Is Victor dog food back on the shelves

VICTORNews

We all want the best for our dogs, and we know it can be difficult to select a formula for sporting dogs that will help them achieve peak performance and take care of their nutritional needs.To help find the best match, our Senior Vice President of Nutrition and Supply Chain, Michael Keith, is answering common nutrition questions we get from sporting dog owners in Gun Dog Magazines article, Top 5 Questions Gun Dog Owners Should be Asking for Choosing the Proper Dog Food, you can read the article below.

Gun Dog: What Should We Feed our Sporting Dogs for Optimal Performance?

Michael Keith (Senior Vice President of Nutrition and Supply Chain, VICTOR Super Premium Pet Food):

While it would be nice, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for the best formula to feed a hunting dog. Much like humans, each dog has a unique metabolism and energy need; however, we do know that active hunting and sporting dogs perform best when eating a high-fat, high-protein diet.

When selecting a kibble for your gun dog, remember that protein and fat percentages are important, but dont get caught up in the numbers. A good place to start is looking at brands that use high-quality ingredients and then search for a formula that will deliver, at a minimum, 28 percent protein and 20 percent fat, to meet the caloric requirements of your active sporting dog.

The key to feeding for performance is making sure your dog is getting the calories they need. Again, theres no universal answer, but a solid reference is (based on a 50-lb. dog): 1,450 calories for a non-active dog, 1,800 calories for a dog with moderate exercise, and 2,200+ calories to support a hard day of hunting.

Created specifically for the nutritional needs of hunting and working dogs, VICTORs Realtree MAX-5 PRO formula delivers on the desirable 30/20 protein to fat breakdown, but if your hunting dog needs more calories then look into our EDGE ENERGY formula, which is our most calorie-dense formula, at 28/22 protein to fat.

Use the eye test to make sure youre feeding your dog the right number of calories. Do they look physically healthy? If theyre starting to slim down or get too plump, that will signal that you need to change their caloric intake.

GD: How Often Should We Feed Our Dogs During Hunting Season?

MK:Research tells us that the answer for canine athletes is very similar to human athletes. It typically takes 10 to 12 hours for food to be completely digested, so if youre looking to go on a morning hunt, youll want to feed the night before to allow the nutrients to be absorbed appropriately.

Think about what it takes for you to perform at a high level. If you eat a very light dinner, then a large feast for breakfast right before jumping into a workout, you probably wont perform your best. The same goes for our dogs. To get their best performance we want to allow time for their bodies to accept the nutrients theyre getting from their food so it can be properly utilized.

GD: What Should We Look for in a Dog Food Brand Regarding Safety and Standards?

MK:The basics are important, you want to make sure the brand uses high-quality ingredients, is meeting the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) regulations, and offers quality food that will help your dog perform.

But, its important to dig a bit deeper into brands and find out more, like where the kibble is made, where the ingredients are sourced from and what kind of safety measures go into manufacturing the product. Ask how often their ingredients are tested and what kind of safety history the brands products have.

We share much of this information right on our website, and our customer service team is available by phone to answer your questions. Within a few clicks on our website, youll see that VICTOR proudly produces every bag of kibble in our own Texas-based facility using a majority of ingredients that come from ranches, farms, and other trusted suppliers who are within a days drive of our plant. We also proudly share that we regularly test our ingredients and finished products to ensure our food is continually meeting our own high standards.

The answers to these questions will help you understand if the values and strengths of the brand youre looking into align with what youre looking for in the nutrition thats fueling your sporting dog.

GD: Does Age Matter When Choosing a Dog Food?

MK:Yes. Puppies have specific nutritional needs, and similarly, older dogs have unique needs of their own.

When selecting a formula for a puppy, youll need to look for a puppy specific formula (sometimes referenced as a growth diet) or choose an all-life stage blend. Then, as your puppy grows, their needs will change, so at about six to 12 months if they were on a puppy food, youll need to transition them to an all-life stage formula.

Adult and senior dogs also have specific needs, like joint support. For adult hunting dogs that are highly active, youll want to look for a food with added glucosamine and chondroitin to help support their joints. Early inclusion of these supplements in their diet can help keep their joints healthy and prevent long term damage from hard days in the field, season after season.

Remember, when you transition your dog to a new food, even when its from the same brand, its important to do it over a period of time. We suggest taking one week to 10 days to make the switch. Youll want to gradually increase the amount of the new formula each day. Not taking the proper time to transition can cause digestive issues, and these issues can sometimes be interpreted as a problem with the new formula, when really your dog is simply reacting to the change in diet being made too abruptly.

GD: What Are Signs That I Might Not Be Feeding the Right Dog Food?

MK:What we see on the outside of our dogs is a good indicator for whats happening on the inside. If youre noticing things like a dull and flaky coat, digestive issues, lethargy, and weight problems (underweight or overweight), thats a strong signal theyre missing something in their nutrition.

Weight issues can often be controlled by changing the number of calories your dog is consuming. Keep in mind that its not necessary to change formulas during hunting season. You can feed the same formula all year, youll just need to adjust the amount youre feeding so it meets your dogs increased caloric needs during the hunting season.

There are a lot of options on the market, and it can be overwhelming to find the perfect food for your dog. If youre looking to find a new food for your gun dog, our customer service team is available to offer personalized recommendations based on your specific dog, their activity level, and other individual needs.

A version of this article first appeared in Gun Dog Magazine, you can see it here.

Find a store near you

Have a question about a refund related to the current recall?MAPF is working on a solution to manage refunds.Information regarding refund options will be available soon, and information will be posted on the MAPF and VICTOR websites.Thank you for your patience.

The VICTOR Satisfaction Guarantee is printed on every bag of VICTOR Pet Food Products below the UPC code on the back panel of each product.

Terms of the VICTOR Satisfaction Guarantee: Thefulfillment of the productsatisfaction guarantee must be conducted at the original retailer wherethepurchaseof VICTOR Dog Food, or VICTOR Cat Feed was performed. In the event the product did not meet your expectation, for any reason, return to the store withthe bag and unused portion of the product for a full refund or replacement. If your purchase was made through an online retailer you shouldcontact the same onlineretailer and follow their product return procedurevia the samewebsite you made your purchase. Note: If you usedthe Amazon .com marketplace to make your purchase, you should contact the independent retailer your purchase was arranged with on the Amazon .com website. Review your transaction details to see the contact information of that retailer.

Do not attempt to seek direct reimbursement or product replacement directly from the manufacturer as it is not part of the VICTOR Product Return Policy. Contact the retailer as it is their responsibility to handle all exchanges or refunds as part of being an Authorized VICTOR Retailer. If you require assistance in product recommendations or have questions related to product information, you may contact the manufacturer. Note: VICTOR products are not sold from the manufacturer online or otherwise to retailers or end users.

Precautions and Recommendations to End Users

It is advisable to only make your purchases through trusted storefront or trusted online retailers who are Authorized VICTOR Retailers. Avoid buying from 3rd party vendors who are not a direct extension of an actual local retailer with an actual store front location as they are not authorized and possibly will not honor any kind of returns or provide product support if there is an issue. If a VICTOR product is purchased by other means than through an authorized VICTOR retailer, it is not eligible whatsoever for any refund or replacement. It is a matter of buyer beware if you choose to buy from a seller like but not limited to road side vendors or a vendor booth at an event. No matter how cheap they may be selling the product for, it is not worth the riskbecause it may beout of date product or otherwise no longer suitable for consumption. If the vendor sells product as isor no returns they are very likely not an authorized VICTOR retailer. It is a False statement if the seller tells you that anyone other than them selves will give you a refund in the event you have an issue. You must we a wise consumer and understand the importance of only shopping with authorized VICTOR retailers. For assistance in locating an authorized VICTOR retailer visit our locator map.

It is recommended to always keep unused product in the original packaging. This serves two purposes. First, is when product is taken out of the original packaging it is put at risk for potential contamination to be introduced with the product. The inside lining of the VICTOR bag is designed specifically to stay in continuous contact with the product. Second, the Lot Number information is printed on the packaging so to accurately identify the batch and date in which it was produced. In the rare event that an issue may arise with the product, the Lot number remains readily at hand to retrieve and provide to the VICTOR Product Support Team when you call. This gives the VICTOR Product Support Team the necessary data and equips them to better assist you with a product concern. Once you have completed your call with a VICTOR Product Support Team member, you will have everything you need to return the product, in the original packaging, to fulfill the satisfaction guarantee with the VICTOR retailer.

Victor Dog Food Is Back!

Victor Dog Food Is Back: We have some exciting news to share with all of our avid pet owners that feed Victor. They have officially returned to making the line of dog food. After the recall, Victor has finally made its way back to the shelf.

Victor is an amazing brand of dog food that utilizes an exclusive mix to promote superior digestibility and immune system function. Their proprietary blend offers benefits to every dog, regardless of activity level, age, breed or size.

Every VICTOR formula is rooted in nutrition and each ingredient used is carefully selected and serves a nutritional purpose.

A majority of their ingredients come from ranches, farms and other trusted suppliers who are within a days drive of their East Texas plant.

We should have the full line of Victor back on the shelves by the middle of the month. If you are looking for a certain diet, please call us and we can let you know if it is in stock, and if not, when we might expect to have it back on the shelves.

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