FAQs
Where can I buy Nutrience?
There are over 140 stockists NZ wide where you can buy Nutrience in-store, and you can buy it easily online also. Your local pet store or Vet most likely stocks Nutrience. Look up your local stockists here >
How should I store Nutrience?
You do not need to refrigerate Nutrience dry food in any of our ranges, even Nutrience Subzero (with its chunks of raw, freeze-dried Nutriboost), does not need special storage. Just store in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight, ideally in a sealed bag or container.
How do I change my pet’s diet?
Any dog or cat can get an upset stomach if you change their diet too quickly, no matter what brand or food you are changing from or to. It can even happen when you change formulas within the same brand! Here's how to change your pet's diet the right way >
How long do I feed puppy or kitten food for?
This depends on your pet's breed, their age & development. Find out when you should change from growth to adult food >
What makes all-lifestage formula ok to feed during growth and to adults?
An all-lifestage formula is complete and balanced for any life stage, meaning you can feed it to pets of any age. This type of formula is different to an adult or adult maintenance food. Find out what makes an all-lifestage food different >
Can I buy Nutrience direct from you?
We sell to Vet Clinics & Pet Stores nationwide throughout New Zealand. If you are a registered business in NZ in the pet industry & have retail premises, contact Petware to apply for a wholesale account and one of our sales reps will come visit your store or clinic and organise a credit application.
If you're not a retailer in the pet industry, but your local pet store or vet clinic has not got what you want in stock, ask them to order it for you from Petware (that's us) - or you can order Nutrience online from one of the many pet stores & vet clinics that have an ecommerce website & deliver direct to your door NZ-wide. If you breed, show or compete & want to order Nutrience in bulk, you can apply to join the Breeders Club.
Do you have a Breeders Club?
Yes, we do. If you qualify for membership, you can apply here >
My pet’s gaining weight / losing weight, but I’m feeding what the bag says
Feeding guidelines are just that, a guide only. You can and should vary the amount you feed to manage your pet's changing needs, including feeding less if their activity levels have dropped or they gain weight, or feeding more if they need to gain weight. Here's what to consider when deciding how much to feed >
Do you offer refunds?
Yes, every bag of Nutrience has a 100% money-back satisfaction guarantee. You can return it to your local stockist for a full refund, or swap it for a different Nutrience formula (there may be a price difference to pay). It doesn’t matter what the reason is, we will then refund or replace the bag when your local store returns it to us at Petware. If there’s something else wrong, or you need some advice first, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
Can I have a free sample?
Every bag of Nutrience is a sample thanks to the Nutrience 100% Money Back Satisfaction Guarantee so you'll never waste money on pet food again.
Your local stockist may have samples if you ask, however a sample does not give you long enough to know if your pet will keep eating a new food. Some pets happily eat a sample of a new food because it’s something new or different. Some pets don't like change, so won't eat a new food at first, but will if you slowly mix it in with their old food. Either way, a sample does not guarantee your pet will like a new food longer-term.
That’s why every bag of Nutrience has a 100% satisfaction money-back guarantee. Always move your pet on to any new food slowly, adding a little more every day over at least 7 days. If you or your pet are not 100% satisfied with Nutrience after that, you can still return what’s left in the bag for a full refund, or swap it for a different Nutrience formula (you may just need to pay any difference in price). Just return it to the Nutrience stockist you purchased it from. Petware (that's us) will refund or replace the bag for your retailer.
My pet has skin & coat problems - can Nutrience help?
Nutrience is a popular choice for dogs & cats whose skin & coat is not looking or feeling its best, for dry, dull, flaky or high-shed coats, for hairballs, or for suspected food allergies. This is because even if your pet is not allergic to their food, Nutrience helps nutritionally improve skin & coat condition from the inside out. Nutrience Grain Free & Subzero are great options for pets needing extra skin & coat support or pets with suspected food allergies. Remember it takes at least 6 weeks for a change in food to show in skin & coat condition, so give it time.
Do you give away free food, offer vouchers or run promotions?
Yes, we sure do! To make sure you don’t miss out, like Nutrience NZ on Facebook & sign up for the Nutrience Pet Club (look for the sign up form on the home page).
Is an all-lifestage formula ok to feed large breed puppies?
If an all lifestage formula is also formulated for the different requirements of a large breed puppy, you will see that mentioned specifically in the AFFCO statement on the bag or the food’s website. Here’s an example of the wording to look for (this is from one of our Subzero formulas):
“Nutrience Grain Free Subzero Canadian Pacific is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages, including growth of large size dogs (70 lbs or more as an adult).”
Why doesn’t Nutrience have a formula just for senior or older pets?
Senior pets tend to become less active as they age, may lose muscle strength, and may be prone to bone and joint concerns. Any pet that is less active may become overweight if you do not feed less, as an overweight pet usually requires fewer calories. The nutritional joint support that glucosamine and chondroitin offer may benefit pets of any age, especially during growth.
Instead of creating only one formula for seniors, your older pet has the choice of Nutrience Subzero, Grain Free and Original, which have multiple formulas within each range that include glucosamine and chrondoitin to nutritionally support joint health and have higher protein levels for muscle strength.
If your pet is less active or overweight - whether they are a senior or younger – choose an all lifestage or adult maintenance formula in Original, Grain Free or Subzero, and simply feed less to reduce their calorie intake. If your senior pet is underweight, feed more.
My pet has allergies - can Nutrience help?
FOR PROTEIN ALLERGIES
A dog or cat with a food allergy is typically reacting to the most frequently fed protein in their current food - which might be beef, egg, milk, chicken etc - but it could also be due to protein from grain sources. Your pet’s body might be over-reacting to what it considers an invasive protein. However, that can only happen if they have been exposed to that specific protein first!
If your pet develops an allergy, you can look for foods with ‘less common’ protein sources that your pet does not typically eat, or look for a formula free of chicken or beef - which tend to be the most common protein allergens. Look for a formula with protein sources your pet does not eat often, like turkey, duck or fish. Nutrience Grain Free Ocean Fish in the dog formula is often a good place to start as it's both grain free and has no land-based protein or egg, but do check the ingredients of your pet's current food first so you know what proteins to avoid.
FOR GRAIN ALLERGIES
Grains can also be a potential source of sensitivity for some dogs & cats who might be allergic to the protein portion of the grain, which is called gluten - or they may simply have trouble with digesting certain grains (in a similar way some people do). All Nutrience formulas are free of the common grain allergens, so have no corn, wheat or soy. For example, Nutrience Original uses brown rice instead. Or you can move up to a grain free formula like Nutrience Grain Free or Nutrience Subzero Grain Free which avoid gluten & grains all together.
CHECK TREATS & HUMAN FOOD
Have a think about what else you may be feeding frequently, or that you might have introduced recently into your pet's diet – such as pet treats or human food – that could also be triggering a dietary allergy or sensitivity.
Avoid all other possible food triggers for at least the first 6 weeks when you try a new food, to give the food a chance to make a difference. You can then start re-introducing other things back into the diet to test what was causing the reaction. Remember there are many reasons for skin & coat problems, so seeking the advice of a Veterinarian may be needed.
CONSIDER THE TIME OF YEAR
Should your pet develop an allergy, consider the time of year in which symptoms appear, because they might be due to seasonal or environmental allergies such as fleas, pollen or grass. It may not be food related at all. Or your pet may have multiple allergies, in which case diet may still help even if it's not the main cause.
If you have further questions regarding allergies or food sensitivities, please talk to your Vet, to a specialist pet store, or contact us.
Should cats with crystals only be fed wet food?
No matter what a cat’s urinary pH is, increased water consumption is recommended for cats with or prone to urinary crystals, as more water intake helps dilute the urine, which helps reduce the risk.
Whether you feed wet or dry food, investing in a water fountain is highly recommended for cats with crystal concerns to help reduce the risk. Water fountains encourage most cats to drink more, especially if your cat prefers aerated, fresh, running water, or drinking from a smooth surface like the shower floor or glass, or out of the basin.
You can also increase water intake by feeding any Nutrience kibble wet instead of dry. Just soak or moisten the kibble in water before you feed it. If you use hot water, always check it has cooled down before feeding. Leftover soaked kibble should be stored in the fridge and fed the same day it is prepared. Throw away any leftover wet food at the end of the day. You can also supplement dry kibble with canned or wet food, or feed wet food by itself, especially if you’re concerned your cat is not drinking enough.
Why has a low GI food been recommended for my diabetic pet?
If your dog or cat has or is at risk of diabetes, a high-quality, low GI food may be recommended by your Vet for a number of reasons.
Consistently feeding a high-quality food helps regulate your pet’s blood glucose levels (sugar in the blood). Controlling how much your pet eats and feeding them regular meals also helps keep blood glucose levels within acceptable limits, so free feeding is not recommended for diabetic pets. Avoiding and replacing high GI treats or snacks, along with white rice and bread, is also recommended, as they can raise your pet’s blood sugar level.
Check what’s in the food you feed. Look for a low GI food like Nutrience Grain Free or Subzero, where high GI carbohydrates like white rice and wheat, have been replaced with low GI ingredients like sweet potato.
Selected Nutrience formulas like Nutrience Grain Free have the GRI seal of approval. The GRI (Glycemic Research Institute) is a professional clinical research organisation that specialise in glycaemic index testing, and recognise Nutrience Grain Free as certified low glycaemic and diabetic pet friendly.
Why has a low GI food been recommended for my overweight pet?
Overweight pets may be given similar dietary advice for an overweight pet as you might for a diabetic pet.
Your Vet may recommend avoiding food with simple sugars which can raise your pet’s blood sugar level as well as increase the chances of weight gain. Firstly, avoid treats and table scraps that contain sugar or sweeteners, and avoid high GI carbohydrates like bread and white rice.
A low GI formula, like Nutrience Grain Free and Subzero, replaces high GI carbohydrates like wheat and white rice, with more nutritious, low GI ingredients like sweet potato.
Seek your Vet’s advice and 1. Feed a high-quality food every day, 2. Reduce the amount of food you feed, 3. Avoid high GI treats and snacks, and 4. Choose a food with low GI carbohydrates. These can all assist your pet reaching their goal weight. Remember to increase their activity level as well if you can.