FirstMate Free Run Chicken Dog Food, Wet

FirstMate

Health & Nutrition:

Cats are obligate carnivores which means they require a greater percentage of their diets to be meat based proteins than dogs do.  FirstMate is proud to have over 84% of the protein in our dry cat formulas come from high quality meats such as Herring and Chicken.

Dogs, on the other hand, are more omnivorous than cats and their bodies can better assimilate a larger variety of ingredients.  The overall protein requirements for dogs are much lower than that of cats, and in a dry kibble, a more moderate level of protein is ideal as a maintenance diet.  FirstMate utilizes protein levels that have been proven for over 50 years in the marketplace.  It is important to note, that the majority of the protein found in FirstMate diets comes from our high quality meat sources – for example, FirstMate’s Grain Free, Limited Ingredient Diets have at least 70% of the overall protein coming from meats.

For both dogs and cats: simple is better.  That’s why we say “The Best Nutrition is Simple.” Our pets have small digestive tracts, much smaller than us humans.  That means a more complex diet can be difficult for our pets to digest causing gassiness or increased stools.  With fewer ingredients, our animals can utilize the nutritional benefits of every ingredient found in the 100% complete and balanced FirstMate diets.  This approach results in reduced bodily stress and a smaller stool (when compared to other kibble diets) by achieving more complete digestion.

Having our own manufacturing facility means that we control the quality of ingredients that go into our FirstMate diets.  We strive to source ingredients that are local to us in Western North America, however if higher quality ingredients are being produced elsewhere, we seek those out as well.  By example, our Australian Lamb is free-ranged, grass-fed, with no added hormones or antibiotics.

Starting with a simple approach and utilizing high quality ingredients within our privately owned, Canadian manufacturing facility, results in the highest quality foods for our pets.  Whether feeding rotationally, for maintenance or to the highly sensitive dogs and cats, FirstMate Pet Foods has the food you are looking for.

Pet Home Safety Guide Reference: http://www.expertise.com/home-and-garden/pet-safety-guide

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Do you manufacture your own products?

A: All FirstMate formulations are manufactured at our plant located in Chilliwack B.C. Canada.  Owning and operation our own manufacturing facility allows for additional ingredient and manufacturing quality and safety.

Q: Where do you source your main ingredients?

A: Primarily from within North America.  Our lamb meal comes from Australia.

Q: Do you use natural ingredients?

A: All ingredients used in FirstMate diets are all natural and do not contain by-product. FirstMate does not use inferior ingredients and is ethoxyquin free.

Q: Do you use chemical preservatives?

A: No.  All FirstMate Formulas are naturally preserved using vitamins C and E

Q: My dog is allergic to chicken. I noticed that your formulas contain chicken fat, is he going to be okay on this product?

A: Yes! FirstMate’s Pacific Ocean Fish Original formula has been an ideal diet for dogs with allergies since 1995. The chicken fat in the formula provides a high quality fat source and is rendered free of chicken protein. Because this formula does not contain traces of chicken protein it eliminates the risk of an allergic reaction.

Q: Why does the protein source appear second with many of your grain free diets?

A: FirstMate grain free dog formulas offer a single source protein and carbohydrate. Our products offer a proven level of protein rather than a high protein diet. Because we are using single source ingredients rather than breaking up our carbohydrate source, the carbohydrate (potato) appears first. FirstMate takes great pride in the honest display of our ingredient panel.

Q: What is meal? What is the difference between “whole ingredients” and meals?

A: A meal is the dehydrated form of an ingredient. “Whole” refers to ingredients which have not had the moisture removed. Using a meal provides a pure ingredient source.

Our Story:

Michael Florian, founder of the company and FirstMate Pet Foods, fished commercially for years aboard the fishing vessel Taplow.  First as a deckhand and eventually as the owner, he fished for halibut, salmon and herring, plying the waters of the North Pacific.  He continued to fish for many years until it became evident that depletion of fish stocks  was not just an East Coast phenomenon.  Michael got involved in aquaculture and started Taplow Ventures Ltd., manufacturing fish feed for the burgeoning salmon farming industry in British Columbia.

Keeping the name ‘Taplow’, he called his food and business Taplow Feeds.  The fishing vessel Taplow always did well over the decades.  Mike kept the name in the hopes that some of that luck would rub off on the new company.  The initial years of providing feed to the salmon farms proved to be interesting.  During those times dogs were allowed on the farm sites.  Their purpose was to guard the stock from predators both animal and human.  However, the guard dogs enjoyed feeding themselves
with the high quality fish feed.  The owners of the farms were concerned about their expensive fish feed inventory and asked us to develop a dog food that would satisfy the dogs and keep them away from the high protein fish feed.  Michael and his staff including professional nutritionists, went back to work and developed a good food.  FirstMate was born.

Since then FirstMate grew into a worldwide brand.  Taplow Feeds continues to manufacture fish feed and uses the same, high quality ingredients used to feed salmon to make our FirstMate pet foods.  Our manufacturing facility grew from a small plant located in the interior of British Columbia, to a large, modern facility located in Chilliwack, just outside of Vancouver.  Our once, one formula food that fed the beautiful and sleek guard dogs in the early years of our company now encompasses high quality diets that meet all nutritional requirements, from puppies and kittens to aging pets.

Our modern machinery and advanced technology assures quality control.  From the beginning Michael realized that he wanted control of production and ingredient supply.  He did not wish become just a marketing company.  He always had pets and wanted to ensure that they, and all FirstMate customers, had access to a great food.

Over the 20 plus years since the company’s founding, it continues to be a wonderful ride.  We have loyal employees and suppliers, but above all, we have loyal customers.  We value all of them and always keep in mind that the fishing vessel Taplow has indeed brought good luck to Taplow Feeds and FirstMate Pet Foods.