Purina Pro Plan Bright Mind Dog Food

There are few things sadder than a dog whose ball-catching and crotch-sniffing days have passed, as evidenced in this commercial for Purina Pro Plan Bright Mind, a dog food that claims to help hounds seven and older “think more like they did when they were younger.”

“I’d like to see more of the old Lady,” says the dog’s owner in the recent commercial, as Lady, 10, stares idly at a ball tossed in her direction. “I’d like to see her go back to her more … social side, maybe see if something has an effect on her social side.”

The video fades to black, and then comes back with an upbeat piano tune and a spritely dog.

“She literally started changing,” the owner says now, presumably after Lady chowed down on some Purina. “She’s much more aware. She wants to learn things. I went in as not a believer but I am now.”

So, should you, too, be a believer in Purina Pro Plan Bright Mind? Some studies support that medium chain triglycerides (MCTs) like those in this product can improve an older dog’s cognitive thinking. But before you spend more than $50 for a bag of Bright Mind, consider this:

• Lady’s owners — while actual consumers who fed their dog this particular brand of Purina — were “compensated for their time,” according to a fine-print disclaimer that appears in the commercial documenting Lady’s rehabilitation.
• The decision to try this product should not be made without first consulting your vet. Purina’s own terms and conditions state: “You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing a pet’s health or fitness problem or disease. You should always consult your own veterinarian and/or veterinary advisors.”

Bright Mind may work for some dogs like Lady but that’s no guarantee that it will work for your dog.

Find more of our coverage on Purina here.