Frequently Asked Questions

With so many great formulas available, it can be difficult to navigate. Please click here to send a message to our consumer affairs team. We will gather more information about you and your pet(s) and will be happy to help you with this decision.

All ULTIMATES products do have a 100% guarantee, so if you are not satisfied for any reason, you can return the product with the packaging and receipt to the retailer. We would love to help you find the best ULTIMATES recipe for your pet. Please click to send a message to our consumer affairs team so we can get more information about you and your pet.

For a food to be classified as an all life stages dog food, it must pass a certain protocol used by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) to determine if the food has the nutrient content necessary to fully support multiple stages of life. These are gestation, lactation, growth, and maintenance. A food with this classification may be used for a pet in any of these life stages so long as the correct amount is fed. However, certain specific life stage foods may be more appropriate in meeting the nutritional needs of puppies, large breed dogs, small breed dogs, and those needing to control or lose weight.

Unfortunately, there is no current Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) definition for human grade ingredients in pet food. Only the safest ingredients available go into ULTIMATES recipes.

Midwestern Pet Foods offers many different shapes and sizes of kibble depending upon the formula. We choose the shape and size of the kibble, in part, to ensure the food is cooked just right for maximum palatability, digestibility, and performance. An added benefit is that this provides pet owners a variety of choices in case their dog has specific needs. For example, larger breeds will need a large sized kibble to encourage them to eat more slowly and chew their food, while the same kibble would be difficult for a smaller breed to eat. Please refer to the kibble charts below to determine which formulas might be a good size and shape for your pet.

Ultimates Whole Grain Recipes Kibble Chart

Ultimates Grain-Free Recipes Kibble Chart

Ultimates Sensitive Recipes Kibble Chart

Midwestern Pet Foods chooses not to use artificial colors or dyes in any of our ULTIMATES recipes. The color of the completed product is entirely dependent upon the natural color of the ingredients used. Factors such as the time of year or where ingredients were sourced can cause the color of a specific recipe to vary from batch to batch. This variation does not impact the quality or nutritional value of the product.

Sometimes the size of the kibble may vary slightly depending on the cook of the product (how much it puffs up). This means that although the exact same recipe is used, ingredients are carefully measured, and the same process is followed, sometimes the kibble will puff up and be rounded and other times the pieces will turn out flatter. Although consistency is our goal, variation is natural. It doesn’t affect the taste of the food or the nutrients.

No, ULTIMATES recipes use only the best natural ingredients with added vitamins and minerals.

Midwestern Pet Foods sources all ingredients from US suppliers whenever possible. Some examples of ingredients that must be sourced outside the US are lamb meal from Australia or New Zealand, tapioca from Vietnam and Thailand and flaxseed from Canada. Vitamin premixes are formulated, sourced and blended in the United States by a US company in a human grade facility.

Our natural flavors are derived from pork or poultry liver that has been hydrolyzed using natural enzymes. This process creates a highly palatable flavor to enhance taste. Hydrolyzed ingredients are also processed in a way that reduces the likelihood of triggering food sensitivities.

Our pet food formulas and manufacturing processes are proprietary to our products, so we do not disclose the specific percentages of animal-based protein versus plant-based protein. However, all of our recipes are formulated to provide complete and balanced nutrition that meets established pet food industry standards.

We are continuously looking for ways to improve our products while ensuring they meet our high standards for quality and nutrition. From time to time, this may include updates to our ingredient formulations.  any changes are made with your pet’s well-being in mind. Our commitment to providing your pets with the same balanced, high-quality nutrition we would feed our own remains our top priority.

Fresh meat contains a high percentage of water (typically 75–80%) and relatively lower levels of protein, meaning it contributes less nutritional value on a dry matter basis. In contrast, meat meals are a concentrated source of high-quality protein, providing essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and beneficial nutrients such as naturally occurring glucosamine and chondroitin that support joint health.

Dogs and cats require specific nutrients rather than individual ingredients alone. That’s why we carefully select and balance ingredients based on the nutritional benefits they provide, ensuring complete and balanced nutrition for overall pet health.

Dogs and cats require specific nutrients for growth, development, and maintenance. Our Earthborn Holistic dry dog food recipes are formulated to provide complete and balanced nutrition, ensuring pets receive all essential nutrients they need. We review the latest pet nutrition research to help identify ingredients that support these nutritional requirements.

Peas are included as a nutrient-dense ingredient, providing plant-based protein, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients, and dietary fiber to support overall health. All Earthborn Holistic dry dog foods, including our Venture and Unrefined recipes, are fortified with taurine and B vitamins, including thiamine, to help support heart health.

Research into a potential link between dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and grain-free dog food, particularly diets containing pulse ingredients (such as peas, lentils, and other legumes) and/or potatoes, remains inconclusive. Following extensive investigation, the FDA has stated that there is no sufficient evidence to establish a direct causal relationship between specific diets or ingredients and non-hereditary DCM.

Dried yeast is commonly included in dry dog food as a valuable source of protein, amino acids, and B vitamins, along with other beneficial compounds. At Earthborn Holistic, we use dried yeast as a postbiotic ingredient to help support immune health and gut health. We also review the latest pet nutrition research to ensure our ingredients meet essential nutritional needs.

Some pet parents ask whether dried yeast can cause yeast infections, bloat, or digestive issues in dogs and cats. Yeast infections in pets typically affect the skin and are most often secondary to allergies, rather than caused by dietary yeast.

There are many different types of yeast. The specific yeast used in our pet food formulations, and in many other pet foods, is not known to cause bloat or gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV). However, consuming raw or unbaked yeast dough can be dangerous for pets and may lead to serious digestive issues, including bloat.

The dried yeast used in our recipes is generally considered non-allergenic, although some pets may show sensitivity to yeast during allergy testing. As always, if you have concerns about your pet’s specific dietary needs, we recommend consulting your veterinarian.

Pets, like people, are all different. Some can handle switching foods easily without any problems. Others with more sensitive stomachs cannot handle change well and experience digestive issues. We recommend taking 7 to 10 days when changing your pet’s food. Please refer to the transition chart below for further guidance.

It is important to note that all ULTIMATES recipes are individual formulations, and not just different flavors of the same thing with a few ingredients swapped out. For that reason, we recommend that you take 7 to 10 days when changing your pet’s food, even within the same brand. This is even more important when the formulas have different protein sources.

Pets, like people, are all different. Some can handle switching foods easily without any problems. Others with more sensitive stomachs cannot handle change well and experience digestive issues. You know your pet best so use your best judgement. To be on the safe side, a gradual switch is always best. Please refer to the transition chart below for further guidance.

We employ a dedicated, in-house animal nutritionist to develop complete and balanced pet food recipes and feeding guidelines for cats and dogs, ensuring optimal pet health and well-being. Their academic background includes coursework in animal nutrition, physiology, microbiology, and biochemistry, along with postdoctoral training focused on microbiology and food science, supporting expertise in pet food formulation, ingredient safety, and nutritional quality.

Our dry pet foods are produced using an advanced extrusion process, which applies controlled heat and pressure to cook the kibble. We carefully fine-tune the cooking times to ensure that the starches have cooked while preserving essential nutrients and ingredient quality.

This method allows for thorough cooking and expansion, which enhances the taste for your pets. We take great care throughout our manufacturing process to ensure our kibble consistently meets the highest standards for pet food quality and nutrition.

Our best puppy food recommendation would be our ULTIMATES Puppy Chicken Meal & Rice since it is specially formulated to meet the unique needs of growing puppies of any size and breed.

Our Bayside Select, Sensitive with Lamb Protein & Sensitive with Salmon Protein dog food recipes would also be a great choice as they are all life stages recipes, including all breeds of puppies.

An all life stages dog food simply means that it meets the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) guidelines for the nutritional needs of both puppies and adult dogs. After the puppy stage (typically around one year of age), your dog can be transitioned to any ULTIMATES formula. We recommend taking 7 to 10 days when changing your pet’s food, even within the same brand.

With so many great puppy foods available, it can be difficult to navigate this choice. Please click here to send a message to our consumer affairs team. We will gather more information about you and your pet(s) and will be happy to help you with this decision.

In general, small breed dogs should remain on a puppy formula for 10 to 12 months; for puppy food for large breeds, it is 12 to 16 months; and for giant breeds, like Great Danes, it is 24 months. We recommend that you work with your vet to determine when your dog is ready for this change.

We believe that our ULTIMATES dog food recipes are some of the best on the market today in their price range. All nutrients are carefully balanced, the food is fortified with key ingredients and processed with great care. The addition of any other supplement is typically not necessary and could upset the balance of nutrition provided by the foods.

At Midwestern Pet Foods, your pet’s health is important to us. Sometimes pets do have issues that require additional care regarding certain components of their food. Please click here to contact consumer affairs and request additional information.

Pets, like people, are all different. For that reason, there is no specific number of treats per day that should be fed. Typically, treats should not make up more than 10% of their daily calories. Using this guide, that means a small dog with an average metabolism would usually get about 3 or 4 treats per day. In contrast, a typical Golden Retriever eats around 1,000 calories per day so they might receive 5 to 10 treats per day if they are active. The most important thing is to pay attention to your dog and make sure that they are maintaining a good weight and eating a healthy and well-balanced diet.

Should there be an inadvertent feeding mix-up, please know that there is no cause for alarm. However, ULTIMATES dog food recipes are specifically formulated with your animal’s optimal health in mind. Because dogs and cats have unique nutritional needs and different digestive systems, their foods are made with those requirements in mind. Dogs should only eat dog recipes and cats eat cat recipes to ensure that all their nutritional needs are being met.

Midwestern Pet Foods sources all ingredients from U.S.-based suppliers whenever possible to support quality and consistency in our pet food manufacturing. In cases where certain ingredients are not available in the USA, we carefully source them from trusted global partners. All ingredients undergo rigorous quality testing and certification to ensure they meet our strict standards for purity, safety, and nutritional quality.

Please refer to the expiration date on the packaging. We do not recommend feeding any food or treat after the expiration as the freshness, palatability and nutritional content will be diminished.

Once exposed to air, dry kibble can begin to go stale and can become less enjoyable for the pet. ULTIMATES products are available in various sizes. With this in mind, we recommend that you purchase the bag size your pet(s) will eat within a 4-6 week timeframe. Remember to properly seal the food between feedings as exposure to air reduces shelf life.

Pet food, like many consumable products, can develop mold if exposed to improper storage conditions at any point after manufacturing. This is especially true for formulas made without artificial preservatives or stabilizers, as they rely on proper handling to maintain fresh and safe to consume.

Our team carefully tracks and monitors all customer concerns as they are reported through our system. Each issue is thoroughly reviewed and investigated by our Quality Assurance team to ensure pet food safety and product quality.

If your pet is unable to finish the bag within 4-6 weeks, please repackage the food into smaller well-sealed bags or containers and freeze until it is needed. (Just make sure to defrost it first!)

The expiration date on ULTIMATES pet foods is stamped on the back of each bag, along the top of the package. The first line will reflect the expiration date and will appear on dry products like: exp 16/NOV/18. Expiration dates are listed by day, month and then year.

The expiration date is stamped on the packaging during the same process, and with the same machine, that seals the bag. Because of this, the expiration date stamp (also known as a bag code or date code) and the seal must be next to each other.

ULTIMATES coupons are sent out to subscribers via email on the 15th of each month. The coupon is valid for a 5-pound (or larger) bag of any dry kibble and can be redeemed at any traditional retail partner.

You may wish to add contact@ultimatespetfood.com to your address book so the monthly email does not end up in your spam folder.

To register, click here.

Most customers can use the print option from within their email to print the coupon. If this does not work well for you (or you want to save paper), you can click on the button just below the coupon that says “click here to download coupons in PDF format” and save to your computer.

If you do not have a printer available, most public libraries or office supply stores can print items for you at very low cost. We do not offer monthly coupons by mail.

Most of our retailers are unable to honor the coupons electronically at this time, as returning the physical coupons to Midwestern Pet Foods is how they claim their reimbursement.

Many retailers participate in the ULTIMATES frequent buyer program that allows consumers to buy 12 bags and get the 13th bag free. Please check with your store for details.

All ULTIMATES products are 100% guaranteed for taste and nutrition. If you are unsatisfied for any reason, simply return any unused food along with the bag and receipt to the authorized retailer where it was purchased for a full refund or exchange. Ask your retailer for details.

Please note: Midwestern Pet Foods strongly advises against purchasing ULTIMATES products from unauthorized resellers. A full listing of independently-owned-and-operated authorized retailers and online partners is available . If you find a ULTIMATES product at a retailer not on this list, it may have been acquired through non-traditional means and as a result could be tampered with, expired, stored improperly, or counterfeit.