Highly Recommended
DogFoodAdvisor is reader supported See how
All reviews are 100% impartial but if you buy using links on this page, we may earn a referral fee.
Our Verdict
Ultimates dry product range is made up of seven recipes with ratings varying from 4 to 4.5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 4.5 stars.
Ultimates dry recipes are designed for puppies, adult dogs, and large breeds. Each recipe includes brown rice, a naturally fibrous carbohydrate. The puppy formulas contain added DHA to support brain development, while the large breed adult formulation includes glucosamine and chondroitin to promote joint health.
Pros
- No corn, wheat or soy
- Made in the USA
- Contain superfoods
Cons
- Not real meat as the first ingredient
The table below shows each recipe in this range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
Recipe and Label Analysis
Ultimates Puppy Chicken Meal and Rice Recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Ultimates Puppy Chicken Meal and Brown Rice Recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken meal, brown rice, peas, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), whitefish meal, beet pulp, flaxseed, apples, blueberries, carrots, cranberries, spinach, salt, potassium chloride, choline chloride, vitamins [vitamin E supplement, niacin, calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid], minerals [zinc sulfate, ferrous sulfate, copper sulfate, manganese sulfate, zinc proteinate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate], rosemary extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 30% | 20% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 33% | 22% | 37% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 27% | 44% | 30% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The second ingredient is brown rice, a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) can be fairly easy to digest. However, aside from its natural energy content, rice is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The third 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 fourth ingredient is chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols). 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. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.
The fifth ingredient is fish meal. Because it is considered a meat concentrate, fish meal contains almost 300% more protein than fresh fish itself.
Fish meal is typically obtained from the “clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings” of commercial fish operations.1.
The sixth ingredient is beet pulp. Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient, a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.
Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.
We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.
The seventh ingredient is flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.
However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
The eighth ingredient is apple, a nutrient-rich fruit that’s also high in fiber.
The ninth ingredient is blueberries. Blueberries are a good source of vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.
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 Ultimates product.
With two notable exceptions…
First, this recipe contains sodium selenite a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.
Also, we find no mention of probiotics, friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing to help with digestion.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Ultimates Puppy Chicken Meal and Rice Recipe looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 34.2%, a fat level of 22.8% and estimated carbohydrates of about 30.7%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 27.9% and a mean fat level of 16.1%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 42.1% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 58%.
Which means this product contains…
Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Ultimates Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Ultimates through July 2025.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Ultimates Dog Food
Ultimates is a grain-inclusive dry dog food using a notable amount of named meat meals as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 4.5 stars.
Compare Ultimates Dog Food
How does Ultimates compare with The Dog Food Advisor's most recommended brands?
A Final Word
The Dog Food Advisor does not accept money, gifts, samples or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.
However, we do receive a referral fee from online retailers (like Chewy or Amazon) and from sellers of perishable pet food when readers click over to their websites from ours. This helps cover the cost of operation of our free blog. Thanks for your support.
For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.
