Dog Frequently Asked Questions
- What makes Nature's Recipe® dog food special?
- Does Nature's Recipe® dog food have a history of creating diets for special needs?
- What are the different dog foods offered by Nature's Recipe® dog food?
- Why does Nature's Recipe® dog food use unusual ingredients such as venison?
- What kind of preservatives are used in Nature's Recipe® dog foods?
- What is food intolerance?
- What are the symptoms of food intolerance?
- Should I be concerned about food intolerance if my pet isn’t experiencing symptoms now?
- Can dogs be vegetarian?
- Are the Healthy Skin Vegetarian Recipes for dogs nutritionally balanced for long-term use in a dog of any age?
- Are the Healthy Skin Vegetarian Recipes suitable to feed to a puppy?
- On what basis did you develop Breed Specific Recipes?
- Will Breed Specific Recipes help dogs that show signs of some breed-specific health conditions?
- Are the Breed Specific Recipes suitable for puppies?
- Can I order directly from you?
- Do you have a breeder's program?
- What kind of guarantee do you offer with your dog foods?
- When should I switch my puppy from Nature’s Recipe® Puppy Lamb Meal & Rice Recipe to an adult food?
- How should I make the switch to an adult food?
- What is the best way to introduce a new food to my pet?
- I ran out of my dog's food and switched it suddenly to a different brand. Now she has diarrhea. How long does it take for a dog to get used to a new food?
- Why should I feed my dog a premium food like Nature’s Recipe® dog food?
- Cost is a problem with the prescription diet I am using for my dog's allergies. Is there a Nature's Recipe® food I can use that will be less costly?
- What is the shelf life of Nature's Recipe® products?
ABOUT NATURE’S RECIPE® DOG FOOD:
Q.) What makes Nature's Recipe® dog food special?
A.) Nature's Recipe® dog food has created a line of great-tasting recipes that specifically avoid ingredients that can lead to food intolerance. Unlike many other premium dog foods, Nature’s Recipe® dog food never uses beef, corn or wheat. We only us highly digestible ingredients – proteins like fish and venison, carbohydrates like barley and rice – plus the right combination of vitamins, mineral and essential nutrients.
And because it’s Nature’s Recipe® dog food, you won’t find a single artificial preservative, flavor or color or filler. Nothing but premium ingredients. Isn’t that what premium nutrition is all about?
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Q.) Does Nature's Recipe® dog food have a history of creating diets for special needs?
A.) Our entire history is based on innovation for special dietary needs. Nature's Recipe® pet food was first to develop innovative diets to address special needs of pets through all-natural, dietary solutions.
- Created first vegetarian diets
- Created first lamb & rice dog kibble
- Created first rabbit & rice diet
- Created first diets for different breed groups
- Revolutionized all-natural canned pet food through state-of-the-art production process
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Q.) What are the different dog foods offered by Nature's Recipe® dog food?
A.) There are four categories of canine diets offered by Nature’s Recipe® dog food. Each diet within the four groups is scientifically formulated to meet the special dietary needs of man’s best friend.
Lifestages Recipes
Dietary solutions for dogs at every stage of life:
- Puppy Lamb Meal & Rice
- Adult Lamb Meal & Rice
- Senior Lamb Meal & Rice
Healthy Skin Recipes
Dietary solutions designed to help avoid common pet food ingredients that may cause food intolerances:
- Vegetarian
- Venison Meal & Rice
Easy-to-Digest Recipes
Dietary solutions for dogs with sensitive digestive systems:
- Lamb Meal, Rice & Barley
- Chicken Meal, Rice & Barley
- Fish Meal and Potato
Breed Specific Recipes
Dietary solutions that meet the unique nutritional needs of the different breed groups:
- Terrier Dogs
- Toy Dogs
- Large Breed
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Q.) Why does Nature's Recipe® dog food use unusual ingredients such as venison?
A.) Many dogs develop food allergies to common ingredients such as beef. By using unique protein sources like venison, the chances of allergic reactions are minimized. Other ingredients such as chicory root and yucca schidigera are selected to promote health, vitality and beauty by preventing problems that may be caused by food allergies, poor nutrition and chemical preservatives.
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Q.) What kind of preservatives are used in Nature's Recipe® dog foods?
A.) Nature's Recipe® dry and canned dog foods do not contain any chemical preservatives, such as ethoxyquin, BHA, or BHT. They are naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols.
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ABOUT FOOD INTOLERANCE:
Q.) What is food intolerance?
A.) Food intolerances are an abnormal reaction to a food component. In the susceptible animals, most intolerance events are responses to specific food proteins. Beef, corn and wheat are common sources of food proteins that might trigger a reaction because of their widespread use in pet formulas for many years. That’s why Nature’s Recipe® dog food never uses beef, corn or wheat. Any why we have developed recipes free of pork, soy and dairy, other common ingredients that may lead to food intolerance.
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Q.) What are the symptoms of food intolerance?
A.) Food intolerances are usually manifested trough the skin, coat, ears and paws. In more serious cases there may be vomiting or diarrhea.
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Q.) Should I be concerned about food intolerance if my pet isn’t experiencing symptoms now?
A.) Although your pet may not be experiencing signs of food intolerance now, over time it can gradually develop intolerance to ingredients found in many premium pet foods. That’s why Nature’s Recipe® dog food never uses beef, corn or wheat. Any why we have developed recipes free of pork, soy and dairy, other common ingredients that may lead to food intolerance.
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ABOUT OUR VEGETARIAN RECIPES:
Q.) Can dogs be vegetarian?
A.) Yes, dogs belong to the carnivora class but are true omnivores. This means that they can live healthily with or without meat. Nature's Recipe® Healthy Skin Vegetarian Recipes, dry and canned, are fortified to be 100% complete nutrition for the adult dog.
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Q.) Are the Healthy Skin Vegetarian Recipes for dogs nutritionally balanced for long-term use in a dog of any age?
A.) Our Healthy Skin Vegetarian Recipe dry and canned dog foods each offer a complete diet that is good for dogs with meat-based allergies and they do not contain wheat. They are 100% completely balanced for adult dogs and can be fed to all adult dogs, even as they become seniors. If your young dog is still a puppy or less than 1 year of age, he should be on a puppy formula.
Our Healthy Skin Vegetarian Recipe dog foods were created to give adult dogs a diet free of animal protein ingredients that can cause problems in dietary sensitive dogs. These recipes provide the same 10 essential amino acids found in diets with meat as the protein source. The products require no additional supplementation and meet the same standards as meat-based foods.
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Q.) Are the Healthy Skin Vegetarian Recipes suitable to feed to a puppy?
A.) The Vegetarian Recipe dry and canned foods can be fed to all adult dogs, even as they become seniors. Due to the lower protein and fat in these recipes however, we do not recommend them as a puppy food.
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ABOUT OUR BREED SPECIFIC RECIPES:
Q.) On what basis did you develop Breed Specific Recipes?
A.) Available literature was evaluated regarding breed differences in respect to size, growth to mature weight, relative body dimensions, and genetic and metabolic differences. The Breed Specific Recipes were designed for the lifetime health of individual breeds and start formula adjustments early in life to delay or reduce the severity of conditions as the pet ages. This is done by managed energy levels/feeding directions, use of specialized ingredients, and supplements of a vast array of antioxidants.
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Q.) Will Breed Specific Recipes help dogs that show signs of some breed-specific health conditions?
A.) The selection of ingredients and their levels in Breed Specific Recipes were based on prevention rather than treatment. They would likely be more beneficial than conventional pet foods, which do not contain these ingredients, especially for those who may be responsive to antioxidant supplementation.
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Q.) Are the Breed Specific Recipes suitable for puppies?
A.) Our Breed Specific Toy and Terrier formulas meet AAFCO guidelines for all life stages and can be fed to puppies, adult dogs and senior dogs. However, the Large Breed Recipe is specially formulated for to meet the AAFCO guidelines for maintenance and is therefore suitable for adult and senior dogs.
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PURCHASING NATURE’S RECIPE® DOG FOOD:
Q.) Can I order directly from you?
A.) We do not have the ability to sell our products directly; however, Nature's Recipe® products are sold nationally through PETSMART, PETCO, and Pet Supplies Plus in the U.S., as well as through other independent pet specialty stores. To locate a store in your area that carries Nature's Recipe® dog food, you can use our Store Locator feature, or call 1-800-237-3856 and choose option 1. The recording will ask you to enter your ZIP Code. Next, the recording will pause while it searches and then will give the name, address, and phone number of the store nearest you. If you wish to have the food delivered to your home, you may want to visit one of our online e-Tailers.
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Q.) Do you have a breeder's program?
A.) Yes, we do have a breeder's program. For more information please visit our breeder program site by clicking here.
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Q.) What kind of guarantee do you offer with your dog foods?
A.) All Nature's Recipe® products come with a 100% money-back guarantee. If you are not satisfied with our product, you may return it to the store for a refund or an exchange.
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FEEDING NATURE’S RECIPE® DOG FOOD:
Q.) When should I switch my puppy from Nature’s Recipe® Puppy Lamb Meal & Rice Recipe to an adult food?
A.) Some breeds reach the adult stage before others. Small breed puppies need to switch to an adult food between 8-12 months of age, medium breeds at 12-15 months of age, and large breeds at 15-18 months of age.
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Q.) How should I make the switch to an adult food?
A.) Once your puppy is of age for a diet change, gradually begin changing his diet by feeding ¼ adult food and ¾ puppy food for a few days. Then add ½ adult food and ½ puppy food. After a few more days, feed ¾ adult food and ¼ puppy food. Then, you can feed straight adult food.
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Q.) What is the best way to introduce a new food to my pet?
A.) Because Nature’s Recipe® premium quality pet foods are packed with nutrients, your pet may need some time to adjust. Try mixing Nature’s Recipe with your pet's usual food, and increasing the amount over several days. A sudden change in any food source may be a shock to your pet's digestive system. If you notice loose stool, reduce the amount being fed until your pet adjusts.
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Q.) I ran out of my dog's food and switched it suddenly to a different brand. Now she has diarrhea. How long does it take for a dog to get used to a new food?
A.) A sudden change in diet can cause diarrhea due to the exposure of the gastrointestinal microflora to different ingredients. This will usually resolve itself in 7–10 days. If the diarrhea becomes more severe or does not resolve, you should consult with your veterinarian.
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Q.) Why should I feed my dog a premium food like Nature’s Recipe® dog food?
A.) A premium brand like Nature’s Recipe® dog food uses more natural, wholesome, and consistent ingredients in our food. We don't use fillers, so your dog gets more nutrition from an equal serving of our premium brand. This means you feed your dog less food, but more nutrition is retained. This also means your pet will create less waste, which means there's much less to clean up. Less in, less out! It's a win-win situation for both owner and pet.
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Q.) Cost is a problem with the prescription diet I am using for my dog's allergies. Is there a Nature's Recipe® food I can use that will be less costly?
A.) There are some Nature's Recipe® products available that may suit your pet, but I would strongly suggest reviewing this option with your veterinarian. Products recommended within the Nature's Recipe® line would depend upon which ingredients your dog reacts to.
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Q.) What is the shelf life of Nature's Recipe® products?
A.) Nature's Recipe® dry and treat products shelf lives vary between 12 months and 14 months from the date of production. Once opened, it should be good for the time it takes the pet to consume the bag. We recommend the product be stored in a cool, dry place. The production code on the bag includes a Best Before Date for your convenience.
Nature's Recipe® canned product has a shelf-life of three years from the date of production. Once opened, it should be covered and stored in the refrigerator, and used within three to four days. The production code on the can includes a Best Before Date. This is located on the bottom of the can.
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