Frequently Asked Questions

No. Glutens from wheat and rice protein concentrate are an inferior source of protein and Petcurean prefers to use only premium sources of protein (in the form of meat, poultry and fish).

It's important to slowly transition your pet to a new food so their system has a chance to adapt to the change. The transition period should be at minimum, ten days and could take upwards of two weeks, depending on your pet's sensitivity to change:

1. On day one, introduce 10% new food / 90% old food. Keep the food at this ratio for two or more days.
2. Next, increase the ratio to 20% new food / 80% old food for two or more days.
3. Repeat increasing by increments of 10% until you're feeding 100% of the new food.

If your pet experiences any kind of digestive upset during this time, try slowing down the process to let his/her digestive tract adjust to the new food. Some vomiting and/or diarrhea can be normal when introducing new foods as the digestive process and the naturally occurring bacteria your pet's body requires is a complex and delicate system. If you experience any vomiting and/or diarrhea, be sure to reduce the amount of new food the next time you feed and overall, slow the whole transition period down even more.

TetraPak wet food is conveniently packaged so that it closes abck up after it is opened. You can keep an opened pack in the fridge for 3 to 5 days. Wet food may also be frozen after opening but it’s best to transfer the product to an appropriate freezable container.

Yes, often a little warm water on the kibble will encourage a picky dog to eat because of the yummy aroma the warm water releases. However this often does not work for cats.

Yes, Petcurean ensures that the fish they use in their recipes are tested for heavy metals before accepting them for processing at their plant.

Yes. The use of hormones and steroids in the production of chicken is illegal in Canada and has been since the 1960's. Petcurean sources its poultry from a trusted network of farmers who raise their poultry in open barns; the flocks are free roaming and have constant access to food and water.

Dogs can get allergies from a number of different sources - the environment, a flea bite etc or from a food intolerance. If you suspect a food intolerance it is recommended that you try your dog on an elimination diet. Read more about elimination diets here.
The grain free  GO! Sensitivities recipes are elimination diets as they use only one main protein source - salmon, duck, turkey or venison - and the formulas are very simple, using as few ingredients as are necessary to make a complete and balance diet.

Yes, the molecular structure of fat is different than protein and chicken fat, therefore, shouldn't bother a pet with a chicken allergy.

At Petcurean, they formulate their recipes using real food ingredients - the best of the best; and like real food that Mother Nature provides, the colour and texture of the ingredients going into their recipes varies. For example:

Meat supply will vary between different suppliers and batches (e.g. dark meat vs. white meat). Also, diets with a higher meat content are denser and sometimes more difficult to extrude (versus cereal or grains) which leads to variance in the kibble shape.

Oils, as they are applied, either outside of or inside the kibble, can affect the colour and the density (size) of the kibble. Oils also play a significant role in the palatability of the food.

Finally, Petcurean does not use any artificial colours, flavours or preservatives, which also contributes to variances of the colour and texture.

Correct storage of pet food is extremely important to ensure the food is kept fresh (and enjoyable for your pet) and to ensure the well-being of your pet is protected.

Dry food is best stored indoors in a cool dry place. If there is no zip or velcro closure, the top should be rolled down as far as possible and, if feasible, put in an airtight container, in the original bag. Dry food can also be frozen or refrigerated to maintain freshness.

Petcurean kibble is cooked and carefully dried to a specific moisture-free level before it’s placed in the bag (to prevent mold from forming).

To ensure that mold spores from environmental moisture don’t develop, be sure to store your kibble in a cool, dry location. Moist areas, open containers, or areas where condensation or temperature fluctuations exist encourage mold to grow.

What about pouring your kibble into a storage container? Pouring dry pet food into these containers is absolutely not a good idea for two key reasons: many of these containers are not airtight (plastic is porous by nature), and fat and oils can be absorbed into the plastic, risking the opportunity for rancidity to occur.

So what is the best way to store my food? In the Petcurean bag you purchased for your pet at your local pet specialty retailer, stored in a cool, dry area of course!

Can I refrigerate or freeze my food? Generally speaking, most kibble can be refrigerated or even frozen. The food should be tightly sealed or in airtight containers in either case.

The best way to compare these two products is to look at some key points of difference:

1. Primary Protein Source 
GO! Solutions™ was created to be nutrient-rich and energy packed; a true fitness food for everyday dogs and cats, plus those with special dietary needs. GO! Solutions uses named meat meals (i.e. chicken meal or salmon meal), as a high-quality concentrated source of protein to ensure that your pet gets the most nutrients possible from the least amount of food.

NOW Fresh™, on the other hand, is minimally processed using ONLY 100% market fresh meats, with no meat meals. NOW Fresh is packed full of nutritious ingredients like

• 100% market-fresh turkey, salmon and duck.
• 100% fresh omega 3 & 6 oils from coconuts and canola.
• Wholesome veggies, berries, fruits and herbs such as peas,spinach, cranberries, pumpkin, peppermint, chamomile, blackberries, alfalfa sprouts, kelp, lentils and carrots.

2. Primary Function
The GO! SOLUTIONS family of recipes has three primary functions:

GO! SOLUTIONS CARNIVORE™ grain free recipes are nutrient dense and feature up to 97% protein from animal sources - a true fitness food that proves to be a quality dog food and quality cat food for everyday dogs and cats. 

GO! SOLUTIONS SKIN + COAT CARE™ whole-grain recipes are also nutrient dense, and are designed to refresh and revitalize your pet's energy needs. 

GO! SOLUTIONS SENSITIVITIES™ recipes are specifically formulated for dogs and cats with food allergies and sensitivities.

NOW FRESH recipes are specifically formulated for the life-stage and/or breed size of your pet:

NOW FRESH Large Breed recipes feature balanced proteins, fats, calcium & phosphorus for large breed dogs, added ingredients for hip & joint care and added L-carnitine & taurine to promote heart health.

NOW FRESH Puppy, Adult & Senior recipes and Kitten, Adult Cat and Senior Cat recipes feature omega oils to promote skin and coat wellness and pre/probiotics to aid with digestive health.

NOW RESH Small Breed recipes feature a smaller kibble shape for easier chewing, includes pre and probiotics for sensitive stomachs,  parsley and peppermint to promote fresh breath and a plaque preventer to support dental health.

3. Grain Free/Whole Grain
All NOW Fresh recipes are 100% grain and gluten free whereas GO! SOLUTIONS is available in both whole-grain and grain-free recipes.

Petcurean's dry foods have a shelf life of 16 months and their wet foods have a shelf life of 2 years from date of manufacture.

Petcurean uses only natural mixed tocopherols* to preserve their food; they don’t use any artificial or chemical preservatives in their salmon meal or any of their pet food recipes (no ethoxyquin, BHA or BHT). Petcurean is extremely diligent regarding this issue and take extra steps to ensure all of their suppliers and partners are fully compliant. *Mixed tocopherols are also an excellent source of vitamin E.

Petcurean has its own manufacturing plant for its dry pet foods in Ontario, Canada. The wet products are produced at a plant in the USA.

All of the meat proteins, grains, cereals, fruits and vegetables in the GO! SOLUTIONS ™ and NOW FRESH™ products are sourced from North America (as close to the production facility as possible) with the exception of the pasture raised lamb and grass fed venison which is sourced from New Zealand and Australia (from EU certified plants). Petcurean partners with a trusted network of local farmers and ranchers who can provide the freshest and highest-quality product possible; this not only fulfills their requirement for freshness and nutritional integrity, but using local sources means less emissions polluting our air from long-distance trucking.

Petcurean are 100% China free for processing and ingredient sourcing. None of the meat proteins, grains, cereals, fruits and vegetables in any of Petcurean's recipes are processed in China, and NONE of their ingredients are sourced in China.

The best before date on Petcurean's packaging can be found on the back of the bag, in the bottom  third of the bag. It will look something like, “BB 2021 AL 04″.
On Petcurean's TetraPak wet foods, the best before date can be found on the top of the pack.