| Please review the common questions below. If you still have questions, please email us at CustomerService@FlintRiver.com or call us toll-free at 1 (866) 236-5102. If you have questions about our Web site, please visit our Web site help page. |
| Is Flint River Ranch cat or dog food being recalled? |
| What should I do if I run out of food? |
| Who makes Flint River Ranch cat and dog food? |
| Is this the manufacturer's Web site? |
| Is Flint River Ranch food tested on laboratory animals? |
| Which food is recommended for a dog with allergies and why? |
| Do you have samples? |
| Do you offer a canned food? |
| Is there a distributor in my area? |
| What are Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids? |
| Is Flint River Ranch food available in retail stores? |
| What is the shelf life of Flint River Ranch pet food? |
| Why does my dog have loose stool or diarrhea? |
| Do you offer a food specifically for puppies? |
| Do you offer a food specifically for large dog breeds? |
| Why does your cat food contain corn? |
| Why is fiber necessary? |
| Is Flint River Ranch cat or dog food being recalled? | Return to Top |
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No. Flint River Ranch foods are not being recalled. Here are some pertinent points about Flint River Ranch food:
Also, pet products are being recalled due to botulism (announced July 21, 2007): FDA Information on Botulism Recall If you have any questions, please email us at CustomerService@FlintRiver.com You may also be interested in the following statement from the president of Flint River Ranch: "Flint River Ranch does not buy from the supplier of the suspect ingredient(s)... Every ingredient is tested before we use it... Additionally, all of our formulas are tested every 15 minutes for standards as cooked, and samples kept for 6 months. All ingredients used are bought from known producers with many years of a strong relationship between us. Chicken and grains from nationally known human-food producers equals human-grade rating and USDA protocol testing of those ingredients we buy. ... It is our bond and pledge to our customers that Flint River Ranch will produce the finest quality of canine and feline products we can, for you to provide to your beloved pets. Our professional associations are only with companies who produce or provide products at the same level as we do." If you are out of pet food, you can cook healthy food at home. Please click here for more information. Our sympathies go out to those pets affected by this terrible situation, and to their families. | |
| What should I do if I run out of food? | Return to Top |
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If you run out of food for your cat or dog, we suggest that you bake chicken and rice.
This is a nutritious meal and will be quite adequate
for a few days until your order arrives. Just cook chicken with rice as you would for yourself, but do not add
anything such as spices, sauces, or oils. After the chicken is cooked, you must completely remove all bones from the chicken;
this is extremely important as bones can splinter and seriously harm your pet's digestive system. Cut the chicken into small pieces, and
mix with the rice. Feed this cup
for cup as you would the regular food. Portions can be frozen for later use. Optionally, vegetables such as carrots, celery, yellow squash, zucchini, green beans, or bok choy can be chopped and added, either cooked or uncooked. Cats sometimes prefer turkey instead of chicken. And they may prefer this meal blended until coarse. |
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| Who makes Flint River Ranch cat and dog food? | Return to Top |
| Flint River Ranch is a private company owned by Jim Flint. The production of Flint River Ranch pet food began on October 12, 1993. The goal of Mr. Flint was to make the best possible feline and canine foods, while addressing important concerns such as weight control, allergies, and other common health issues. Also, the food must be readily available to the four-legged customers that really need it. Click here to read more about the history of Flint River Ranch. | |
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| Is this the manufacturer's Web site? | Return to Top |
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We at FlintRiver.com are distributors of Flint River Ranch (FRR) pet foods. Like most retail stores, we don't manufacture the products that we sell. We concentrate our efforts on providing the best product possible and the most convenient and helpful service possible. We have a high respect for our customers and high standards for our customer service. Most of all we care for pets and want the best for them. FRR is the manufacturer of our pet food products, and is a separate company from us. FRR requires that all distributors display a "disclosure" statement on their Web site that indicates the site is not operated by FRR, and the wording and placement of this "disclosure" are dictated by FRR. The statement simply means that our policies regarding pricing and refunds are not necessarily those of FRR. The prices that we show for our products are the prices you pay and no charges are added at checkout. And we offer a 100% refund on returns - no unexpected charges. We apologize for any confusion regarding this "disclosure" and hope you find shopping at FlintRiver.com a pleasant experience. If you have any suggestions or questions we'd be happy to hear them! |
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| Is Flint River Ranch food tested on laboratory animals? | Return to Top |
| Flint River Ranch does not test its products on laboratory animals. No animals are destroyed or are involved in any type of medical surgery or physical invasion during the palatability testing and evaluation procedures. All testing is done voluntarily on pets of all ages, including staff pets and selected pet owners and breeders, in exchange for free food. Various aspects of the animals' overall health are monitored, including weight, activity level, stool and urine, allergy sensitivities, and hair and skin conditions. The results are reviewed by certified nutritionists and veterinarians. | |
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| Which food is recommended for a dog with allergies and why? | Return to Top |
| We recommend the Lamb/Millet/Rice formula for dogs with allergies. It doesn't contain wheat, corn, or chemical preservatives, all of which are common causes of allergies. If you suspect that your dog is allergic to lamb or rice, we suggest that you try the Trout and Potatoes. It doesn't contain wheat, corn, or chemical preservatives - and also doesn't contain rice. Most importantly, Flint River Ranch food does not contain chemical preservatives and uses quality protein and carbohydrate sources, making it less likely for your pet to react to the food. You may find that simply changing your pet's protein and carbohydrate sources will alleviate allergic reactions. | |
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| Do you have samples? | Return to Top |
We have 3 types of sample packs. We're so anxious for your pet to try this exceptional food
that we offer these sample packs at 50% off of the cost to us.
We want to provide enough food to get a good sampling of each of our foods so we can't offer
the samples for free. Here are direct links to each:
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| Do you offer a canned food? | Return to Top |
| We don't offer a canned food. As an alternative for dogs, we carry the DryWater dog food; this food contains freeze-dried vegetables and other special ingredients and is mixed with warm water before serving to make a softer, moist meal, similar to the consistency of canned food. We don't carry a similar product for cats at this time. | |
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| Is there a distributor in my area? | Return to Top |
| Your Flint River Ranch pet food will always be shipped from the warehouse nearest you, so it's not necessary to find a distributor in your area; the product will ship from the same location regardless of where you order it. | |
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| What are Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids? | Return to Top |
| Omega-3 and Omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (antioxidants) are classed as essential fatty acids. These fatty acids were originally designated as "Vitamin F" until it was realized that they must be classified with the fats. Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids are found in certain fish tissues, and in vegetable sources such as flax seeds and canola oil, all of which are ingredients of all Flint River Ranch dog foods. | |
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| Is Flint River Ranch food available in retail stores? | Return to Top |
| One of the most important aspects of Flint River Ranch quality is our distribution system of moving the product from the manufacturer direct to the consumer: "Direct from the Oven to your Home." This is necessary in order to provide a "fresh" food product with premium nutrition and no chemical preservatives. This also minimizes the vitamin losses that occur when food sits on the shelf. This is one reason Flint River Ranch products are not available in grocery and warehouse stores. | |
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| What is the shelf life of Flint River Ranch pet food? | Return to Top |
| Flint River Ranch pet food has a shelf life of about 6 months, whether opened or not;
however, each bag has an expiration date on it, and, if stored properly, the food can be used until that
date, which is often longer than 6 months. For best results, the food should be stored in a cool, dry place.
We recommend keeping the food in the bag that it is shipped in; this ensures that no contamination will occur from another container that is not cleaned regularly or thoroughly. Also, storage in air-tight containers can cause the food to mold. After the bag is opened, the open end should be rolled up and held closed by a clip or some other means to help keep insects and other pests out. Refrigeration is not necessary, but may extend the shelf life, particularly if your situation is borderline: high humidity, with several months storage before the food is eaten. |
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| Why does my dog have loose stool or diarrhea? | Return to Top |
| Your pet may develop soft stool or diarrhea when introduced to a new diet so we recommend adding in Flint River Ranch gradually over 1-2 weeks. Another cause of loose stool is overfeeding; Flint River Ranch food is very concentrated and it’s difficult to realize how little is needed. Typically, you should feed 25% less than other foods. The feeding charts are a guideline, but the actual requirements can differ greatly depending on the pet. Watch your pet’s weight carefully and feed as little as necessary to maintain the correct body weight. It's hard not to yield to those begging eyes, but proper weight is extremely important to a dog's health. You are doing them a huge service by keeping them trim. Remember, dogs are bred-down wolves that don't even need to eat every day. Stool consistency can also be improved using home remedies such as low-fat yogurt, white rice (not instant), and slivered carrot pieces. Fresh, uncooked, green vegetables are an excellent source of enzymes that are necessary for digestion. Enzymes are proteins that speed up chemical reactions in the body (such as digestion). Some of our pets love to gnaw on raw bok choy stalk as they would chew bones. The additional fiber and digestive enzymes have shown to be very effective in producing an excellent stool consistency. As well as providing plant fiber and enzymes, green leafy vegetables contain antioxidants that support the immune system and help prevent cancer. They are healthy "treats" that dogs typically love and can have plenty of. If none of these suggestions help, it's possible that your dog is allergic to an ingredient in the food. Please click here for suggestions. | |
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| Do you offer a food specifically for puppies? | Return to Top |
| We don’t have a special “puppy” food with higher protein because our Kibble Puppy and Adult dog food has the proper balance of nutrients for dogs at all stages of life. High protein puppy foods can cause improper growth in a dog. Puppies may need more protein while they are growing, but they get this by simply eating more food. A balance of other nutrients needs to be there also while more protein is consumed. | |
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| Do you offer a food specifically for large dog breeds? | Return to Top |
| We have only a few varieties of dog food, not the large number marketed by the large name-brand dog food manufacturers. We believe that a dog food formulated with high-quality ingredients and the proper nutrient balance is best for all dogs, and that providing a lot of special formulations only confuses customers and makes no useful contribution to a dog's welfare. Our Puppy and Adult Kibble dog food is widely used for all breeds of dogs in all stages of life, because it provides the nutrient level and nutrient balance needed by active dogs. Our Nugget Puppy and Adult dog food variety is the same formulation but is baked in molds that make it a consistent shape and size, and it is generally preferred by larger dogs. Either of these foods is suitable for a large breed dog. | |
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| Why does your cat food contain corn? | Return to Top |
| Corn is a nutritionally superior grain compared with others used in pet foods because it contains a balance of nutrients not found in other grains. Corn provides a highly available source of complex carbohydrates and substantial quantities of linoleic acid, an essential omega-6 fatty acid important for healthy skin. Corn also provides essential amino acids and fiber. The corn germ is the inner part of the corn kernel that is the most nutrient-rich part of the grain kernel. It's rich in Omega 6 fatty acids, enzymes, protein, and B and E vitamins and minerals. Corn gluten is a protein concentrate that adds moderate levels of protein to the diet while keeping the percentage of magnesium low, which is commonly thought to help reduce the occurrence of urinary struvite crystals. | |
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| Why is fiber necessary? | Return to Top |
| Fiber is not considered an essential nutrient in the diets of cats and dogs, but its presence in pet food is often considered beneficial. There are several medical conditions that are greatly improved by the addition of fiber in the diet: obesity, diarrhea, constipation, or diabetes mellitus (in dogs), in addition to improved colon health. The function of fiber in the diet is to increase both bulk and water in the intestinal contents. Fiber will lengthen intestinal transit time in pets with fast transit times, and speed up the transit times in animals with slow transit times. What this means is that fiber will help treat both diarrhea and constipation. Fiber absorbs extra water in diarrheic stools, and it helps hold onto water, which prevents constipation. Some fiber is broken down in the intestine into fatty acids. These fatty acids will aid in preventing the overgrowth of harmful bacteria. They will also help the colon cells to recover from injury. | |
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