Problem with Pro Plan

[Alfred Houde]

Anyone having issues recently with Pro Plan?

A few weeks back I purchased a bag of the 26/16 Sport. When I opened it, it was full of moth larvae and webbing. I took it back to the store I bought it from and received a refund.

This week I went to three different stores, and the selections and stock were nothing but specialty type feeds like Weight Management, Large Breed, or Puppy. I did an internet search and don't see any recalls.

I have fed Pro Plan for years, but they are making Wellness Core look like an attractive switch.

[Andrew Sacco]

Never any issues. I do order from Chewy and it's on my doorstep same day usually and always fresh. I use 30/20 during hunting season and weight mgt. off season, both dry and wet depending on how I choose to feed and hydrate them.

[Garry L Gordon]

Alfred, this is apparently a longstanding problem for Purina. We spoke with the Purina representative at last year’s Pheasant Fest, but basically got finger pointing from him. We’ve tried Purina One with good results so far. The soft nugget Pro Plan seems to be perennially infested. What a shame.

[Andrew Sacco]

I wonder if it's old stock? The Chewy warehouse is an hour from us, about the size of the Pentagon, and I'm sure the turnover is so quick it doesn't sit. I've heard others say this about Pro Plan, but with the chicken nugget formula not one bad bag in three years or so. I leave it in the garage in a flip open dog food container and I've never even seen an ant. I'll keep a close eye out from now on again. Thx for the info.

[Alfred Houde]

I always look at the expiration date before I buy it and that bag was 2027, so I don't think it was older stock.

Never happened to me before but doesn't sound like a one-off either.

[edgarspencer]

Sounds like Pantry Moths.

[Garry L Gordon]

I always look at the expiration date before I buy it and that bag was 2027, so I don't think it was older stock.

Never happened to me before but doesn't sound like a one-off either.

We noticed the problem 4-5 years ago. It occurred in the varieties that had the soft, shredded blend. The rep said it wouldn’t harm the dogs, but I’m not paying those stiff prices for our pups to eat bugs. We went to Science diet, but the dogs didn’t like it, but so far the Purina One has been okay. Check the internet and you’ll find chatter about the bugs.

[Chris Pope]

We order ProPlan 30/20 year round through Amazon. Most recent bag ordered a week ago had expiration date/best if used by of July 2027. It's delivered to our door for our 2 Griffs. Have not seen a problem yet. We do inspect the contents when openning a new bag. From a risk avoidance perspective, I don't want our dogs eating bugs. However, when we hunt they drink out of beaver sloughs and eat god knows what when I'm not looking. And I am very careful about hydration. I tend to be more concerned about chemical exposure or poisons more than organic matter exposure. Didn't we have a rather spirited discussion about this a couple years ago?
I do very much appreciate this topic being posted here by Mr Houde for others to comment/agree/disagree. So thanks- good discussion.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

Inukshuk 30/20 is a good alternative.

[Kevin McCormack]

[QUOTE=Chris Pope;445285]I don't want our dogs eating bugs. However, when we hunt they drink out of beaver sloughs and eat god knows what when I'm not looking.

I don't have any hunting dogs anymore so can't offer meaningful comments. But if your dogs are drinking out of beaver sloughs I wouldn't worry about any feed that looked good upon inspection when you open the bag: Years ago a close friend of mine who lived and hunted in Maine became violently ill after drinking out of a stream in the woods (he used purification tablets beforehand).

The emergency room physician diagnosed it as Giardiasis (also known colloquially as the "Beaver Sh**t Virus." My friend likened the experience to having eaten a large Italian cold cut sub, then swallowing a lit cherry bomb. Luckily he was upland bird hunting instead of waterfowl hunting so he wasn't wearing chest waders!
\

[Dave Tatman]

Inukshuk 30/20 is a good alternative.

Where do you get that food, Harold?

Dave

[mikeschneider]

I use Inukshuk 26/16 most of the year, and switch to 30/20 during hunting season. I buy from a reseller about 20 miles away. About $1.80/lb.

[John Taddeo]

Chewy has Inukshuk.. been feeding it for awhile.. Top shelf chow ...

[Craig Larter]

I switch to Kinetic from ProPlan. Look it up, avaliable on-line from Walmart." Worlds cleanest dog food" Many well respected pros feed it.

[Harold Lee Pickens]

I get mine from a friend that used to be a feed dealer, he orders it by the pallet.
Like all things, price keeps going up

[Chris Pope]

[QUOTE=Chris Pope;445285]I don't want our dogs eating bugs. However, when we hunt they drink out of beaver sloughs and eat god knows what when I'm not looking.

I don't have any hunting dogs anymore so can't offer meaningful comments. But if your dogs are drinking out of beaver sloughs I wouldn't worry about any feed that looked good upon inspection when you open the bag: Years ago a close friend of mine who lived and hunted in Maine became violently ill after drinking out of a stream in the woods (he used purification tablets beforehand).

The emergency room physician diagnosed it as Giardiasis (also known colloquially as the "Beaver Sh**t Virus." My friend likened the experience to having eaten a large Italian cold cut sub, then swallowing a lit cherry bomb. Luckily he was upland bird hunting instead of waterfowl hunting so he wasn't wearing chest waders!
\

I'm told Giardia is no picnic. Also told Canines are not imune but they certainly have a more rugged gut than modern humans. Curious if a veterinarian on this discussion board would care to comment on this thread.

[Andrew Sacco]

You haven't lived until you return from a day at work and find out your dog has giardia and couldn't hold it and was in the house all day. Been there and done that: Maine logging roads. That Inukshuk name keeps coming up over and over so I'm going to look at it.

[Dean Romig]

I never had a problem with Pro Plan for sporting breeds.
For the first four years of Gracie’s life I used Kirkland puppy chow, then adult dog and she thrived on those. Then she was suddenly losing weight. She lost 20% of her normal weight and I contacted Kirkland and found out they had changed their supply source to CHINA…
That’s when I changed to Pro Plan and she regained her health and body weight.
Never found any foreign things, like moths or any other bugs.





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[John Taddeo]

I have always noticed my dogs experienced inconsistent stool when I fed Pro Plan.. While Inukshuk seems to regularly produces a 60 ring Maduro, without fail when feeding 30/25.. I do switch to 26/16 off season because the 30/25 will put weight on them.. Even my overzealous (never sit still) Pointer puts weight on with it in the off season..

[Victor Wasylyna]

My retired lab, Drake, loves when the 30/20 salmon Pro Plan is in season (Oct.—Mar). Just bought a new bag today. No larvae, but I’ll be on the lookout.

-Victor

[Dan Steingraber]

I’m with Harold on this. I fed ProPlan for 15 years until a couple years ago when they made some changes and my dogs stools loosened up. I went to Inukshuk and am very happy with it.

[William Machauer]

When I started breeding Labradors I fed my girl Purina food. Then as she whelped and began nursing I was feeding Purina puppy chow to her and eventually the puppies as well. When the puppies went to their homes I started getting calls, emails from a few of the people that got puppies. Seems they were having bowel problems, allergies. My 13 yr old Claro is from that litter and it's been 13 years of allergies. I will NOT feed any Purina products to my dogs ever!
The fact that Purina has moths in their food tells me their products are exposed and dogs everywhere are eating moths, larvae on a daily basis.
There are better foods out there.

[Alfred Houde]

Well, once again I purchased a bag of Pro Plan and when I opened the bag it had moth larvae in it. That's it for me. I returned it and made a switch to Wellness Core.

I don't know what is going on with them, but they have lost a long-time customer.

For awareness and info, each bag was Adult Pro Plan Performance, Chicken & Rice. Two different vendors, with no evidence of the bags being opened or tampered with.

I tried a bag of Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach Lamb & Oat, and that bag was bug-free. The Brittany scarfed it down, but the finicky Gordon rejected it. So, when I bought this bag of the usual, it had moth larvae in it.

Not a storage or vendor issue. It is a Purina issue.

[edgarspencer]

Dry pet food is shipped into Tortola(BVI) by freighter, and there can be lengthy delays. My wife follows the news even when she's not there, and a guy bought Pro-Plan, to find it was loaded with moth larvae. He took it back, and they opened the next bag while still in the store. It, too was loaded. All of it was contaminated.
My wife is a baker, and Kitchen moths are a problem if you have any flour products. It may be clean but bringing in one contaminated bag, will be disaster to any flour products not stored in the freezer (we have one freezer strictly for baking supplies) The moths can bore through the bags and you'll never find their ingress holes. We have had to throw out all pasta products more once.

[Andrew Sacco]

Has to be a regional thing as I don't know anyone in these parts with this problem, me included. Quick Google search shows that NOT all Pro Plan goes through Tortola. But I agree if it's happening to you just easier to switch foods.

[Dean Romig]

I Googled the problem with insect larvae in Pro Plan dog food and it seems it's happening at storage facilities as Purina bakes all of their dry dog food to prevent such infestation from occuring.





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[edgarspencer]

Has to be a regional thing as I don't know anyone in these parts with this problem, me included. Quick Google search shows that NOT all Pro Plan goes through Tortola. But I agree if it's happening to you just easier to switch foods.

Perhaps it would have been less confusing for Andy, and others, if I had said that the food was shipped INTO Tortola, for consumption by Island Pets. My apologies for not being more clear.

[Andrew Sacco]

That clarifies it without solving the riddle Edgar. I thought it was passing through there as a port of call until a US destination. I wonder if someone was to write to the vet at Shooting Sportsman or Retriever Journal about this problem if Purina would take more notice.

[edgarspencer]

Lately, Andy, the only thing passing thru are certain 'pharmaceuticals'.
We have been feeding our two Maine Coon cats Purina since they were kittens. My wife threw out the remainder, tired of the stuff being half powder.

[Kevin McCormack]

My daughter's first ever solo living venture was a very nice rental condo about a year before she got married. The condo had a "mascot" Maine Coon Cat named Delilah which was beloved by most of the condo residents and therefore had free run of the place when let outdoors.

I first encountered Delilah in one of her favorite spots, lying under a huge Ford Galaxie luxury sedan c. 1970s. I had never seen a MCC before and her size was fascinating and alarming at the same time; at first I thought she was a mature wolverine. Quiet and docile but ever-observant as most cats are, I found her captivating.

A couple of weeks after meeting her, I was called on for Dad Duty to walk my daughter's 6 month old Yorkshire terrier while she attended an after-hours happy hour. Coming back down through the parking lot, "Hudson" and I encountered Delilah. lying in repose under the massive Galaxy. As any self-respecting terrier would, Hudson half-lunged under the rear bumper then abruptly drew himself up, snarling and barking all the while. Delilah barely moved, but "bullwhipped" her tail 3 or 4 times, which reminded me of the fans the slaves used to comfort the Pharohs in ancient Egypt, then let out a combination snarl/yowl/scream/moan that would have done any backup audio for Jurrasic Park proud.

Hudson reconsidered quickly, I backed away, and Delilah sort of looked over her shoulder in utter contempt and boredom. I immediately conjured up verses in my mind: "The Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat".....If I'd had a cigar I would have smoked it!

[Mike Koneski]

We use Blue and get it through Chewy. Never had a problem.

[Keith Doty]

Been feeding Purina One for several years, ordered from Chewy. The dogs like it and have never seen any sign of contamination or bugs or "flouring". All dogs healthy and live well into old age (12 to 14 years, old Labs). Interesting, last 2 puppies we have raised much preferred it to any puppy chow we offered.