Protein is close to the average kibble we review (31.6% on a dry matter basis).
100% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (90% across the site).
75% of recipes are grain-free.
this range, lowest to highest its average average of all 2,553 foods we review
Starch is our estimate from the guaranteed analysis, since no manufacturer prints it. How we work it out
Share of recipes that list each animal protein as an ingredient, not counting oils, fats or flavorings. Useful if your dog has a food sensitivity.
These are not unsafe. They are listed because readers ask about them.
MOST PROTEIN
Castor & Pollux Pristine Grain-Free Free-Range Chicken, Turkey & Lentil Recipe Dry Dog Food
37.1% dry matter
LEAST STARCH
Castor & Pollux Pristine Grain-Free Grass-Fed Beef & Sweet Potato Recipe with Raw Bites Dry Dog Food
32% as fed
FEWEST CALORIES
Castor & Pollux Grain-Free Organic Puppy Recipe Dry Dog Food
362 kcal per cup
Castor & Pollux is a natural and organic pet food brand owned by Merrick Pet Care, which is part of Nestlé Purina PetCare. It is best known for its ORGANIX line, which the company says was the first certified organic dog and cat food to meet all requirements of the USDA National Organic Program, and for its Pristine line. 1, 2
When Merrick bought the brand in 2012, it said Castor & Pollux operations would be consolidated at Merrick's facilities in northwest Texas. Operations then moved from Oregon to Amarillo, Texas. 1, 3
Brian Connolly and Shelley Gunton founded Castor & Pollux Natural PetWorks in Clackamas, Oregon, in 2000. Merrick Pet Care acquired it in April 2012, and Nestlé Purina PetCare bought Merrick from Swander Pace Capital in 2015. The former castorpolluxpet.com website now redirects to Merrick's site, and review sites report that many Castor & Pollux products appear to have been discontinued, although no formal announcement was found. 1, 3, 4, 5
In May 2018, Merrick voluntarily recalled two Castor & Pollux Good Buddy beef dog treats, Prime Patties and Sausage Cuts, because they might contain elevated levels of naturally occurring beef thyroid hormone. The recall did not include any ORGANIX dog food. 6, 3
Researched from the sources above. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
Beef dog treat varieties
We keep reviews of discontinued recipes online, each with suggested replacements, because bags stay on shelves and in pantries for months.
Ten everyday foods. Safe, In Moderation or Never. No googling, no second guesses. Then share your score with your friends, however embarrassing it turns out to be.
115 foods in the deck. Grapes are in there. So is cheese.
Ten foods, one at a time. Call each one Safe, In Moderation or Never, then flip the card to see if you had it right. The ones you miss are listed at the end.
Keys: 1 Safe 2 Moderation 3 Never Enter Next
Copied. Paste it anywhere your friends will see it.
Want the reason behind every answer? The 80-page e-book, $7.99
Now, is your dog's food any good?
Look it up: estimated starch, calories per cup and every ingredient, for 2,555 foods.
