Frequently asked questions

We often refer to ourselves as a ‘best kept secret’ relying on the word of mouth and the great reviews that our recipes provide your furry families. We prefer to source the best ingredients to put inside the bag as opposed to advertising innacurate pictures on the bag.

Earth Options by Pets First recipes strive for excellence in quality. Our recipes are simply superior in a crowded and confusing marketplace. We meet or exceed AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) as well as CVMA (Canadian Veterinary Medical Association) standards. We only use the finest natural ingredients which are sourced close to the production facility wherever possible. Currently our recipes are manufactured in Ontario, Canada. There are NO by-products or artificial preservatives in our recipes. We only use defined meat and/or meal sources (Chicken, Turkey, Salmon, Lamb, Duck). Our bags are stamped with the date of manufacture so you always know just how fresh the food really is. We strive to keep you informed and have never made a decision that negatively impacts the quality of our foods, our ingredients or our service. We do not source any ingredients from China.

Yes, We currently have three Grain Free recipes. Our Superfood which is a moderate protein diet with a generous portion of a variety of meat proteins. We also have two Grain Free Limited ingredient diets. One uses Turkey as a protein source and the other uses Salmon.

Earth Options recipes undergo stringent testing for both quality and safety. They are manufactured at plants which are EU, FDA, and CFIA certified. This means that they must meet a very high standard of sanitation, cleanliness and manufacturing practices. There are specific independent audits performed regularly by well-respected human food audit companies. We test our ingredients before receiving them at the plant for a variety of toxins as well as their nutrient density and proper moisture levels. We then continue testing for salmonella and e coli during all levels of the manufacturing process using the standards set by Health Canada. We use state of the art technology to accurately measure protein, fat and moisture levels in our recipes. We record batch numbers so they can be tracked back immediately. Finally we package our product in a bag that provides ultimate protection against rancidity as we use only natural preservatives. This bag contains a plastic layer which is fused to a foil layer. Currently this type of bag is not part of any commercial recycling program. This is why as part of our environmental sustainability commitment we offer a recycle bag program that has as a main goal to keep these bags out of landfills.

No, never.

No, never.

Our recipes are available from selected independent distributors as well as pet professionals including some specialty retailers. We can arrange to have these recipes delivered direct from the manufacturer to your door. Our head office is in south Surrey near the Langley Surrey border.

Our recipes are formulated to meet the needs of our furry families on a daily basis. They may very well provide the nutritional requirements that are required of a prescription diet in some cases. It is always best to ask the veterinarian if this diet will meet the criterion that is being treated. We can provide our specific nutritional profiles to show your vet.

Veterinarians are not usually well schooled in nutrition so perhaps some additional questions or explanations may be required. Veterinarians also sell pet food and that pet food is exclusive to them so we recommend comparing the ingredients and profiles with our recipes. If they need to know more about us or haven’t heard of us we will happily contact them with our full information.

In a great many cases our recipes provide a better quality nutrition than the veterinary prescribed diet. It is for the betterment of your furry family’s on going health that you ask as many questions as possible. These questions should include where your veterinarian received his or her nutritional training, for what period of time and from whom. Surprisingly the common answer will be less than one week in a four year veterinary program and from the provider of the food that they sell exclusively and at great cost to you.

All of our recipes come with a 100% money back guarantee. We certainly hope that one of our recipes will meet the nutritional and health requirements of your furry family but in the case that one doesn’t – we will use our years of experience to recommend a diet that will work – even if it’s not one we manufacture.

Our goal is to solve any sensitivity issues that your furry family may have. In a great many cases these issues are not food related at all but are environmental or stress related issues. First we will try to isolate the cause of the sensitivity. We quite often use a common strategy of asking many questions in an effort to see if there are any patterns. We will usually start with the protein source. We are confident that one or more of our recipes will solve your issue once we can help diagnose the cause.

Yes, we have a ‘Chicken Optimal Weight’ recipe – We use Chicken protein and a low fat content to provide reduced calories per feeding.

The main ingredient in keeping your furry family at optimal weight is entirely up to you. We have feeding guidelines on every bag for you to use as a guide. We provide each new pet parent with specific instructions regarding the amounts you are feeding based on age and activity. We would also ask that you perform regular rib checks to make sure that he remains at his optimal weight. In most cases this will be less than the recommended feeding guidelines but is entirely dependent on metabolic as well as environmental conditions. Less is best!!

We do not offer a recipe that is specifically formulated for puppies. Instead we design a specific feeding regimen for your new family member. It usually consists of combining two of our compatible recipes to produce the ideal protein and fat that will help him grow slowly and steadily. Our experts provide additional input with every new order and it is not uncommon to vary the recipes several times in the first two years.

We recommend that there is a period of transition for every introduction of a new diet. This will vary from pet to pet. A common timeframe is about five to seven days.

Day 1 is 75% existing diet 25% new diet.

Day 3 is 50 old /50 new

Day 5 is 25 old / 75 new

Day 7 is 100% new

During this time we ask that you monitor any stool looseness or any other changes in behavior like head shaking or scratching or paw licking. Let us know immediately if there are any issues.

It is very important to store opened bags in a dry and cool place. In addition we ask that you try and keep the kibble sealed with as much air removed as possible. This would mean rolling up the bag as opposed to leaving it open.

For those that pour their food into a bin it is important to clean out the bin totally BEFORE adding a new bag. When cleaning DO NOT USE WATER. Simply use a dry cloth to clean the inside of the bin. If you do feel it necessary to clean with water then make sure the bin is totally dry before placing any new kibble in it.

The founders believe that the most accurate assessment of a food’s freshness is to know exactly when it was made. In our case, as we are the manufacturer, we not only know when it was made but where it has been, how it was stored and by whom before you receive it to feed your family. Freshness is a cornerstone to the success you will achieve by feeding our recipes.

Each recipe has its specific kibble size and color. Consistency is very important to us so we try to make sure that any time you open a fresh bag it looks the same as the previous bag. There may be minor size and/or color differences from bag to bag. This should have no consequence with feeding or performance. Please feel free to give us a call if you are concerned in any way. We will then check the batch number and refer to our quality control procedures to see if any issues are present. We are very proud of our record on consistency.

Use a dry measure cup set to help you measure. Make sure that you do not overfill the size of cup you are using. It should be level not heaping. The feeding guidelines on the bag can be used as a starting point in most cases. Our staff will ask many questions and will also make a recommended starting point based on activity level, age and current weight of your pet. These are all of prime importance in order to maintain optimal weight. Overfeeding produces obesity and an obese pet will live an average of two years less and have a long list of health issues. One of our main messages is that you only feed enough to maintain optimal weight no matter which recipe you are currently feeding.

Text to order is our easy to use pet food ordering system!  Simply text WOOF or MEOW to 604-670-0999 and you will receive various messages back!

If you’re a new customer, simply schedule a call with one of our support staff and we’ll set you up for future orders!