- Last Updated on: February 5, 2020
So, you want to choose the right food for your dog, and you’re unsure about Pure Balance. Maybe you heard it was manufactured by Ol’ Roy, Walmart’s brand of cheap dog food, and you’re curious about it.
You’ve come to the right place.
In this Pure Balance review, we will take a closer look at their chicken and brown rice recipe, carefully analyzing all their ingredients, and also, helpfully provide quality alternatives if this recipe doesn’t suit you or your dog.
While it is manufactured by Ol’ Roy, Walmart’s brand of dog food, Pure Balance is specialized in higher quality formulas, obtained from higher quality sources. It also doesn’t contain unhealthy artificial ingredients usually found in cheaper dog food.
We have included the AAFCO nutrient profile for each selected formula, all to help you differentiate between food meant for Growth, Maintenance, All Life Stages, Supplemental, or Unspecified.
Our 5 Pure Balance Dog Food Reviews
IMAGE | PRODUCT | INGREDIENTS | |
---|---|---|---|
A | Chicken & Brown Rice A | ✓ Chicken ✓ Chicken Meal ✓ Brown Rice ✓ Brewer’s Rice ✓ Pea Protein | Check Price |
A | Salmon & Pea A | ✓ Salmon ✓ Salmon Meal ✓ Dried Ground Peas ✓ Tapioca ✓ Pea Protein | Check Price |
A | Wild & Free Bison A | ✓ Bison ✓ Chicken Meal ✓ Dried Ground Peas ✓ Tapioca ✓ Pea Protein | Check Price |
A | Chicken & Garden Vegetables A | ✓ Chicken ✓ Chicken Meal ✓ Dried Ground Peas ✓ Tapioca ✓ Whole Ground Potato | Check Price |
A | Lamb & Brown Rice | ✓ Lamb ✓ Lamb Meal ✓ Brown Rice ✓ Brewer’s Rice ✓ Pea Protein | Check Price |
Chicken & Brown Rice – Healthy Heart and Vision
First Five Ingredients:
- Chicken
- Chicken Meal
- Brown Rice
- Brewer’s Rice
- Pea Protein
Our top choice from a slew of Pure Balance line of product is their chicken and brown rice recipe. Based on farm-raised chickens as its primary source of protein, this formula should provide all the protein to keep your dog’s muscles lean and strong. It also includes chicken fat as an energy source.
Brown rice is the main source of carbs, and it is supplemented with brewer’s rice, together providing all the energy your dog needs for his daily activities. The vitamins and minerals come from natural sources such as cranberries, peas, and carrots, which are supplemented with vitamins D, B12, B6, A, and E.
To boost the health of your dog’s skin and coat, this recipe also contains natural sources of omega fatty acids such as flaxseed and poultry fat. To further help with the absorption of all these nutrients, whole grains, such as oatmeal and brown rice, provide the necessary fiber.
It is also free of harmful artificial ingredients, such as flavors, preservatives, or colors. At the same time, it doesn’t include soy, wheat, or corn, which should make this formula safe for dogs with sensitivities or allergies.
All these quality ingredients make this formula a well-balanced and rounded choice for your dog.
Salmon & Pea – Grain-Free Formula
First Five Ingredients:
- Salmon
- Salmon Meal
- Dried Ground Peas
- Tapioca
- Pea Protein
This formula should provide a safer alternative if your dog has, for example, poultry-related sensitivities. Its primary source of protein is salmon, which is also naturally rich in omega fatty acids. So, at the same time, your dog gets the ingredients to keep his muscles healthy and strong, while keeping his skin and coat healthy, all from one component.
The omega fatty acids also provide for the health and growth of your pet’s brain and eyes, which is also aided by the beta carotene coming from carrots. Peas, while acting as an additional source of protein, also provide fiber to make sure all the nutrients get absorbed.
This formula also contains supplements of vitamins E, C, A, B12, B6, and D, as well as various other minerals and trace elements, so your dog should get everything he needs from a balanced daily diet. At the same time, it doesn’t contain any artificial ingredients, nor are there any traces of soy, wheat, or corn, making this recipe safe for dogs with sensitivities.
If you’re looking for an alternative safe for dogs with food-related sensitivities, this formula should have you covered. It contains ingredients generally considered to be safe while avoiding most common allergens.
Wild & Free Bison – Support Healthy Digestion
First Five Ingredients:
- Bison
- Chicken Meal
- Dried Ground Peas
- Tapioca
- Pea Protein
Belonging to Pure Balance’s Wild & Free line of products, this recipe based on bison and peas is our choice. It is a formula appropriate for dogs with poultry or fish related food sensitivities, since it derives its protein from real bison and venison, which are widely considered to be quality sources, and at the same time, hypoallergenic.
And, since this formula includes higher amounts of protein, it is also suitable for active and working dogs. It also contains natural sources of vitamins and minerals, as well as carbs and fiber, and those sources are complemented with supplements of vitamins E, A, D, B6, B12, and C.
At the same time, it is free of artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, and it doesn’t contain soy, wheat, or corn, which, combined with unusual protein sources, makes this formula extra safe for dogs with food-related sensitivities or allergies.
This recipe is generally well rounded and appropriate for all life stages, containing all the nutrients dogs need from a balanced daily diet while avoiding any potentially harmful ingredients, as well as common allergens.
Chicken & Garden Vegetables – Small Breed Formula
First Five Ingredients:
- Chicken
- Chicken Meal
- Dried Ground Peas
- Tapioca
- Whole Ground Potato
For the owners of small breeds, we recommend Pure Balance’s recipe based on chicken and garden vegetables, as small dogs shouldn’t have problems eating these tiny kibbles. Its primary source of protein, chicken, should provide enough quality protein to maintain your dog’s muscles.
Natural sources of vitamins and minerals, such as peas, potatoes, and carrots, are strengthened with supplements. That should make sure your dog’s immune system remains intact. At the same time, omega fatty acids, coming from poultry fat and flaxseed, maintain the health of your dog’s skin and coat.
As this formula is grain free, it doesn’t contain any wheat, soy, or corn. At the same time, it is also free of artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, making it safe for dogs with food sensitivities.
With its small-sized kibbles and lack of common allergens, this recipe should be safe for small dogs with food-related sensitivities or allergies. And even if your tiny pet doesn’t have those problems, he should enjoy this formula nonetheless.
Lamb & Brown Rice – Sensitive Stomach Recipe
First Five Ingredients:
- Lamb
- Lamb Meal
- Brown Rice
- Brewer’s Rice
- Pea Protein
We recommend this formula to the owners of dogs with sensitive stomachs or skin. As it is based on lamb, it should be safe for dogs with fish or poultry related sensitivities, as well as other general allergens common to dog food. At the same time, your dog should be getting all the protein he needs to keep his muscles lean and strong.
Brown rice provides the carbs so your dog can have more than enough energy, and at the same time, the fiber needed to ensure the proper absorption of all the useful nutrients this formula has. Cranberries, peas, and carrots provide vitamins and minerals, and they are strengthened with vitamin supplements, all to better protect your pet’s immune system.
Along with all that, natural sources of omega fatty acids, such as flaxseed and poultry fat, make sure your dog’s skin and coat remain healthy. At the same time, this recipe is free of both artificial ingredients, and grain, soy, wheat, or corn, making it even safer for dogs with allergies.
With all these ingredients, your dog should get all he needs from a balanced and well-rounded daily diet, and at the same time, avoid most common allergens and harmful artificial ingredients.
Why Customers Love It
- Good sources of meat provide the protein in most products. They mostly come from named sources and countries with high quality and safety standards. Most formulas don’t contain byproducts, but they do contain meals as secondary sources of protein.
- No wheat, soy, or corn, as most of their formulas are grain-free. There are, however, recipes that do contain whole grains, but those should be safer for most dogs, even those with gluten-related allergies.
- No artificial ingredients such as colors, flavors, or preservatives. Any colors, flavors, or preservatives that are present come from natural sources.
- Budget-friendly for the quality they provide. While there are better brands and products, few can match the quality Pure Balance offers at these price points.
Why Customers Don't Love It
- Some of their formulas use grains and byproducts, which can be detrimental to dogs with allergies or sensitivities.
- These products contain lower amounts of omega fatty acids. They are, however, obtained mostly from natural sources, not from supplements.
- Usage of pea proteins can be a problem for some dogs. Pea proteins, or, in fact, any plant passed proteins, are not as biologically compatible with dogs as animal-based proteins.
- Some formulas may be lacking in taste, but that can be highly subjective. Some owners report that their dogs aren’t enjoying their meals. They should try one from the dog food for picky eaters list.
Nutrient Content Information
To find out what kind of a brand Pure Balance is, we have selected their recipe based on chicken and brown rice for a more detailed analysis. This section should cover the basic information, while the next one will go into a deeper examination of its ingredients.
Protein
This formula contains a minimum amount of 27% protein, all sourced from wholesome meat sources, though a small portion does come from vegetables. That should be enough to cover most canine needs, barring any special diets. It should also be enough for all their life stages, and it should be appropriate for dogs of all sizes.
Fat
With a minimum of 15% fat, this recipe should provide more than enough energy for your dog throughout all his life stages. While it provides enough fat for most dogs, if your pooch has weight problems, whether caused by a disease or gluttonous eating, you might try and find a diet formula.
Carbohydrates
While carbs are a typical source of energy, dogs generally don’t need that much in their food. This formula has an above average percentage of carbs, at around 45%, which should be more than enough for most dogs.
Protein
27%
Fat
15%
Carbs
45%
Pure Balance Chicken and Brown Rice Ingredients
In this section, we will take a closer look at the ingredients found in this formula, as well as provide some basic information about each.
Chicken
Chicken is usually a safe source of protein for your dog. It provides higher quality protein, and it should be safe for dogs without poultry-related food sensitivities. While chicken is normally an ingredient with a higher quantity of water, the processing which produces kibbles should dramatically reduce that while leaving all the helpful nutrients intact.
Chicken Meal
This is another safe ingredient, especially as it is a secondary source of protein. Chicken meal is a more heavily processed product containing ground and dried chicken flesh, skin, and bone.
Brewers Rice
Brewer’s rice is a lower-quality ingredient. It is a by-product from rice processing that has lower amounts of nutrients, especially compared to ground whole rice or brown rice. It should, however, be safe for most dogs.
Brown Rice
As a source of complex carbohydrates, brown rice is both easily digestible and filled with nutrients your dog needs, such as minerals and vitamin B. That should make it safe for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
Rice Bran
This is another by-product of processing rice. It is the outer layer of brown rice that gets separated when producing white rice. It is also rich in fiber, as well as starch, fat, protein, and vitamins and minerals, and is generally a safe ingredient for dogs.
Poultry Fat
This is generally considered a lower-quality ingredient. A better alternative would be something labeled ‘Chicken Fat’, for example, marking the source with something more specific. With that in mind, it is still a source of fat, and it should be safe for most dogs.
Beet Pulp
Made from fiber-rich leftovers after sugar has been extracted from sugar beets, beet pulp can be a useful ingredient. Along with fiber, it can improve your dog’s digestion. While there are controversies regarding beet pulp, it is generally considered to be safe in smaller quantities.
Pea Protein
As another lower-quality ingredient, pea protein is the leftover after the starch has been extracted from peas. As a plant-based protein source, it is somewhat biologically inappropriate for dogs, but as it is present as a secondary source, it should be safe.
Dried Egg Product
Produced by dehydration of eggs without shells, this is an ingredient with high nutritional value for dogs. The only question is the source of the eggs, and that is the only aspect that can determine the quality of the ingredient.
Dried Peas
These are generally safe ingredients, providing carbohydrates and protein. Additionally, they provide fiber to boost your dog’s digestion.
Sunflower Oil
As a source of omega fatty acids, sunflower oil can be invaluable. It is, however, a lower quality ingredient than, for example, flaxseed or canola oil, as it contains less types of omega fatty acids.
Flaxseed
Flaxseed is generally a higher quality ingredient, rich in omega fatty acids, and provided it’s processed appropriately, it can be a quality source of protein and fiber. At the same time, it should be easy on your dog’s digestion.
Chelated Minerals
Usually found in higher quality foods, chelated minerals are minerals chemically connected to protein or carbohydrates, making them simpler to digest and absorb. That’s why they are safe and generally welcome ingredients.
Pure Balance Recall History
After careful research, we have been unable to find any product recalls both for Pure Balance and the other brand from the same manufacturer, Ol’ Roy.
Conclusion
While it is manufactured by Walmart’s Ol’ Roy brand specialized in lower-quality dog food, Pure Balance as a brand offers a higher tier of food for your pet.
Their recipe based on chicken and brown rice provides all the nutrients your dog needs throughout his life-stages, and at the same time, it avoids using artificial ingredients, as well as other harmful fillers. As it is also free of wheat, soy, or corn, it should be safe for dogs with sensitivities.
And if your dog has a poultry-related food allergy, we have provided a selection of other formulas, among which you should find something appropriate for your dog.
Pure Balance, overall, provides higher-quality dog food for an accessible price.
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