Is It Really a Purina Problem?

Social media, especially Facebook, is on fire at the moment with reports of dogs getting sick or even dying while eating Purina products. Products being blamed include the ProPlan line, Purina ONE, “prescription” products, hydrolyzed products, and more. Both kibble and canned formulations have been implicated.

Whether these foods are the actual cause of these sick and dying pets is yet to be determined. At this moment, Purina has made no public statement. FDA has stated that they are “looking into” the reports submitted by consumers. (Want to submit a report a report? Click here to open the FDA page in a new tab.) Pet owners, veterinarians, nutritionists, and, of course, pet store owners are following this situation closely.

My take on this problem is that it may go far beyond Purina. Given the diversity of products that are being implicated, from higher-end OTC products to grocery store products to canned and “prescription” products. All of these products are unlikely to be manufactured in the same plant, so the problem is something that is present in multiple plants. A plausible explanation is that there is an ingredient these implicated products have in common. And this is what makes me worry that other brands could soon be in Purina’s shoes.

Remember the 2007 pet food recalls, where multiple brands utilized melamine contaminated ingredients? If a contaminated (with a yet to be determined problem or toxin) is being sold to more brands, we may soon see other brands being implicated. It is common for suppliers of ingredients (think of everything from chicken meal to pea protein to grains or gluten meals) to sell to multiple brands and manufacturing plants (copackers). What if we are just seeing the beginning, and as a problematic or contaminated ingredient is used by more brands, we are faced with more sickened or dead pets?

There are some actions you can take now to lessen your pet’s risk. First, if you are feeding kibble or canned, research the brand. Did it make the Truth About Pet Food 2024 List? Foods on the list are less likely to pose a risk, as their standards are higher than the average big pet food brand’s. Second, consider fresh food options, whether commercial or DIY. There are helpful resources at the Forever Dog website or in the book. Third, if you prefer in-person learning, attend the Healthy Dog Expo in April, where you can learn about feeding as well as other natural health strategies.

Finally, if your dog should be sick and is eating Purina or any other food that is associated with problems, seek vet care immediately. Run blood work or other tests as recommended by your veterinarian. Keep the food, which was ideally stored in its original packaging. Use the link at the top of this post to report to FDA. Of course, discontinue feeding the product immediately. It is fine to feed bland food (lightly cooked turkey and canned pumpkin) for a day or two while you decide on another food.