Frequently Asked Questions

We recommend that you feed it dry with plenty of fresh water available in a bowl close by. However you can add a little water which can help enhance the flavours for the fussiest of eaters or to help those with dental problems.

We suggest you introduce Canagan gradually over a week, reducing the amount of the old food and slowly increasing the amount of Canagan.

On day one mix 25% Canagan with 75% of the previous food. On day three make it 50% of each. Day five is 75%, working up to 100% Canagan on day seven.

Our recommendation is to feed your dog twice a day where possible.

We don’t recommend it as these can lead to obesity and can upset your pet’s stomach. A dog’s digestive system is very different to ours and foods that we can easily digest could be potentially dangerous to a dog. Chocolate, for example, can be dangerous as it contains theobromine which is poisonous and can be fatal when consumed by dogs. Dogs have problems with the following foods: onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, dough, corn on the cob, cooked chicken bones, mushrooms, chocolate and beetroot.

Keep water bowls clean. Store food in dry and cool conditions, sealing the bag up to keep fresh. Feed your pet at the same time every day. Keep fresh drinking water available at all times.

You can see the feeding guide for each product on the respective product pages or on the bag if you have one. You can also use our feeding guides to see how much your pet should be fed.

If you have an elderly pet who is becoming a little fussier, we find there are a few ways to boost their appetite. You can add a little hot water (not boiling) over the top of the kibble to soften it down and release the aromas. Alternatively, ten seconds in the microwave can soften down the food to make it a little easier to eat.

It is very difficult to give an accurate feeding amount as each dog or cats metabolism and activity level can vary hugely. Therefore, we have to give a range to take this into account. Generally, we suggest starting off towards the bottom end of our feeding range and adjusting by 10% up or down until your pet is maintaining a constant healthy weight.

With the exception of Canagan Senior/Light which is specifically aimed at older dogs, all other varieties of Canagan can be fed to puppies as the nutrient levels are more than sufficient for their every need. The protein and fat levels in Canagan are much higher than those found in most carbohydrate packed adult dry dog foods, or even puppy foods!

The calcium and phosphorus levels and ratios of inclusion are also well suited to the development of puppies.

With the exception of Canagan Light / Senior / Sterilised which is specifically aimed at older or overweight cats, all other varieties of Canagan can be fed to kittens as the nutrient levels are more than sufficient for their every need.

The protein and fat levels in Canagan are much higher than those found in most carbohydrate packed adult dry cat foods, or even kitten foods!

The calcium and phosphorus levels and ratios of inclusion are also well suited to the development of kittens.

Canagan can be fed to kittens from weaning onwards, we recommend mashing down the kibble with some water when the kittens are very small!

We have a Light / Senior / Sterilised product for older, sterilised or overweight cats. We have a Light / Senior product for older or overweight dogs.

Both of these products contain:

Glucosamine Sulphate which assists the creation of new cartilage.

Chondroitin Sulphate which reduces enzymes which damage cartilage in joints.

MSM which helps reduce joint inflammation and is known for its pain reducing properties.

Our foods contain a very high meat content and therefore most of the Canagan range has sufficient levels of nutrition to maintain a puppy or kittens growth. If we think of the dog or cats ancestral diet, puppies / kittens and adults would have fed on the same food in different quantities, with Canagan these principles remain the same! Every bag has both a junior and adult feeding guide on it and you can use our feeding calculator to work out how much to feed your pet. With all of our All Lifestages recipes, they can be fed from weaning onwards.

Over the years pet foods in general have deviated further and further from what dogs and cats need to not only survive but flourish, with cheap and inconsistent protein and carbohydrate sources in the wrong proportions.

To redress the balance and create the optimal diet for our companions we went back to nature and studied what dogs and cats really need. The result is Canagan, which closely mimics your pet’s ancestral diet with the correct ratio of protein and fat to carbohydrate, and a much higher meat content than most.

Dogs and cats are carnivores and they lack salivary amylase. This is a special enzyme found in the saliva of herbivores and omnivores and is used to break down starchy carbohydrates before they reach the stomach. Because their saliva is virtually free from amylase, carbohydrates are much harder to digest. By being grain free and by significantly reducing the carbohydrate content, Canagan dog and cat food has a much higher level of digestibility which means lower feeding amounts and a smaller stool volume.

Yes - Hypoallergenic means that a food is less likely to cause an allergic reaction. The ingredients in Canagan have been chosen with this in mind and we have avoided those known to most commonly cause an allergic reaction, such as wheat and dairy.

No. We believe there is no necessity in adding artificial additives to our foods when there are natural, healthier alternatives:

Preservatives

Canagan products are preserved naturally with mixed tocopherols (Vitamin E).

Flavourings

The high levels of palatability in Canagan means that we don’t need artificial flavourings - Canagan is a taste sensation for even the fussiest of dogs and cats.

Colourings

Pets don’t care for fancy colours which would be added to a food only to make the product more interesting to the owner - there would be absolutely no benefit to your pet.

Botanicals - a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal or therapeutic properties. Canagan has been formulated to closely match the natural diet and botanicals are found in the natural diet for dogs.

Meat and animal derivatives are commonly used in many pet foods and consist of animal by-products. These are commonly used as they are cheaper than single source meats. We believe that the meat used in pet foods should be named; that’s why you won’t find "meat and animal derivatives" on our labelling!

No. Our products do not contain any genetically modified ingredients (GMO's).

None of our recipes contain growth hormones.

Canagan is made with all natural ingredients in small batches. Therefore there are small variances in colour, shape and size although the kibble will still provide the same levels of taste and nutrition.

Tocopherols are a blend of vitamin E and are used to give Canagan products a longer shelf life without the concerns of using artificial preservatives.

Sweet potato is an excellent source of vitamins A&C and is rich in antioxidants. Sweet potatoes are a great source of soluble fibre and have a low glycemic index which produce a slow steady release of energy. Low GI diets have benefits for weight control because they help control appetite and delay hunger.

The glycemic index is the measurement of glucose level increase from carbohydrate consumption. High glycemic index foods are digested quickly which result in high fluctuations in blood sugar levels. Low glycemic index foods are slowly digested and absorbed which results in a gradual increase in blood sugar levels and insulin levels, benefitting health.

All of the Freshly Prepared Chicken in our dry foods is 100% Free Range. We regularly audit our suppliers to ensure that they conform to the highest of standards.

We do not participate in any form of invasive animal testing. Our recipes are trialled on the pets owned by our family members, friends and selected breeders. All these pets lead their normal everyday happy lives!

We will never fund or participate in any invasive animal testing or research.

We try to source as many of our ingredients as we possibly can from Great Britain, although some ingredients are simply not available in the UK in large enough quantities.

You will find no added sugar in any of our products. Sugar is only added to enhance flavours but can be damaging to your pet’s teeth and has no distinct health benefits.

The Canagan recipes include a blend of soluble and insoluble fibre found within potato, sweet potato, alfalfa, carrot and Psyllium to help ensure digestive tract health. A careful blend of soluble and insoluble fibre in your dog’s diet helps to maintain normal intestinal transit time, motility and stool quality.

Yes. The Canagan range has been formulated to avoid the ingredients that are commonly known to cause food allergies. Our range always contains the ingredients which are considered a lower allergy risk. It is free of all grains, soya, dairy, growth hormones and artificial additives. Canagan contains a well-balanced ratio of omega 3 and 6 which helps to promote healthy skin and a shiny coat. Omega 6 (linoleic acid) is an essential fatty acid required for healthy skin and coat.