Probably every dog owner wants his pet to always remain healthy, active and smart. To do this, you need to choose a balanced diet, and especially food and vitamins. Reviews from veterinarians indicate that Pro Plan dog food consists of natural ingredients, is designed for large and small breeds, and is suitable for different ages and coat types. We will talk about the types below.
Types of dog food Pro Plan
Proplan dog food is produced by the Purina company, it belongs to the premium class and is available in different versions.
Types of feed:
- dry food - 0.7, 1.5, 3, 7, 10 and 14 kg;
- wet food (canned food, 400 g pouches).
In total, the line includes about 20 food options, which are designed for adult pets or puppies; there is also hypoallergenic food. If dry food gives a boost of energy and supports the immune system, then canned food will help fight indigestion and make the coat silky.
Wet and dry food Proplan from Purina is divided into several categories:
- for puppies;
- for small and medium-sized dogs;
- for large and fighting dogs;
- for digestive problems, inflammation and for old dogs.
Few people know, but recently a new line of Pro Plan Duo Delice has appeared, which is suitable for every type of dog.
The main component of the feed is chicken or beef, from 15 to 70%. There are also other natural ingredients:
- egg white;
- corn;
- cellulose;
- beet juice;
- gluten;
- fish fat;
- minerals and vitamins.
Why is this food better than others?
Since the composition of ProPlan food is far from the quality of super-premium food, it is advisable to compare it with premium brands that have a similar composition.
A huge plus of the ProPlan brand is the availability of a wide range of nutrition (about 30 dry diets), including a number of therapeutic diets. Thanks to this, the dog owner can choose food based on the individual characteristics of his pet. For example, Purina Van food from the same manufacturer Nestle Purina is designed only for small breeds, and the Chicopi brand has only 11 types of dry food in its arsenal.
All ProPlan brand foods contain the optimal amount of all the vitamins and minerals a dog needs.
Another advantage of ProPlan food is its optimal vitamin E content - about 550 IU/kg. Vitamin E (tocopherol) takes part in the production of red blood cells, helps the absorption of fats, improves the condition of the animal’s skin, and also prevents the development of inflammatory processes. The main role of vitamin E in dog nutrition is that of an antioxidant that slows down the aging of the body. Thus, Dog Chow diets contain about 155 IU/kg of this vitamin, and Probalance and RosPes feeds contain about 50 IU/kg.
Disadvantages of Proplan food
There are also a number of disadvantages, due to which not all veterinarians recommend buying food for decorative dogs and puppies:
- presence of flavorings and flavor enhancers;
- similarity of composition in all food lines;
- a small portion of meat.
It is also important that the small percentage of meat content suggests that the food cannot be classified as premium, although the manufacturer himself gave exactly this definition of the line.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantages of the product include:
- wide selection for all ages and breeds;
- medicinal, dietary, hypoallergenic food options;
- accessibility and affordable cost;
- the presence of meat and fish as the main source of protein;
- the presence of vitamins and minerals in the feed;
- the development of the composition is carried out under the supervision of professionals;
- granules are not of a hard consistency;
- packages of various weights.
Interesting article: Hypoallergenic dog food: rating of super premium food for puppies and large breeds
The Pro Plan food has some disadvantages. The most significant are:
- it is not indicated what ingredients are used, natural meat or offal;
- presence of flavoring additives;
- a large number of grain components;
- lack of berries and fruits, as in super premium food;
- the presence of components that do not provide any particular benefit to the dog’s body;
- similarity of compositions, despite diversity.
As you can see, the pros and cons are almost proportional. Product evaluation is controversial, however, reviews from veterinarians and buyers are in most cases positive. As a premium product, Pro Plan is quite good and is suitable for a dog’s daily diet.
Which food should you choose for your pet?
It is necessary to choose food based on age, breed, weight and needs. All this is taken into account in the Purina Pro Plan food lines.
For large
For large breeds, it is better to choose the following types of food:
- PRO PLAN® Medium Adult Sensitive with salmon and rice
Suitable for pets over three years old. It is a hypoallergenic food, suitable even for puppies with digestive disorders.
- PRO PLAN® Large Puppy Robust with chicken and rice
It is used as dietary food, sometimes for puppies from one year of age, but with an athletic build. Packages of 3 and 7 kg.
- PRO PLAN® OPTIBALANCE with chicken
Designed for mature dogs from three years of age, for fighting dogs and large builds. The food complex is balanced, containing vitamins, omega-3, chicken or beef, wheat, corn and antioxidants.
- PRO PLAN® OPTIAGE with chicken
For pets from seven years of age with a large build. Nutrition stimulates development and mobility. Sold in 1.5, 3 and 14 kg. The composition contains beets, chicken, fish oil, oil, rice and animal fats.
- PRO PLAN® OPTIDERMA with salmon
Suitable for athletic and giant pets over the age of five with skin problems and allergies. Packages of 3 and 14 kg are offered, containing salmon, rice, corn, minerals and vitamins, soybean oil, fish oil.
- PRO PLAN® OPTIDIGEST with lamb and rice
For large pets with an upset stomach, used when reaching the age of three years, the food is considered dietary.
- PRO PLAN® OPTIPOWER with chicken
Suitable for mobile and active pets, and those that are subject to constant stress. Nutrition supports immunity, improves endurance, and strengthens bones.
Please note that Large Puppy Robust contains minimal flavor enhancers, but can only be used after a doctor’s permission.
For small dogs
For small pets:
- PRO PLAN® Adult Small and Mini Digestive Comfort with chicken
Can be given from 8-12 months. The peculiarity of the diet is its low calorie content, no more than 15%, which is why the food is considered dietary. The composition also contains corn, vegetables and wheat.
- PRO PLAN® Small & Mini Sensitive with salmon
It has a dietary composition, with 22% salmon, suitable for pets prone to obesity.
- PRO PLAN® OPTIAGE with chicken and rice
Suitable for dogs from nine years old, affects brain activity and mobility. Contains chicken, rice, OPTIAGE complex and minerals;
- PRO PLAN® OPTIDERMA with salmon
Designed for mature dogs with sensitive skin over five years of age. The composition contains salmon meat, corn, beets, soybean oil, vitamins, and fish oil.
- PRO PLAN® OPTIDIGEST with lamb
For small dogs from three years old with digestive problems. A special feature is a probiotic that affects the microflora. Also contains lamb, rice, soy milk, corn, minerals. Sold in packages of 0.7, 3 and 7 kg.
- PRO PLAN® OPTIWEIGHT with chicken and rice
Designed for dogs aged five years and older who are prone to obesity. This food is low in protein and fat. The key is to maintain energy, muscle strength and joint integrity. The food is also suitable for sterilized dogs.
Remember that you need to introduce dietary food into your diet slowly, over 7-10 days, and not all at once. Otherwise, problems with appetite and stomach may appear.
For puppies
For young dogs, you can choose the following lines from Purina:
- PRO PLAN® Purina Small & Mini Puppy with Chicken
You can give it from three months of age, it contains chicken meat - 18%. Additional components: fish oil, vitamins, colostrum, fiber.
- PRO PLAN® Medium Puppy Sensitive
Give from one year of age. You can count on a silky coat and no allergies. Because it contains chicory, soy meat, rice, and colostrum.
- PRO PLAN® OPTISTART with chicken
Suitable for puppies of large and small breeds. Rich in minerals, trace elements, colostrum, amino acids and chicken. Can be used from the age of two.
Feed composition
The Proplan line is quite diverse in its composition, depending on the age and health status of the dog for which the diet is intended. Of course, feed sold in our country is mainly produced in Russia. Their composition differs significantly from those ready-made industrial diets that are produced directly in the USA and Europe.
Most Proplan brand foods contain:
- the main ingredient is animal protein (turkey, chicken or salmon). Note that protein is obtained not only from meat, but also by-products (including skin and bones). Often in Proplan the first position as a source of protein is dried poultry protein. It is obtained from thermally and chemically treated poultry waste;
- carbohydrates: corn, wheat, rice cereal, corn flour. Most often, this is the second ingredient in the food, increasing nutritional value and leading to quick satiety, but does not provide any benefit. It is better to choose food with rice as a source of carbohydrates. Corn gluten supplies the dog’s body with vegetable protein;
- The source of fiber in Proplan is dried beet core. Beet pulp perfectly regulates the gastrointestinal tract and regulates blood sugar levels;
- vitamin supplements and minerals: vitamins A, C, E and a high content of B vitamins;
- antioxidants and flavoring additives. There is no clear indication of the name of these components in Proplan on the packaging - the chemical part (flavor enhancer) can cause allergies and gastrointestinal upset.
When analyzing the ingredients of Proplan, we can conclude that it is not 100% natural and can be classified at most in the premium segment, although the manufacturer declares it as super-premium.
Reviews of Pro Plan dog food
Ksenia: I gave my dog Medium Puppy Sensitive because he had problems with his fur and skin rashes since birth. I fed the baby from the third month of life for about six months. Despite the affordable price, I was pleased with the result. Because my Peter grew up healthy and full of energy, very active. The main thing is to give plenty of water and, if necessary, choose hypoallergenic canned food.
Darina: We have a Corso horse, and we immediately decided to feed him Proplan because we heard a lot of good things. Yes, it contains a lot of flavorings and animal fats, but the price is low and the dog has no health problems. We tried both canned food and dry food, and settled on the latter option. Although we give additional vitamins and beef, because the food contains no more than 25% meat.
Polina: My Dora (Japanese Chin) started having problems with her fur and stomach. At one point, hair began to fall out, she felt sick and had diarrhea. The veterinarian said that there were problems with nutrition and, most likely, poisoning. We recommended Small & Mini Sensitive Derma because the food is hypoallergenic and has almost no calories, plus it contains minerals and fiber. Within two weeks, Dora began to feel much better, the diarrhea stopped, and the baby became active and cheerful. I was equally pleased with the cost of food!
Pro Plan dog food prices
The price of Pro Plan dry dog food will depend on the weight and composition:
- Purina Pro Plan 0.7 g – about 341 rubles (120 UAH);
- Purina Pro Plan 1.5 kg – about 636 rubles (315 UAH);
- Purina Proplan 3 kg – about 1157 rubles (575 UAH);
- Purina Pro Plan 7 kg – about 2250 rubles (1100 UAH);
- Purina Pro Plan 10 kg – about 3,760 rubles (1,600 UAH);
- Purina Pro Plan 14 kg – about 4,770 rubles in Moscow (1,500 hryvets in Kyiv).
Official website – https://www.purina.ru/
Reviews from veterinarians
Nikolay Sergienko: “As a doctor, I can say that Pro Plan food can be confidently classified as premium. A balanced composition will keep your pet active.”
Olga Zaitseva: “This food should be given with caution to animals prone to allergies, as it contains grains. The answer is gluten-free food for dogs with sensitive digestive systems.”
Makarov Pavel: “Regarding this food, questions arise regarding the quality of meat products. In addition, it contains flavoring and a high percentage of carbohydrates. It cannot be said that Pro Plan food belongs to the super premium class, however, if it is not possible to buy elite food, this option is temporarily suitable.”
As you can see, reviews of the product are mostly good. By purchasing it, you can be sure that it will not harm the dog. But when purchasing, it is better to give preference to an imported manufacturer in order to get a quality product.
