently because their goals are to prevent diseases and maintain general health. The second category of rations is meant to be used for the treatment of particular illnesses. Any kind of dry food package weighing three kilograms costs, on average, 1,050 rubles.

The following categories represent the everyday line:

1. OPTISTART. Variety for puppies of small, medium and large breeds. Enriched with colostrum: the ingredient helps strengthen the immune system.
2. OPTIWEIGHT. Developed for pets with excess weight and sterilized dogs: contains a lot of protein and little fat (47% less than in other diets, according to the manufacturer). There is a universal type for small breeds.
3. OPTIDIGEST. Designed for dogs with sensitive digestion. There are subspecies for puppies and adult dogs of different sizes.
4. OPTIBALANCE. Universal line: each type contains balanced nutrients selected for a specific breed and body type of the pet.
5. OPTIAGE. For older pets. Helps improve the well-being, physical and mental endurance of older animals. It is available in 2 types: for large breeds and medium-sized dogs over 7 years old, as well as for small breed dogs from 9 years old.
6. OPTIDERMA. Developed to prevent skin diseases and maintain beautiful coat. Produced for pets of different ages and breeds.
7. OPTIPOWER. Designed for working, active dogs: increases pet"s endurance and ability to recover.
8. DUO DÉLICE. Food for picky pets: combines two types of granules – crispy croquettes and soft pieces. Helps improve the condition of teeth and the gastrointestinal tract.

Tasty cookies and toothpick treats for plaque removal are also included in the regular line.

The veterinary diet consists of both wet (canned food) and dry food. This comprises:

• HP: HEPATIC – for liver dysfunction;
• JM: JOINT MOBILITY – support for diseased joints;
• HA: HYPOALLERGENIC – Pro Plan hypoallergenic is designed for diagnostics and diet therapy of food intolerance;
• UR: URINARY – prevention of urolithiasis;
• DRM: DERMATOSIS – for skin and coat diseases;
• EN: GASTROINTESTINAL – for gastrointestinal disorders;
• NF: RENAL FUNCTION – for kidney diseases;
• OM: OBESITY MANAGEMENT – for weight correction.

Feed composition

All of the Pro Plan feeds have the same composition. The majority of dry food varieties include the following ingredients:

1. Chicken, turkey, salmon or beef meat – from 14% to 21%. A good source of animal protein. However, keep in mind that the volume of raw materials is indicated – after heat treatment, only 20-30% of it will remain. In addition, the parts of the carcasses used to prepare the granules are not indicated.
2. Dry protein of poultry, fish or lamb. Obtained after drying and processing the carcasses. This ingredient complements the previous one: without it, the volume of meat would be extremely small.
3. Wheat and corn. Grain crops, sources of vegetable protein. These are cheap components that manufacturers dilute the dry food with: cereals, vegetables and, especially, meat are several times more expensive. These ingredients are highly undesirable in the menu of predators.
4. Corn and wheat gluten. A product of processing grains into starch. Essentially the same grain, only under a different name. By designating this component under a different name, the manufacturer artificially understates the total volume of plant components in the diet.
5. Animal fat. Not the most useful source of energy. In addition, its origin is not indicated: it can be rendered fat from poultry carcasses, or slaughterhouse waste and other second-rate products.
6. Rice – from 4% to 16%. A good grain that is easily digestible and has high nutritional value. If the manufacturer had made it the only plant component, and not diluted the granules with wheat and corn, the feed would have been an order of magnitude better.
7. Processed products of plant raw materials. In the review of OptiBalance Medium Adult z it is already indicated that soy is hidden under this name. Keep in mind that this product has low biological value, it is poorly digested and poorly absorbed, causes gas formation and fermentation in the intestines, disrupts the digestive tract.
8. Flavoring feed additive. This is nothing more than sodium glutamate or E621. It is intended to enhance the taste and make it more palatable. Its presence is not acceptable in good animal diets.
9. Dried beet pulp. A source of fiber. Improves intestinal motility, promotes digestion.
10. Egg powder. Obtained from dehydrated eggs. Supplies the body with vitamins and minerals for healthy joints, skin and coat. However, it often provokes allergic reactions.
11. Fish oil. An excellent source of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.
12. Minerals and vitamins. Chemical additives. They are used by all manufacturers to balance diets.
13. Antioxidants – tocopherols of natural origin. Vitamin E is hidden under this name. This is a good natural preservative that preserves granules and allows you to avoid the use of artificial additives.

There are grain-free versions in the Pro Plan range. They swap out corn, wheat, and rice for:

1. Pea starch. Obtained from dried pea grains. Inexpensive filler and source of carbohydrates. Not good for dogs, used to reduce costs. In addition, it is in third place after meat and dry poultry protein, which means its volume is high.
2. Cassava – 12%. Also known as cassava or tapioca starch. Obtained from the tubers of a plant with properties similar to potatoes. Like any starch, it is not good for dogs, especially in large quantities. Used as a cheap ballast substance.
3. Pea protein. Another ingredient obtained from dried peas. Less likely to cause allergies than soy, serves as a cheap source of proteins. An undesirable product in predator feeds.
4. Dried peas. A source of protein, carbohydrates, fiber, amino acids. Has a lower glycemic index than cereals. Useful in small quantities, helps to improve digestion.
5. Hydrolyzed animal proteins. Obtained by processing animal waste with enzymes that destroy proteins, and subsequent drying. More of a flavor additive than a useful component. In addition, it is not known from which products the substance is obtained.
6. Soy flour. A derivative of soybeans, a cheap vegetable filler. Used to improve taste, saturation and increase the level of proteins with a small volume of animal ingredients. The disadvantages are the same as with soy.

Purina supplements some food varieties with beneficial food additives, such as yeast, amino acids, L-carnitine, and colostrum (0.1%). However, their percentage is either negligible or not stated. As such, it is impossible to ascertain whether these ingredients can influence the body in any way and enhance the pet’s health.

I took a look at the daily line’s food. A thorough description of their makeup is given. Not every component, though, has a content percentage. Furthermore, the precise kind of meat used as raw materials is not described. These elements lead us to question the effectiveness of Purina diets.

An analysis of a veterinary diet is unfeasible due to the fact that the manufacturer only provides a percentage characteristic of nutrients rather than listing the ingredients. I’ll use the following information from the Pro Plan NF Renal Function diet’s official website as an example:

Pros and cons

Benefits of Pro Plan dog food include:

• a good volume of animal proteins for a premium class ration;
• there are useful plant components – rice, peas, beet pulp;
• enriched with useful substances: vitamins, minerals, colostrum, brewer"s yeast, carnitine;
• sold in any veterinary clinic, pet store and even in grocery markets;
• canned with tocopherols;
• there are many types for dogs of different ages, breeds and with different needs;
• the presence of a veterinary line.

• no fresh meat products;
• the percentage content of each ingredient is not indicated;
• many grain crops – their mass fraction in total exceeds the volume of animal products;
• contains chemical additives to enhance taste and smell;
• contains soy, starch, wheat, corn, which are dangerous for dogs;
• confusion with names: split, substitution of names when translating from English to Russian;
• inflated price for a meager composition.

Daily rate

The tables display the recommended feeding rates as specified by the manufacturer.

Puppies’ daily rate:

Rate of feeding adult dogs:

Suggestions for senior dogs’ daily nutrition:

There are average values displayed. Feeding rates can vary by several tens of grams depending on the type of food. This can be attributed to various factors such as the animal’s age, activity level, physical attributes, and unique needs.

Proplan dog food is renowned for providing a well-rounded diet that supports a dog’s general health by utilizing premium ingredients. It provides a range of formulas for various life stages, breeds, and particular requirements like digestion, skin, and coat maintenance. The brand’s main focus is real meat, with the goal of giving dogs the nutrition they require for an active, healthy lifestyle. To assist you in determining whether Proplan is the best option for your pet, we’ll go over the advantages, components, and any possible drawbacks in this review.

Reviews

Veterinarian"s review

Pro Plan is low in nutrients and contains a lot of wheat, soy, and corn, which are common allergens. Furthermore, the manufacturer fails to specify the kind and proportion of raw materials used. It is impossible to know if fresh, frozen, or dried meat was utilized in the manufacturing process. Furthermore, it’s unclear which carcass components—fillet, offal or paws, heads, wings, etc.—were added to the granules.

I’m not even sure which class Pro Plan belongs in. While this diet is considered high-end, it also includes chemical flavor additives found in low-quality dry foods.

In any event, Pro Plan is not something I advise. There are superior and more affordable foods even among premiums.

Customer reviews

"We tried different foods, but the dog was allergic to them all," said Maryana. The physician then suggested Pro Plan along with salmon. It was flawless. We grab 18 kg bags and devour them voraciously.

Fatinia2015: "At the breeder’s recommendation, we began feeding the puppy Pro Plan. Since this is our first dog, we had faith in him. Nevertheless, in vain: the dog appeared healthy, but the heaps were enormous, his eyes were dripping, and his fur was slightly falling out. The composition shocked us when we saw that there was essentially no meat and only solid grain. We believe the flavors of the crackers are what make our pet fond of them. Additionally, there is no gain. "We’ll switch up the food."

Proplan dog food is unique in that it provides a good combination of proteins, fats, and other vital nutrients that support overall health in a balanced manner. Given that it’s made to accommodate a variety of breeds, sizes, and life stages, many dog owners find it to be a flexible option.

Although certain dogs might have particular dietary needs that Proplan does not fully address, most owners can find a formula that works for them thanks to the brand’s variety of options. Its credibility is increased by the fact that it is supported by veterinary recommendations and research.

Proplan is ultimately a good option for people searching for dependable, all-around dog food. To make sure it’s the best choice for your pet’s particular needs, as with any pet food, it’s crucial to keep an eye on how your dog reacts and speak with your veterinarian.

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