Smack Information
Smack is a Canadian pet food brand that was founded in 2008 and specializes in raw dehydrated food for dogs and cats.
Smack aims to be unique by using low-temperature air-drying methods to produce their dehydrated foods, and they believe this technique retains more nutrients compared to freeze-drying.
However, they aren’t the only player in this air-dried space, with other popular brands like Ziwi Peak and K9 Natural utilizing similar methodology.
Another trait we noticed on Smack’s website was their transparency regarding their in-house expertise.
The brand works with Serge Boutet, who is an agrologist expert in animal nutrition with over 35 years of experience.
Many other brands do not disclose which industry experts or researchers they work with to formulate their recipes which is a concern for many.
As well as being where the company is based, Smack’s recipes are also produced in Canada, although it is not clear where the facility that manufactures is.
In addition, Smack’s meat and fish ingredients are also sourced from within Canada rather than from abroad, which is an important trait for many.
Smack is available to purchase from select physical pet food stores across Canada and from their website.
You can utilize their Store Locator tool to find a store close to your location.
We also found that smack is seen on some larger pet food websites, such as Homes Alive Pets and Canadian Pet Connection, but the sale of the recipes is inconsistent.
Smack Product Range
Dog Food
Smack has a small range of raw dehydrated dog food recipes. This range includes five unique recipes that use a variety of meat and fish ingredients.
However, Smack does not produce any traditional dry dog food (kibble) or wet/canned dog food, and we do not believe they have any plans to do so in the future.
Cat Food
Smack’s cat food range is similar to its dog food range in that it is entirely raw dehydrated food. However, the range is slightly smaller and only has three unique recipes compared to the five available for dogs.
Once again, Smack does not produce any dry cat food or wet/canned cat food.
Smack Nutrition
Dog Food
The nutrition offered by Smack dehydrated dog food recipes is significantly above average when compared to traditional dog food recipes.
This nutritional profile consists of significantly above-average proportions of protein and fat and a modest proportion of carbohydrates.
This nutritional balance would be suitable for the vast majority of dogs, including those that are more active.
If you want to learn more about canine nutrition, we highly recommend you read out Dog Food Guide for a detailed discussion and overview.
Cat Food
The nutrition offered by Smack dehydrated cat food is similar to the dog food range and is significantly above average.
This significantly above-average nutrition consists of extremely high proportions of protein and fat and a small proportion of carbohydrates.
It is crucial that cats consume a small portion of plant-based material as they are obligate carnivores and do not excel on a plant-based diet.
If you’d like to understand more about feline nutrition and what it means to be an Obligate Carnivore, check out our Cat Food Guide.
Smack Ingredients
High-Quality Meat & Fish Ingredients
- Chicken
- Pork
- Salmon
- Herring
- Rockfish
Smack uses a small range of meat and fish ingredients in its recipes. All of these ingredients are high-quality additions and can provide protein and fat, which should be at the center of every dog and cat’s diet.
Smack does not use any meat or fish ingredients that could be considered exotic. Examples of these include Venison, Rabbit, and Kangaroo.
Ingredients such as these are often used in dog food for those dogs with allergies or sensitivities. You can learn more about this in our Best Hypoallergenic Dog Foods Guide.
Smack makes extensive use of Organ Meat in their recipes. Examples of this include the Heart, Liver, and Kidney.
These organ meats are excellent additions and can enhance the flavor and taste of the recipe as well as provide vitamins and minerals that traditional meat cuts lack.
You can learn more about the use of Organ Meat in dog food recipes in our article Organ Meat Ingredients In Pet Food.
Other Notable Ingredients
Millet is found in some Smack recipes. Millet is a seed and is very similar to better-known grain ingredients.
Millet has seen increasing popularity in dog food in the last few years but has been used by brands like Nature’s Logic for an extended period of time. Read more about Millet in Millet In Dog Food.
Pumpkin is best known for its high fiber content and digestive qualities, but that isn’t the only benefit it can provide.
It is also a reasonable source of carbohydrates and can provide beneficial vitamins and minerals like Beta Carotine.
You can learn more about Pumpkin and some of the best Pumpkin recipes in our article Best Dog Food With Pumpkin.
Coconut Flour and Coconut are both included in select Smack recipes. Coconut ingredients are exceedingly uncommon in dog food, although it is not clear why.
Despite this, Smack is choosing to utilize these ingredients to provide some carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Smack Animal Testing
At this time, we have no information on what type of animal testing, if any, that Smack participates in.
Many smaller pet food brands do not openly disclose their testing or trial methods as they fear backlash from their customer base.
We strongly believe that laboratory and invasive testing of animals is a cruel and outdated practice and one which should be eliminated.
Smack Recalls
Based on our research (FDA, AVMA, DogFoodAdvisor), Smack has not issued any recalls in the past, which makes it a is a recall-free pet food brand.
While Smack may be a relatively small and young brand compared to industry giants, this record is still impressive and proves that they take their safety and quality processes seriously.
These safety and quality processes are especially important when producing raw food, like Smack does, as there are more risks.
Despite this, we always suggest that pet owners remain vigilant of any future recalls of Smack or any other pet food brand to ensure their pets remain healthy and safe.
Best of Smack
Prairie Harvest Pork Review
The above recipe contains a mix of plant-based ingredients such as Pumpkin, Kale, Apple, and more. These fruit and vegetable ingredients are welcome additions and are present in modest quantities.
As we mentioned earlier, Pumpkin can be an important addition to some dog’s diets who struggle to maintain regular digestion as it is an extremely reliable and dense source of fiber.
As the name gives away, Pork is the recipe’s primary meat ingredient. However, this recipe also uses organ meat such as Heart, Liver, and Kidney.
These Pork organ meat ingredients will be sure to improve the taste of the food as well as provide vitamins and minerals that traditional meat cuts lack.
Pacific Fish Feast Review
Smack Featured Articles
Smack Full Product Range
Dog Food
Prairie Harvest Pork
Very Berry Chicken
Caribbean-Salmon Fusion
Rockin’ Rockfish
Chunky Chicken
Cat Food
Purrfect Pork
Pacific Fish Feast
Very Berry For Cats
I just orders the variety pack and am looking forward to seeing if my felines like it… three cats, three challenging appetite. My sphynx has many skin issues from commercially produced foods 13 years old, and hoping yours is a good fix. Will keep you updated.