Purina Dog Chow In Antarctica

Purina Dog Chow was invented in 1926, and was originally cubed and sold as “Checkers”.

It was called “chow” after the “chow lines” that fueled American soldiers in World War I. 

The word “chow” originated in mid-19th century California, and is phonetic for the Cantonese term “chaau,” to fry or cook. Chinese laborers working on the transcontinental railroad popularized the term, and it eventually became US military slang for mess hall food.

The Chow Chow dog is named after the same word origin. The breed was first exhibited at London’s Crystal Palace Dog Show in 1878, where it was billed as a “Chinese Edible Dog”. That same year, a Chinese Edible Dog was also exhibited at the Westminster Dog Show in New York City.

In 1933-1935, Admiral Richard Byrd fed all 150 of his Antarctic Expedition husky-crosses Purina Dog Chow, at the recommendation of nutritionists at Massachusetts General Hospital whose dietetics researchers had been studying high-energy nutrition, vitamins, and protein requirements since 1910. 

Admiral Byrd reportedly said Purina Dog Chow was the finest dog food he had ever used.

Do you know who the lady is in that last picture? 

That’s four-time Iditarod champion Susan Butcher, who powered her teams to victory on Purina Pro Plan's HiPro dog food along with high-fat and high-protein meat broths. Purina Pro Plan's HiPro dog food was developed by sled dog expert Dr. Arleigh Reynolds — a senior Purina research scientist and musher and professor of clinical nutrition at the University of Alaska.