CA
Quality protein for senior dogs
Here at Smack, we pride ourselves on creating the best quality food for your pet. Our raw, dehydrated product offers the perfect combination of raw, fresh food in an easy-to-serve format - no fridge or freezer required!
If you're wondering whether Smack is the best choice for your senior dog, here's how our raw, dehydrated offerings can help support your dog's health as they age:
The best quality protein for senior dogs
Senior dogs need to keep their lean muscle mass as they age, just like senior humans, so quality protein in moderate quantities is extremely important. We use only the best cuts of non-medicated meats (no added hormones) and wild-caught fish in our formulas.
Superfood ingredients to support healthy aging
Senior dogs can benefit from the extra omegas in our fish formulas, which can help treat canine arthritis and kidney disease. Our recipes (all handcrafted with love and care in Winnipeg, Canada) are full of superfood ingredients such as turmeric (a proven anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory spice) and blueberries, which have been shown to help improve memory, learned movement behaviour and night vision. We also use no artificial vitamins or synthetics - only the all-natural good stuff!
A boost for dental health
Our low-carbohydrate recipes help boost dental and gum health (carbohydrates create a starchy film that promotes plaque buildup and encourages gum disease).
A digestive aid
Our technology of low temperature dehydration preserves the nutrients in our food through minimal processing, aiding digestion (particularly important for senior dogs, who may be more susceptible to digestion-related conditions). Our techniques also ensure food safety while maintaining the natural, beneficial enzymes and bacteria needed for good gut health.
A safe choice
Unlike raw frozen or fresh food, you won't need to worry about bacteria or pathogens; our testing has proven our manufacturing process (combined with very low moisture content) inhibits their growth. We have never tested positive for any pathogens.
FAQs
Why is organic non-GMO produce important?
Organic foods often have more beneficial nutrients, such as antioxidants, than their conventionally-grown counterparts and people with allergies to foods, chemicals, or preservatives may find their symptoms lessen or go away when they eat only organic foods. In essence, organic produce contains fewer pesticides.
What is ethoxyquin? And why should I care about synthetic vitamins and minerals?
Ethoxyquin (E324) is a synthetic antioxidant that is used primarily in animal feed. Globally, ethoxyquin is not approved for use as a direct food additive in foods for human consumption. Specific to the omega-3 industry, some krill meals and crude fish and fish oils for animal feed are preserved using ethoxyquin.
Naturally occurring vitamins and synthetic vitamins are different … really different.They’re not in the same chemical form … so your dog’s body will have trouble recognizing and using the fake, synthetic vitamins. These synthetic vitamins and minerals, even at the best quality, regularly have partially hydrolyzed protein carriers of unknown sources and are almost exclusively available from overseas sources. This means they can be contaminated with toxins, or at the very least, be a source of allergens to some pets.
Why is carbohydrate content and source important?
Dogs and cats have no biological requirement for simple carbohydrates. Some of these also contain a good portion of the food's protein levels, which are simply not easy to digest or particularly bioavailable. Basically a lot comes out the back end…in the form of excrement. So it may look like a high protein food, but much of it comes from peas or potatoes, not appropriate sources for dogs and cats. Some are more concerning than others, like peas, lentils and those in the legume family. They contain lectins (plant proteins) and phytoestrogens.They can damage your dogs gut, leading to leaky gut symptoms and they provide a continuous source of plant based estrogens which interfere with a normal endocrine system.
Why should I care if there is gluten in the food?
Dogs are usually sensitive to gluten, not grains themselves. Not only is it one of the top 5 allergens for pets, but it’s also inflammatory and can affect a dog's healthy gut biome.
Why is the amount fed important?
Calorie density is important. It’s very hard for your pet to digest and work on massive amounts of food consumed in any given meal. As illustrated above, when we’re feeding 3+ cups of food (vs ¾ cup) this indicates a large portion of low calorie fillers, which will be partially fermented in the gut and come out the other end. Simply put, excessive food tends to equal excessive excrement. It also indicates that a lot of the food’s ingredients are those hard-to-digest carbohydrates.