1^st Choice

The 1^st Choice brand consists of a new generation of great tasting Super Premium dog and cat food that helps your pet stay as healthy as possible. 1^st Choice Super Premium guarantees that our dog and cat food meets the nutritional needs of your pet - now more than ever!

Our pet food formulas contain specially selected vitamins and minerals that reduce the risk of chronic or metabolic diseases by strengthening your pet's immune system.

See the information sheets for each product

The 1^st Choice brand meets very strict quality criteria. The nutritional value of these products respect the standards set out by the AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials).

The new range of 1^st Choice products guarantees that now, more than ever, your pet's food will satisfy its dietary needs.

The pet food formulas contain specially selected vitamins and minerals that reduce the risk of chronic or metabolic diseases by strengthening the animal's immune system.

Zinc


• Cofactor ensuring the proper functioning of a natural antioxidant enzyme present in the body.
  
• Contributes to maintaining humoral immunity since zinc is necessary for immunoglobulin production.
  
• Promotes the formation of keratine and helps prevents pathogens from entering the body through the skin. Plays an important role in wound healing.
  
  Antioxydants
  
  
• Vitamin C: helps prevent cancer by neutralizing carcinogenic nitrosamines, it uses formed free radicals to regenerate Vitamin E, and helps in wound healing.
  
• Vitamin E: promotes healing, reduces the effects of aging and protects immune cells from oxidation.
  
• Beta carotene: It is a Vitamin A precursor, which aids maintaining tissue integrity. It also helps protect your pet from coronary disease (arteriosclerosis), increases immune cell response and helps prevent cancer by inhibiting carcinogenic activation. Promotes good nightvision.
  
• Organic selenium: acts as an antioxidant at the cellular level, helps strengthen the immune system and helps reduce the incidence of cancer.
  
  Glucosamine and chondroitin
  
  
• Work together to fight osteoarthritis and reduce pain caused by deteriorating cartilage, and prevent any new joint lesions.

All PLB cat food formulas are designed to maintain a slightly acidic urinary pH to reduce the formation of urinary calculi.

Antioxidants neutralize free radicals (FR). Free radicals are considered harmful because they attack and damage healthy cells, which, in turn, can lead to the onset of disease. Antioxidants attach themselves to free radicals, thus preventing them from causing cellular damage. Only certain compounds are said to be natural antioxidants.

1^st Choice Super Premium pet foods contain 3 antioxidant vitamins: Vitamin C, Vitamin E and beta carotene (a Vitamin A precursor). It also has two supplements: organic zinc, a component needed by your pet's system to make an antioxidant enzyme, and organic selenium, one of the components of an antioxidant enzyme that serves as a complement to Vitamin E.

The high-fibre content of 1^st Choice Super Premium formulas, mainly derived from beet pulp and tomato pomace, is normally sufficient to ensure your animal will have fewer and firmer stools. Fibre helps bolus move more easily through the digestive tract.

Furthermore, 1^st Choice Super Premium includes mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS) to prevent pathogenic bacteria from growing in your pet's intestines, as well as improve digestibility and stool quality. Yucca schidigera is added to reduce stool and urine odour.

Intestinal gas can accumulate in 5 ways:

1. Swallowed air;
2. Gas being transferred from the blood into the intestines;
3. Acid-base neutralization reactions that produce carbon dioxide;
4. Bacterial fermentation of nutrients in the digestive tract, which produces hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide.
5. Protein putrefaction, that generates nitrogenous gases.

How to treat flatulence


1. Control aerophagia by feeding your dog at least twice a day to prevent him from swallowing too much air and get your pet used to eating a smaller quantity of food at a time. Place your dog's food in a quiet area, where your pet will not feel it is competing with other animals when eating. Doing so will also allow your dog to enjoy the health benefits of eating more slowly.
2. Avoid foods rich in fibre and those containing soy or wheat germ. Do not give your dog vegetables with lots of seasonings, vitamin or mineral supplements, milk, foods with a high sulphur content or protein-rich foods.
3. Give your dog easily digestible food.

If following these tips does not give the desired results, it is possible your dog is suffering from fat malabsorption (and possibly carbohydrates and protein are being poorly absorbed into your pet's system as well). You should consult a veterinarian.

1^st Choice Super Premium products are easily digestible, soy-free and contain adequate fibre. As these products are very tasty, some dogs may have a tendency to bolt their food, thus swallowing too much air when they eat. To remedy this situation, we recommend modifying your animal's behaviour so it gets used to eating more slowly.

The 1^st Choice Super Premium- Weight Control formula is not a maintenance food because it was designed to help animals lose weight. Consequently, its nutritional profile differs from that of a maintenance food. The Weight Control formula is only meant to be given to your pet during a 3-month period.

The 1^st Choice Super Premium, Less active and senior, Chicken formula will not cause your pet to gain weight if you give him the serving size indicated on the package. In addition to this, the high fibre content of the fat-reduced formula gives a feeling of fullness, which means your cat will eat less.

You may give your cat the 1^st Choice - Hypoallergenic- Duck Formula every day because it is a maintenance product. However, it was designed for cats allergic to chicken or lamb-based pet food.

You should ask yourself the following questions when evaluating dog or cat food:

• Does it say on the package that the food is complete and balanced? This means that the food contains sufficient quantities of the nutrients required to meet the needs of your pet according to its physical condition, as well as the pet food standards established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials / AAFCO).
  
• Does the food taste good? Taste is a very important criterion since it will have an influence on the amount of food eaten. A pet food may be complete and balanced, but if it tastes bad, a dog or cat will not be able to eat enough of it to satisfy its dietary needs.
  
• How digestible is it? Digestibility is an important criterion as it indicates the amount of nutrients that may be absorbed by the body. High-quality food is more easily digestible than its cheaper counterpart because it contains more digestible animal protein, while cheaper food contains many ingredients a dog or cat's system may not be able to digest as readily. Consequently, you must feed your pet larger quantities of less digestible food in order for it to satisfy your pet's dietary needs. This could lead to your animal eating more and defecating more frequently.
  
• How much metabolizable energy does the food contain? The energy density of 1^st Choice Super Premium foods is indicated on each bag and is given in Kcal / 100 g of food. Sedentary dogs and cats should be given calorie-reduced diets to avoid weight gain, while very active animals (ex.: sled dogs) need food with high energy density.

In the interests of promoting your pet's health, it is recommended you choose a formula that meets your pet's specific needs, based on the following criteria :

• Age: puppy or kitten, adult or senior
  
• Size: small, medium or large (dog breeds)
  
• Physical condition: growing, maintenance, overweight, pet with allergies, working dog, pregnant cat, cat with a tendency to get hairballs, etc.

Our company, located in Quebec, Canada, is focused on quality. Our state-of-the-art facilities and equipment rival those of the most modern plants in the industry. Our control protocols are strictly followed, as our factory is under a HACCP certification. Our laboratory verifies the quality of our products at every stage of the manufacturing process, from the arrival of the raw materials at the plant to the finished product. Our formulas are constantly reviewed to improve their performance. Our team of nutritionists and extrusion technicians work closely together to prepare superior quality mixtures that taste great.

The size of the chunks must be adapted to the size of the animal's mouth; this is the first characteristic differentiating these products. A chunk that is too small may be swallowed whole, which may cause digestive problems. On the other hand, your pet may choke on a chunk that is too large, or even refuse to eat such a product.

The growth of larger breeds of dogs must be controlled to prevent skeletal anomalies. This involves reducing the amount of fat in the food and ensuring the animals get enough minerals (calcium and phosphorus) in their diets.

Food for large breeds are often enriched with glucosamine and chondroitin sulphates. These substances, natually present in the dog's body, help prevent joint damage and pain.

Small dog breeds have small stomachs, so their food must have a higher nutrient density (proteins, carbohydrates and fats) to ensure they get all of the nutrients they need from the food they eat.

1. Light Formula

According to the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), a light adult dog food may not contain more than 3100 kcal of metabolizable energy per kg of food (3 450 kcal per kg on dry matter basis [DMB]. DMB is an expression used for distinguishing food from which all moisture has been extracted). A light adult cat food must not contain more than 3250 kcal / kg of food (3 600 kcal / kg on DMB).

2. Fat-reduced Formula

According to the CMVA, a fat-reduced formula for adult dogs may not contain more than 9% fat on DMB. A similar food for adult cats may not contain more than 10% fat on DMB.

3. Calorie-reduced Formula

According to the CMVA, a calorie-reduced formula must contain 25% less calories than a comparable product from the same product line (often the maintenance formula), and it shouldn't exceeds 2 750 kcal/kg of dog food (3 050 kcal / kg on DMB), or 2 850 kcal/kg in the case of cat food (3 175 kcal / kg on DMB). The percentage of the reduced number of calories and the name of the product to which the calorie-reduced formula is being compared must be indicated on the label.

Adult dog food does not meet a puppy's dietary needs. Maintenance formula for adult dogs is not designed for growing animals because the amount of nutrients they contain is not adequately balanced in relation to their calorie content. A growing puppy needs up to twice as much energy as an adult dog of the same weight. Since a puppy would have to eat a greater quantity of adult dog food to meet its energy needs, it would be unable to eat enough of the adult food to get the energy and nutrients it requires, and deficiency signs may appear.

Giving your puppy adult dog food may result in your puppy eating too much of certain nutrients, such as calcium. Excess calcium can lead to bone anomalies that slow or impede growth, resulting in smaller adult size or joint problems in large breed dogs.

Overeating may cause digestive problems, stomach pains and diarrhea. We recommend you give your puppy food designed for growing animals.

A dog's growth rate is very rapid for the first 12 months of life. After this time, the growth rate slows, so we recommend you give your dog maintenance formula. This period might be shorter in small breed dogs and longer for large breed dogs. This means you may start giving your pet adult dog food earlier or later according to his breed requirements.

When you must change your brand or type of pet food, you should progressively introduce the new brand by giving your pet a small quantity of the new food and slowly increase its amount while reducing the amount of the old food. This transition period may last anywhere from 7 to 10 days.

Progressively introducing a new brand of food will avoid having your pet suffer from digestive problems.

It is not recommended to change the pet food you give to your dog or cat. Consistently giving your pet the same food ensures your dog or cat's digestive tract is functioning properly and your pet is producing firm and well-formed stools. Changing your pet food simply for the sake of varying its diet may result in your pet suffering from an upset stomach, something your four-legged friend can do without. However, it is recommended to make changes carefully on your pet's diet in the case he develops any adverse food reaction.

No. If an animal has a complete, balanced diet, it does not need any dietary supplements. Feeding your pet table scraps, which often contain a lot of fat, may result in your pet becoming overweight.

No. A dog or cat with a complete and balanced diet does not need any dietary supplements. All PLB International formulas are complete and perfectly balanced to meet the specific needs of your dog or cat.

Preservatives are additives used to protect nutrients in food from oxidation, mould or bacteria. One of the ingredients contained in dog and cat food that needs to be preserved is fat. Either natural or synthetic antioxidants may be used in food. PLB International uses only natural antioxidants, tocopherols, which are also a source of Vitamin E.

Pet foods must be burned in order to measure and control the amount of minerals added to them. Ashes are what is left after this procedure and therefore represents almost exclusively the quantity of minerals contained in the foods.

Good quality pet food generally contains between 5 to 8% ash. You should always check the quantity of ash in the food you give to your pet, specially in your cat food, since they are more prone to develop kidney and urological problems.

It is also important that the content of the minerals in the food be balanced. Excess mineral in the system can be harmful to your pet because the unabsorbed quantity of minerals may combine with other minerals, thereby preventing them from being absorbed through the body, leading to mineral deficiency or imbalance. In addition, excess mineral in your pet's system may cause various physiological problems.

Some animals, like rabbits and cats, swallow a lot of hair when they clean themselves. This hair can accumulate and form balls in their digestive tracts. As a result, the animals may have digestive problems or vomit regularly in order to eliminate the hairballs from their systems.

A hairball control formula allows your pet to eliminate hairballs, thanks to the effect of fibre in the digestive tract. Food with a high-fibre content helps your pet continually eliminate hairballs from its system and prevents them from forming. The chunks of food in this formula are the perfect size for your pet's mouth, which means your cat will properly chew its food. Food with chunks that are too large may cause nausea or vomiting.

FLUDT refers to all conditions that affect a cat's lower urinary system (bladder, urethra). In any case, symptoms range from more frequent or uncomfortable urination, presence of blood in the urine to a complete blockage - if crystals are present- of the urethra.

Our cat food formulas are designed to reduce the amount of minerals (mainly magnesium) in your pet's diet to reduce the formation of struvite crystals. We also ensure that your cat's urinary pH is slightly acidic to help dissolve crystals that may form in the urinary system.

You must ensure your cat has a constant source of fresh, clean drinking water served in a clean dish (cats are finicky!) since decreased water intake might be a predisponent factor for crystal formation. Your cat must also have an easily accessible litter box with clean litter.

In the interest of reducing urinary problems in cats, we have been making cat food with a low overall mineral (or ash) content for a long time. We know now that magnesium is the mineral to watch if we want to prevent struvites from forming in a cat's urinary system. The answer lies in giving your pet cat food that is low in magnesium. Please note that urinary pH is another factor to take into account when seeking to avoid urinary problems in cats.

All PLB International formulas have a shelf life of 14 months. The expiration date is written on each package.

The amount of the serving sizechanges from one product or brand to the next. Foods providing greater levels of metabolizable energy are served in smaller portions. Generally, portions are smaller for higher quality brands (Super Premium or Premium) than lower quality brands.

Coprophagia is a natural phenomenon in animals. It often indicates boredom or a habit adopted by the animal at a young age. It may also indicate your pet is not digesting and absorving correctly all the nutrients from its food.

To resolve this problem, we recommend disposing of your animal's stools as soon as they are produced, doing more activities with your pet and giving it balanced and easily digestible food. You can also add a product to your pet's food that will give the stools an unpleasant taste (available at a pet shop).

Eating stools is not dangerous for your pet, unless there are parasites in the stools.

The presence of beet pulp in pet food does not make a dog's skin or fur change colour. Normally, your pet's diet is not the cause of any colour changes in its fur.

Fur with a reddish tinge is usually associated with copper deficiency in animals with light-coloured coats and is considered a symptom of anemia, a rare occurrence in dogs. Other symptoms include cutaneous lesions and dull, tired-looking fur. Very few studies have been conducted on this condition because very few dogs have all of the symptoms. Reddening of the fur can be explained in different ways:

1) Systemic Factors

Nutrient deficiences may affect hair pigmentation. For example, the addition of free available tyrosine (an amino acid) can prevent the coat reddening and optimize hair pigmentation in dark coat breeds. This could be benefical even for diets that have a level of tyrosine above current recommendations.

2) Foreign Substance on the Fur

This is the most common explanation for reddening of the fur. Often, shampoos or creams applied to the fur contain insecticides that change the colour of fur. Exposure to the sun can also make your pet's fur take on a reddish hue. If your dog has black fur, there may be another reason. The tips of older hairs in a dog's fur that has not been shed early enough will take on a reddish tinge. Once the dog sheds, however, the colour of the fur will return to normal.

Another frequent cause of red fur is porphyrin, a substance present in a dog's saliva and tears. Reddening of the fur around the eyes due to exposure to the sun frequently occurs in small dogs with white fur. Dogs suffering from allergies lick themselves repeatedly, which results in porphyrin being deposited on the fur and can trigger a colour change.

Your pet may have food allergies. To find out for sure, see your veterinarian. It is possible that your dog's or cat's itching and scratching may be caused by something else.

Your pet may have food allergies. To find out for sure, see your veterinarian. It is possible that your dog's or cat's itching and scratching may be caused by something else.

Your pet may have food allergies. To find out for sure, see your veterinarian. It is possible that your dog's or cat's itching and scratching may be caused by something else.

Your pet may have food allergies. To find out for sure, see your veterinarian. It is possible that your dog's or cat's itching and scratching may be caused by something else.

These pet foods are specially designed to meet the needs of adult dogs and cats with food allergies. The formula is made with duck - a new, superior quality source of highly digestible protein that helps reduce the risk of scratching and digestion problems. What's more, the Omega 3/Omega 6 ratio of 1^st Choice Super Premium Hypoallergenic formulas is perfectly balanced and helps reduce inflammation.

Conclusive results can be seen after 6 to 8 weeks of continuous use.

If your pet eats a lot but remain relatively inactive, is 4 years old or older, or if your young female has been spayed, the odds are that your pets may suffer from obesity sooner or later.

To improve your pet's oral health, 1^st Choice Super Premium recommends:

• A visit to the vet, including a dental checkup once a year;
  
• Brushing your cat's teeth at home with a special toothpaste (recommended starting at the earliest age)
  
• Use food formulated to help prevent plaque buildup and remove tartar.

To improve your pet's oral health, 1^st Choice Super Premium recommends:

• A visit to the vet, including a dental checkup once a year;
  
• Brushing your cat's teeth at home with a special toothpaste (recommended starting at the earliest age)
  
• Use food formulated to help prevent plaque buildup and remove tartar.

To improve your pet's oral health, 1^st Choice Super Premium recommends:

• A visit to the vet, including a dental checkup once a year;
  
• Brushing your cat's teeth at home with a special toothpaste (recommended starting at the earliest age)
  
• Use food formulated to help prevent plaque buildup and remove tartar.

To improve your pet's oral health, 1^st Choice Super Premium recommends:

• A visit to the vet, including a dental checkup once a year;
  
• Brushing your cat's teeth at home with a special toothpaste (recommended starting at the earliest age)
  
• Use food formulated to help prevent plaque buildup and remove tartar.

To improve your pet's oral health, 1^st Choice Super Premium recommends:

• A visit to the vet, including a dental checkup once a year;
  
• Brushing your cat's teeth at home with a special toothpaste (recommended starting at the earliest age)
  
• Use food formulated to help prevent plaque buildup and remove tartar.

• Cellulose is a natural ingredient found in all 1^st Choice Super Premium products that feature the Total Action label. It helps keep teeth clean over their entire surface and slows tartar buildup.


• Cellulose has many other benefits, too. It helps prevent hairball formation, enhances stool consistency, increases fat absorption, improves intestinal health and transit, and more.