Q. Is it OK to supplement my pet's food with the amino acid Taurine? I love Flint River and have been feeding my dogs your Lamb, Millet, and Rice kibble for years and just recently found out that some lamb-based dog food do not contain taurine, which can lead to health problems in dogs. Can you tell me if your company adds taurine to the lamb kibble?

A. Dogs can synthesize the amino acid Taurine - where cats cannot. There is considerable taurine in the lamb muscle meat that is adequate for dogs along with what they can synthesize. I might have some concern in adding taurine - it might not be balanced for all types of dogs and could be an excess. I don't think we need to add to our formulas. I think this is one added supplement that must be recommended for a specific pet by the pet's vet.

Q. Define Flint River Ranch ingredients. 

A. For a complete description of the ingredients found in Flint River Ranch foods take a look at Main Ingredients and Benefits page of our website.

Q. Which FRR dog food would be best for a dog that seems to have a problem with acid reflux? He seems to throw up occasionally also. He has been checked by two vets and there is no reason found for this happening, so I am concerned it is his dog food and would like to try the best Flint River Ranch that might best suit him.

A. Feed the FRR Lamb, Millet & Rice as it is formulated for easy digestion and contains probiotics to aid in digestion. Feed the dog his daily food amount over 2-3 smaller meals a day, rather than all at once. Do not feed right after stress or exercise. Wait until the dog calms down. Take the dog to the vet (she has already, but always suggest it with any issue that may be “medical”). Canned pumpkin (not pie filling, just plain pumpkin) is recommended by many holistic vets as a remedy to an upset stomach (for people too!). Yogurt with the live cultures can also help with stomach issues. Be aware of all treats or bones given to the dog, as that might be a source of digestive issues for the pet. Feed the LMR biscuits as well, as they match the formulation of the food.

Q. Why does FRR add salt to their pet food?

A. Salt is included in our ingredient list to specifically call attention to the fact that there is a trace of salt in the ingredient list - this avoids any challenges from those pets that are on an extreme salt-free diet and using a substitute of some type. Sodium/Salt are similar, Salt is practically pure sodium chloride. But they are both very indispensable to maintain proper health - important to all living animals. Most sodium/salt comes from the ingredients; however, we use a trace of sea salt that is not iodized.

Q. Is vitamin E added to your dog food --if so --what is the source of the vitamin E?

A. Yes, we use Vitamin E. Vitamin E is a group of closely-related fat-soluble compounds called tocopherols. It is an antioxidant and retards the oxidation of other vitamins. The d-alpha form is naturally occurring and 75% of our Vitamin E is from the germ of grains and green forages - the dl-alpha tocopherol acetate (source of Vitamin E activity) is the source of the other 25% of our Vitamin E. 

Q. Our younger dog was urinating a lot, so we took her to the vet. The vet says that the alkalinity in her food is causing her problems.

A. In 14 years we have had perhaps 2 or 4 inquiries about Urinary problems with our dog food. Cats more often have urinary challenges. Our food does not create this problem; it is too high in quality and is not alkaline, a carbonate of an alkali metal. One food formula is not always right for each dog, but our food will not cause this problem. There is a greater chance this is caused by the water or a metal water bowl - or a long time feeding of poor quality food before starting to feed FRR. There might be something with the dog's systems and a second opinion, other than food, should be considered. Bladder control is also affected by the neutering operation.
  I would suggest to your friend - they get a second opinion from a Vet that knows nutrition. It is always worthwhile to get many professional opinions. We have 100's of holistic vets that feed our food, and they know nutrition. We have customers that have been feeding this food for extremely long period of time - all to the dog's benefit. 

Q. Does sweet potato help to stiffen up loose stools?

A. Should have a slight benefit, but not as much as tomato flakes.

Q. I am interested in your Dry Water food. However, all of the research I have done tells me that heat processing and hot water destroys the enzymes that the dog needs from the food. I am curious to know how hot water can be added to your Dry Water food without that happening. I have a German shepherd that is on an enzyme product and was considering trying FRR Dry Water. But the companies I get his enzymes from, which have been helpful, say no hot water.

A. Your are correct - enzymes - especially those added as a supplement when opened must be refrigerated and kept cold. We worked for over 2 years developing the enzyme process that we use in our DryWater product. It is stable at room temp - but it goes down hill fast when hot water is added. Most enzyme products will generally last only about 30-34 hours if not kept cold.

The specialty formatted enzymes in DryWater will only be effective for about 4-6 hours after hot water is added. As the product is designed to add the hot water at time of feeding - and to only mix the amount required for that feeding - and usually the dog will eat all the product when fed - our enzyme formula provides the results we note and is extremely effective. If the food is left in the dish all day after mixing - the enzyme value is extremely reduced. If it is consumed within 2-5 hours after mixing. the value will be there.

It appears that the reason the dog might be currently taking enzymes is due to a digestive problem. This might mean the customer could be feeding an extruded food which is supplemented with the enzymes recommend by his vet. While we don't know the animal and do not give medical advice - If it was my pet that I was supplementing with enzymes - I might consider feeding the oven-baked kibble. The oven-baking acts as a "pre-digest" by breaking down the starches and the food is assimilated into the dogs system quickly. Extruded food does not digest well as the "cook" value is much lower. I would also feed vegetables with the food - and possible - depending upon the challenge - add an enzyme product. However, as with changing or adjusting any food - It would be important to monitor closely - both the kibble and the DryWater.

The DryWater has oven-baked kibble, but not 100%. It also has some herbs and vegetables which are of great value to the overall nutritional value of our formula. 

Q. Can you provide the target urine pH for the FRR foods?

A. There are 2 common pH numbers: the pH of the food itself and the pH generally measured in the urine after eating the food. I think that they use the word "target" for the latter because the number varies with the pet and so it is typically given as a range (and this number seems to be the one most commonly specified).

Cat & Kitten food: target urine pH = 6.2
Adult Lite cat food: target urine pH = 6.2
Cat & Kitten hairball formula: target urine pH = 6.2


Puppy & Adult Kibble: target urine pH = 6.4
Puppy & Adult Nugget: target urine pH = 6.4
Senior: target urine pH = 6.4
Senior PLUS: target urine pH = 6.4
Lamb/Millet/Rice: target urine pH = 6.4
FNC: target urine pH = 6.4

We don't just "target" urine pH - we exceed it - pH must be less than 6.4 and our range is 6.2. In addition, as extra value, through careful purchase of ingredients - our magnesium and ash are the lowest in the industry - which also benefits the cat's health. All cats have crystal challenges - some not noticeable - others a major concern. It can take many months, even years for crystals to form. Low quality cat food - and stress also contribute.

Q. I would be very interested in knowing the sodium content of your dog food and biscuits.

A. This can be easily computed with the weight and percentage, there are 420 mg (0.42 grams) in a cup of Dog Food.

Q. After I open a bag or your dog food, how long can I expect the food to be edible for my dog? 2. How do I tell when the dog food is unsafe, or not recommended to feed my dog, once the container is opened? 

A. Once open FRR brands are generally good for 6 months or more; given conditions around their storage. Things that will effect viability will be keeping the bag open, (a no-no) storing in an open container, (another unfavorable condition) humidity levels, frequency of handling, (re: don't drop the bag on the floor when done. place gently and don't beat it up a lot.) and exposure to sun light or heat. The best and most recommended storage practice is keep all products in their original bags, dispense out of the bag while rolling down and securing the top of the bag after opening (cloths line clip works good) and keep all products in a cool, dry location, similar to a kitchen pantry. Important issues are keeping as much air away from product, keep out of moist warm air and don't beat it up by dropping on the ground when done dispensing. If you follow these practices and carefully order your food as you need it, not stock piling on more then you would use in a 6 month period (I actually try to keep up with smaller bags personally so I keep a good rotation of product in the house, but I have two dogs who go through a 20 lb bag in 3 weeks, but some people prefer not buying every month and get larger quantities to last longer) you should never have a problem with our products. Given that we do not use chemical preservatives in our products if not properly taken care of, our products will oxidize faster then others, but our freshness is one of our main selling points and we feel smaller quantities, ordered more frequently is a sound practice to combat any issues.