Frequently Asked Questions

The Topguard Feeds journey begins with our trusted farms and fisheries that we know and trust to ensure traceability. We collect only the finest fresh meats and fish which is then transported by road on refrigerated transportation to our production site for extensive quality testing before being used.

The process begins with gently cooking the protein at 82ºC (180ºF) using our unique Freshtrusion™ world leading technology to protect the valuable protein and enhance the flavour. This process helps to ensure that the dog food you’re buying is not only extremely tasty, but easily digested and packed full of goodness. It also has a nutrient bioavailability which means your dog will absorb higher levels of nutrients than that of most well-known brands of dog food. Overall, the technology used to create Topguard feeds, helps to ensure your much-loved pet, is healthy and happy, and will go on to lead an active and fulfilled life. After all, your dog is an integral part of the family and deserves the best!

Studies show that dogs with better diets, healthier weights and more active lifestyles can live up to 2.5 years longer, that’s a lot more time with your best friend. According to the Pet Food Manufacturers Association (PFMA), 51% of dogs are overweight or obese. Obesity leads to a whole host of health issues later in life, such as Arthritis, Diabetes and even Cancer. Poor quality food could cost you more than a premium quality food, as your dog may need to eat more to feel full up. You could also be disposing of more leftovers, because let’s face it, a poor-quality food made of the leftover parts and highly processed biproducts of an animal aren’t likely to be very tasty.

There are 37 essential nutrients that the modern dog must eat in their food. But, with so many different brands and types of dog food available, it’s difficult to know which is best for your dog. The dog food you choose should be complete with the correct balance of vitamins and nutrients. It is also important to look at the ingredients used, as many dog foods include synthetic and processed animal biproducts, which your dog could be sensitive to. Always bear in mind your dog’s general health, their age, size, breed, and current activity levels when deciding what food to give your pet. Switching to a healthier, natural diet helps maintain a healthy body weight and combat obesity. Our moto is, if we wouldn’t eat it, why should they?

There are certain breeds of dogs that are susceptible to certain illnesses, ailments, allergies, or sensitivities. As a responsible pet parents, it’s so important to know exactly what you’re feeding your favourite pooch and know what to avoid. Many of the top leading brands of dog food have as little as 15% meat or meat derivatives in the food they produce. About 95% of dry dog food is made by a cooking process called extrusion. A study from Wageningen University in the Netherlands shows that drying pet food at 160°C (320°F) to 180°C (356°F) can significantly reduce its nutritional value. Sometimes temperatures can even reach 200°C (400°F) during commercial pet food manufacturing. The high temperatures cause radical changes to the ingredients and lowers the nutritional content as opposed to food in its raw state or cooked slowly at a lower temperature. To find out more information about the quality of each dog food brand you can look them up on this dog food directory.

We’re proud of what we’ve have achieved with our nutritional dog food range. All our food is cooked at low temperatures, we list all our ingredients and the benefits of them, and each recipe also has a nutrition guide that you can download. You’ll get no nasty surprises from Topguard Feeds.

We want to ensure your dog gets the right food and the right level of vitamins and minerals needed for an active and healthy life.

A food allergy occurs when a dog’s immune system mistakenly identifies a particular food ingredient usually, protein or dairy as harmful and then creates defensive antibodies to fight the invading enemy (the food).
A food intolerance is a digestive problem rather than an immune response. An intolerance occurs when a dog’s digestive system has an abnormal response to a specific ingredient.

The signs and symptoms of an allergy or intolerance in a dog are quite similar. Your dog may suffer from itchy skin, show signs of a rash or sore skin, especially on the paws, ears, face, chin, tummy, or groin. They may have saliva staining, a pink or brown stain on areas of the coat, vomiting, diarrhoea, sore tummy, and excessive wind.

The signs of food intolerance in your dog would include mostly digestive distress such as gas, bloating, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea, you may also notice signs of skin irritation such as red or inflamed skin that results in itching or hair loss, as well as coughing, wheezing, or sneezing.

Hypoallergenic dog food has been created for dogs that experience food related allergies. The dog food is formulated without common allergens or allergy causing ingredients such as Beef, Dairy, Chicken, Wheat, Soy, Corn, or Lamb.

Grain-Free dog food is formulated without grains, such as Wheat, Corn, Rice, Oats, Barley, Rye, and Soy. It’s worth remembering that a grain-free recipe may contain slightly higher levels of protein which are common allergens to dog and the important carbohydrate is provided through White Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes or Quinoa. It’s also important to recognise that not many dogs are allergic to or have an intolerance to grains and most food allergies/intolerances come from the protein in the food. We recommend you seek professional advice from your vet should your dog show continual signs of allergies or intolerances. Both our Superior and Elite Range of dog food are free of grains.

There’s no hard-and-fast rule to how often a dog should eat, but we suggest feeding your adult dog twice a day to avoid gorging which can lead to bloat.

The number of meals can depend on the age and breed of your puppy. Small breed puppies can need 4-6 meals a day and medium to large breed puppies can require 3-4 meals a day for the first three to six months.

All our packaging has a feeding guide on the back and each recipe has a feeding guide on our website. It’s worth remembering that these are only guidelines, and each dog is difference, due to the age, weight, size, activity level and their metabolism.

We recommend feeding our kibble dry with plenty of fresh water available. However, if you have a particularly fussy eater, then feeding our food with a drizzle of water to wet the kibble will release the tasty gravy that coats it, enhancing the flavour. Feeding it wet can also help senior dogs with sensitive teeth.

We recommend storing our dog food in an airtight container or steel bin with lid in a cool dry room. Our Elite range and most of our small bags include re-sealable packaging, to help keep the food fresher for longer.

1. The onion family are particularly toxic to dogs – Onions, Garlic, and Chives, can cause gastrointestinal irritation and red blood cell damage. In large doses, Garlic may cause dermatitis and asthma. However, some owners use garlic tablets as a natural flea repellent. Always follow the dosage instructions carefully.
2. Chocolate – We all love Chocolate and unfortunately so do dogs, but it is poisonous for dogs as it contains a stimulant called theobromine (dark chocolate has the highest content of this) which is toxic to dogs, which may increase the heart rate, your dog may show signs of restlessness and could cause kidney failure or be fatal.
3. Grapes and Raisins can cause severe liver damage and kidney failure.
4. Macadamia Nuts – It’s best to also avoid giving your dog Macadamia Nuts as they contain a toxin that can affect your dog’s muscles and nervous system resulting in weakness, swollen limbs, and panting.
5. Lactose – Dogs have problems digesting Lactose, so it’s best to avoid given them any type of dairy.
6. Corn on the Cob – although dogs enjoy sweetcorn, and can be digested by your dog. The cob on the other hand could prove fatal as it can cause a blockage in your dog’s intestine and need expensive surgery to remove it.
7. Avocado’s are poisonous to dogs, as they contain Persin which can cause vomiting and diarrhoea.

6. Artificial Sweetener (Xylitol) – some owners feed Peanut Butter as a treat for dogs, but Xylitol can cause an insulin release. if your dog digests a food sweetened with Xylitol, they can go into hypoglycaemia which is linked to liver failure and blood clotting disorders. (Always read the label of any human grade food before giving it to you dog).
7. Cooked bones – avoid giving your dog cooked bones to gnaw on as they can easily splinter and in large quantities cause constipation or at worst, a perforation of the gut which can be fatal. Raw uncooked bones are best.
8. Flowers and plants – your garden could be a potential hazard for your beloved dog. Some dogs, especially puppies are quite partial to a colour plant or flower such as the Daffodil, can also be toxic to dogs, and cause anything from skin irritations to severe poisoning and death.