Rating: 
Castor and Pollux Natural Ultramix dry dog food gets the Advisor’s above-average rating of 4 stars.
The Castor and Pollux Ultramix product line includes 5 dry dog foods, 4 claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance and one for all life stages (Puppy).
- Castor and Pollux Ultramix Adult Formula
- Castor and Pollux Ultramix Puppy Formula
- Castor and Pollux Ultramix Lamb and Rice Formula
- Castor and Pollux Ultramix Large Breed Adult Formula
- Castor and Pollux Ultramix Weight Management Formula
Castor and Pollux Ultramix Adult Formula was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Castor and Pollux Natural Ultramix Adult Formula
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, turkey meal, milo, ground whole oats, ground whole barley, chicken fat (naturally preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), brown rice, dried bananas, dried peas, natural chicken flavor, tomato pomace, dried sweet potatoes, dried carrots, salmon meal, brewers dried yeast, dried egg product, potassium chloride, salt, freeze dried peas, dried cranberries, ground whole flaxseed, Fructooligosaccharide, dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, zinc sulfate, vitamin E supplement, choline chloride, ferrous sulfate, niacin, copper sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, manganous oxide, pyridoxine hydrochloride, sodium selenite, riboflavin, vitamin D3 supplement, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, calcium iodate, folic acid, rosemary extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.3%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food lists chicken. Although it is a quality item, raw chicken contains about 80% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.
After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.
Which brings us to chicken and turkey meals, most likely the dominant meat ingredients in this dog food.
Chicken and turkey meals are both considered meat concentrates. Each contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh poultry.
The fourth ingredient is milo. Milo is another name for sorghum, a starchy cereal grain with a nutrient profile similar to corn.
Since it is gluten-free and boasts a smoother blood sugar behavior than other grains, milo can be considered a quality non-meat ingredient.
The next two ingredients include oats and barley. Oats and barley are both rich in complex carbohydrates, dietary fiber and other healthy nutrients.
The seventh ingredient is chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Though it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is a quality ingredient.
The eighth item is brown rice, a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) is fairly easy to digest.
After the dried bananas, we find peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re rich in natural fiber.
However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when evaluating the total protein reported in this food.
Tomato pomace is a controversial ingredient, a by-product remaining after processing tomatoes into juice, soup and ketchup.
Many praise tomato pomace for its high fiber and nutrient content, while others scorn it as an inexpensive pet food filler.
Just the same, there’s probably not enough tomato pomace here to make much of a difference.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.
With three notable exceptions…
First, brewers dried yeast. Brewers yeast can be a controversial item. Although it’s a by-product of the beer making process, this ingredient contains about 45% protein… and is rich in other healthy nutrients.
Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.
Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself.
What’s more, a vocal minority insist yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is something we’ve not been able to scientifically verify.
In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, we feel yeast should be considered a nutritious addition.
Next, we find no mention of probiotics, friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing.
And lastly, the minerals here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Non-chelated minerals are usually associated with lower quality dog foods.
Castor and Pollux Natural Ultramix Dry Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Castor and Pollux Natural Ultramix Dog Food appears to be an above-average kibble.
But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 28%, a fat level of 17% and estimated carbohydrates of about 48%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 27% and a mean fat level of 13%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 52% for the overall product line.
Near-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the peas, this looks like the profile of a dry kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Castor and Pollux Natural Ultramix is a grain-based dry dog food using a moderate amount of poultry or lamb meals as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4 stars.
Highly recommended.
Those looking for a nice quality wet food from the same company may wish to visit our review of Castor and Pollux Natural Ultramix canned dog food.
A Final Word
This review is designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food. However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in specific health benefits for your pet.
For a better understanding of how we analyzed this product, please be sure to read our article, “The Problem with Dog Food Reviews”
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult a veterinarian for help.
Have an opinion about this dog food? Or maybe the review itself? Please know we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
04/08/2010 Original review
11/08/2010 Review updated
12/11/2011 Review updated
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.
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