Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
Pro Pac Ultimates product range is made up of six recipes with ratings varying from 3.5 to 5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 4 stars.
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.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Pro Pac Ultimates Chicken Meal and Rice | 4 | M |
| Pro Pac Ultimates Puppy Chicken Meal and Rice | 5 | A |
| Pro Pac Ultimates Lamb Meal and Rice | 3.5 | M |
| Pro Pac Ultimates Large Breed Adult Chicken Meal and Rice | 4 | M |
| Pro Pac Ultimates Large Breed Puppy Chicken Meal and Rice | 5 | A |
| Pro Pac Ultimates Mature Chicken Meal and Rice | 3.5 | M |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Pro Pac Ultimates Puppy Chicken Meal and Rice was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Pro Pac Ultimates Puppy Chicken Meal and Brown Rice
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken meal, brown rice, peas, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), rice bran, menhaden fish meal, beet pulp, flaxseed, apples, blueberries, carrots, cranberries, spinach, vitamin A, vitamin D3, vitamin E, copper sulfate, omega 6 and 3, dl-methionine, docosahexaenoic acid, rosemary extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5%
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 rice bran, a healthy by-product of milling whole grain rice. The bran is the fiber-rich outer layer of the grain containing starch, protein, fat as well as vitamins and minerals.
The sixth ingredient is menhaden fish meal. Because it is considered a meat concentrate, fish meal contains almost 300% more protein than fresh fish itself.
Menhaden are small ocean fish related to herring. They’re rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids. What’s more, in their mid-depth habitat, menhaden are not exposed to mercury contamination as can be typical with deep water species.
This item is typically obtained from the “clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings” of commercial fish operations.1
The seventh 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 eighth 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 ninth ingredient is apple, a nutrient-rich fruit that’s also high in 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 one notable exception…
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, Pro Pac Ultimates Puppy Chicken Meal and Rice looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 33.3%, a fat level of 22.2% and estimated carbohydrates of about 36.4%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 27.2% and a mean fat level of 15.7%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 49% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 57%.
Which means this product contains…
Near-average protein. Near-average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Pro Pac Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Pro Pac through February 2025.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Pro Pac 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 stars.
Compare Pro Pac Ultimates Dog Food
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A Final Word
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