Dog Food FAQ

We're passionate about providing the best and safest food for dogs! We test every batch beyond required testing, not only to ensure it meets the nutrient requirements, but also to be absolutely sure there are no contaminants, such as those that are involved in pet food recalls.

• No Pinto Canyon foods, or any foods baked at our baking facility have ever been recalled in over 20 years of baking pet food!
• All grains are tested for mycotoxins, with standards well above the industry.
• We use a "loss in weight" system to verify the amount of each ingredient as it's added: our system verifies both the increased weight of the product and the decreased weight of the ingredient or supplement added.
• We have a third-party laboratory test every batch — above and beyond required testing. If all dog food were tested as extensively as ours there wouldn't be any recalls!

Recent recalls have found pentobarbital (a drug used to euthanize animals) in pet food! We take no chances! We use only reliable sources, we test, and we publish the Test Results for you and your veterinarian to see!

It costs less than $1 per day to feed Pinto Canyon Chicken & Brown Rice to a 40 pound dog! Healthy, safe, oven-baked, GMO-free food for under $1 a day! It's worth every penny for your dog!

For more detail on cost, and the recommended amount to buy for your dog see Pinto Canyon Daily Feeding Cost.

When comparing the price of Pinto Canyon pet food, it's important to factor in that you feed significantly less of Pinto Canyon because it's oven-baked.

This is a great question! Some dog food manufacturers are promoting the idea that more protein is better. However, too much of anything is not good, and protein is no different. Dr. Gallagher also explains this well in the article, The Dangers of High Protein Dog Foods - PetMD.com:

"...when a diet is mostly meat it becomes very difficult to maintain a proper calcium-phosphorus ratio. When this ratio is out of balance disruptions in bone growth or kidney damage can occur. Well formulated dog foods have an appropriate balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrates to prevent this from happening."

"Protein is a calorie dense nutrient and many of the high protein diets are extremely high in calories and can quickly lead to weight gain. With over 50% of dogs in the U.S. considered overweight or obese, dog owners need to be aware of where those extra calories are hiding. If a dog has kidney or liver issues consuming too much protein can increase the workload on these organs and upset the balance of nutrients leading to exacerbation of disease."

All pet food in the U.S. is formulated per the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO); AAFCO bases their requirements on feeding trials done by the National Resource Council (NRC). Taking into account the average digestibility of protein, AAFCO requires a minimum of 18% crude protein in adult dog foods on a dry matter basis. If pets needed more, AAFCO would require it!

The amount of protein in Pinto Canyon foods exceeds the amount required by AAFCO, but we don't overdo it. Our high-quality, highly-digestible meats, poultry, and fish, along with freshly-ground grains and other choice ingredients, provide just the right amount of premium proteins while maintaining the appropriate balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrates.

All of our dog food recipes are "low purine" according to our test results — they're perfect for Dalmatians! The presence of one or two minor ingredients that are not considered low purine does not affect the recipe overall; it's the balance of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals that make a healthy food!

Our kibble is a perfect size for all dogs. We've heard from Chihuahuas to Great Pyrenees, and they are all gobbling it up! The approximate size of each kibble is about a quarter of an inch thick, and a little less than a half inch in diameter.

Nutrient-dense oven-baked food is particularly helpful for tiny puppies and small breeds with small tummies unable to eat enough of other diets to fulfill adequate nutritional needs. With a higher metabolizable energy, your pet will absorb more energy from a smaller amount of food. They will eliminate less as waste—less waste to clean up! Pet foods with a higher metabolizable energy can also save you money because you feed less.

Also, our kibbles are crunchy, but not hard—delightfully tasty, yet easy on the teeth.

We recommend alternating between our recipes because dogs can become sensitive to their food if they eat the same food, especially the same meat protein, at every meal. We've carefully formulated our recipes with this in mind!

Most grain-free recipes have legumes instead of grains. The main non-meat ingredients in our Salmon & Sweet Potato recipe are chickpeas, tapioca, and green lentils.

The main non-meat ingredients in our Chicken & Brown Rice and Lamb & Brown Rice recipes are brown rice, oatmeal, and barley (no wheat!). These recipes are very similar other than the lamb and chicken—perfect for dogs that prefer a different meat only. And our whole grains are milled in-house minutes before baking to ensure maximum freshness and nutrition!

We recommend rotating between all 3 of our recipes because dogs benefit from a variety of meats, and also from both legumes and grains! And dogs love this variety! Not only are you providing a variety of lamb, chicken, and fish, you're also providing a variety of proteins, carbohydrates, starches, fibers, and nutrients from both grains and legumes. And you can alternate recipes without a gradual transition.

Yes. You can alternate between any of our dog food recipes right away—there's no need to transition gradually because:

• All of our dog food recipes have similar amounts of protein, fat, fiber, and calories.
• None of our recipes have wheat, corn, or soy.
• They're all baked, of course!

In fact, we recommend alternating recipes.

Another great quality of oven-baked food is that it doesn't swell and get all gross when wet, so if your dog prefers wet food, or has sensitive teeth, just add a little lukewarm water over the kibble, let it sit for a couple of minutes, and your dog will enjoy a wet meal!

Yes. All of the minerals in Pinto Canyon dog foods are chelated for better absorption.

No, do not give your dog vitamin supplements without consulting your veterinarian. Our foods are complete and balanced; you do not need to feed your pet additional supplements unless recommended by your veterinarian. Your dog may receive harmful amounts of some vitamins and minerals if they're fed supplements in addition to their food. From the Pets.WebMD.com website: "Too much calcium can cause skeletal problems, especially in large-breed puppies; too much vitamin A can harm blood vessels and cause dehydration and joint pain. Excess vitamin D can prompt a dog to stop eating, harm bones, and cause muscles to atrophy." Is there any danger in giving my dog vitamins?

The dental surgeon that writes the reviews at Dog Food Advisor receives money from chewy.com, so he typically reviews foods that are sold on chewy.com. This statement is on his website:

"However, we do receive a fee from Chewy.com for each purchase made as a direct result of a referral from our website."

We'd love it if you'd ask him to review Pinto Canyon!