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NUTRITION & HEALTH

Should I talk to my veterinarian before switching to Petaluma?

Petaluma's baked food formulas are designed for healthy adult dogs. Proper nutrition is a pillar of your dog’s health and your veterinarian may have specific suggestions for your dog’s dietary approach. Chronic health conditions, such as kidney disea

What ingredients do you use?

Our ingredients are chosen with purpose and care. We focus on nutritious, minimally processed whole foods from across the plant kingdom - including legumes, whole grains, and vegetables. We partner with sustainable providers and certified organic far

Is your food organic?

We're passionate about organic agriculture and its positive impact on our environment, farmworkers, and the pets who enjoy our products. While organic ingredients often cost more, we carefully balance making our products affordable while maximizing o

How digestible is your food?

Independent laboratory testing at a university has confirmed what we already knew: our food is highly digestible, with dogs able to absorb over 80% of all nutrients. Even more impressive, the protein digestibility exceeds 92% - matching or surpassing

Is your food complete and balanced? What is the nutritional profile?

Yes, absolutely. We have gone to great lengths to ensure that our diet is complete and balanced, which means that we provide all the essential nutrients that adult dogs need to thrive in the right proportions. Our diets are formulated to meet AAFCO (

Why are my pup’s poops larger after we switched to Petaluma? Is that normal?

Noticing larger poops after switching to Petaluma? Don't worry - this is completely normal and actually a sign that our food is supporting your dog's digestive health. Our plant-based ingredients are naturally rich in dietary fiber - something that's

What is your nutritional philosophy? What guidelines do you follow?

We take an evidence-based approach to formulating diets. That includes referencing the standards established by other expert nutritionists who participate in the annual review process for the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). Re

Is your food grain-free?

No, Petaluma is not a grain-free product. We include whole grains in our diets, including oats and barley, because they are rich in methionine and act as complementary proteins with legumes and potatoes to create a complete amino acid profile. Dogs a

Can dogs digest carbohydrates?

Yes - dogs are well-equipped to digest carbohydrates, and there's a fascinating evolutionary story behind this ability. Domestic dogs have significant genetic differences from wolves, and one of the most important is their enhanced ability to digest

Are your diets suitable for puppies?

No. We have not formulated a diet tailored to puppies and neither existing diet meets the AAFCO guidelines for growth stage dogs. We do not recommend feeding our diets as the primary food source until dogs have reached an adult weight (usually 6-9 mo

Can I transition my dog from a raw meat diet to Petaluma?

Yes! While transitioning from raw meat to Petaluma is completely doable, it's best to take it slow and steady. Moving from raw meat to our baked, plant-based food represents a big change for your dog's digestive system. The main reason? Fiber. Our fo

Why is there brown rice syrup in Petaluma?

We use a very small amount of organic brown rice syrup (< 2% of total, or ¼ teaspoon per cup of food) to provide a balanced flavor and act as a humectant that helps the food retain moisture during baking. Unlike conventional kibble that is made throu