Pristine kibble starts with a named meat or fish (beef, chicken or salmon), backed by chicken meal, turkey meal, whitefish meal or lamb meal, with organic sweet potatoes, potatoes or oatmeal close behind. Seven of the nine kibbles are grain free. The Salmon & Oatmeal and Beef & Oatmeal recipes use oats and barley, and the beef recipe adds brown rice. Three kibbles include peas or lentils, and most include potato.
Protein runs from 28% to 33%, and estimated starch runs from 30.5% to 37.5%, as fed. The line's 29.9% average protein is above the catalog kibble average of 26.9%, and its 34.2% average starch is below the catalog's 37.4%. Calories average 384 per cup, compared with 395 for catalog kibble. The salmon recipes sit at the low end for protein, and the chicken and beef recipes sit at the high end.
The four bone broth toppers are 98% moisture with 0.5% protein, while the catalog topper average is 18.4% protein. They add liquid and flavor to a bowl but are not a protein source. The biggest trade-off is availability: nearly every recipe is marked discontinued, and the Free-Range Chicken Bone Broth is the only one that is not.
A GOOD FIT FOR
Owners wanting more protein than the average kibble, up to 33%
Owners avoiding grain, with seven grain-free kibbles to choose from
Owners wanting a low-calorie broth to moisten dry food
WORTH KNOWING
Nearly every Pristine recipe is marked discontinued. The Free-Range Chicken Bone Broth is the only one that is not.
Three kibbles list peas or lentils, and most of the kibbles include potato.
The toppers are 98% moisture with 0.5% protein, as fed, so they are a topper and not a meal on their own.
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Starch is our estimate, since no bag prints it. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
This recipe has the most protein in the line at 33% and the least estimated starch at 30.5%, as fed, and it is the only grain-free kibble without potato. It uses organic pea protein and organic peas alongside chicken and lamb meal, so it suits owners who accept legumes and want the highest protein.
This beef Raw Bites kibble leads with beef, chicken meal and turkey meal, and it also lists egg and fish among its animal proteins. With 32% protein, 31.5% estimated starch and 393 kcal per cup, as fed, it suits owners who want a grain-free beef kibble with no peas.
The chicken Raw Bites kibble sticks to poultry and egg, listing chicken, chicken meal and turkey meal with no beef, fish or lamb. With 32% protein, 31.5% estimated starch and 386 kcal per cup, as fed, it suits owners who want a high-protein poultry kibble without peas.
The beef counterpart to the Salmon & Oatmeal recipe lists organic oatmeal, organic brown rice and organic barley, and it is the only kibble that has grain but no potato. At 30% protein and 395 kcal per cup, it suits owners who prefer a beef kibble with grain.
Sold for small breeds, this beef kibble has the most calories in the line at 405 per cup, with 30% protein and 16% fat, as fed. It lists beef, chicken, turkey and egg but no fish, and it suits small-dog owners who want a grain-free recipe with no peas.
This is one of only two kibbles in the line with grain. It pairs salmon and whitefish meal with organic oatmeal, organic barley and lamb meal. At 28% protein and 36.5% estimated starch, as fed, it suits owners who want a fish-led kibble that includes grain and no peas.
This salmon Raw Bites kibble lists organic pea protein, organic peas and organic chickpeas right after salmon and lamb meal, and at 365 per cup it has the fewest calories in the line. It suits owners who are comfortable with legumes and want a lower-calorie, grain-free fish kibble.
This salmon and sweet potato kibble (without Raw Bites) has the most estimated starch in the line at 37.5% and the lowest calorie density at 3514 kcal per kg, as fed. It contains no peas or grain, and it suits owners who want a kibble built on salmon, whitefish meal and lamb meal.
The only puppy recipe in Pristine pairs salmon and whitefish meal with organic peas and organic pea protein. It lists 4% fiber, as fed, compared with 3.5% in the adult kibbles, and it suits puppy owners who want a grain-free fish kibble and are fine with peas.
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Wet food is mostly water, so compare it with other wet food only. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
The chicken broth lists organic celery juice concentrate and organic turmeric, and at 12 kcal per carton it has the fewest calories of the four toppers. It is the only Pristine recipe not marked discontinued, so it suits owners who want a recipe that is still listed as current.
This broth takes the plain beef version's beef broth, beef fat, salt and natural flavor and adds organic turmeric. At 25 kcal per carton, it suits owners who want a beef topper with turmeric listed on the label.
The plain beef broth lists only beef broth, beef fat, salt and natural flavor, with no herbs or spices among its first ingredients. At 25 kcal per carton, it suits owners who want the simplest beef topper in the line.
The turkey broth is seasoned with organic sage and organic rosemary, and it is the only broth in the line with no salt among its listed first ingredients. At 30 kcal per carton it has the most calories of the toppers, and it suits owners who want a poultry broth without turmeric.
Mostly. Seven of the nine kibbles are grain free, and so are all four bone broth toppers. The Wild-Caught Salmon & Oatmeal Recipe with Raw Bites and the Grass-Fed Beef & Oatmeal Recipe include grain.
Which Castor & Pollux Pristine dog food has the most protein?
The Grain-Free Free-Range Chicken, Turkey & Lentil Recipe has the most at 33% protein, as fed, and it also has the least estimated starch at 30.5%. The Grass-Fed Beef and Free-Range Chicken Raw Bites recipes come next at 32%.
Does Castor & Pollux Pristine dog food contain peas?
Three kibbles list peas or lentils: the Chicken, Turkey & Lentil Recipe, the Wild-Caught Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe with Raw Bites, and the Puppy Wild-Caught Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe. The other kibbles and all four toppers do not list peas or lentils.
We keep reviews of discontinued recipes online, each with suggested replacements, because bags stay on shelves and in pantries for months.
Can Your Dog Eat It?
The Dog Snack Challenge
Think You Know What Your Dog Can Eat?
Ten everyday foods. Safe, In Moderation or Never. No googling, no second guesses.
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115 foods in the deck. Grapes are in there. So is cheese.
Cheese?Avocado?Grapes?
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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.
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Keys: 1 Safe 2 Moderation 3 Never Enter Next
SafeNever
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