Castor and Pollux Dog Food 2022 Review, Rating & Recalls
Castor and Pollux is a pet food brand that focuses on providing certifiably organic “purposeful pet food” made with quality, responsibly-sourced organic ingredients. But do these factors make this brand’s dog food products a healthy, appropriate option for your best friend? Today, we’ll take a more in-depth look at Castor and Pollux with both an overview of the brand’s recall history and a careful content analysis of one of their dry food products.
We’ll also discuss…
- Is Castor and Pollux dog food made in the United States?
- Have any Castor and Pollux products been recalled?
- Which flavors and formulas get our top ratings?
Which Castor and Pollux Sub-Brand Is Right for You?
Below, you’ll find Castor and Pollux’s 5 most popular sub-brands, along with details on how each of these products is unique.
| Image | Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall  | Castor & Pollux Pristine Grain Free Free-Range Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe with Raw Bites Dry Dog Food
| 10 | Check Price |
Best for Puppies  | Castor and Pollux ORGANIX Organic Dog Food, Puppy Recipe with Healthy Grains Dry Dog Food
| 9.9 | Check Price |
For Small Breeds  | Castor and Pollux ORGANIX Grain Free Organic Dog Food Small Breed
| 9.8 | Check Price |
Grain-Free  | Castor & Pollux Pristine Grass-Fed Beef and Chickpea Recipe Dry Dog Food
| 9.6 | Check Price |
Great Taste  | Castor & Pollux PRISTINE Grain Free Dry Dog Food Grass-Fed Beef & Sweet Potato Recipe with Raw Bites
| 9.7 | Check Price |
Castor and Pollux Dog Food Reviews – Overview
Best Overall
1. Castor and Pollux Pristine Grain-Free Raw Bites, Free-Range Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe
Castor and Pollux Pristine Free-Range Chicken & Sweet Potato offers a mix of grain-free kibble and freeze-dried raw, free-range chicken to provide responsibly-sourced fuel for your dog.
- Delicious chicken and sweet potato recipe
- Grain-free formula
- Recipe contains no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives
- For adult dogs of all breeds
- Plenty of protein sourced from chicken, chicken meal, and turkey meal
- Omega-rich flaxseed supports skin and coat health
Best for Puppies
2. Castor and Pollux Organix Healthy Grains Puppy Recipe
Castor and Pollux Organix Puppy is designed with healthy grains and a blend of nutrient-rich superfoods to support your puppy’s healthy growth and development.
- Made with chicken that has no added hormones or antibiotics
- Recipe is rich in superfoods such as organic flaxseed, organic blueberries and organic sweet potatoes
- Certified USDA organic
- Contains DHA from fish oil to encourage healthy brain development
- Added calcium to support developing bones
For Small Breeds
3. Castor and Pollux Organix Grain-Free Small Breed Recipe
Castor and Pollux Organix Small Breed recipe is formulated with high-quality chicken protein and a blend of nutrient-rich superfoods to meet the specialized needs of your small breed pup.
- Organic, grain-free recipe
- Packed with nutrients from superfoods and contains prebiotic fiber
- Certified USDA organic and made with free-range chicken
- Features probiotics and prebiotics to support healthy digestive systems
- The grain-free formula is good for dogs with sensitive stomachs
Grain-Free
4. Castor and Pollux Pristine Grain-Free, Grass-Fed Beef & Chickpea Recipe
Castor and Pollux Pristine Grass-Fed Beef & Chickpea dry dog food is grain-free, potato-free, and packed with responsibly-sourced beef protein that is suitable for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
- Grass-fed beef is the #1 ingredient blended with chickpeas
- Potato-free recipe with no gluten ingredients
- Organic produce used in the recipe is grown without chemical pesticides
- Includes high-fibrous chickpeas to support digestion
- Low-calorie organic lentils provide an excellent source of iron
Great Taste
5. Castor and Pollux Pristine Grain-Free Raw Bites, Grass-Fed Beef & Sweet Potato Recipe
Castor and Pollux Pristine Grass-Fed Beef & Sweet Potato recipe is made to provide complete, balanced nutrition for all dog life stages.
- Grass-fed beef mixed with delicious freeze-dried raw bites
- Sweet potatoes added for great taste
- Recipe does not contain artificial preservatives, flavors or colors
This grain-free formula features responsibly-raised protein sourced from grass-fed beef and responsibly-grown, organic produce to ensure a healthy, nutritious meal that pet owners can feel good feeding to their pups.
- Quality beef is the #1 ingredient
- Packed with antioxidants from organic blueberries
Who Makes Castor and Pollux Dog Food?
Castor and Pollux is manufactured in the USA by Texas-based Merrick Pet Care, Inc., which is a subsidiary company of Nestle Purina. This company prepares its organic pet food products with high-quality, USDA-certified organic ingredients. The company website boasts that all of its manufacturing facilities are designed to meet strict FDA guidelines. Castor and Pollux products are easily found in US pet food retailers and through online stores like Amazon.
Has Castor and Pollux Dog Food Been Recalled?
As of this review, there have been no official FDA recalls of Castor and Pollux brand dry dog food products. This is an excellent indication of the brand’s commitment to quality and safety standards. Although not an official FDA recall, it is of note that in 2018, Merrick Pet Care issued a voluntary recall of two Castor and Pollux dog treat varieties.
This recall affected Castor and Pollux Good Buddy Prime Patties Beef Recipe treats and Good Buddy Sausage Cuts Real Beef Recipe treats and was a result of an FDA consumer complaint shared with the company. The complaint revolved around temporary health impacts caused by Merrick Backcountry Great Plains Real Beef Jerky, and not Castor and Pollux dog treats, but the company recalled the related beef treat products as a safety measure.
The complaint indicated that the dog treats potentially contained elevated levels of a naturally-occurring beef thyroid hormone. Excessive consumption of this hormone could lead to increases in thirst, urination, weight loss, heart rate, and restlessness. This was a limited risk, as treats are only meant to be occasionally consumed, but the company chose to issue the recall out of interest in both caution and consumer trust.
Is Castor and Pollux a Good Dog Food?
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Castor and Pollux dog food receives our second-highest rating of 4.5 stars.
Individual Recipe Ratings
The Castor and Pollux product lineup contains both dry kibble and wet canned food varieties. In the list below, we’ve included all of the products currently available through Amazon, along with their current star rating. Follow these links to check out their prices and package sizes.
- Castor and Pollux Pristine Grain-Free Raw Bites, Grass-Fed Beef & Sweet Potato Recipe (5 stars)
- Castor and Pollux Pristine Grain-Free Raw Bites, Free-Range Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe (5 stars)
- Castor and Pollux Organix Healthy Grains Puppy Recipe (5 stars)
- Castor and Pollux Pristine Grain-Free, Grass-Fed Beef & Chickpea Recipe (5 stars)
- Castor and Pollux Organix Grain-Free Small Breed Recipe (4.5 stars)
- Castor and Pollux Organix Healthy Grains, Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe (4.5 stars)
- Castor and Pollux Organix Grain-Free, Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe (4.5 stars)
- Castor and Pollux Pristine Grain-Free, Wild-Caught Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe (4.5 stars)
- Castor and Pollux Pristine Healthy Grains, Grass-Fed Beef & Oatmeal Recipe (4.5 stars)
- Castor and Pollux Pristine Grain-Free Puppy, Wild-Caught Salmon & Sweet Potato Recipe (4.5 stars)
Recipe Ingredient Analysis
We selected Castor and Pollux Pristine Grain-Free Raw Bites, Grass-Fed Beef & Sweet Potato Recipe to act as our representative product for this brand’s content analysis. Ingredients for this analysis are listed according to formula prevalence and include each ingredient’s moisture content.
Beef is this product’s first ingredient. Beef is considered a quality protein source to support muscle growth and development. It’s important to note though that this meat ingredient can consist of up to 80% water content, meaning that a significant portion of the ingredient’s weight may be lost during the cooking process. This might indicate a smaller impact on the product’s protein content than initially thought.
The second ingredient listed is chicken meal. Chicken meal is a dried product produced by rendering chicken flesh, skin, and bone. The rendering process removes moisture from the meat, leaving behind a concentrated protein powder. Since the water content has been removed from this ingredient, it can contribute a significantly higher amount of protein to the overall recipe.
Overall, chicken meal is a dense protein source that provides excellent support for lean muscle development. It is also a natural source of glucosamine, which provides joint support. Turkey meal is listed as the third ingredient. As with chicken meal, turkey meal is a dried end-product of rendering turkey that serves as an excellent protein source for healthy muscle maintenance.
Additionally, it’s rich in riboflavin and phosphorus to help your dog maintain healthy skin and a glossy coat. Organic sweet potatoes are the fourth listed ingredient. Sweet potatoes are packed with carbohydrates for energy. They also have high levels of dietary fiber and act as prebiotics to support digestive health. Additionally, they are high in both vitamin A and B vitamins for nervous system support.
Organic potatoes are listed as the fifth ingredient. Potatoes provide additional carbs to this recipe. They also provide plenty of potassium, which is great for heart health. The sixth ingredient is chicken fat. Chicken fat is a by-product skimmed off during the process of cooking chicken. This ingredient is an excellent source of linoleic acid and omega-6 fatty acids to support skin and coat health.
Organic sunflower seed meal is the seventh listed ingredient. Sunflower seeds contain vitamin E to support multiple systems, including the immune system, cardiovascular system, and muscle system. The eighth listed ingredient is dried egg powder. Dried egg powder comes from separating eggs from their shells and then drying them. This powder is a high-quality, easily digestible source of proteins and essential amino acids.
Natural flavor is listed as the ninth ingredient. This is added to maintain kibble taste. The recipe’s tenth ingredient listed is whitefish meal. Whitefish meal is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids to help them maintain healthy skin and coats. It’s also packed with protein for muscle health.
Less Prevalent Ingredients
Salmon acts as an additional source of high-quality protein in this formula. It’s also packed with omega-3 fatty acids to support the immune system and prevent joint inflammation. The recipe also includes organic flaxseed. This is another source of omega-3 and 6 fatty acids that help maintain skin and coat health. It also contains alpha-linolenic acid which is known for having anti-inflammatory properties.
It also features chicory root, which is a natural source of inulin. Inulin is a source of soluble dietary fiber and acts as an effective probiotic to encourage healthy gut and digestive tract health. However, some critics express concern over its effects on dogs with inflammatory issues or with pre-existing digestive conditions.
This recipe also contains blueberries. Blueberries are a low-calorie addition packed with plenty of antioxidants, fiber, and vitamins. Finally, the formula includes small amounts of a bacterial fermentation product known as dried bacillus coagulans. These naturally-occurring probiotics are included to support healthy digestion.
Nutrient Summary
We calculate our nutrient summary data based on the product’s dry matter content. We use the Guaranteed Analysis panel to compare protein, fat, fiber, and moisture content in pet food products. Due to the nature of this analysis, it is difficult to compare wet and dry dog food products due to the differences in moisture content. Thus, this information is most pertinent in comparison to other dry dog food products.
Castor and Pollux Pristine Grain Free dog food contains about 32% protein content. This protein is sourced primarily from beef, chicken meal, and turkey meal. All of these are quality protein sources appropriate for average adult dogs. This recipe also has a 16% fat content. A good portion of that fat appears to come from chicken fat, salmon, and dried egg powder.
Finally, this formula consists of approximately 40% carbs. Organic sweet potatoes and organic potatoes are the main sources of these carbohydrates. This higher carb content is appropriate for active dogs, although it could be detrimental to pets with weight troubles.
This product is omega-rich and packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. It features natural sources of glucosamine for joint support. Additionally, it’s packed with a variety of protein sources to ensure healthy muscles for your pet.
Our Rating of Castor and Pollux Dog Food
The Castor and Pollux brand dog food product line contains an average of 29% protein, 18% fat, and 45% carb content. This is considered an above-average amount of protein, an above-average amount of fat, and a below-average amount of carbs when compared to other dry dog food brands. We consider Castor and Pollux to be a mid-grade dog food brand. It emphasizes the importance of responsibly-sourced, USDA-certified ingredients in recipes that are corn, soy, wheat, and gluten-free.
They also make their products based on AAFCO nutritional standards and with no artificial additives or artificial preservatives. This brand features a varied product lineup with grain-inclusive and grain-free options in both wet and dry food. Additionally, its recipes feature a variety of quality animal protein sources. Considering all of these factors, we give Castor and Pollux brand dog food a rating of 4.5 stars.
What Do Others Say About Castor and Pollux
As of this review, Castor and Pollux brand dog food products have Amazon star ratings of between 4.5 and 5 stars. Our representative product, Castor and Pollux Pristine Grain-Free Raw Bites, Grass-Fed Beef & Sweet Potato Recipe dog food has a 5-star rating. Many users appreciate this brand’s products, boasting about its ability to relieve fatigue and digestive issues. Here is a review from an actual customer:
“The reason I like organic dog food is that it’s actually better for your dog since it doesn’t have all the pesticides on it. My human family eats organic so why not my dog. He really seems to enjoy the dog food and has a bright and shiny black coat.”
Final Thoughts
Many of Castor and Pollux brand products, including the product reviewed in this article, include fish ingredients. You might find yourself wondering if dogs can eat fish outside of their kibble. This is a question with a variety of answers based on the fish involved, and you may be surprised at what you learn!
Note: Want to treat your dog to the very best? Get 50% off your first box of human-grade dog food when you try Ollie. Paws down, Ollie is the easiest way to feed your pup fresh, nutritious food. Learn how it works here!
