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Pet owners are constantly on the lookout for nourishing formulas that’ll keep their furry friends thriving. But I get how challenging it can be to tell which is truly good for your pooch and which is not, especially since the market is bombarded with numerous brands nowadays.
To get you one step closer to finding out, I’ve decided to review one of the high-quality brands, FirstMate dog foods. So, stick around as I go over its benefits, drawbacks, ingredient lists, and more!
Rating
This dog food brand deserves a 5-star rating. FirstMate offers varieties suitable for almost all dog conditions, uses premium ingredients with several health benefits, and, so far, has never been recalled.
This dog food brand deserves a 5-star rating. FirstMate offers varieties suitable for almost all dog conditions, uses premium ingredients with several health benefits, and, so far, has never been recalled.*Find out more about our editorial & review standards
FirstMate Dog Food Overview
Our first stop will be to introduce you to the FirstMate brand! It’s a family-owned business founded in 1989 in British Columbia, Canada. It now has several lines of pet food products sold primarily in Canada and the U.S., but you can still find them in other parts of the world.
Looking at various aspects of this brand, I can see why it’s been on a roll ever since its inception. First of all, FirstMate owns and operates its manufacturing plant to maintain control over its quality. It’s also overseen by a professional team of veterinarians and pet nutritionists.
The brand has been certified by:
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
- United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- European Union (EU)
Its dog food product lines have something for everyone! Aside from having formulas for all life stages, this brand also considered different diets, offering both grain-friendly and grain-free options. Finally, FirstMate recipes include premium quality ingredients with high nutritional value.
After carefully reviewing FirstMate’s ingredients, safety standards, and spotless track record, you’d expect it to be super expensive. But given it’s in the high-quality food category, I find it reasonably priced.
Is FirstMate Dog Food Good?
Absolutely, FirstMate dog food recipes will keep your pooches’ bodies healthy and their taste buds happy!
Its meals come in a wide range of flavors, and they’re all nutritionally balanced. They meet the ideal protein, carbohydrate, and fat ratio (I’ll share the exact figures for its popular products in the sections below).
Protein sources in FirstMate’s grain-friendly and grain-free recipes usually vary between ocean fish meal, chicken meal, Australian lamb meal, turkey, and others. I have to say it’s impressive that all the fish used are from sustainable local fisheries.
Good news for our furry friends suffering from allergies: you can still enjoy the deliciousness of this brand via its limited-ingredient meals! For context, limited-ingredient formulas are intended to lower the number of ingredients in canines’ meals to treat adverse food reactions.
To give you the full picture, some of FirstMate’s dog foods contain two controversial ingredients:
- Tomato Pomace: Byproduct of tomato-based products like ketchup and tomato soup.
- Brewer’s Yeast: Made from a single-celled organism responsible for beer fermentation.
A good quality tomato pomace serves as a source of soluble fiber in dog food, which mainly promotes digestive health. But here’s the thing: If the manufacturer sourced a poor-quality type, it’d be more of a filler and wouldn’t provide any health benefits.
It’s tricky to find out what kind FirstMate adds, but since it has proven its credibility over the years, I’m hoping it’s using the good kind!
As for brewer’s yeast, it’s generally a fantastic dietary supplement for canines. It’s rich in essential vitamins and minerals that help maintain healthy skin, hair, and liver.
However, in some cases, like if your pooch has yeast allergies, yeast infections, or bowel diseases, it can do more harm than good.
Pros
- Provides recipes suitable for all developmental stages and activity levels
- Dry and wet dog foods are available
- Includes formulas for grain-friendly, grain-free, and limited-ingredient diets
- Recipes are available in a variety of flavors and are made with high-quality ingredients
- Meals are high in key minerals and vitamins that help strengthen the immune system
- Offers low-calorie treats free of sugar and preservatives
Cons
- Contains controversial ingredients, like tomato pomace
- May be tricky to find outside of Canada
Types of FirstMate Dog Food
If you have a picky eater at home (not to name names, but finding food that Shih Tzus like can be a challenging task), you should look into FirstMate’s selection.
Before I list its product lines, I should mention it has options for senior canines, large and small breeds, active dogs, and puppies. Each formula is perfectly tailored to the canine’s developmental stage or activity level.
Senior dogs, for example, should have their meals changed to be lower in calories (to avoid obesity) and higher in fiber (to aid digestion).
When I examined the ingredients in FirstMate’s senior formula, I noticed that they’d struck the ideal recommended balance of protein (28%), fiber (7%), and fat (8%). Now, let’s take a look at the kinds of dog food it has:
Grain Friendly
Let’s start with its grain-free line, which has both dry and wet dog food available.
What makes its grain-friendly products unique is that they don’t contain contentious grain sources like corn or wheat. These two are cheap to obtain, which is why many dog food manufacturers opt for them.
But not FirstMate; instead, it uses high-quality, healthy grains such as oatmeal and brown rice.
Grain Free
Moving on to the product line designed specifically for grain-free diets, which includes dry and canned dog food. It also has a subcategory for dry and wet limited-ingredient recipes.
I’ve read numerous comments online raving about how well FirstMate’s grain-free and limited-ingredient recipes worked for their allergic dogs.
That’s mainly because all formulas include high-quality protein, vegetables, and fruits that are super gentle on sensitive stomachs. Add in the variety of vitamins and minerals found in those recipes, and you have a well-balanced meal, providing almost all the benefits associated with grains.
On a related note, if by any chance you weren’t able to source this line’s products in the U.S., Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain is a good grain-free alternative.
Treats
We enjoy giving doggos treats, and they just adore getting them! However, one common issue is that many pet owners are unaware that several store-bought treats are extremely high in calories and sugar.
Canines usually require a daily intake of 20-30 calories per pound of body weight. By frequently giving them these not-so-healthy treats, we surpass the recommended amount. This puts them at risk of gaining weight, which will eventually have a negative impact on their overall health.
That’s why it’s always preferable to choose low-calorie, limited-ingredient treats, such as those offered by FirstMate pet foods. They’re free of sugar, grains, artificial flavors, and preservatives.
That said, you should still be mindful of the number of treats you give your furry friends per day so they can maintain a healthy weight.
Best of FirstMate Dog Food Products
Now, it’s time to take a closer look at three of FirstMate’s best-selling dog foods, examining their nutrient content and ingredients:
1. Grain-Friendly Wild Pacific Caught Fish Meal & Oats Dry Formula
The first item on my list is from FirstMate’s grain-friendly line, so if your doggo is all clear in the allergies section, it’ll enjoy this recipe.
The Wild Pacific Caught Fish Meal & Oats is primarily composed of wild-caught fish and wholesome grains. You can introduce it to your canine at any developmental stage, as it’s appropriate for all ages.
Nutrient Content
Method | Protein | Fats | Carbs |
Guaranteed Analysis | 28% | 12% | N/A |
Dry Matter Basis | 31% | 13% | 37% |
Calorie Weighted Basis | 31% | 32% | 37% |
Ingredients List: Ocean Fish Meal, Oatmeal, Brown Rice, Chicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Tomato Pomace, Brewer’s Yeast, Dicalcium Phosphate, Calcium Propionate, Blueberries, Raspberries, Cranberries, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Calcium Carbonate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Selenium Yeast, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine mononitrate, D-pantothenic Acid, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Rosemary extract.
Ingredients Analysis
Ocean fish meal is the main source of protein in this formula. In case you’re wondering, a fish meal is a ground powder made from certain species of oily fish, such as anchovies and herring. It’s highly concentrated that it actually provides far more protein than regular fish flesh.
Aside from that, fish meal is a fantastic source of omega-3, which is great for pooches as it can help with joint pain, develop a healthy coat, and promote heart health. It’s also high in vitamin B12, which is essential for forming blood cells and strengthening the immune system in dogs.
Then there’s oatmeal, which serves as a source of carbohydrates and soluble fiber in this recipe. Along with regulating glucose levels, oats are high in vitamin B, which promotes healthy skin and coat.
Brown rice is the second carbohydrate source, and let’s just say it’s a mineral and vitamin powerhouse.
- Controversial Ingredients: Tomato pomace and brewer’s yeast
- Primary Meat Content: Ocean fish meal
2. Grain-Free Small Bites Cage Free Duck Meal & Pumpkin Dry Formula
This small-kibble recipe is ideal for small breeds with allergies or sensitive tummies, and it’s suitable for all life stages.
The Grain-Free Duck Meal & Pumpkin Dry Formula contains pumpkin, which is excellent for treating upset stomachs and enhancing digestion, along with cage-free duck imported from France.
Nutrient Content
Method | Protein | Fats | Carbs |
Guaranteed Analysis | 28% | 12% | N/A |
Dry Matter Basis | 29% | 13% | 38% |
Calorie Weighted Basis | 30% | 33% | 38% |
Ingredients List: Duck Meal, Burbank Potato, Norkotah Potato, Pumpkin, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Brewer’s Dried Yeast, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, DL-Methionine, Blueberries, Raspberries, Cranberries, Threonine, Calcium Propionate (a preservative), Taurine, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Selenium Yeast, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, D-calcium pantothenate, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid, Rosemary extract.
Ingredients Analysis
Ducks are a wonderful source of lean protein for pooches and one of the least likely to cause allergies.
Duck meals are packed with amino acids, which help lower cholesterol and build strong muscles. They also contain omega-3 fatty acids and essential antioxidants like zinc and selenium.
Potatoes as well as sweet potatoes provide this formula with an adequate amount of carbohydrates and fibers.
Potatoes are high in vitamin C, vitamin B6, and magnesium. They all work together to protect canines’ immune and nervous systems. Sweet potatoes are also nutrient-rich and significantly help improve digestion.
Warning: Don’t feed your dog raw potatoes or sweet potatoes because they contain high levels of solanine, which is toxic to dogs.
- Controversial Ingredients: Brewer’s yeast
- Primary Meat Content: Duck meal
3. Firstmate Wild Pacific Salmon & Rice Canned Formula
Wet food is great for canines that require proper hydration, have a lack of appetite, or suffer from dental diseases. If your pooch is one of these, you might want to introduce it to this tasty recipe.
The good news is that it checks all nutritional guidelines for formulas for all life stages.
Nutrient Content
Method | Protein | Fats | Carbs |
Guaranteed Analysis | 11% | 3% | N/A |
Dry Matter Basis | 50% | 14% | 25% |
Calorie Weighted Basis | 46% | 30% | 23% |
Ingredients List: Boneless/skinless Salmon, Water sufficient for processing, Rice, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Monodicalcium phosphate, Choline chloride, Potassium chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, D-calcium pantothenate, Taurine, Kale, Blueberries, Raspberries, Cranberries, Carrots.
Ingredients Analysis
I’ve yet to see a doggo say no to salmon, even picky eaters! This wet recipe has one of the premium sources of protein, which is salmon. It’s packed with omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, and minerals, making it not only a delicious ingredient but also a highly nutritious one.
This formula contains just the right amount of moisture to help hydrate your dog, reaching 78%. It also includes a special ingredient, taurine. This supplement works wonders for strengthening canines’ cardiovascular system as well as eye health.
- Controversial Ingredients: None
- Primary Meat Content: Salmon
FirstMate Dog Food Recalls – 0 Recall
FirstMate has been in the business for over 30 years, and as of right now, none of its products have ever been recalled. If that indicates anything, it’s their superior quality control standards.
Customer Reviews
Here are some real-life customer reviews so you can see what kind of experiences their doggos had with FirstMate food:
Customer Review 1
Customer Review 2
Customer Review 3
All in All
As it turns out, FirstMate products deserved the attention they’ve been receiving for quite some time. This brand pays close attention to the nutritional needs of dogs at all life stages and diets.
I strongly advise you to check out its “Diet Selection Guide.” This tool helps you pick the best type of food for your pooch based on weight, diet, age, and other important factors. Try it out; it’s super simple to use!