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Public ReviewGrade DKibble (Extruded)Manufacturing: Kibble (Extruded)

FirstMate

FirstMate Pacific Ocean Fish Meal Original Formula

1.5★Public ScoreManufacturer-independentPublic-data basedIngredients · nutrition · safety

Key points

Protein source

Caution

Unclear animal protein source

Top 3: Ocean Fish Meal, Burbank Potato, Norkotah Potato

Animal-based does not always mean clearly sourced.

Unspecified animal protein is read conservatively.

Ingredient guide

Included support ingredients

Nutrient guide
TaurineHeart support ingredientYeast cultureGut support ingredient
Caution

Ingredient grade

D

Grade D

Top ingredient profile

Ocean Fish Meal
Burbank Potato
Norkotah Potato
No plant booster
Crude protein23%
Crude protein23%
Crude fat10%
Other 67%

Protein position, fat position, and calorie density position are relative to foods in the same processing type cohort.

biotechProtein position
Lower
query_statsFat position
Lower
local_fire_departmentCalorie density
Lower

This food is worth considering when budget per kilogram matters alongside baseline nutrition.

This is not a premium ingredient story first, but the baseline nutrition is still comparable and the price per kilogram stays easier on budget.

Nutritional strengths

  • Calorie density is on the lower side.
  • Price per kilogram stays low enough that this can still be a conservative value pick.
  • Top ingredients do not show a prominent FDA-investigated non-hereditary DCM ingredient profile.

What still needs work

  • Phosphorus is 1% on the label, at or above 1%. Senior dogs or dogs with kidney concerns should have phosphorus restriction reviewed with a veterinarian before using it as a staple food.
  • Family-level animal ingredients sit high in the recipe, so ingredient quality still needs a more cautious read.
  • Public data trust is usable, but it does not sit in the highest-trust tier.

Brand context

Brand background availableRecall research scope limited

Founded in 1989 in Canada. The currently searched public sources are not enough to make a confident recall or withdrawal call for this brand.

Ingredient analysis

This section matters more than usual because the ingredient read is not strong enough to summarize in one line.

restaurantIngredient Quality Analysis

D1.5/6
Ingredient Grade
Conservative
1Ocean Fish Meal
Family Meal · Mid
2Burbank Potato
Starchy Tuber · Mid
3Norkotah Potato
Starchy Tuber · Mid

Ingredient Analysis Comments

  • •Ocean Fish Meal is a family-level animal meal. Animal protein is present, but species transparency is one step lower. It reads as an mid-tier protein source.
  • •Burbank Potato is a starchy tuber ingredient. It is not a grain, but it still reads mainly as a starch and energy source. It reads as an mid-tier carb source.
  • •Norkotah Potato is a starchy tuber ingredient. It is not a grain, but it still reads mainly as a starch and energy source. It reads as an mid-tier carb source.
restaurantIngredient Grade DConservative

Full collected ingredient list

13 ingredients
Ocean Fish MealBurbank PotatoNorkotah PotatoTomato PomaceChicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols)Dicalcium PhosphateCholine ChlorideCalcium Propionate (a preservative)Minerals (Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Calcium Carbonate, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Selenium Yeast, Calcium Iodate)Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin A Supplement, D-pantothenic Acid, Riboflavin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid)TaurineYeast ExtractRosemary extract.
Primary positive ingredients
Support positive ingredients
Neutral ingredients
Caution ingredients
High-caution ingredients

Why did the base review land here?

Ingredient qualityNutrient disclosure levelManufacturing & trust

This review score combines ingredient composition, nutrient disclosure, manufacturing trust, and core nutrient caution signals.

Nutrient disclosure

Partial disclosure

Core guaranteed analysis is usable, but deeper rows still need a more cautious read.

Safety verification

No fails

No major red flag jumps out first, though undisclosed rows still define the limits of this safety read.

Public data trust (ETF)

C2 tier

Detailed nutrition is visible, but not at a product-level traceability standard.

Where it sits in the same processing cohort

Kibble (Extruded) cohortCompare-first

Within the Kibble (Extruded) cohort, this recipe sits in the compare-first band.

Final word

Treat this review as an early screen. If the food stays interesting, verify it again with your dog-specific context before acting.

Back to all foods

What to compare next

Criteria to compare with this food

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Brand analysis

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Heart criteria

Best dog food for heart disease: sodium, taurine, L-carnitine, omega-3, and DCM context

Heart context should connect sodium, taurine, L-carnitine, and omega-3 disclosure.

GI criteria

Best dog food for sensitive stomachs: digestibility, fat, fiber, and transition checks

GI context should connect fat, fiber, transition speed, and veterinary purpose.

Joint criteria

Best dog food for joint support: weight control, EPA/DHA, glucosamine, and mobility checks

Joint context should connect weight control, EPA+DHA, and disclosed support ingredients.

Label basics

Best dog food criteria: ingredients, calories, disclosure, and health context

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