Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, we do. Our Vice President of Nutrition and Procurement is one of 12 nutritionists currently holding a Professional Animal Scientist certification in Companion Animal from the American Registry of Professional Animal Sciences (ARPAS). We also work with third-party nutritionists to validate our work, consult with us on research, and engage in open discussions about how to make sure our products continue to meet our high standards. We are highly rooted in science and continue to use the most proven, trusted ingredients available.

Read the label! High quality ingredients are essential for a healthy food. The first ingredient should always be a meat or fish protein. Whole meats, whole grains, and natural preservatives are key components of the healthiest pet food. Pay attention to the protein ratio. A pet food with 20-30% protein is ideal. The bag should also be dated for freshness. Every bag of Nature's Select pet food has a "best buy" date stamped onto the back of the bag. It is recommended that the bag is used before that date; however, the food is perfectly safe to feed to your pets after that date, it just loses some potency after that date. It's important to remember that a "best buy" date is not the same as an "expiration date".

All Nature's Select formulas are free from corn, wheat, soy, gluten, and any other processed grain by-products. We have NEVER been challenged on nutrition! At Nature's Select, we have kept our formulas current with the latest nutritional advancements to maintain a high level of nutrition. All Nature's Select formulas are formulated to meet or exceed the nutritional levels established by AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles.

Always read the label. Avoid inexpensive, less nutritional ingredients and fillers. Corn, wheat, soy, and animal by-products are fillers that lack the nutrition your pets need.

Meat by-products consist of organs and parts not desired for consumption. They can include bones, blood, intestines, lungs, heads, feet, and feathers. We think it’s important to use specific ingredients such as chicken meal or brown rice. That way, you always know exactly what you are getting. When brands use ingredients such as poultry by-products, the ingredients can change from bag to bag. You may get chicken in one bag and turkey in the next.

Changing ingredients suddenly can cause digestive upset. Most fillers can be linked to excessive waste, poor nutritional absorption, and skin problems like excessive scratching and hair loss.

Also make sure there are no chemical preservatives such as BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole), BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), or ethoxyquin. These preservatives are potentially cancer-causing agents. The long-term buildups of these chemicals in your pet’s body have not been thoroughly studied and may ultimately be harmful.

When switching your pet to Nature’s Select food or from one Nature’s Select formula to another, we always recommend a gradual transition. Normal bacteria in the intestine help your pet digest food. A sudden change in diet can result in changes to the number and type of bacteria and their ability to digest food, which can lead to intestinal upset. Therefore, a gradual transition helps your pet’s digestive system adjust to a new food without causing loose stool or an upset tummy.

We recommend a transition over a period of 7-10 days. Start with a mixture of 25% new food and 75% old food for 2-3 days. Then switch to a 50/50 blend for another 2-3 days. If the transition is going well, move to 75% new food and 25% old food for another 2-3 days until you are 100% on the new food.

If at any time your dog starts to vomit, has loose stool, or appears constipated, slow the rate at which you are switching food.

In general, puppies need to have more scheduled feeding times per day than an adult dog. This is because a puppy’s body is in growth mode, and needs a constant supply of nutrients in order to be healthy. Most puppies will benefit from a diet that has their daily food portion divided into three feedings per day. New puppies, in general, do not eat a lot during their first few days in a new home. This is normal. Once they settle in they will start to eat again.

Store your pet food in a cool, dry place. Any dry kibble pet food product is guaranteed fresh for up to a year or 12 months if properly stored away from heat and moisture. We recommend putting your pet food in a sealed container for best results.

We have always been direct to consumer since we started this business back in 1994. You will not find our products in big box retailers, grocery stores, or big pet store chains. Why? Because our pet food is not made with harsh chemical preservatives, additives, or fillers, and in turn is not meant to sit on a shelf for months and months or in a warehouse for long periods of time. Our goal is to get our pet food from our manufacturer in Texas - where it is made fresh bi-monthly - to our Nature's Select Distributors within 4 weeks or less, to make sure that by the time it gets to your door and in your pet's food bowl it is as fresh as possible! Some of our NS Distributors have started to partner with local, small mom & pop pet stores, pet groomers, doggie daycares, and pet hotels. You can find a complete list of where our pet food is sold by visiting our Shop Local Page.

While we cannot accept returns of opened bags of pet food, we do have a few suggestions. Sometimes our pets stop eating a recipe for any given reason, your pet passes away, or you just have extra your pet will not eat. We always recommend donating the pet food to a local animal shelter if possible (they always need donated food!) BUT if that's not feasible for you, you are welcome to donate it to a friend, family member, or neighbor.

The quality of our ingredients is extremely important to us. We source our ingredients from valued and trusted suppliers who are dedicated to providing the very highest-quality ingredients available on the market today. The majority of our ingredients are locally sourced in the state of Texas. We are one of only a few pet food manufacturers that uses the amino acid complex minerals from Zinpro Corporation, which has the research to prove its minerals are better absorbed and provide a well-documented response when being fed. Many of the big-name brands still use predominantly inorganic forms of trace minerals or less bioavailable forms of organic trace minerals.

We are GMO-free except in the formulas that contain rice. The following products are GMO-free: Select Multi Protein Recipe (Beef, Chicken, Pork), Select Cold Water Recipe (Menhaden Fish), and our Grain Free Products (Farm Fresh Recipe, Coastline Catch Recipe, Range Hearty Recipe); all other Nature's Select Products are not GMO-free. However, we do have a complex diversity of ingredients in our products and in such ratios, that the GMO aspect is really very small. As for Nature's Select, we have been and will be prudent in using the finest and safest ingredients from the best sources we have available.

Although it is a quality ingredient, chicken is about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight. Ingredients on a pet food label are listed in descending order by weight. When you see chicken as the first ingredient in pet food, this is before it’s cooked. Once cooked, the percentage of chicken in the formula is much lower due to the loss of moisture. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken. Chicken meal does not contain by-products such as beaks, feathers, or feet.

Our meals are considered a meat concentrate that contain nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken, lamb, beef, or salmon. They do NOT include bone or internal organs.

You can find our feeding instructions in two places. Our feeding instructions are located on the back of every bag of kibble as well as on our website where feeding guidelines for each of our formulas are listed. A feeding guideline is found on the back of all of our dog food bags. An example is shown below for reference.

Dog Weight & Active Dog Recommended Serving:

10lbs+ = 1/2 - 1 1/2 Cups
25lbs+ = 1 1/2 - 2 1/4 Cups
50lbs+ = 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 Cups
100lbs+ = 3 1/4 - 4 1/2 Cups
125lbs+ = 5 - 7 Cups

Let's keep in mind that this is the suggested feeding amount for an active adult dog. The serving size may increase or decrease a bit depending on your dog's physical activity and age. If you are looking to promote weight loss, go with the lesser recommended amount according to weight. If you are looking to increase weight, go with the greater recommended amount.

We are proud to produce all of our Nature’s Select dry kibble foods in our Texas-based manufacturing facility. All Nature’s Select products are MADE IN THE USA and have USA sourced ingredients with the exception of our lamb and green mussels which are sourced from New Zealand. All of our formulas exceed AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) standards.

"USA Made" refers to our product being made here in the United States. "USA Safe" refers to the USA approval of processing for our New Zealand Lamb recipe which has lamb that is sourced from New Zealand. All Nature's Select Recipes are made in the great state of Texas!

Our internal Nutrition Team works diligently with third-party nutritionists to formulate the diets, design new products, handle product registrations and ensure compliance with regulations.

Nature’s Select was started by Paul and Diana Cavanaugh in Orange County, CA in 1994. They began with a simple idea… to deliver all-natural pet food to your door, using the freshest and finest ingredients at prices that fit your budget. What started as a small, family-owned business has grown to evolve over time to reach more pet lovers across the country and allow us to help as many pets as possible through quality pet food and personalized service!

Our Nature's Select poly-bags are BPA Free and #7 classification for recycling; Most neighborhood areas are starting to accept these but it is dependent on where you live. Otherwise, these need to be recycled through a commercial composting facility. Our bag company is currently working on a new resin that will soon make our bags completely recyclable across the board. Most major shopping stores have recycle bins available for our poly-bags and are a certified drop-off area.

Our goal is to consistently exceed our customers’ expectations and our success is dependent on your happiness. If, for any reason, you’re not satisfied with our products and home delivery service, then we’re not satisfied. If one of our products isn’t working for your pet, we’d be happy to exchange it for another formula or product. NOTE: Your Local Refund policies depend upon your local Nature’s Select Distributor’s discretion. Not sure what your local distributor's policy is? Not sure how to contact them? Check out our "Shop Local" page or please contact our corporate office so we can redirect you, find the information below:

Visit our Store Locator Page Call us weekdays 7am-4pm PST: 330-416-6432 Email us by sending an email to order@naturesselectneohio.com

Of course, we have always abided by "Satisfaction Guaranteed" since our early days as Paul's Pet Food Delivery Express. We want to do our best to make sure that YOU and your pet are happy! For special situations and scenarios, we will handle returns and/or refunds on a case by case basis, including:

If your pet dies after you placed an order/received the orderIf your pet stops eating or liking the food and you let us know right awayIf your item(s) are damaged, missing, or incorrect

Please keep in mind that if you purchased from a local Nature's Select Distributor, you will need to contact them directly to handle any exchange requests, refund requests, or return requests.

Food safety is our priority. Our ingredients are tested both internally and externally to ensure they meet our high standards of quality. We also extensively test our finished products to ensure the health and safety of the pets eating our products.

We are proud to say that our Texas-based pet food manufacturer has earned the SQF Code for Manufacturing 8.0, the SQF Quality Code 8.0, and the FSC 36 Safe Feed/Safe Food in 2018. In addition, all our recipes are formulated to meet AAFCO regulations. We constantly analyze both raw materials and finished diets to validate AAFCO standards.

Since our product is made fresh bi-monthly, we ensure a fresh bag upon every delivery. Our pet food has a shelf life of up to 1 year when kept in an air tight container or bag not exposed to direct moisture or heat.

Our food never sits on our shelves for long. We get our shipments in every two weeks. We use only natural preservatives which is why our shelf life is about 11-12 months based on delivery. Store bought food usually lasts up to 2 years because it contains chemical preservatives. We do not have any chemical preservatives in our Nature's Select Pet Food.

Yes. Our VP of Regulatory Affairs and Quality for Nature’s Select Pet Food is one of the leading food safety experts in the United States. He, along with everyone in our company, works hard to ensure the safety of our products every day.

Our Texas-based Manufacturer has earned the SQF Code for Manufacturing 8.0, the SQF Quality Code 8.0, and the FSC 36 Safe Feed/Safe Food in 2018. In addition, all our recipes are formulated to meet AAFCO regulations. We constantly analyze both raw materials and finished diets to validate AAFCO standards.

Nature's Select Subscriptions is designed to offer the convenience of pet food being delivered to your door on a recurring basis. You never need to worry about running out of pet food (or treats) ever again!

With that said, we have always offered an "auto-ship" program for our long-time loyal customers, but never had the ability to offer an incentive until Spring 2020! We are happy to announce that EVERY Nature's Select Subscription item allows you to save 5% on every purchase. Save money, gain convenience, and have the ability to adjust your delivery schedule at any time. Learn more about our Subscriptions here.

Yes! That's the beauty of Nature's Select Subscriptions. You can skip an upcoming order in advance, or cancel a subscription at any given time with no long-term contracts or hidden fees. Plus, we send you friendly reminders of upcoming Subscription charges/shipments so that way you have plenty of time to make changes or pause a subscription if you don't need more pet food, if you're heading out of town, etc.

Make changes to your Nature's Select Subscriptions at anytime by logging into your customer account portal. Don't have an account, yet? Create one here!

If you need further help, feel free to contact our team directly by sending an email to order@naturesselectneohio.com or give us a call directly to speak with a live pet care advisor: 330-416-6432

Absolutely! Effortlessly manage what you receive, when it arrives, and the way you pay. Login to your Nature's Select Customer Account at any time to increase or decrease your deliveries. "Pause" your subscription orders for any reason, whether you are going on vacation, your pet has started eating less, or because you just want to take a break from subscriptions...life happens so we totally understand! Flexible delivery dates makes it doggone easy!

If you are a Nature's Select Subscription Member, you are agreeing to recurring orders being shipped on a recurring basis and your card being charged accordingly. It is your responsibility to edit, skip, or cancel your subscription BEFORE an order ships out if you do not want or need Nature’s Select subscription items. Otherwise, you will be responsible for any associated restocking or shipping fees associated with returning the subscription order, and refunds will be handled on a case by case basis.

Of course, if it's a situation where your pet passes away by the time your order ships, we completely understand the delicate situation and will work with you to issue a refund and return accordingly.

If you need direct assistance, please call us 330-416-6432 so we can speak with you directly.

Since the beginning, Nature’s Select Pet Food has always offered FREE home delivery for orders that have at least a $35.00 minimum. Free home delivery is a convenience we offer to our customers for regular local shipping, which will typically take between 1-5 business days to arrive to you from the time it is shipped from our warehouse locations. If you reside outside of our “local” territory and wish to receive your order sooner than our typical shipping time, then it will be your responsibility for paying for faster shipping than what our “free shipping” can guarantee.

If your order is under our $35.00 Free Shipping minimum, then you will be charged a standard shipping fee.

If you have further questions about our shipping or delivery processes, please send us an email at order@naturesselectneohio.com

Our return policy lasts 30 days. If 30 days have gone by since your last purchase, unfortunately we cannot offer you a refund or exchange. To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it (Sealed Bag, Unopened). It must also be in the original packaging/shipping box if possible. To complete your return, we require a receipt or proof of purchase - no exceptions. Please do not send your purchase back to the manufacturer if opened!

Examples of non-returnable items:

- Gift cards

There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable):

- Missing items in an order

- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error

- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery

To return your unopened, non-damaged pet food product, you should mail your product to Nature's Select NE Ohio

415 Brenelle Lane

Medina, Ohio 44256.

You will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.

Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary based on your exact location.

If the item was marked as a gift when purchased and shipped directly to you, you’ll receive a gift credit for the value of your return. Once the returned item is received, a gift certificate will be mailed to you.

If the item wasn’t marked as a gift when purchased, or the gift giver had the order shipped to themselves to give to you later, we will send a refund to the gift giver and he will find out about your return.

Once your return is received and inspected, we will send you an email to notify you that we have received your returned item. We will also notify you of the approval or rejection of your refund.

If you are approved, then your refund will be processed, and a credit will automatically be applied to your credit card or original method of payment, within a certain amount of days (7-10 business days if not sooner).

If you would prefer a return in store credit to shop at Nature’s Select Pet Food, that can be arranged as an alternative method. If a refund window is past the 30-day mark from date of original purchase, then we can ONLY offer store credit as a way of offering a return amount, no exceptions.

Only regular priced items may be refunded, unfortunately sale items cannot be refunded.

Refunds (if applicable)

Of course, we have always abided by "Satisfaction Guaranteed" since our early days as Paul's Pet Food Delivery Express. We want to do our best to make sure that YOU and your pet are happy! For special situations and scenarios, we will handle returns and/or refunds on a case by case basis, including:

If your pet dies after you placed an order/received the orderIf your pet stops eating or liking the food and you let us know right awayIf your item(s) are damaged, missing, or incorrect

In some of the special cases above, please contact us so we can rectify the issue accordingly. Please call us weekdays 7am-4pm PST 330-416-6432 to speak with a live representative. If we are unavailable, please leave us a message and be sure to include your name, phone number, and order number. You are also welcome to send an email to order@naturesselectneohio.com

If you haven’t received a refund yet, first check your bank account again. Then contact your credit card company, it may take some time before your refund is officially posted. Next contact your bank. There is often some processing time before a refund is posted.

If you’ve done all of the above and you still have not received your refund yet, please contact us at order@naturesselectneohio.com

We only replace items if they are defective or damaged due to shipping error or our warehouse/manufacturer error. Examples would include a ripped or opened bag, damage to the original seal, a hole in the bag, spilled pet food, etc.

If your bag of Nature's Select Dry Food (dry dog kibble and dry cat kibble) looks or smells off to you, please take a photo of the outside of the bag, the inside of the bag with kibble in sight, and note the "best by" date on the top of the back panel, and be sure to include all information and send to our team so we can get a replacement sent out to you accordingly. We guarantee freshness, always!

If you need to exchange for the same item, send us an email at order@naturesselectneohio.com

First of all, we are so sorry to hear about the passing of your beloved pet. It's never easy losing our furry family members - and our thoughts & prayers are with you during this difficult time. We will always work with you about returning an unopened bag of pet food, or offering a full refund if it's been within 30 days of purchase. Past that timeframe, we are more than happy to offer full store-credit that never expires for the item purchased for you to use at a future date when you are ready to buy more pet food when the time is right for you.