Is Pure Balance a Good Dog Food?
Pure Balance includes both grain-inclusive and grain-free wet dog foods using a significant amount of named meats as their dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Which Pure Balance Recipes Get Our Best Ratings?
Pure Balance Dog Food receives the Advisor’s second-highest rating of 4 stars.
The Pure Balance product line includes the 2 dry dog foods listed below.
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile when available… Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
Pure Balance Chicken and Brown Rice was selected to represent both products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient ContentProtein =
Ingredients: Chicken, chicken meal, dried peas, brown rice, pea protein, dried beet pulp, poultry fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), brewers rice, natural flavor, whole flaxseed, rice bran, oatmeal, sunflower oil, dried egg product, salt, yeast, dried carrots, dicalcium phosphate, menhaden fish oil, potassium chloride, zinc proteinate, dried cranberry, vitamin E supplement, iron proteinate, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), lactic acid, copper proteinate, mixed manganese proteinate, biotin, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, sodium selenite, l-carnitine, Bacillus coagulans fermentation product, vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement, thiamine mononitrate, rosemary extract, vitamin B12 supplement, calcium iodate, pyridoxine hydrochloride (source of vitamin B6), vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5.6%
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 27% | 15% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 30% | 17% | 45% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 26% | 35% | 39% |
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken. Although it is a quality item, raw chicken contains up to 73% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.
After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.
The second ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The next ingredient includes dried peas. Dried peas are a good source of carbohydrates. Plus they’re naturally rich in dietary fiber.
However, dried peas contain about 27% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.
The fourth 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 next ingredient is pea protein, what remains of a pea after removing the starchy part of the vegetable.
Even though it contains over 80% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.
And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label — a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.
The sixth 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 seventh ingredient is poultry fat. Poultry fat is obtained from rendering, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Poultry fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life.
However, poultry fat is a relatively generic ingredient and can be considered lower in quality than a similar item from a named source animal (like chicken fat).
The next ingredient is brewers rice. Brewers rice is a cereal grain by-product consisting of the small fragments left over after milling whole rice. Aside from the caloric energy it contains, this item is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
After the natural flavor, we find 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.
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 product.
With 6 notable exceptions…
First, we find 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.
Next, sunflower oil is nutritionally similar to safflower oil. Since these oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids and contain no omega-3’s, they’re considered less nutritious than canola or flaxseed oils.
Sunflower oil is notable for its resistance to heat damage during cooking.
There are several different types of sunflower oil, some better than others. Without knowing more, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this ingredient.
In addition, we note the use of menhaden oil. Menhaden are small ocean fish related to herring. Their oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids, two high quality fats boasting the highest bio-availability to both dogs and humans.
What’s more, in their mid-depth habitat, menhaden are not as likely to be exposed to mercury contamination as is typical with deep water species.
Next, we note the inclusion of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added as probiotics to aid with digestion.
We also find sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium in this product. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.
And lastly, this food contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
Based on its ingredients alone, Pure Balance Dog Food looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 30%, a fat level of 17% and estimated carbohydrates of about 45%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 28% and a mean fat level of 17%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 48% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 60%.
Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
When you consider the protein-boosting effect of the dried peas, pea protein, and flaxseed, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.
A Quick Look at Pure Balance Dog FoodPros
Cons
It can be difficult to understand what ingredients are healthy for your pet and which ones you should avoid. Below, we will outline some of the ingredients in each type of dog food to give you a better understanding of what is nutritional and what may not be beneficial to your pet. First, however, we wanted to give you a quick background on a few important factors.
The 13 Worst Pet Foods
If you read the label, you’ll see that Pure Balance Dog Food balances plant-based nutrition with a moderate dose of animal protein. However, there’s always more to the story than the nutrition facts can tell. How healthy a dog food truly is depends on the cleanliness of the manufacturing process and the sources of the ingredients themselves. Here’s a closer look at Pure Balance Dog Food so that you can decide for yourself if it’s the right choice for your pet.
While it’s not obvious from the product packaging, Walmart is the retail giant behind Pure Balance dog food. It promises to bring a range of vitamins, minerals, and other necessary components of a healthy diet right into your pet’s bowl. Don’t allow it to fool you, either. Walmart’s creation is a premium dog food product that holds up well against other premium dog foods on the market.
In fact, Pure Balance dog food holds a complete approval from AAFCO, the Association of American Feed Control Officials. It also uses only human-grade ingredients in every recipe. Overall, Pure Balance dog food is rich in nutrition. Plus, it comes in both wet and dry forms with a range of flavors to please just about any dog. It’s marketed for all breeds and age groups as well. With all of this in mind, Pure Balance is much more affordable when looking at the price of comparable dog foods.
There are many flavors of Pure Balance food you’ll find on the shelves. You’ll also notice that some foods specify “small breed” or carry a label like “grain free” on the front. Here’s a look at what Pure Balance offers in both the wet and dry categories.
Across the wet and dry lines of Pure Balance dog food, each serving contains up to 39% carbs, 35% essential fat, 26% protein, and 5.6% fiber. Most recipes include a good dose of essential vitamins, like ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate, calcium iodate, folic acid, and potassium chloride. Plus vitamin E and D3, which are critical components of a healthy canine diet.
Moreover, most Pure Balance recipes don’t include any corn, soy, or wheat. This is a major selling point for many dog owners who look to avoid these ingredients in their dog’s diet. This is becoming an increasing trend in the dog food world, which is why Pure Balance and other brands are stepping up to offer such foods at more accessible price points.
The major reason why most dog owners look to avoid corn, soy, and wheat is simple: it’s not appropriate for the species. As we continue to study and understand more about our canine companions, it’s becoming increasingly clear that we should seek to feed them a diet that’s reminiscent of what they’d get in the wild.
The fact is, dogs have had very little time to evolve and they are simply not built to eat many of the things we give them. Feeding them low-quality food that doesn’t coincide with what they would eat in nature will put them at a higher risk of disease and decrease their lifespan.
Corn is often misrepresented as a vegetable, but it’s actually a grain. Unfortunately, you will find it on the ingredient panel of many low-quality and average dog foods – generally near the top of the list, too. Pure Balance has multiple formulas that advertise corn-free. The grain-free formulas are also corn-free.
When in the body, corn gets converted into sugar and can wreak havoc on your pet’s organs. Plus, it’s also often genetically modified, which can have other negative effects on your dog.
Along these same lines, soy is at the top of the list when it comes to genetically modified foods. Finally, wheat can throw off the delicate balance of gut flora while also contributing to autoimmune disease. So, many dog food manufacturers are moving away from these ingredients. With growing consumer knowledge and competition, the shift is only happening faster now, and Pure Balance is part of the movement.
Pure Balance has multiple foods in its lineup. Most get marketed towards adult dogs with a select number of “small breed” foods and even some puppy formulas. Feeding the right formula to your dog is essential to supporting your pet’s health throughout each and every life stage. So don’t overlook these labels when picking out your dog’s food.
Pure Balance also features a feeding recommendation on every bag. The amounts vary depending on the food itself along with the dog’s age and weight. Following these feeding recommendations is essential to ensuring your dog does not overeat and also doesn’t go underfed.
When switching, follow the suggestions on the bag for transitioning your dog to Pure Balance from another food. Doing so will help avoid a shock to your dog’s system as your pet gradually changes from one formula to the next. This process can take many weeks, but it’s worthwhile to keep your dog healthy and happy.
Now, to get a more thorough understanding of the quality of Pure Balance dog food, here’s a closer look at one of the brand’s most popular sellers, the Baked Grain-Free Chicken with Broccoli & Carrot Recipe.
Currently, Pure Balance is exclusive to Walmart, although you can occasionally find online retailers selling it second-hand, like through Amazon or eBay. As with any such product, it’s best to get it directly from the source to ensure its legitimacy and freshness. You can buy Pure Balance both online and in stores, so long as it’s in stock.
On every nutrition label, you should note that the ingredients panel lists items in order of bulk. In other words, the first ingredient makes up the biggest portion of the food, the second ingredient makes up the second biggest portion, and so on.
The ingredients panel is the first place your eyes will likely gravitate to when checking a dog food, and that’s good. Seeing certain ingredients in the panel, like meat “by-product” and low-quality fillers, tells you that a dog food isn’t worth considering for the health of your pet.
Fortunately, Pure Balance doesn’t include any low-quality filler ingredients or by-products. The very first ingredient for this recipe is actually fresh deboned chicken. Obviously, that puts this food off to a great start because real meat should always be the first ingredient. It’s a great, healthy, and natural source of protein for dogs.
The second ingredient in this recipe is potatoes. This does lead to high carbohydrate content in this food, which is something to look for when choosing. It’s important that your dog doesn’t get too many carbs or calories as, just like in people, it can lead to weight gain.
The next ingredients on the list also show the thought that went into the design of Pure Balance. It is truly meant to compete with the top brands. Dried peas are next on the list, followed by fish meal.
Meat “meal” is something you’ll often see in dog foods. The average meat is about 70% water, so companies produce meat “meal” by evaporating the majority of water out of a whole meat product. The result is meat meal, which often ends up being healthier and more protein dense than whole meat.
Following these, you’ll see dried egg product, pea protein, tapioca, pea fiber, chicken fat, ground whole flaxseed, broccoli, and carrot, amongst others. You won’t find any particular ingredients that stand out, as they are all pretty clean and straightforward.
Independent testing of dog foods ensures their purity beyond what you can read on the ingredients list. In today’s dog food industry, the production process is actually able to introduce many contaminants. These contaminants can also come from the ingredients themselves.
For instance, if the farm sprayed pesticides on the vegetables used in the food or if the animals were ever fed hormones, these things will impact the final product. However, you’ll never be able to tell the cleanliness of a dog food unless you have results from a third-party lab.
Pure Balance has yet to get tested by such a lab. While the dog food line itself launched in 2012, the market of dog food testing is still in its infancy. With that said, some of the other premium dog foods already have test results published from various sources, like the Clean Label Project.
The results can change with time as companies are always sourcing ingredients from new places to find the best price and keep up with demand and availability requirements. The unfortunate thing is that, without contamination tests, the only way to really estimate the cleanliness of a dog food brand is to look for recalls.
Recalls often occur in response to a contamination. While accidents surely happen and are sometimes out of the manufacturer’s control, frequent recalls or recalls due to a result of mishandling of ingredients or the final product will clue you into how clean the dog food likely is.
In the case of Pure Balance dog food, it has never received a recall notice in all seven years that it’s been on the market. That’s great news, and it should help provide you with confidence regarding the cleanliness of the food, even though no lab results currently exist to quantify the contaminants (or lack thereof).