FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions


Do I need to add water?

For Crunchy Style, you do not need to add water - scoop and feed like you would kibble.

How do I introduce Smack to my dog?

If you feed your dog 1 cup of food, start with 1/4 dry cup of Smack added as a topper to 3/4 cup of the existing diet. Pay attention to how your pet responds and increase gradually over a period of two weeks.

Is Smack suitable for large breed dogs and puppies?

We crafted the food with the proper amount of calcium (in grams Ca per 1kg food) to properly grow the skeletal structure of both large and small breed puppies and dogs.

How long will a bag last?

Our bags have an 18-month shelf life when left unopened. Once opened, our food stays fresh for around 3 months.  

Should I be adding more meat to Smack?

We would urge against it! Smack diets are very dense foods! In one heaping cup of Very Berry Chicken there is 13 ounces of chicken (bone-in, with organs). This is what's in one cup of Very Berry Chicken:

Your food costs a lot more than the kibble I used to feed; why is Smack more expensive?

Although everyone has a different budget when it comes to pet food, if you factor in the importance of quality food as a form of preventative medicine, Smack is an affordable way to feed your dogs and cats.

After all, when you feed your pet a raw dehydrated diet such as Smack, you’re not just feeding them; you’re giving them improved nutrition and positively impacting their overall health and well-being.

We put 20 lbs of whole raw foods into every 5.5 lbs bag of Very Berry Chicken, which retails for $109.99 and contains 25 cups. You will always be able to find foods which are which are both more and less expensive than Smack, but you won't find one that will match Smack’s quality, value, palatability, and positive impact on your dog's well-being!

Better food = a healthier pet and less money down the road as your pet ages.

How do you ensure Smack is safe from nasty bacteria and parasites?

The water activity level (measure of food safety) of our air dried meats are lower than the baseline required to inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria, parasites, and molds. The meat initially goes through a lethality phase during the beginning parts of dehydration, eliminating all pathogens.

We take a lot of pride in our quality. As such, we test all the batches prior to leaving our facility. None of the foods that leave our facility for sale or resale have tested positive for pathogens or mold. Since we started in 2008, we have not had a single incident or recall.

Is your salmon free of chemical preservatives, like ethoxyquin?

Our Canadian salmon is wild-caught and free of chemical preservatives, and is therefore ethoxyquin-free.

Why don’t you use added vitamins or minerals?

When formulating our foods, we went the direction of preparing them in line with holistic raw food diets which have been tested for decades, combined with our knowledge of functional foods. We did not want to add synthetic premixes to our food; we wanted to keep it natural, using nothing but whole foods with high bioavailabilities. Due to our gentle dehydration process, a high percentage of the amino acids, enzymes, vitamins, and minerals are not denatured or harmed resulting in high bioavailabilities. Not only can the synthetic premixes found in pet foods be hard on the organs but the bioavailability of these synthetic minerals can be as low as 4%!

I added 1 part of warm water to my Smack and waited 5 minutes but the food didn’t expand – why is that?

All Smack Pet Food recipes are meat-based diets with low carbohydrates. The reason why Smack doesn't expand after hydrating is because - unlike carbohydrates - protein polypeptide chains do not fully expand once they have contracted during dehydration.

Why does my bag of Smack vary in colour from bag to bag even though it's the same recipe?

Colour variations can actually indicate quality in natural products, such as our pet food. Because we don't use any synthetics, preservatives or dyes (which mask colour variations but are hard on your pet's organs) and use only whole foods with high bioavailabilities, anything from where produce was harvested, when it was harvested, or even small factors like seasonal changes and rainfall can contribute to variances in colour. So don't be alarmed if your next bag of Smack doesn't look quite like that last - this is actually a very good sign that indicates the high quality of our product!


Wholesale FAQs

How fast is shipping?

Due to the handcrafted nature of our pet food, please expect your order to be shipped within 5 to 8 business days. Tracking information will be provided for every order.

What is the process to become a retail partner?

Please reach out to us via email customercare@smackpetfood.com or phone us to register. Once qualified, you will be provided with all information to get started including our web portal for ordering along with support materials for your store and social media!

What qualifications do you need to be a retail partner of Smack?

We have brick and mortar stores as well as breeders, groomers and veterinary/holistic clinics all partnered with us to sell Smack. We require your company name with complete address and ZIP Code, phone number, primary contact person and email address for account login, along with your Business Number and/or State Tax ID (and kennel registration for breeders).

How do I order?

Place your order using the online order form and checkout using credit card.

Can I order one large bag?

No - we do orders by the case-lot. Please see the order form to make a purchase.