FAQ

Below are answers to our most frequently asked questions. Please feel free to e-mail us if you have any additional questions: support@portlandpetfoodcompany.com.

Where does PPFC source their meat, vegetables, and rice and grains?
All our ingredients are sourced in the USA. We source our restaurant grade, artificial hormone and antibiotic free meats from SP Provisions/Cascade Natural Meats. The meats we use are the very same cuts that are found in local supermarkets. It has always been our goal to produce products with local and sustainably sourced ingredients, including Bob’s Red Mill flour in our treats, local vegetables during growing season, and rice from a local company. For our brew biscuits, we receive spent grains from Coalition Brewing, and a gluten-free, grain-free mix from Groundbreaker Brewing.

How much PPFC food should I feed my dog?
We recommend feeding your dog twice daily. Portion size varies with your dog’s size, age, and activity level. Our food is labeled as a treat, topper, or supplemental meal, because we have chosen not to supplement our food. Therefore, you’ll be adding it as a topper to your current food or feeding it as a supplemental meal. We believe that if you feed your dog a variety of food, you’ll achieve a balanced diet for your pet. Our dogs only eat Portland Pet Food Company food, and they have excellent blood test results. Dogs in need of special nutrition (due to ailments, aging, bad teeth, or other medical conditions) will enjoy the food for its taste, as well as easy digestion. PPFC food is economical when its used as a dog food topper, a special meal, or as an encouragement for a sick or elderly dog to eat their food or take their medication. Please check with your vet if you plan to only feed this product to your pet. 

What’s the best way to transition my dog or cat to PPFC Food?
When your dog or cat transitions to a new food or supplement meal, it’s best to introduce the food slowly. If you feed too much of the new food too quickly, your pet could experience food refusal and possibly some degree of stomach upset, diarrhea, vomiting, excess gas, or constipation. The best method to transition from the current food to a new food is to gradually mix an increasing amount of the new product with the old food over a period of time until your dog or cat is receiving only the new product. This is very important so that you don’t disrupt your pet’s digestive balance.

Are there any “byproducts” in your food?
Many dog food and cat food products use the term “byproducts” on their label, which consists of animal parts that aren’t used for human consumption (such as bones, organs, blood, fatty tissue, and intestines). Meat is the first ingredient on our nutritional label, which means it has the highest percentage in the contents of the serving. In our meals for dogs, we use organs such as heart and liver for their nutritional qualities, but their use is clearly labeled.

Why does PPFC use eggshell calcium instead of ground bone in their products?
Many veterinarians have concerns about the danger of a large bone shard making its way through a grinder. Eggshell calcium is a safer option, and it has the same amount of elemental calcium needed, and it absorbs at the same rate as the calcium phosphate that’s found in bones.

Why did you choose to make a shelf-stable food in a pouch?
The pouch food has benefits for everyone. As an owner, you have an all natural pet meal available in a convenient pouch for use at home or on-the-go. There’s no need to mix with water or defrost. You just open and serve. If you need to use smaller portions for your dog or cat, you can easily reseal the pouch, and it will keep the food fresh, which is an advantage over a can. Also, the pouch is BPA free and Earth friendly. The pouches cost less to transport to stores (which results in less emissions from transportation) and take up less space on store shelves and in your pantry.

How can food in pouches be shelf stable for 24 months? And is the food ready to eat?
The fact that our dog meals and cat meals come in shelf-stable pouches (that can be served for up to 24 months) is revolutionary in the market! The food in the pouch is already cooked, so there’s no need to prepare anything. You can heat the food in boiling water or microwave it for a special treat, but the food can also be served immediately at room temperature! For cats and dogs, the food can be used as a topper, as a soft treat, or as a meal in a rotational diet. The pouches are also great for traveling, camping, and hiking.

How long will PPFC food stay fresh in the refrigerator?
Once opened, you can store the food in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Our products have been tested at a licensed lab for shelf life (up to 24 months). Once opened, they’ve been shown to stay fresh for 3-5 days in a refrigerator that’s set at between 37-40 degrees.

Why did you choose to make cooked food versus raw?
There’s much debate about cooked food versus raw diets. Our founder Katie McCarron personally enjoyed cooking, and she weighed the positive and negatives of both types of diets. In the end, she felt a cooked diet was nutritional and provided a safer handling protocol. In 2014, we started making meals and treats for dogs; and in 2022, we introduced food for cats.

Do I need to add supplements to PPFC food?
Our dog food and cat food products are intended for use as a rotational meal or an enhancement to dry food or canned food. In some cases, a diet of only PPFC meals could be beneficial for your dog or cat, but please seek advice from your veterinarian. The meats and vegetables that are in our meals are whole foods, not byproducts. We use chicken thighs, pork loin, ground beef, turkey breasts, and salmon in our dog meals and cat meals. The meats that we choose provide many nutrients and vitamins that you won’t find in a lesser quality of meats. Most other brands of commercial pet food use rendered meats and low-quality meats and vegetables, which means that they then need to add supplements to the food in order to meet nutritional requirements. At Portland Pet Food Company, we believe that you should feed your pets like you feed yourself, and our products exemplify “the best quality, made the right way.”

Why are your dog meals and cat meals labeled as a supplemental meal or treat?
The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) and the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) classify two groups of pet food: “Completely Balanced Foods” or “Treats.” Completely balanced foods must meet all AAFCO regulations and have a minimum content of specific nutrients. To meet the requirements, pet food companies often have to add additives, fillers, and byproducts. We’ve chosen NOT to add these components to PPFC’s products and, instead, let you as an owner, (in conjunction with your veterinarian), decide if you need additional supplementation for your dog or cat. Our pet food products have been through laboratory testing and meet the requirement for “guaranteed analysis” of crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, and moisture. Our products offer the opportunity for dogs and cats to eat an array of meats and vegetables that might not be balanced per AAFCO standards at each meal, but over a weekly period allow you to provide your dog or cat with a natural, balanced diet.

Do I need to worry about Salmonella and E. coli with PPFC food?
We pride ourselves on the quality of our dog and cat products, which means running a rigorous quality control program. An independent laboratory tests all of our batches for total bacteria, Salmonella, and E. coli O157:H7. Even though we test our products before they leave our plant, the first level of our quality control begins with the sources of our meats – the control of bacteria begins at the farm. Working with responsible vendors, in conjunction with our strict product testing procedures, helps ensure safe, healthy products.

Why should I buy PPFC food if I can make it at home? Can I make something similar at home?
You can absolutely make similar food for your dog or cat at home. There are several excellent websites that can provide guidance on how to prepare home cooked meals for your pets. Our founder Katie McCarron created our recipes after conducting extensive research on homemade dog food, consulting veterinary nutritional guidelines, and making decisions about supplementation to meet AAFCO guidelines. Like most topics, there was a lot of good information, bad information, and plain misinformation. Just like human nutrition requirements, there are a lot of opinions without research-based validation. Thus, Katie took her human nutrition experience and a literary review in dog food research and concluded that it was best to keep it simple and wholesome. Like humans who might discuss their diet with a doctor, pet owners should discuss their pet’s nutrition with a veterinarian. Look for simple signs such as your pet’s appetite and weight. Some experts recommend a blood test routinely if you are only feeding your dog or cat homemade food. We have done our best to increase the mineral content in our product by adding eggshells, using vegetable oil, and assuring we strive to meet AAFCO’s nutritional guidelines. The convenience factor of a product that provides a simple homemade meal that you can trust is priceless. We are not a pet food.  We are human food formulated for dogs and cats. A lot of individual attention is given to each meal we create for your dog or cat… and we even do the dishes!

Where do you bake your dog treats? Do you follow any federal or state guidelines for production of your treats?
Quality assurance is the backbone of this company. We follow both state and federal guidelines, as well as those from the American Association of Feed Control (AAFCO). We bake our biscuits in a commercial kitchen. PPFC facilities are licensed as a pet food and human food manufacturer in Oregon.

Is there beer in your dog treats?
No, there isn’t beer in our dog treats. For our brew biscuits and our malt biscuits, we use spent grains, (which is the barley or lentils/chestnuts that have been soaked in water and rinsed). The brewing companies use the liquid from the spent grains to create their beer. We gather the spent grains from them to create our treats. No alcohol and no hops…just the same malty taste you might enjoy with your beer.

What else is in the spent grain dog treats?
We use limited ingredients in our dog treats (and our dog meals and cat meals). Our spent grain treats only contain barley (spent grains), organic rye flour (wheat-free), 100% natural peanut butter, and eggs. We bake the biscuits with either beef broth, organic pumpkin, or nitrate-free bacon. And that’s it! Spent grains contain very little gluten and our barley comes from IPA brews, which are low in wheat.  We even offer a grain-free brew biscuit that’s made from a brewery that uses lentils and chestnuts in their brewing process.

Are your dog treats preservative-free?
Yes, our dogs are preservative-free. To avoid the use of preservatives, we bake our treats twice – to  assure that the spent grains are dry. The result is a very dry cracker that dogs love, both for its taste and crunch. This is a true definition of a biscuit. And as an added bonus, the dog treats are easy to break into pieces, so you can portion-control them or use them as training treats.

Do you have any gluten-free or grain-free pet food products?
Yes, we have gluten-free and grain-free options with our dog meals, dog biscuits, and cat meals. We use a high-quality, all-natural, grain- and gluten-free flour from Bob’s Red Mill in Milwaukie, Oregon.

Where can I purchase PPFC products?
You can purchase our dog meals, dog treats, and cat meals here on our website, as well as at specialty pet stores and grocery stores. Go to our Store Locator to find a store near you that carries Portland Pet Food Company products.

Do you have a subscription service?
Yes, we’d be happy to ship any of our products to your doorstep, on your chosen schedule. With our subscription service, you can save 25% off your first order and 10% off all subsequent orders. At any point, you can make changes to your subscription or cancel it, if necessary.

If you have any other questions, e-mail us: support@portlandpetfoodcompany.com.