How do you ensure the quality of your dog and cat food?
We maintain a strict code of standards for buying, storing and processing ingredients used in our pet foods. These standards are among the strictest in the pet food industry. You can feed our food with confidence, knowing the Purina commitment to quality provides the best possible nutrition for your pet.
Do you test your dog and cat food for aflatoxins?
Yes. We have a meticulous quality assurance program for every incoming load of dog and cat food ingredients. We have ingredient specialists at each of our North American Purina pet food manufacturing facilities who are trained to sample and analyze incoming grain. Our grain testing program helps ensure only high - quality grains are used in our products. This testing is part of our comprehensive food safety and HACCP programs We maintain a strict code of standards for buying, storing and processing ingredients used in Purina pet foods, including grains. Every supplier of ingredients for Purina pet food must meet stringent standards for ingredient specification, product safety, sanitation and good manufacturing practices. Our quality assurance standards are among the strictest in the pet food industry.
Where is your dog and cat food manufactured?
99% of Purina pet food products sold in the U.S. are manufactured in our own facilities in the U.S.
Why does your dog and cat food contain colors?
Although dogs and cats are unable to distinguish color, we know that most pet owners consider the product’s appearance when purchasing food for their pet. Artificial coloring is added to maintain a more desirable and consistent appearance. All colorings used in our pet foods are approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Where are your ingredients sourced from? Are they sourced from China?
The vast majority of ingredients used in Purina brand products are sourced from the United States. As with other food companies, we do source a limited amount of ingredients from China. These ingredients, which are primarily essential nutrients, such as taurine and B vitamins, are not commonly available in the USA or other countries in the quantities we need.
What is animal digest?
Animal digest is often considered a substandard pet food ingredient. In some cases, this is because the word "digest" is mistakenly thought to describe the contents of the digestive tract. The word "digest" in "animal digest" refers to the digestive process used in production, not the ingredients.The process starts with animal protein such as muscle and soft tissue supplied by USDA - inspected facilities.These ingredients are processed in order to break them down, similar to the process of digestion in the body. The resulting digest is a liquid, but can also be made into a paste or powder.Animal digest is a high - quality ingredient that provides an excellent source of protein and enhances the palatability of Dog & Cat foods.
Why don’t you utilize a natural source of Vitamin K instead of menadione?
The basic story about the dangers of Menadione has emerged at various times during the past decades as something of an urban legend in the pet food industry and are not research - based. In fact, numerous research studies and nutritional textbooks have identified Menadione as a safe and effective means of providing the important nutrient Vitamin K to Dogs & Cats. Menadione has been commonly used in pet foods for approximately 25 years with no documented negative health effects. Menadione is a stable source of the essential nutrient vitamin K. Vitamin K provides the following nutritional benefits: it is required for the synthesis of a number of body proteins, most notably the proteins responsible for normal blood clotting.
How do I know how to feed my dog or cat? How do I know if my dog/cat is overweight?
Feeding your pet is 1 of the most important ways you can care for him. Once you have chosen the right food for your pet, you can develop a plan for portioning and scheduling. For more information, check your product package for specific feeding amounts.All of our Dog & Cat foods come with feeding instructions to help you properly feed your pet depending on his size, but certain types of pets may require specialized foods to help them maintain an ideal body condition.
What is a complete and balanced nutrition in dog or cat food?
Pet food makes up the entirety of a pet’s diet, so it needs to deliver all of the nutrients they need. That’s why pet foods so often use the phrase “complete and balanced.” Every pet food needs to meet federal (FDA) and state regulatory standards before it gets near your dog’s or cat’s bowl.