Which Hydrolysed Dog Food Recipe Is Right for Your Dog? A Guide to the Ultimate Plus Range
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If you have decided that hydrolysed dog food is the right direction for your dog — or you are seriously considering it — the next question is usually: which one?
The Ultimate Plus range has five hydrolysed recipes, and they are not interchangeable. Each one uses the same Freshtrusion HDP manufacturing process and the same grain-free, no-prescription foundation, but the functional ingredients, peptide profiles, and health targets are different. Choosing the right recipe for your dog's specific needs makes a real difference to how quickly you see results.
This guide will help you find the right match. Start with the quick symptom table below if you want a straight answer, or read through the individual recipe sections for the full picture.
Quick Answer: Match Your Dog's Symptoms to the Right Recipe
If you know what your dog's main issue is, this table will point you straight to the most appropriate recipe. More detail on each recipe follows below.
| Your dog's main issue | Start with |
|---|---|
| Loose stools, gas, or bloating | Digestive Care |
| IBD, chronic gastroenteritis, or poor nutrient absorption | Digestive Care |
| Recovering from antibiotics, illness, or dietary upset | Digestive Care |
| Chronically smelly stools | Digestive Care |
| Itchy skin, hot spots, or recurring ear infections | Skin & Coat |
| Dull, dry, or flaky coat | Skin & Coat |
| Skin reactions — face, paws, or groin itching after eating | Skin & Coat |
| Overweight with reduced mobility | Weight Control & Joint |
| Arthritis, hip dysplasia, or joint stiffness | Weight Control & Joint |
| No specific condition — owner wants a cleaner everyday food | Healthy Living |
| History of sensitivity but currently symptom-free | Healthy Living |
| Plaque, red gums, bad breath, or dental disease | Dental Care |
If your dog has more than one issue — for example, digestive problems alongside skin reactions — start with the recipe that targets their most disruptive symptom first. Many owners start with Digestive Care and find that skin symptoms improve as a secondary benefit once the gut is functioning better.
What Every Recipe in the Range Has in Common
- Freshtrusion HDP process — freshly prepared meat or fish is hydrolysed using natural plant enzymes before the kibble is made. The finished kibble contains genuinely pre-hydrolysed protein throughout.
- Grain free — no wheat, corn, soya, or dairy. All five recipes use sweet potato and potato as the carbohydrate base.
- No prescription required — available to buy directly. All recipes meet FEDIAF nutritional standards for everyday complete feeding.
- Independently tested peptide profiles — every recipe has been independently analysed for peptide molecular weight distribution.
- Made in the UK — produced at G.A. Pet Food Partners' BRC Grade A accredited facility in Chorley, Lancashire.
Side-by-Side Comparison — All Five Recipes
The sub-0.5 kDa figure shows the percentage of protein in the finished kibble that is in the most digestible, most easily absorbed form — dipeptides and tripeptides. A higher figure means a higher degree of hydrolysis, calibrated to each recipe's specific health goal.
| Recipe | Primary goal | Sub-0.5 kDa peptides | No prescription | Price from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digestive Care | Gut & digestion | 52% | ✓ | £20 / £80 |
| Skin & Coat | Skin & immunity | 64% | ✓ | £20 / £80 |
| Weight & Joint | Weight & mobility | 60% | ✓ | £20 / £80 |
| Healthy Living | Everyday health | 64% | ✓ | £25.99 / £85.99 |
| Dental Care | Teeth & gums | 69% | ✓ | £20 / £80 |
All recipes are grain free and available without prescription. Sub-0.5 kDa figures represent minimum confirmed percentages from independent laboratory analysis of finished kibble.
The Five Recipes in Detail
Each section below covers who the recipe is designed for, what it is not suited for, and the functional ingredients that make it different from the others in the range.
1. Digestive Care
For dogs whose gut is the starting point for everything
- Loose or inconsistent stools that don't resolve on a standard sensitive food
- Excessive gas, bloating, or gut sounds after eating
- IBD, chronic gastroenteritis, or poor nutrient absorption
- Dogs recovering from antibiotics, illness, or a dietary upset
- Chronically smelly stools
- Food intolerances or allergies with a digestive component
- Dogs whose primary issue is skin — Skin & Coat is a better starting point
- Dogs needing joint support as the main goal — Weight Control & Joint targets this more directly
- Hydrolysed turkey (26% freshly prepared + 11.5% dried) — pre-digested protein at 52% sub-0.5 kDa for maximum gut absorption with minimal digestive workload
- TruPet™ postbiotic — studied in dogs, shown to increase beneficial gut bacteria, reduce faecal odour compounds, and support a calmer gut immune response
- Collagen peptides (1.9%) — help protect the gut wall lining, which can break down in dogs with chronic digestive inflammation
- Lignocellulose (2.5%) — natural plant fibre with high water-holding capacity, firms loose stools without causing constipation
2. Skin & Coat
For dogs where food is driving skin reactions
- Chronic itching, particularly around paws, face, groin, or armpits
- Recurring hot spots or skin infections with a suspected dietary trigger
- Recurring ear infections, especially yeast-based
- Dull, dry, or flaky coat that doesn't improve with standard feeding
- Dogs that have failed to respond to standard sensitive or novel protein diets
- Atopic dermatitis where diet is a contributing or confounding factor
- Dogs whose main issue is digestive — Digestive Care addresses gut health more directly
- Dogs where joint support is the primary need
- Hydrolysed salmon (35% freshly prepared) — 64% sub-0.5 kDa, maximising immune calming for skin-driven allergic reactions
- Salmon oil — rich in EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids, supporting skin barrier integrity and reducing inflammatory activity
- Borage oil — provides GLA (gamma-linolenic acid), which reduces moisture loss through the skin and supports dry or flaky conditions
- Hydrolysed marine collagen — provides building blocks for dermal collagen synthesis, supporting skin structure and elasticity
- Algae-sourced DHA — additional anti-inflammatory omega-3 support for skin and coat
3. Weight Control & Joint Care
For dogs carrying extra weight or showing signs of joint stiffness
- Overweight dogs, particularly neutered dogs or less active breeds
- Dogs with diagnosed arthritis, hip dysplasia, or other joint conditions
- Senior dogs with reduced mobility or reluctance to exercise
- Dogs on long-term anti-inflammatory medication where diet can support treatment
- Larger breeds prone to joint stress due to body weight
- Dogs at a healthy weight without joint concerns — Healthy Living is a better everyday fit
- Dogs whose primary issue is digestive or skin — choose the recipe targeting their main symptom first
- Marine collagen peptides — absorbed in short-chain form to support cartilage and reduce joint inflammatory activity — distinct from standard glucosamine supplementation
- Green-lipped mussel — natural source of glycosaminoglycans and omega-3 fatty acids, supporting joint fluid quality and mobility
- L-carnitine — supports fat metabolism and helps maintain lean muscle during weight management
- Fish peptides — provide additional bioactive support for cardiovascular health and lean body composition
4. Healthy Living
For dogs without a specific condition who deserve better nutrition every day
- Dogs without a diagnosed condition whose owner wants a cleaner, more digestible everyday food
- Dogs with a history of sensitivity who have resolved their symptoms and need a long-term maintenance diet
- Dogs transitioning off a prescription hydrolysed diet
- Multi-dog households where a single hypoallergenic food suits all dogs
- Dogs that do better on highly digestible food without a specific identified reason
- Dogs with active digestive symptoms — Digestive Care targets these more directly
- Dogs with active skin reactions — Skin & Coat has a higher therapeutic hydrolysis profile
- Dogs needing joint support — Weight Control & Joint has specific functional ingredients for this
- 64% sub-0.5 kDa hydrolysed protein — matches the Skin & Coat recipe on the most digestible fraction, providing strong hypoallergenic credentials for daily feeding
- Broader peptide distribution (13% above 2 kDa) — deliberate formulation choice for an everyday diet, supporting wider immune function and nutritional breadth
- Prebiotics (MOS & FOS) — support a balanced gut microbiome for ongoing digestive and immune health
- Natural antioxidants — support cellular health and immune resilience as part of everyday nutrition
5. Dental Care
The most extensively hydrolysed recipe in the range — for dogs with dental health concerns
- Dogs with plaque build-up, calculus, or diagnosed periodontal disease
- Dogs with red or inflamed gums or recurring oral infections
- Dogs with persistent bad breath that doesn't resolve with standard dental products
- Dogs that resist tooth brushing and need dietary support for oral hygiene
- Senior dogs where periodontal disease and food sensitivity occur together
- Dogs whose primary issue is digestive, skin, or joint — choose the recipe matching their main symptom
- Dogs at ideal dental health wanting everyday maintenance — Healthy Living covers this
- 69% sub-0.5 kDa protein — highest degree of hydrolysis in the range, targeting the link between food sensitivity, systemic inflammation, and gum disease progression
- Targeted active dental ingredients — specific to plaque management and gum health, working on tooth surfaces during chewing
- Grain-free carbohydrate base — reduces fermentable carbohydrates in the oral environment, which contribute to bacterial plaque formation
What If My Dog Has More Than One Issue?
This is common — dogs with food sensitivities rarely have just one symptom. Here is how to approach the most frequent combinations:
Digestive problems + skin reactions
Start with Digestive Care. The gut is the root of most immune-mediated food reactions — improving gut barrier function often reduces skin symptoms as a secondary benefit. Give it eight weeks before assessing whether Skin & Coat would be a better fit.
Skin reactions + joint stiffness
If skin is the primary concern, start with Skin & Coat — the high hydrolysis profile benefits both skin and joint inflammation. If joint mobility is the priority, start with Weight Control & Joint, particularly if your dog is carrying extra weight.
General sensitivity + weight management
Start with Weight Control & Joint. The hydrolysed protein base reduces systemic inflammation — both an allergy management strategy and a metabolic support strategy — while L-carnitine and marine collagen peptides address weight and joint function.
Everything seems fine — you just want better
Healthy Living. Designed for dogs who are not unwell but whose owners want a food that genuinely earns its place in the bowl.
How Quickly Will You See Results?
- Digestive Care Firmer stools and reduced gas typically within 2–3 weeks. Full gut health assessment needs 6–8 weeks.
- Skin & Coat Coat shine often improves within 3–4 weeks. Itching, redness, and ear infections typically take 6–8 weeks. This is normal.
- Weight & Joint Joint comfort improvements — increased willingness to walk, reduced stiffness — typically within 6–8 weeks.
- Healthy Living Gradual maintenance improvements. Better stool consistency and coat condition within 3–4 weeks.
- Dental Care Breath improvement often noticed within a few weeks. Gum health changes take 6–8 weeks.
For any recipe used as a food trial, feed exclusively for a minimum of eight weeks — no other protein sources, flavoured treats, or chews. Mixing with other foods during a trial prevents accurate assessment.
How to Transition to Any Ultimate Plus Recipe
Introduce gradually over two weeks to give your dog's gut time to adjust:
For dogs with very sensitive stomachs, extend each phase to 5–6 days. Some temporary softening of stools during transition is normal and usually settles within the first week of full feeding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. All five recipes share the same manufacturing process and similar ingredient foundations, so switching between them is straightforward. Transition over one week rather than two when switching within the range. Many owners start with a therapeutic recipe and move to Healthy Living once symptoms have resolved.
None of them do. All five Ultimate Plus hydrolysed recipes are available to purchase directly without vet authorisation. They are formulated to the same standard of protein hydrolysis as leading prescription diets but are not restricted to vet-only supply.
Healthy Living is formulated as a premium everyday diet with a wider range of functional ingredients to support general immune, digestive, and skin health simultaneously. The difference is £5.99 per 1.5 kg bag compared to the rest of the range.
Sub-0.5 kDa refers to the proportion of protein in the finished kibble that consists of dipeptides and tripeptides — the shortest possible protein chains, absorbed most quickly through the gut wall. A higher figure means a higher degree of hydrolysis. Each recipe's figure is calibrated to its health goal: the Dental Care recipe has the highest (69%) because reducing systemic immune load is critical for periodontal health; the Digestive Care recipe has the lowest (52%) because gut absorption benefits from a broader mix of peptide sizes.
Yes. All five recipes are nutritionally complete to FEDIAF European pet food standards for all life stages and are designed for everyday long-term feeding. Many dogs remain on hydrolysed food for life with no concerns.
Yes. A sample pack is available from the hydrolysed range collection page — a good starting point if you are not sure which recipe your dog will prefer in terms of palatability.
Still Not Sure? We Can Help
If your dog's situation doesn't fit neatly into one category, contact us directly. Glenn and the team are happy to talk through your dog's specific symptoms and point you to the right recipe.