Pure Balance Dog Food Review

More and more pet owners are becoming aware of the need to feed their beloved dogs the best nutrition possible. According to pet nutritionists, the healthy pet food trend is rising and is here to stay. But with so many dog food products out there, it can be overwhelming to pick the right one, especially if you have a budget to stick to.

Pure Balance is Walmart’s brand. Although it’s been around since 2012, it’s becoming increasingly popular, with owners looking for a balance of high-quality food and value for money. But can a store brand meet the nutritional needs of our pets?

We explore the Pure Balance dog food brand and discover how good it is. Let us start by saying that doggy nutritional experts, other owners, and us at LoveYour Dog are impressed by its range and quality. We look at their history and recalls, range of products, and review some of our favorites. Let’s take a closer look at what they have to offer.

Brand History

Pure Balance Dog Food is Walmart’s home brand, which they launched in 2012. They aimed to create a healthy, quality pet food product that didn’t break your bank. It is a premium offering similar to other premium brands, with a much lower price tag. This brand is exclusive to Walmart, and it is available in-store, on their website, or there are a few options available on Amazon.

Walmart does not deal with food manufacturing. They initially outsourced this to Ainsworth Pet Nutrition LLC, a family-run business in their fifth generation. In 2018, the J. M. Smucker Company acquired Ainsworth Pet Nutrition LLC for $1.7 billion. Smuckers welcomed most staff and factories into their business, continuing as usual. The two manufacturing facilities are in Meadville, PA, and Meta, MO.

Recall History

A company’s recall history is a great way to see how seriously they take our beloved pup’s safety. If they have had any recalls, it’s also important to see how they dealt with it. Accidents happen, and many pet food brands have had products recalled. But most brands deal with it honestly and quickly. Any company that tries to cover its tracks is not a brand you want to buy from, so this is an integral part of food research.

Recalls occur when products do not meet the standards expected by the brand itself or the pet food industry. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) can issue a recall, or the brand can issue a voluntary recall. At this time, there have been no recalls for Pure Balance pet food. This is fantastic, considering they have been operating for over 10 years.

Range Of Recipes

Pure Balance offers a wide range of recipes that cater to most tastes and dietary requirements. This means that most doggos can find something in the Pure Balance brand. So, let’s take a closer look at their line of recipes.

Pure Balance

Pure Balance has a generic range of premium recipes that cater to most dogs. You can find a mixture of kibble, canned foods, dinner trays, and a fresh option in this line. Here, you can find a mix of grain-inclusive and grain-free choices. In total, there are 11 products in this line.

Pure Balance Pro+

Pure Balance Pro+ is the line that targets specific doggy audiences. These foods are designed for specific dietary needs and come in kibble, canned, wet, and fresh options. This range includes food for puppies, large-breed puppies, small breeds, large breeds, seniors, sensitive skin and stomach, healthy skin and coat, weight management, and performance. There are 19 Pure Balance Pro+ products available, and each one includes grains in their recipes.

Pure Balance Wild & Free

Pure Balance Wild and Free is a grain-free line using fewer ingredients to suit pups with digestive sensitivities. This range has seven options, including kibble, wet, and fresh options. The fresh options are labeled “Wild and Fresh.”

Pure Balance Fresh

Pure Balance Fresh is the last line, including six fresh options. Each fresh option is grain-free. There are also other fresh options in different ranges if you’re looking for more specific fresh food, so be sure to check those out, too. In this line, there are also two fresh natural chew options.

Pure Balance Dog Food Reviews

With so many products to choose from, we have chosen a selection of Pure Balance’s high-quality products across their lines. Let’s take a look at some of our favorites.

Pure Balance’s best seller is this chicken and brown rice kibble. It uses high-quality ingredients, and the first component is real chicken to satisfy Fido’s tastebuds. Chicken meal is the second ingredient, which provides even more protein and is an excellent source of glucosamine for your dog’s joint health. Flaxseed, eggs, and fish oil provide plenty of healthy fats to maintain their skin, coat, and overall well-being.

This grain-inclusive option lists brown rice, barley, and oatmeal, which are easy-to-digest grains for most dogs. They are a great source of energy and fiber, which helps keep your dog fuller for longer. This kibble is fortified with vitamins, minerals, and probiotics, which ensure your dog stays as healthy as possible. Probiotics also help with smoother digestion.

We love that this plain and simple chicken and brown rice recipe is a high-quality option that most dogs enjoy, which is why it’s one of Pure Balance’s best sellers.

The first three ingredients in this recipe are beef, beef liver, and bison. These super tasty meat ingredients contain various nutrients to help achieve a balanced diet. Cranberries, spinach, blueberries, and added vitamins and minerals provide superfood nutrients to help keep your pooch fighting fit and healthy.

This grain-free option has a pate-like consistency and is suitable for dogs of all ages. This fresh food is nutritionally complete to help maintain a healthy lifestyle. Serve this as a meal in itself or as a topper or tasty treat. This fresh food comes in a convenient chub roll, making serving and keeping it fresh easy.

We love that this fresh food is super tasty, nutritious, and easy to slice, dice, and serve without mess.

This kibble is from the Pure Balance Pro+ line and is excellent for most adult dogs with sensitive skin and stomachs. Prebiotic fibers such as peas and brown rice help this recipe to be simple to digest. It also contains a source of live and naturally occurring microorganisms that aid and soothe the digestive process. Together, they contribute towards healthy stools and a healthier pooch.

Salmon and fish meal are the first two ingredients, which are full of healthy omegas that nourish your dog’s skin, coat, and joints. And most dogs find protein-rich fish irresistible. This kibble is fortified with extra vitamins and minerals to help support your dog’s immune system and overall wellness. This is a highly-rated formula that helps many adult dogs with their sensitivities.

We love that veterinarians specifically design this dry dog food for dogs with sensitive skin and stomachs.

This variety pack is great for all small dog breeds. It offers two flavors, which is great for fussy Fidos who like to rotate their bowl contents. Not only are both recipes formulated by veterinarians, but they also come in handy dinner trays that are the perfect size for tiny doggos. No more wrapping up large containers for days while your tiny pooch gets through them.

Beef and chicken are the main stars of this show, with real meat and egg whites that are rich in protein, nutrients, and taste. Carrots, pumpkin, and peas provide much-needed fiber to help keep hungry hounds feeling fuller and aid with regular digestion. Both recipes contain yucca schidigera extract, which contributes to healthier stools and less gas.

We love that these recipes are made explicitly with small-breed dogs in mind. Plus, they come in handy trays to help keep their food fresh.

Large-breed dogs are any dogs estimated to weigh more than 50 pounds at maturity. These dogs have slightly different nutritional needs from smaller dogs, so investing in nutrition designed for larger breeds is essential. Calcium and phosphorus levels help to control and support bone growth. They also contain higher levels of glucosamine, which supports their joints and helps to keep them supple.

This chicken and brown rice recipe is highly rated and contains real chicken and chicken meal. Not only are these ingredients tasty, but they are rich in protein, which helps support muscle maintenance and overall wellness. Taurine and fish oil contribute to a healthy cardiac system and eyes, and L-carnitine helps with metabolism, helping your large pooch to stay fit and trim. Cranberries and sweet potatoes are full of nutrients and vitamins, too.

We love that dry food is ideal for large breeds who like large, crunchy kibble pieces to chew.

Veterinarians designed this Pure Balance Pro+ option for the growing needs of puppies. Although this kibble is suitable for growing puppies of all sizes, we recommend the alternative version for large-breed puppies. The kibble sizes are smaller than their standard pieces to help puppies chew them more easily. Carrots and peas add an extra boost of goodness to their developing immunity.

Chicken is the first ingredient, which is high in protein, an essential component in a puppy’s diet to build and maintain healthy muscles. Chicken meal is the next ingredient, which contains glucosamine to assist with joint development and health. Included omega fatty acids, including DHA, contribute to healthy brain and eye development and are an integral part of a puppy’s diet.

We love that this kibble is made specifically for puppies and their additional developmental needs. There is also a large-breed puppy version.

This multi-pack is explicitly made for the nutritional needs of senior dogs. As dogs age, they usually need simpler formulas with fewer calories and fat. They also need extra support with their slowing digestive system and immunity. This recipe contains more fiber than adult recipes, such as yellow squash and pumpkin. It also had plenty of probiotics to assist with digestion.

Thanks to real chicken, chicken liver, white fish, and egg whites, there is still plenty of protein to assist with muscle maintenance. Your older dog’s drying skin, coat, and slower joints are boosted with extra healthy fats and nutrients, keeping them looking and feeling youthful. Superfoods such as blueberries and cranberries supply lots of antioxidants, too. You can mix this with dry food or as a standalone meal.

We love that this multi-pack of wet pate-style food is ideal for senior dogs who prefer the simplicity of wet food while still craving a big, meaty taste.

The final product on our list is one of Pure Balance’s best-selling options. This grain-free kibble uses peas and chickpeas instead of grains, which is great for some pups who struggle to digest or are sensitive to grains. The first three ingredients are salmon, salmon meal, and fish meal, which provides your pooch with many healthy omega fats that contribute to a healthy coat, skin, heart, and immune system.

Dried beet pulp, chicory root, and live probiotics assist dogs with smooth digestion, which helps to reduce gas and produce healthier stools. This kibble is fortified with lots of vitamins and minerals, which help boost their immune system and help them feel healthier. It also contains no fillers or artificial preservatives, which benefits dogs with sensitive systems.

We love that this is one of the highest-rated grain-free options, featuring yummy and nutritious salmon and peas.

How Does Pure Balance Compare Nutritionally?

According to Dog Food Advisor, which looks at the nutritional value of dog food, Pure Balance is a better-than-average brand. For example, they gave their chicken and brown rice formulas a 4.5 out of 5, their second-highest rating. Although they haven’t reviewed every product, the majority of their formulas achieve between four and five stars out of five and are above average.

Frequently Asked Questions

Although we have now finished reviewing the Pure Balance brand, you still might have some questions. These are some of the most frequently asked questions on an owner’s mind. So, let’s clear them up.

Which Pure Balance Dog Food Is Best?

The best Pure Balance food for your pup comes down to what your pooch needs and likes. If they’re a puppy, choose an option specifically for puppies. If they prefer kibble, pick a kibble, or if they love wet food, pick one of these options. You also need to consider any dietary requirements they might have, such as requiring a grain-free option or an option without a specific meat. If so, be sure to read through the description and ingredients list. Pure Balance offers a great selection of products that cater to many doggy diets.

Who Makes Pure Balance Dog Food?

Walmart uses the Smucker company to make their Pure Balance dog food. Their factories are based in America, and they use locally sourced ingredients. This is fantastic for dogs and owners and usually means better quality. Plus, it makes these products beneficial for local communities and the environment.

Pure Balance Dog Food Vs. Purina Pro Plan: Which Is Best?

Purina Pro Plan is usually the brand that most people compare to Pure Balance. The one you pick is a decision only for you to make. Both are great brands and offer a wide selection of high-quality options. We recommend both Pure Balance and Purina Pro Plan. Pick the one that best suits you and your pup.

Looking For More Healthy Dog Food Options?

Pure Balance is a good, high-quality brand. However, if you think you can stretch your dollar a bit, you may want to explore even healthier dietary options for your pup. If you’re looking for fresh food, you may want to consider these fresh dog food options or Sundays, a premium dehydrated dog food.