How often should I feed my dog or cat?

FDA Report on DCM

In July 2018, the FDA announced that they have begun investigating reports of DCM (canine dilated cardiomyopathy) in dogs eating certain pet foods, many labeled as "grain-free," which contained a high proportion of peas, lentils, other legume seeds (pulses), and/or potatoes.

More recently, on June 27th, 2019, the FDA also issued an updated press release which included a list of brands connected to DCM reported cases.

ARE ZIWI PEAK RECIPES SAFE? ARE THERE ANY DCM CASES WHERE ZIWI PEAK WAS BEING FED?

ZIWI foods are safe. There were no reported cases where dogs showed DCM symptoms while being fed a ZIWI Peak recipe.

ARE GRAIN-FREE FOODS SAFE? 

Although the FDA is investigating grain-free foods, it’s important to know there is no scientific evidence that has connected DCM to any type of food, including grain-free foods. While the FDA is actively investigating a potential correlation between grain-free diets and a rise in cases of DCM, the concern appears focused on diets that utilize large amounts of potatoes, legumes and peas.

IN REGARDS TO DCM, HOW ARE ZIWI RECIPES DIFFERENT?

Different from most grain-free foods, ZIWI Peak’s raw-inspired recipes feature high inclusions of meat, is low in carbohydrate and free from unwanted carbohydrates, such as potatoes and lentils.

Our recipes feature up to 96% meat, organ and seafood inclusions ─ natural sources of amino acids, including taurine, important for heart health.

More details about our recipes are available in our FAQs and on our website, which includes the typical analysis for each recipe.

CAN I TRUST ZIWI?

At ZIWI, we have a relentless focus on safe foods that deliver peak nutrition. With the support of our in-house nutritional experts, third party veterinarians and nutrition experts at the Massey University of New Zealand, we’re committed to our path of crafting foods that are safe and give you peace of mind.

For well over a decade, dogs and cats have thrived on ZIWI Peak recipes.  Designed to match their biological requirements, every recipe features high inclusions of meat, is low in carbohydrate and free from unwanted carbohydrates, such as potatoes and lentils.

Foods packed with meat and seafood that deliver the protein and the essential amino acids that dogs and cats need to thrive, we’re confident that our recipes deliver the ultimate nutrition. 

Dogs and cats are our passion too, so if you’re still feeling a little worried or have additional questions, our Customer Care team is standing by. We’re happy to help.

Click here for our FAQs

Dogs and cats require a diet rich in meat ─ our foods are perfectly designed to match their biological needs and feature high inclusions of meat, organs and bones. 

Our previous ZIWI Peak air-dried packages featured 98% meat, organs and New Zealand green mussels, and our wet food featured 92% meat, organs and New Zealand green mussels (93% for cats). While high meat inclusions are important, an optimal balance of nutrients is essential too.   

Although our foods have sufficient levels of both omega 6 and 3, to achieve optimal balance, we’ve added lecithin, a source of omega 6. As a result, the overall meat inclusions in our air-dried packages have been reduced to 96%, and our wet food is now 91% for dogs, and 92% for cats.

While your pet likely won’t notice the small change, our foods are designed to ensure peak conditioning; so you and your pet can continue to enjoy life’s adventures together!

ZIWI Peak foods are complete and balanced for all life stages and all breeds. We do not recommend adding supplements to your pet’s diet unless specifically recommended by your veterinarian.

We recommend feeding your pet twice daily. We suggest talking with your veterinarian to determine the best feeding schedule for your pet.

ZIWI Peak is a natural food, handcrafted in small batches, featuring high inclusions of meat and organs and excludes artificial fillers, dyes and preservatives. This, in combination other natural factors such as age and seasonality of the ingredients we use, often results in variability of shape, size, color, texture and odor. This variation is perfectly normal and is an indicator as to how natural the food really is!

The foundation of ZIWI Peak's air-dried and wet recipes are the same ─ both are rich in New Zealand sourced meat inclusions and low in carbohydrate. The main difference is moisture content. ZIWI Peak air-dried foods feature up to 14% moisture, while our wet foods feature up to 78% moisture. Whether you choose our air-dried or wet foods (or maybe both) either option is a complete and balanced food that your pet will surely love!

ZIWI Peak wet foods are made with New Zealand sourced raw meats and organs.  When canned, our foods are sealed and heated in order to preserve and stabilize the contents. They are heated at the minimum temperature and time required to meet the international regulations for human and pet canned foods.  

The New Zealand Green-Lipped Mussel (GLM) is exclusive to New Zealand and is a rich natural source of glucosamine, chondroitin, glycogens, omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, which nutritionally support long-term joint health, as well as promoting a healthy skin and coat. All ZIWI Peak recipes contain at a minimum of 3% GLM, farmed using ecologically-sustainable practices.

We recommend you transition between flavours over a few days, however if your pet has a sensitive stomach we suggest you transition more slowly over a week. Please refer to our transition guide.

Transitioning guide for dogs
Transitioning guide for cats

There are differing opinions on the topic of rotating proteins. If you decide that it is the best option for your pet, we recommend a gradual transition between proteins, to minimize the potential for digestive upset. Please refer to our transition guide.

Transitioning guide for dogs
Transitioning guide for cats