FirstMate Grain Friendly Line — Wet Dog Food Review
CanadaPetPicks.ca Score: 4.5 / 5 | Single product review | Made in Abbotsford, BC | All life stages | Single protein | No peas | BPA-free cans
Where to Buy
- FirstMate store locator — independent Canadian pet stores
- Global Pet Foods — widely stocked nationally
Overview
FirstMate Wild Pacific Salmon & Rice is a Grain Friendly canned dog food produced at FirstMate’s own cannery in Abbotsford, British Columbia. It uses wild-caught, food-grade Coho salmon sourced from sustainable Pacific Ocean fisheries — the same salmon used for human consumption — paired with quality rice as the sole carbohydrate source. The formula contains no potato, no peas, no lentils, and no artificial gums or thickeners. Cans are BPA non-intent and epoxy-free.
Our Assessment
This is one of the most straightforward, genuinely limited ingredient canned dog foods available in Canada. The ingredient list is short enough to read at a glance: salmon, water, rice, minerals, vitamins, taurine, kale, blueberries, raspberries, cranberries, carrots. That’s it. No glycerine, no gums, no starches, no fillers. The salmon used is food-grade Coho from sustainable Alaskan fisheries — the same quality used in human food products, which is notable given how variable the grade of canned pet food fish can be.
Owner reviews on the FirstMate website are exceptionally positive for this formula. Multiple reviewers with allergy dogs specifically note that switching to Salmon & Rice resolved skin itching, ear problems, and digestive upset that persisted on other premium brands. The grain inclusion (rice) is an advantage for dogs where legume-heavy grain-free diets have been a concern, and rice at the quantity used here does not significantly affect the protein-to-carb ratio. The Whole Dog Journal included this formula in its annual wet food approval list.
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Ingredient quality | 5.0 / 5 |
| Canadian sourcing | 4.5 / 5 |
| Nutritional profile | 4.5 / 5 |
| Value for money | 4.0 / 5 |
| Palatability (owner reports) | 5.0 / 5 |
| CanadaPetPicks Score | 4.5 / 5 |
Best For
- Dogs with food allergies, especially to chicken, beef, or legumes
- Dogs with chronic skin issues, ear problems, or digestive sensitivity
- Owners concerned about DCM and wanting a grain-inclusive canned option without peas
- Daily wet food topper over dry kibble
- Elimination diet trials — minimal ingredient list makes it ideal
- All life stages including puppies and gestating females
Ingredients
Boneless/Skinless Salmon, Water Sufficient for Processing, Rice, Minerals (Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Monodicalcium Phosphate, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, Calcium Iodate), Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Vitamin A Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Biotin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement, D-Calcium Pantothenate), Taurine, Kale, Blueberries, Raspberries, Cranberries, Carrots.
Boneless, skinless salmon leads — not fish meal or fish broth, but actual whole salmon prepared for the can. Water follows for processing, then rice as the sole carbohydrate source. The mineral and vitamin package is complete and includes chelated minerals (zinc, iron, copper, manganese proteinate). Taurine is supplemented directly. The fruit and vegetable blend (kale, blueberries, raspberries, cranberries, carrots) adds antioxidants. No gums, no thickeners, no artificial anything. The brevity of this ingredient list is genuinely unusual for a complete canned dog food.
Feeding Guide
| Dog Weight | Daily Amount |
|---|---|
| Per 9 kg / 19.8 lbs | 1 can (12.2oz) |
Puppies: feed up to twice the adult rate. Gestating and lactating females: up to three times the adult rate. AAFCO compliant for all life stages.
At a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Brand | FirstMate Pet Foods |
| Product | Wild Pacific Salmon & Rice Canned Dog Food |
| Line | Grain Friendly (canned) |
| Made in | Abbotsford, British Columbia 🍁 |
| Primary protein | Wild Coho salmon (sustainable Pacific fisheries) |
| Can size | 12.2oz (345g) |
| Grain free | No — rice included |
| Pea free | Yes |
| Gum free | Yes |
| BPA free | Yes — epoxy-free too |
| AAFCO profile | All life stages |
| Approx. price (CAD) | $4.00 — $5.50 per can |
Where to Buy
- FirstMate store locator — independent Canadian pet stores
- Global Pet Foods — widely stocked nationally
- Amazon Canada — search for FirstMate pet food
Disclosure: Some links above are affiliate links. If you purchase through them we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This does not influence our ratings or recommendations.
