Frequently Asked Questions
Why do your products appear different at times?
Our products contain natural ingredients without the addition of artificial coloring or binders. As a result, you may note variation in the appearance of our products between batches.
Do you use GMO ingredients?
No. Alaskan Gold recipes do not contain GMO ingredients.
What is a Salmon meal? How does it compare to a fresh meat?
Salmon meal is a concentrated source of salmon protein in which most of the moisture and some of the fat has been removed. Meals such as these provide nearly 4 times more protein than the fresh ingredients.
Why doesn’t your dog food recipe add additional Taurine?
Salmon is a good source of Taurine and we add salmon in three forms, which contains 94 milligrams of taurine per serving.
What does “All Life Stages” mean?
Food recipes for dogs and cats are generally approved for certain stages of a pet’s life: growth (puppy/kitten), adult maintenance, or pregnancy/lactation. This determination is made based on standards from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), and the information is stated on a pet food’s packaging. The reason for the differences has to do with the proportions of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that are needed at these times during a pet’s life. For example, growing puppies need more protein and fat than adult dogs do.
Alaskan Gold recipes are labeled “all life stages” when they meet the nutritional needs of a pet at each different phase of life. Feeding the right proportion of an “all life stages” food is very important—the amount fed will vary based on your pet’s age and weight, so be sure to closely check the recommended feeding amount on the food’s packaging.
Do any Alaskan Gold products contain ethoxyquin?
No. None of our ingredients are preserved with ethoxyquin or any other artificial preservative. We use natural antioxidants, such as mixed tocopherols.
Does Alaskan Gold use any ingredients from China?
Grain-free: what does this really mean?
Grain-free refers to a pet food recipe has been produced without any grains included in the ingredients.
If you select a Alaskan Gold recipe that is grain-free, that means the food won’t contain any corn, wheat, rice, rye, barley, or oats.
Dogs and cats require a balanced blend of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals—and that includes a certain amount of carbohydrates. In addition to carbohydrates for energy and fiber for healthy digestion, grains are also a source of protein and other important nutrients.
So, if a formulation doesn’t contain grains, we include alternative high-quality sources of these nutrients, such as peas, chickpeas, lentils, and more. That way, the food is nutritionally balanced for your pet while free of grains.
Does your pet need a grain-free diet? That depends.
Every dog or cat is an individual. Some pets do better with certain diet formulations than others. It may take some trial and adjustment to find the best recipe for your pet. The exception is dogs or cats who have a known grain allergy or a significant dietary sensitivity to grains. These pets will benefit from a grain-free diet—and we’re happy to provide a selection of excellent grain-free options for them.
What are legumes and pulses? Why do you use them?
Can legumes and pulses be harmful to pets?
In recent news, you may have read about the FDA’s report on dogs and a heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and the possible
What are natural flavors?
AAFCO (the Association of American Feed Control Officials—a non-profit organization that helps set nutritional standards for pet food) defines “natural” as an “…ingredient derived solely from plant, animal or mined sources…” that may have gone through physical processes like heating, purification, or extraction but has not been produced by chemical means and does not contain synthetic additives.
There’s no FDA definition of “natural” in pet foods and most states have adopted the AAFCO definition for their pet food regulations.
Also, we uphold a high standard for natural flavors at Alaskan Gold.
For Alaskan Gold foods, “natural flavors” means a concentrated flavor enhancer derived from the breakdown of protein sources into their basic amino acids. This natural flavor enhancement boosts the aroma and taste of the recipe.
As such, our natural flavors are safe for pets and make their eating experience more enjoyable.
The only precaution would be if your pet has a food allergy or severe sensitivity to any particular ingredient. In that case, it’s best to check exactly which natural protein source was used to create the flavor enhancement for a given recipe.
If you have any questions about our natural flavors—or questions about any of our recipes—you are welcome to contact us. We’re happy to answer your questions!
Cats are carnivores, so why are carbohydrates used in their foods?
It’s true that cats are obligate carnivores. This means they must eat a diet composed primarily of meat. In the wild, a cat’s ancient ancestors would have eaten muscle meat and derived nutrients from other body organs, which a wild cat would receive from hunting and consuming prey.
However, ancient and modern domestic cats can benefit from some carbohydrates in their diet—carbs provide an efficient energy source, as
well as a variety of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
Plus, non-digestible fiber can help with digestive health and hairball prevention. Although cats don’t require carbohydrates in their diets, cats in the wild may have naturally consumed small amounts of plant material in the stomach and intestines of their prey. Also, studies have shown that cats can efficiently digest and absorb carbs. In fact, decades of real-life observations have demonstrated that kitties thrive on cat foods formulated with carbohydrates in the right proportions. That being said, balance is important. Carbohydrates are just one part of a
healthy diet—and too much of any nutrient, including carbs, can throw a diet out of balance. Also, cats with special needs (such as diabetes) may benefit from low-carb diets. Alaskan Gold recipes are designed for nutritional balance, with just the right amount of beneficial carbohydrates in harmony with other high-quality ingredients. That way, your cat will get everything they need, and digest their food well for efficient energy and optimal health sources.
Do I need to supplement my pets' diet with vitamins, minerals or additional supplements?
If your pet is on a nutritionally complete and balanced food, like all of the Alaskan Gold recipes, you don’t need to supplement with vitamins or minerals.
Actually, offering vitamins on top of a balanced diet may cause mineral excesses, which can lead to health problems.
For some pets, supplements may be recommended based on specific health needs. Examples include glucosamine for joint health, pet-safe urinary supplements, and natural calming supplements for anxious pets. This should be decided on a case by case basis, based on your pup or kitty’s unique health requirements.
How much water should my pet consume per day? I want to make sure my pet is hydrated.
Most healthy dogs consume about 1 ounce of water per pound of body weight daily—so, for a 50-pound dog, that would be 50 ounces (a little over 6 cups) per day.
For cats, that number is about 4 ounces of water per 5 pounds of body weight—or, for a 10-pound cat, 8 ounces (1 cup) per day.
However, this number is an estimate for the average pet, and it can be affected by many things. For example, canned food provides a lot more water than dry kibble does. So, pets eating purely canned food will drink less than pets eating kibble, and vice versa.
Also, hot weather, physical activity, medical conditions, and other individual factors can affect water needs.
Here are some ways to evaluate your pet for dehydration:
- Check your pet’s gums.
Your pet’s gums should be pink (except for dogs and cats who have naturally dark pigmented gums) and moist. Also, when you press down with your finger, the gums should turn white but quickly snap back to a nice pink color (within about one second).
If your pet’s gums are pale, dry, or take longer to return to a pink color when pressed, they could be dehydrated.
- Check for skin tenting.
Gently pull upward on the skin between your pet’s shoulder blades.
If the skin immediately slides back into place, that’s a good sign. If the skin stays up (like a tent) or is slow to sink back down, your pet may be dehydrated.
- Look for sunken eyes, lethargy, or changes to urination habits.
However, don’t wait for the signs of dehydration described above to offer your pet water—always keep it available, since most dogs and cats are good at self-regulating their water intake.
To increase water consumption, be sure water in the bowl is clean and fresh, consider purchasing a pet water fountain, and incorporate some canned food into your pet’s daily feeding schedule.
Actually, offering vitamins on top of a balanced diet may cause mineral excesses, which can lead to health problems.
For some pets, supplements may be recommended based on specific health needs. Examples include glucosamine for joint health, pet-safe urinary supplements, and natural calming supplements for anxious pets. This should be decided on a case by case basis, based on your pup or kitty’s unique health requirements.
What are legumes and pulses? Why do you use them?
Legumes include the edible fruits or seeds of plants in the legume family, such as peas, beans, chickpeas, and lentils. Pulses are the dried forms of those seeds.
These nutritious ingredients are great sources of protein, fiber, carbohydrates (including complex carbohydrates for slow energy release and even blood sugar levels), and many important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Legumes and pulses are commonly found in grain-free pet food recipes, since their nutritional value makes them a high-quality substitute for grain-based ingredients like wheat, rice, or barley in pets who are sensitive to grains. However, legumes and pulses may also be included in pet food recipes that contain grains.
Whether the recipe is grain-free or grain-inclusive, all of our Alaskan Gold recipes include an excellent balance of ingredients that work together in harmony to provide the best possible nutrition to your dog or cat.
At Alaskan Gold, we use a Multi-Ingredient Principle. This means that no single ingredient—including legumes or pulses—dominates over the other ingredients. Instead, the ingredients in each of our recipes are thoughtfully chosen to provide full-spectrum nutrition from a variety of healthy sources.
This results in overall nutritional balance, without overly relying on any one particular ingredient.
Can legumes and pulses be harmful to pets?
In recent news, you may have read about the FDA’s report on dogs and a heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and the possible link with certain grain-free diets.
Understandably, it’s easy to worry when reading the headlines—but the truth is, there are still a lot of unknowns, and the true causes of DCM in dogs are much more complicated than just an association with certain types of ingredients.
In fact, the vast majority of pups eating grain-free diets and legume-containing recipes have not developed any issues with DCM.
Further information from nutritionists and experts suggests that diet-related DCM may be associated with an imbalanced diet—one in which the proportion of legumes and pulses (or other ingredients) is predominant in the recipe.
In other words, legumes and pulses themselves are not harmful—on the contrary, they offer a lot of nutritional value. Instead, it’s more about the overall nutrient balance of the food, and how the different ingredients work together. Depending too much on any one ingredient can result in imbalance—but our Multi-Ingredient Principle prevents this issue.
Also, some pups may have genetics or digestive factors that interfere with their abilities to digest and process all of the healthy nutrients in their food. So, it’s always important to find a recipe that works well for your pet’s unique needs.
In short, more information and research are needed. But at this time, the FDA does not recommend avoiding certain foods or changing to a specific type of recipe.
Can legumes and pulses be harmful to pets?
In recent news, you may have read about the FDA’s report on dogs and a heart condition called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and the possible link with certain grain-free diets.
Understandably, it’s easy to worry when reading the headlines—but the truth is, there are still a lot of unknowns, and the true causes of DCM in dogs are much more complicated than just an association with certain types of ingredients.
In fact, the vast majority of pups eating grain-free diets and legume-containing recipes have not developed any issues with DCM.
Further information from nutritionists and experts suggests that diet-related DCM may be associated with an imbalanced diet—one in which the proportion of legumes and pulses (or other ingredients) is predominant in the recipe.
In other words, legumes and pulses themselves are not harmful—on the contrary, they offer a lot of nutritional value. Instead, it’s more about the overall nutrient balance of the food, and how the different ingredients work together. Depending too much on any one ingredient can result in imbalance—but our Multi-Ingredient Principle prevents this issue.
Also, some pups may have genetics or digestive factors that interfere with their abilities to digest and process all of the healthy nutrients in their food. So, it’s always important to find a recipe that works well for your pet’s unique needs.
In short, more information and research are needed. But at this time, the FDA does not recommend avoiding certain foods or changing to a specific type of recipe.
What are pre- and probiotics?
Helpful microorganisms (certain species of bacteria and yeast) live in the intestines of dogs and cats. Probiotics are supplements that contain these “good” bacteria and yeast and boost their numbers in the gut.
These microorganisms have a symbiotic relationship with your pet—meaning the relationship is mutually beneficial. The bacteria and yeast get a place to live, as well as nourishment from your pet’s food. In return, they provide many benefits to your pet’s health, including:
- Immune system function—more than half of your pet’s immune system is located in their gut
- Healthy skin and coat
- Better digestive health, and more!
Prebiotics, on the other hand, are a food supply for probiotics—they keep “good” bacteria and yeast nourished so they can do their job and help your pet stay healthy.
Prebiotics come primarily from complex carbohydrates and fibers—such as beets and chicory root—and must be supplemented in the right proportion to allow the probiotics to thrive.
To maximize your pet’s health and wellbeing, Alaskan Gold Pet Food recipes are supplemented with both probiotics and prebiotics.
What does the Guaranteed Analysis tell me? How is it different from the Typical Analysis?
The Guaranteed Analysis, found on pet food packages, lists important information about the nutrient content of your pet’s food. It’s similar to the nutrition labels on foods made for humans—but different in that it lists minimums and maximums rather than exact amounts.
This includes minimum percentages of protein and fat, and maximum percentages of fiber and moisture (water). Reviewing this information, you can be sure a food contains at least that much protein and fat (it may contain more), and no more than that amount of fiber and moisture (it may contain less).
Other nutrients, vitamins, and minerals are not required to be listed, but are often included voluntarily—for example, Omega 3 or 6 fatty acids, or a maximum fat content for low-fat diets.
These minimum and maximum values are guaranteed, and therefore important in terms of legal requirements and pet food regulations in the U.S.
However, as you can imagine, there are limitations when it comes to analyzing your pet’s food based solely on these numbers. In addition to not being exact values, they are also listed on an “as fed” or “as is” basis. The as-is basis is the product straight out of the bag or can. That makes it difficult to compare recipes side by side (especially canned food versus kibble), since water weight and calorie density can affect nutrient percentages.
One more important note: The term “crude” is used to describe these values (i.e. you’ll see “crude protein” on the label) because of the way they are measured—it’s not a reference to the quality of that nutrient.
The Typical Analysis, on the other hand, provides more detail in terms of a longer list of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, with a specific value for each. This includes some values measured on a “dry matter basis,” which eliminates the water weight factor when comparing recipes side by side.
These numbers can’t be guaranteed in the same manner as the Guaranteed Analysis maximums and minimums, since exact nutrient content may vary with ingredients in each batch, especially from season to season. However, the Typical Analysis can still give a much better idea of the full nutritional content of each pet food recipe, which is very helpful when determining whether or not a recipe is suitable for your pet.
Our Typical Analyses are calculated using data from actual lab analyses of our pet foods.
How do I transition my pet to Alaskan Gold?
Whenever you change your pet’s food, the key is to go slowly. If you make the change too fast, your dog or cat may develop stomach upset. This is true even when switching to an Alaskan Gold recipe because the gut needs time to adjust to any change. Also, picky eaters may refuse a new food if the change is too sudden.
There is no magic timeline for all dogs and cats, as every pet is an individual. For success and a happy tummy, here are two ways to transition your pet to their new Alaskan Gold food:
The Mixing Method
Mix a small portion of the new food together with your pet’s current food. Think 25% Alaskan Gold and 75% previous food, or 1 part Alaskan Gold to 3 parts previous food.
After two consecutive firm stools, switch to a 50% Alaskan Gold and 50% previous food ratio. Then, after two more consecutive firm stools, switch to a 75% Alaskan Gold and 25% previous food ratio (or 3 parts Alaskan Gold food to 1 part previous).
Finally, after two more consecutive firm stools, feed just the Alaskan Gold food.
The Two Bowls Method
Fill your pet’s food dish with their current food, as usual. But also offer a small amount of the new Alaskan Gold food in a bowl right next to it.
Watch to see if your pet warms up to the new Alaskan Gold food and nibbles at it. If they do, gradually increase the quantity of new food over several days to a week.
Start reducing the quantity of the old food at the same time.
Finally, stop offering the old food so your pet is eating just the new Alaskan Gold food.
Some pets do better with one of these two methods. So, if one method doesn’t work well, try the other.
Note: If your pet is already having digestive upset or loose stools, it’s okay to start feeding Alaskan Gold right away. When switching between different Alaskan Gold recipes, no transition period is required.
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.
My dog has bad breath, is it the food?
There are many potential things that can cause bad breath in pets—including eating something smelly, digestive upset, or kidney disease. However, dental disease is the most common culprit.
Dental disease affects 80% of dogs by three years of age. In addition to a bad smell that disrupts cuddle time with your pup, dental disease can impact quality of life and whole-body health.
That’s because dental disease can progress to periodontal disease, a condition where the structures that hold teeth in place (the gums, bone, and periodontal ligaments) are affected.
This leads to pain, inflammation, infections, tooth loss, and even thinning of the jawbone and heart/kidney infections (due to bacteria entering the bloodstream via inflamed gums) if severe.
For all these reasons, oral hygiene must be taken seriously in pets. Oral hygiene should be evaluated at your pet’s routine checkups. As a pet parent, you can also schedule a dental check any time you notice bad breath, difficulty eating, bleeding gums, or any other symptoms related to the mouth.
In pets, dental disease can be prevented or managed through a combination of dental cleanings at your vet’s office and daily tooth brushing at home with a toothpaste designed for pets. Your vet team can explain exactly how to brush your dog’s teeth (with a little patience, many pups grow accustomed to this new habit), and let you know when your dog is due for a dental cleaning.
My pet eats too fast and then vomits. How can I prevent this?
Some pets are so excited about their food that they scarf it down in a few seconds—only to have the food come back up moments later. This can be frustrating for both you and your pup or kitty.
Fortunately, there are some things you can do to slow your pet down and help keep their food in their stomach:
- Purchase a slow feeder bowl.
These food dishes have ridges or raised areas that break up the food and prevent your pet from taking huge mouthfuls all at once.
You may also use a muffin tin to help challenge your dog and get them to eat more slowly. Simply, turn a muffin tin upside down and spread the kibble between the cups and ridges. Your dog will need to move the kibble from various angles, between the cups and ridges, in order to consume.
- Use a puzzle feeder that dispenses kibbles a few at a time. Like a slow feeder, this will help your pet eat at a more reasonable pace.
- Feed smaller amounts more often throughout the day.
- If you feel your pet is eating fast due to anxiety or a worry that someone may take their food, consider feeding them in a room by themselves, or working with a trainer or behaviorist.
- Talk to your vet.
This is a good final step, because your vet can rule out underlying causes like parasites that could be contributing to the issue.
Make as many observations as possible (like whether there is any retching, how long after eating it happens, and whether the food is digested or intact). This will help your vet determine if there’s something else causing your pet to throw up.
Eating at a normal pace eases digestion and allows your pet to process all the healthy nutrients from their meals—not to mention, they’ll probably taste and enjoy their food a little more!
My pet occasionally has diarrhea. Could it be due to the food I'm feeding them?
There are many possible causes of diarrhea in pets, such as internal parasites, infections, various health conditions, eating something from the garbage, food sensitivity, or stress or changes in routine. If your pet experiences consistent digestive upset or severe diarrhea, it’s best to consult with your veterinarian as soon as possible. In an otherwise healthy pet, here are some things to consider about their food intake and how it affects their tummy:
-Are you feeding your pet the appropriate portion of food? The amount of food should reflect your pet’s current activity level, age, breed, and individual metabolism. Overfeeding a high-quality diet is a common reason for soft stools or diarrhea.
-Did your pet eat something that upset their stomach? Certain treats or table scraps