Rating: 
Castor and Pollux Natural Ultramix Grain Free canned dog food gets the Advisor’s top rating of 5 stars.
The Castor and Pollux Natural Ultramix Grain Free product line includes four canned dog foods, each claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for adult maintenance.
The following is a list of recipes available at the time of this review.
- Castor and Pollux Natural Ultramix Grain Free Beef and Vegetable Dinner
- Castor and Pollux Natural Ultramix Grain Free Salmon and Chicken Dinner
- Castor and Pollux Natural Ultramix Grain Free Turkey and Vegetable Dinner
- Castor and Pollux Natural Ultramix Grain Free Chicken and Vegetable Dinner
Castor and Pollux Natural Ultramix Grain Free Beef and Vegetable Dinner was selected to represent the other products in the line for this review.
Castor and Pollux Natural Ultramix Grain Free Beef and Vegetable Dinner
Canned Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Beef, beef broth, potatoes, carrots, potato starch, peas, calcium sulfate, guar gum, sunflower oil, salt, dicalcium phosphate, flaxseed oil, choline chloride, betaine, potassium chloride, taurine, zinc proteinate, calcium carbonate, iron proteinate, vitamin E supplement, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, nicotinic acid, calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, sodium selenite, riboflavin, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, ethylenediamine dihydriodide, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 2.5%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 10% | 6% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 50% | 30% | 12% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 37% | 54% | 9% |
The first ingredient in this dog food is beef. Beef is defined as “the clean flesh derived from slaughtered cattle” and includes skeletal muscle or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus.1
Beef is naturally rich in all ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient includes beef broth. Broths are nutritionally empty. But because they add moisture to a dog food they are a common finding in many canned products.
The third item is potato. Potatoes can be considered a gluten-free source of digestible carbohydrates. Yet with the exception of perhaps their caloric content, potatoes are of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The fourth ingredient is carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The fifth ingredient is potato starch. Potato starch is a gluten-free carbohydrate used more for its thickening properties than its nutritional value.
The sixth ingredient includes peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, they’re rich in natural fiber.
However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.
The seventh item is calcium sulfate, a source of supplemental calcium.
The eighth ingredient is guar gum, a gelling or thickening agent found in many wet pet foods. Refined from dehusked guar beans, guar gum can add a notable amount of dietary fiber to any product.
The ninth ingredient is sunflower oil. Sunflower oil is nutritionally similar to safflower oil. Since these oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids and contain no omega-3′s, they’re considered less nutritious than canola or flaxseed oils.
Sunflower oil is notable for its resistance to heat damage during cooking.
There are several different types of sunflower oil, some better than others. Without knowing more, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this ingredient.
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 two notable exceptions…
First, betaine is a supplement known for its ability to protect cells, proteins, and enzymes from environmental damage. A growing body of evidence seems to suggest betaine may be important for the prevention of chronic disease.
And lastly, this food also contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
Castor and Pollux Natural Ultramix
Grain Free Canned Dog Food
The Bottom Line
Judging by its ingredients alone, Castor and Pollux Natural Ultramix Grain Free canned dog food looks like an above average wet product.
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 50%, a fat level of 30% and estimated carbohydrates of about 12%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 50% and a mean fat level of 30%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 12% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 60%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical canned dog food.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the peas, this looks like the profile of a wet product containing a significant amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Castor and Pollux Natural Ultramix Grain Free is a meat-based canned dog food using a generous amount of beef, poultry or salmon as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Please note certain recipes are sometimes given a higher or lower rating based upon our estimate of their total meat content.
Special Alert
Rice ingredients can sometimes contain arsenic. Until the US FDA establishes safe upper levels for arsenic content, pet owners may wish to limit the total amount of rice fed in a dog's daily diet.
A Final Word
The descriptions and analyses expressed in this and every article on this website represent the views and opinions of the author.
Although it's our goal to ensure all the information on this website is correct, we cannot guarantee its completeness or its accuracy; nor can we commit to ensuring all the material is kept up-to-date on a daily basis.
Each review is offered in good faith and has been 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 analyze each product, please 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 qualified veterinary professional for help.
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Notes and Updates
12/29/2011 Original review
05/04/2013 Review updated
05/04/2013 Last Update
- Association of American Feed Control Officials ↩
