FirstMate's Pacific Ocean Fish Original uses a combination of wild caught herring, anchovies, and sardines. This limited ingredient diet is great for dogs with allergies and diet restrictions. Fewer ingredients makes this formula easy on digestion.
The chicken fat used in FirstMate Pet Foods is processed free of protein, eliminating the risk of allergies derived from chicken.
Family Owned & Operated Since 1989
Complete production control
Grain & Pea Free
Wild Caught Herring, Anchovy & Sardines
Veterinarian Formulated
Katie, Joe and Gizmo –
My little dachshund havanese mix has the most sensitive stomach, the itching and scratching on this 12 lb dog could wake the neighborhood. His paws were red, and his stool constantly loose. We tried 3 different brands of limited ingredient dog foods, and numerous proteins in each one. FirstMate Pacific Ocean Fish meal small bites is the only food that settles his stomach. His paw pads are back to the lovely cream color, the itching has stopped, and he uses the bathroom a solid 2-3 times a day instead of 4-5. We can feed less with this food as well. Thanks you FirstMate!
Tim –
Great food for my dogs. Remi likes it with a little broth.
Anja –
This has been an amazing food and blessing for my dogs! Instead of needing to feed a 100lb dog 6-10 cups a day I’m able to save money and feed allot allot less and help save her organs! It’s nutrient dense and not full of pea or potato protein!
Thank you!
Janet Oppedal –
the pacific Ocean Is the only thing My IBS girl can have..
I wish I could put her photo here.
She is a multi Ch Doberman.
Nicole –
My 35lb chow chow terrier mix girl was always sensitive until we switched over to FirstMate. Smaller and solid poops, less feeding, and a happier more energetic dog has blessed our home. Love this limited ingredient Pacific Ocean fish food!
Beth –
Our first English Lab had many allergies and I tried several foods until I found FirstMate. She would get ear infections and staff infections in her paws and arm pits, but when we changed to First Mate that went away. We have our second English Lab and she was started as a puppy on First Mate and has no problems! She has so much energy and I love that I don’t have to feed her much and she is the perfect weight!
Heather Lang –
The only product that my 9 year old Golden has ever had!
Nancy Lee Westrell –
My older Aussie was developing kidney disease, which was arrested when we switched him to First Mate Whitefish. He also appreciated the smaller bite option. My Vet and I argued every few months because she wanted him on a “prescription” diet. He made it to 16 years, and it was not the kidney disease which ended his life. So I’m feeding it to my 11-year-old girl now, and expect it will prevent her from getting kidney disease. The lower protein and phosphorus content is the trick!
Hank the English mastiff x American bulldog –
My English mastiff x American bulldog love this food very good transition from nutro lamb brown rice
Penny sc –
My Rhodesian Ridgeback actually LETS me trim her nails while munching on these pieces of First Mate. NO OTHER treats have worked!
Terry and Hunter from Florida –
My Lab puppy just had surgery and she won’t eat her regular food or most of the many brands of treats we have on hand. But when I gave her the FirstMate cookies, she couldn’t get enough of them. Thank you FirstMate for creating such a healthy brand; we’ll be switching to your dog food also.
Jody Sheridan –
I’ve been feeding my 14 yr old Australian Cattle Dog the White Fish and Potato for 8 yrs, following a near fatal allergic reaction to her previous food. She continues to be a healthy, happy and energetic geriatric dog. Her stools are solid and her lab work continues to be within normal limits for her age. I add additional protein to help with muscle mass, otherwise the formula is great for my gluten sensitive and colitis prone companion.
Thank you Firstmate, for my healthy geriatric retired Cattle Dog.
Cal Gary –
Terrible food. My dog became incredibly thirsty, drank lots of water and peed in the house. I got her back on her previous food and all was resolved.
firstmate_admin –
Hello Cal,
We are sorry to hear about your challenges in transitioning to our Pacific Ocean Fish Meal Original Formula. We appreciate your feedback.
Increased thirst and urination are not uncommon when first transitioning to our formulas. This is a result of the higher density of our products. FirstMate formulas are very nutritionally dense and as a result it easy for even the most experienced pet owner to initially overfeed our products. When any food is overfed, more water is consumed to aid in digestion, leading to the observation of increased urination frequency and volume.
Don’t hesitate to email me directly if there are further questions or concerns I can address for you.
Sincerely,
Wendy Vandersteen, PhD
Manager of Research and Development
Anya –
My 1 year old lab has a very sensitive stomach and we changed her to this food. At first it worked wonders and cleared up her loose stool, but over a few months she began to have bladder leaking issues. I took her to the vet who found nothing. Then my second 2 year old lab one day while standing in the kitchen lost control and her bladder literally emptied spontaneously. This had never happened before. I looked up their new food and found the previous review. I changed the food (same protein different brand) and the incontinence stopped for the pup. I kept the older on the food to use it up, but then she had a second major bladder release in the kitchen, so I’ve now thrown the food out ($$$!) This food seems to cause a diuretic effect in my dogs. I think there’s something in it causing this.
Jan –
I have not bought this product, I was looking for something that was Canadian made and I was told about this product. I was excited when I read that this was a single protein dog food as my dog is allergic to chicken. I’m glad I never purchased this product as read I read the list of ingredients it truly was not a single protein dog food. False advertising, so I will not purchase this food.
FirstMate –
Hello Jan,
Thank you for sharing your comment on our website.
It appears that you may have misinterpreted some of the language used to market our products.
Our Pacific Ocean Fish Original uses wild-caught herring, anchovies and sardines as the primary source of protein.
Our chicken fat is produced using a centrifuge to separate the chicken fat from the chicken protein. When an animal has a food allergy, the allergen(s) that they are reacting to is almost exclusively the protein in that ingredient. Our Chicken Fat is protein-free and therefore, should not cause a food-related allergy.
We use chicken fat in all of our dry formulas as it is far more digestible than most other fat sources commonly used in pet products such as canola oil or sunflower oil, which are derived from a vegetable base.
That being said, if your pet’s chicken allergies are severe, we would recommend caution in feeding any of our diets, which all contain chicken fat.
We hope this information is helpful in making your decision and encourage any additional questions.
– FM
Kim Patterson –
I was just gifted a bag of this food. My male dog, who scarfs down anything, took his time eating it. My female dog wouldn’t have anything to do with it. Once I cut the extremely hard pieces in half (NOT fun nor easy), she ate it. I might wind up giving the rest of the bag away as I’m not going to cut 28 pounds of kibble in half.
Danielle –
I was searching for a low protein, 18% was perfect for my senior 15 years old Jack russell as I saw SENIOR written on the bag, but all the purines contained in the sardine will ruined the kidney, I need to be cautious… I opted for the chicken with more protein, but will see, it’s for a complement because I am starting to cook meals to save the kidney. I am putting 3 stars because I do not know yet, I had to put a rating.
Phil –
I was looking at switching brands for my 1-year-old Husky/Sheppard. She was eating a brand that was of the corn and wheat ‘science diet’ variety – which she didn’t enjoy and was very expensive. After doing a ton of research, I came across this product which was more economical, with better quality ingredients and most of all, made here in Canada.
My dog LOVE’s this food! Not only does she love it, but she also digests it well (good poops!) and her coat has never looked better!
Her (little) older ‘brother’ – our four -year- old mini schnauzer – always tries to sneak her kibble.
I’m so glad that I came across this product and I will be transitioning our mini schnauzer to this product as well.