Ultimates Dog Food Review 2024

You might not find all too many Ultimates dog food reviews online - and the reason for this is because it’s a new brand. 

Well, not entirely — Ultimates is the new name given to Pro Pac, a dog food company that used to carry a range called Pro Pac Ultimate dog food. You might see some products still branded as Pro Pac Ultimates, but in the USA at least, it’s just Ultimates from now on.

Now that we’ve got that housekeeping out of the way, we can ask the million-dollar question: is Ultimates dog food any good? Wag!’s answer is yes, but there are better options.

We like that there’s a decent range of recipes for different types of dogs. The protein levels and nutritional supplements in each of the recipes will help keep your dog healthy, too.

The only bone we have to pick is the fact that the first-listed ingredient in all 13 of the recipes is meat or fish meal. Yes, this concentrate is often higher in protein than real meat or fish, but it’s not as blessed with vital amino acids.

We should also mention that Ultimates make dog treats as well. However, this Ultimates dog food review will only be focusing on the kibble.

Wholegrain

This is the largest category of Ultimates dog food and contains recipes for puppies, adult dogs and large breeds. All of which have crude protein levels of at least 22%, although the puppy formulation has a mighty 30%.

The recipes all have a named meat or fish meal as the first-listed ingredient. At Wag! we much prefer to see real meat or fish rather than meals — not only is this closer to a dog’s ancestral diet, but it’s higher in amino acids than meals. Each recipe also includes brown rice, a naturally fibrous carbohydrate.

There’s nothing disturbing towards the end of the ingredient list, only the vitamins and minerals required to meet the AAFCO’s standards. Some of the recipes include additional supplements — the puppy ones contain added DHA for brain development, for example, while the large breed adult formulation contains Glucosamine and Chondroitin to help with joint health.

Wholegrain Flavors

• Chicken Meal and Rice (Adult/ Puppy/ Large Breed Adult/ Large Breed Puppy)
• Lamb Meal and Rice
• Bison Meal and Rice
• Whitefish Meal and Rice
  

Grain-Free

These are almost identical to the Wholegrain recipes in that meat or fish meals are the leading source of protein and there are no artificial nasties added to the mix, but there’s one key difference — there’s no grain in the ingredient list. Some dogs find it easier to tolerate food that doesn’t contain grain.

In their place, you’ll find potatoes and vegetables, which are full of antioxidants to strengthen the immune system. All recipes include additional Taurine, an amino acid that aids in the healthy function of the immune, digestive and nervous system.

Grain-Free Flavors

• Bayside Select Whitefish Meal and Potato
• Heartland Choice Chicken Meal and Potato
• Overland Red Beef Meal and Potato
• Meadow Prime Lamb Meal and Potato
  

Sensitive

The remaining two products in the Ultimates dog food range have been created for pets that struggle to tolerate other recipes. These both avoid chicken, which is a common allergen in dogs. There are also no peas, lentils or legumes in an attempt to make it easier to digest.

At the same time, both recipes have elevated levels of Omega fatty acids, which are known to help with skin and coat health — skin complaints are often a symptom of food intolerances.

Sensitive Flavors

• Sensitive with Salmon Protein
• Sensitive with Lamb Protein

The recipes are catered towards a decent variety of dogs

There are a grand total of 13 Ultimate dog food recipes and these are designed around the nutritional needs of different dogs. Not only are there recipes for both puppies and adults (including large breeds), there are also grain-free formulations and two products created for sensitive stomachs. This diversity makes it easier for pet parents to find a recipe that’s right for their dog.

The protein levels are good for active dogs

Dogs need protein to provide energy and help keep their muscles in a healthy way. Thankfully, Ultimates dog food is plentiful when it comes to protein, with all recipes including at least 22% crude protein and some a lot more — the puppy formula has 30% crude protein, which is great for quickly growing bodies.

The prices are reasonable when bought in bulk

It would be a stretch to say that Ultimates dog food is budget-friendly, but it’s fairly priced given the premium ingredients and nutritional stats.

At the time of writing, it’s possible to find the Ultimates Chicken Meal and Rice Adult recipe for $1.53/lb when the largest bag is purchased. Similarly, the Sensitive range can be bought for under $2/lb, which isn’t bad going for a niche diet product.

The products are manufactured in the USA

All of the kibble products and jerky treats are made in four factories dotted across the USA. These facilities are owned by Ultimates’ parent company, which offers it more of an oversight over the quality and safety standards than with a contracted manufacturer.

The Ultimates dog food collection doesn’t include any wet recipes

All 13 of the products in the Ultimates collection are kibble. This means that dogs that prefer wet dog food over dry — perhaps because their teeth can’t handle dry food or they need the extra moisture in canned food — won’t be able to tuck into Ultimates dog food come dinnertime.

The recipes use meat or fish meal as the first-listed ingredient

There’s nothing intrinsically wrong with meat or fish meal providing choice cuts of either to make their way into the meal. However, it’s much easier for less desirable types of meat or fish to find its way into the powdered form. Plus, it’s thought that real meat kibble contains more amino acids and is more digestible.

It’s for these reasons that Wag! would rather see real meat or fish listed as the first ingredient in dog food, no matter how much more protein comes from meals.

The previous incarnation of the brand was subject to recalls

The rebrand from Pro Pac or Pro Pac Ultimates to just Ultimates dog food happened after Pro Pac products were among those recalled by Midwestern Food brands in 2021 due to the potential risk of salmonella bacteria contamination.

This happened in the same year as two Pro Pac products were recalled among a batch of Midwestern Pet Food brands after kibble was found to have high levels of aflatoxin — this was estimated to have caused at least 110 canine deaths.

“My pups are 11 weeks [old] and they love this food[. It’s] gentle on their stomachs and doesn’t [dehydrate] them. The kibble is very small and easy for them to chew.”

“After extensive research, I opted for this dog food because it doesn't specify the dog's size, and the packaging image shows a medium-sized dog. I thought it would be the ideal choice due to its impressive nutritional values, including over 30% protein. However, I was surprised by the size of the grain. This dog food seems more suitable for small-sized dogs because even a medium-sized puppy finds the kibble too small. My dog doesn't even chew it, she just swallows it whole. If you have a medium or big size dog, do not buy this food.”

“For the first time in months my 6 month Black Mouth Cur ate his dry food without mixing in any wet food! Satisfied customer here with how my pup ate his food. Now hoping his stool [stays] as healthy as it is now with no issues.”

Read more reviews at Chewy.

Ultimates is produced by Midwestern Pet Foods, a family-owned business that has been manufacturing feed in the Midwest since the 1920s. Today, the fourth generation of the Nunn family heads up the company, which produces pet food under several brand names, including Earthborn Holistics, Wholesomes and CanineX.

Ultimates dog food was formerly known as Pro Pac or Pro Pac Ultimate dog food. Pro Pac was involved in two product recalls.

In January 2021, two Pro Pac dog food recipes (Adult Mini Chunk and Performance Puppy, both of which look to have been since discontinued) were among multiple products made in one of Midwestern Pet Foods’ plants that were recalled due to potentially dangerous levels of aflatoxin.

At the time of the recall, the FDA had been made aware of 110 deaths and 230 illnesses linked to the consumption of contaminated products.

The second recall occurred at the end of March 2021 and involved 26 Pro Pac products, along with any other Midwestern Pet Food products manufactured at its Illinois plant. This was because the recipes had the potential to be contaminated with salmonella bacteria.

Product images sourced from Chewy. Copyright Ultimates.