FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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What ingredients does Holistic Select include to help improve my dog’s digestion?
We use a proprietary system of powerful ingredients that help improve your dog's digestion and overall health. These ingredients are what make Holistic Select unique and different from other super-premium foods. These ingredients include:
- Prebiotics & probiotics
- Live yoghurt cultures
- Digestive enzymes
- Healthy, natural fibre
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What is a Guaranteed Analysis and how should I read the information included?
The Guaranteed Analysis provides product information to regulators who review each label for compliance with nutrient requirements and voluntary label claims. It also provides information to consumers to help them find the levels of at least four nutrients: protein, fat, fibre and moisture. Additional nutrients must be included if a product label makes a claim that mentions a specific nutrient.
At Holistic Select we’re proud to have one of the longest and most completed Guaranteed Analyses in the industry. It clearly shows the high levels of healthy protein & carbohydrates, probiotics, enzymes, and healthy nutrients we guarantee to ensure your dog lives their best life.
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Your food guarantees high levels of probiotics and other essential nutrients, why is it important to make sure these ingredients are included in a food’s Guaranteed Analysis?
It’s important to ensure the nutrients found in the ingredient list are on the Guaranteed Analysis because this ensures these essential nutrients can be found at the specified levels in finished pet food and have survived the cooking process. If the nutrient is not listed on the guaranteed analysis, the company cannot guarantee your pet is receiving the benefits of that high-quality ingredient.
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Are any of the diets recommended as rotational diets?
The foundation of a "rotational" feeding plan (switching proteins monthly) is to have the carbohydrate and fat levels be similar across all diets being fed. Therefore, our adult dog recipes would qualify for rotational feeding.
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Meat vs. Meat Meals — help me clarify the difference?
The most important aspect of protein inclusion is to ensure the amino acid profile is correct and at the correct levels. Holistic Select uses meat meals from high-quality protein sources with high digestibility which offers the correct amino acid profile in the correct proportions.
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How should I transition to Holistic Select?
The best way to transition onto a new food is to gradually introduce the food by mixing it with the old diet. This is particularly important when the new food is much tastier than the old, as is the case with Holistic Select. Mixing the food will allow the dog to adjust to the new taste and not "gorge" or overindulge on the new food because of its great taste.
When food transition is not an option, there are 3 other ways to ensure a good transition:
- Feed multiple, smaller volume meals. This will decrease the likelihood of over–overconsumption and provide for a more consistent, firm stool. This is an especially good option for puppies and senior dogs.
- Add clean warm water to the food to help soften it.
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Can you explain why multiple protein sources are better than single protein sources?
In general, using multiple protein sources can provide an animal with multiple amino acid profiles found in each protein source. These various amino acids help build lean muscle mass and support many other essential functions. However, some animals may have allergies to certain proteins or have sensitive systems. In this case, we would recommend a single protein source as the basis of their diet. In Holistic Select we have both multiple protein recipes and single protein recipes – fulfilling various needs within our one line.
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What is the shelf life of Holistic Select?
Holistic Select dry recipes have an expiration of 18 months from the date of manufacture.
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I currently "free feed" my dog. What is the Holistic Select philosophy?
Here at Holistic Select, we believe in portion-controlled feeding using the recommended amounts on the back of each bag. However, we completely understand that some families prefer to "free feed" their dogs based on their busy schedules or the dog's ability to pace themselves and not indulge. Ultimately, we support families that support animals! Although we see dogs get very excited over the flavour, there are some that may tend to be more cautious. We suggest adding a little warm water to the kibble. This helps to release the aroma of the food.
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Since you are all-natural, what do you use to preserve your foods?
We chose to use only natural preservatives that come with benefits beyond preservation. Our combination of mixed tocopherols, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid on our panels per AAFCO) and Vitamin E preserve the food but also provide additional antioxidants that scavenge free radicals and prevent cell damage.
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My dog won't eat the dry kibble. What do you recommend?
Although we see dogs get very excited over the flavour, there are some that may tend to be more cautious. We suggest adding a little warm water to the kibble. This helps to release the aroma of the food.
For puppies specifically:
- Definitely add warm water to soften the kibble and release the aroma. When puppies are teething, they may be shying away from their food.
- A puppy's taste preference is sometimes determined by the diet fed to the mother. For example, if the mother was fed a lamb diet…the puppy may be inclined to prefer a lamb puppy food.
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My kibble seems to vary in colour, why?
All of our products in the Holistic Select line are all-natural. We use no artificial colours or dyes of any kind. Colours and dyes are used to mask the natural colours and are used to give a more consistent colour across the kibble. As with many things in nature, there are subtle changes in ingredients based on geography and seasonality. We try to maintain as much consistency as possible without the use of unnatural colourants.
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What specifically makes Holistic Select so digestible?
We use only high-quality sources of protein and fat which are inherently more digestible. Additionally, our optimised cooking process is converting more carbohydrates to bio-available energy. Thus, less unutilised solids are being passed to the colon as waste.
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Why are some GA's minimums and others maximums? Do you choose how to list them?
Minimum and maximum claims for each nutrient are established by AAFCO. The only necessary claims a pet food must make are for Crude (Protein, Fat, Fibre, and Moisture). While these are the only nutrients mandated by AAFCO to carry a min/max claim, ash may voluntarily be listed, but must be listed as a maximum guarantee. Any vitamins, minerals or live microorganisms (probiotics) may be labelled with a minimum guarantee.
- Protein is always a minimum claim
- Fat is always a minimum claim
- Fibre is always a maximum claim
- Moisture is always a maximum claim
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Can dogs digest carbohydrates? I heard that they are recognised as sugars and easily stored as fat.
Dogs are very capable of digesting well-cooked carbohydrates. The carbohydrates may be stored as fats if the diet is consumed beyond the dog's caloric needs. This is why it is very important to either strictly manage your dog's diet, or choose a diet that delivers a moderate calorie content (kcal/kg).
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Why is it important to control Calcium and Phosphorus levels?
High levels of Calcium and Phosphorus interfere with the absorption of trace minerals like Zinc and Iron. Over time, this can lead to deficiencies and result in poor growth rates, skin lesions and many other health conditions.
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What is the benefit of a full rainbow of fruits and vegetables?
With our full rainbow of fruits and vegetables, we believe we have found the best blend of naturally delivered antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Consuming foods of many natural colours provides a wide range of natural antioxidant protection, as each colour brings a unique antioxidant. This rainbow represents the most fruits and vegetables of any brand on the market.
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Will tomatoes and/or tomato pomace cause red staining under my white dog's eyes?
No. The red in the tears is a result of porphyrin (a by-product of hemoglobin metabolism) being exposed to sunlight.
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What is DHA?
DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) is a natural Omega-3 fatty acid that is essential in the development of the brain, vision and nervous system of young mammals. Healthy brains are about 60% structural fat, and DHA is the most abundant fatty acid in the brain. Dietary DHA is critical for optimal neural development in puppies because DHA synthesis in the body is limited. Prior to weaning, puppies get DHA from their mothers. Mothers, both human and canine, transfer DHA from their body tissues to their offspring during pregnancy and lactation. After weaning, puppies can obtain DHA for continuing neural development through a diet of cold water fatty fish and fish meals.
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Do your products go through irradiation upon entering Australia?
All of our products (all of our brands and all forms) meet the Australian quarantine importation requirements and do not undergo any form of irradiation. At Wellness Pet, we believe in only using the finest ingredients in a slow-baked process within our very own kitchens to ensure that your dog receives the very best nutrition.