Pure Balance Dog Food Review (2022)

Is Pure Balance a Good Dog Food?

This Pure Balance dog food review aims to provide you with an in-depth analysis of the ingredients of this particular brand of doggie chow. Hopefully, this will enlighten you on whether to buy a Pure Balance dog food product or stick to what your dog is already eating.

A Short History of The Pure Balance Company

Pure Balance is a pet food brand exclusively produced and sold by Walmart. As a result, there is no extensive history beyond that of its first development with the supermarket chain. Walmart first launched Pure Balance in August 2012 and is about to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of its new premium pet food range.

In July 2021, Pure Balance was expanded to include the Pro+ range. Pro+ is more specifically geared towards the needs of particular dogs such as seniors, large breed puppies, and so on.

Pure Balance is manufactured for Walmart by Ainsworth Pet Nutrition LLC pet food manufacturers (later purchased by J.M. Smucker in 2018). Located in Meadville, Pennsylvania, Ainsworth manufactures all of its dog food in Unites States-based factories. Prior to its procurement by J.M. Smucker, Ainsworth was a fifth-generation, family-owned, and operated business.

Following the sale, J.M. Smucker has endeavored to maintain the quality and integrity of the recipes initially created by Ainsworth Pet Nutrition. The manufacturing location has not changed and the recipes have been kept as close as possible to the original formulas. The newest addition to the Pro+ range is J.M.’s first, very popular, original contribution to the range since 2018.

Where is Pure Balance Dog Food Made?

The good news for anyone who is particular about the manufacturing process of their pet’s food, Pure Balance dog food is manufactured exclusively within the United States. Ainsworth Pet Nutrition was founded in 1933 and is located in Meadville, Pennsylvania.

Meadville is also where the majority of their Pure Balance food is formulated and manufactured before being distributed to Walmarts across the United States. An additional manufacturing facility, which includes more warehouses and an office, is based in Dumas, Arkansas.

Where Do They Source Their Ingredients From?

Though we can easily state where the food is produced in this Pure Balance dog food review, there is not a lot of information as to where Ainsworth Pet Nutrition sources its ingredients for the Pure Balance line.

Their pride in the fact that the manufacturing process takes place in the United States would lead us to believe that they try their best to source their ingredients locally – however, this is just conjecture and not an acknowledged fact beyond the mention of local sourcing by JustFood.

Product Lines – Differences and Which One You Should Choose

Dog food reviews often focus on a few select dietary options, but we want to show you the full variety. Admittedly, Pure Balance is not an extensive range owing to the commitment of the brand to produce simple, to-the-point, budget-friendly food options for pet owners throughout the US.

Though this list doesn’t show it, Pure Balance does also offer canned dog food options as well as dry kibble and wet food pots. Listed below are the dry dog foods they sell along with any wet or canned food they offer along with the different available flavors:

Dry Dog Foods

There are a few options when it comes to picking the right dry dog food for your pooch. Many pet parents struggle to pinpoint the right fit for their pups. Fortunately, Pure Balance offers alternatives to the typical dog food recipe including grain-free and novel protein each with its own finessed nutritional value.

Pure Balance Classic Kibble:

• Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
• Lamb & Brown Rice Recipe
• Chicken & Pea Recipe

Pure Balance Standard Grain-Free:

• Chicken & Pea Recipe
• Chicken & Pea Recipe (Small Breed specific)

Pure Balance Standard Grain-Free & Poultry-Free:

• Lamb & Fava Bean Recipe

Pure Balance pro+ Range:

• Large Breed – Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
• Puppy – Chicken & Rice Recipe
• Small Breed – Chicken & Pea Recipe
• Senior – Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe
• Weight Management – Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe
• Performance – Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
• Performance – Beef & Brown Rice Recipe
• Large Breed Puppy – Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe

Pure Balance Wild & Free Range:

• Grain-Free Bison & Venison Recipe
• Grain-Free Salmon Recipe
• Grain-Free Beef & Boar Recipe

Wet and Canned Dog Foods

Most dog owners will know that dogs will always prefer wet or canned food over dry. It is generally more enjoyable to eat, has a fresher flavor, and is more natural to them than crunchy kibble. For any dog owners thinking of going for the meatier (albeit more expensive) choice, here are your options:

Pure Balance Grain-Free Wet Food Pots:

• Lamb Dinner Recipe
• Chicken Dinner Recipe
• Turkey and Sweet Potato Dinner Recipe
• Chicken Dinner in Gravy With Peas and Sweet Potatoes Recipe
• Beef Dinner in Gravy With Carrots and Sundried Tomatoes Recipe

Pure Balance Wild & Fresh Chub Rolls:

• Beef, Salmon & Egg Recipe
• Beef & Bison Recipe

Pure Balance pro+ Canned Food Range:

• Performance – Chicken Recipe
• Performance – Beef & Chicken Recipe
• Performance – Turkey & Chicken Recipe
• Puppy – Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
• Healthy Skin & Coat – Turkey & Potato Recipe

Pure Balance Classic Canned Food Range:

• Chicken, Veg & Brown Rice Stew Recipe
• Beef, Veg & Brown Rice Stew Recipe

Let’s Take a Closer Look at Ingredients

Pure Balance dog food utilizes premium quality ingredients and real animal proteins as the primary ingredients. The good news is that even with the use of these ingredients, Walmart managed to keep its prices well within the budget range of average-income dog owners. It is this excellent combination of quality nutrition and affordability that makes Pure Balance dog food so popular. So let’s take a closer look.

Animal Proteins

In this Pure Balance dog food review, we observed that the very first ingredient of our top 3 picks is real animal proteins like salmon, bison, and chicken. With the exception of chicken, we can say that the formulation of Pure Balance reflects a clear understanding of the increasing need for more novel proteins. This is mainly due to the ever-growing incidence of food allergies that are attributed to the consumption of proteins.

You may also like our review of the Best Dog Foods for Allergies.

• Salmon: Salmon is often touted as one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA and EPA. These function in both the enhancement of brain and eye development and the boosting of the immune system, respectively. Salmon is rich in vitamins and minerals including calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, selenium, and phosphorus.
• Bison: Bison is a novel protein for the simple fact that it is rarely given to dogs as pet food. Bison meat contains as much as 55% protein and 45% fat and provides a complete list of the essential amino acids that dogs will need for building tissues. It also contains EPA and DHA as well as omega-6 fatty acids.
• Deer & Bison: The same is true with deer meat or venison being a novel protein. What differentiates venison from bison meat is that it has more protein at about 60%. It comes complete with essential amino acids, too, and a near-ideal omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio of 2.1:1. It’s rich in phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, and calcium, too.
• Chicken & Turkey: Chicken and turkey both remain the standard animal proteins for dogs. If your pup doesn’t really have any issues with food allergies, then this is still one of the best proteins to give. Especially seeing as foods featuring these proteins are often more affordable.

Plant Proteins

Pure Balance also provides proteins sourced from plants, particularly peas, which provide anywhere between 25% and 35%. One thing that is worth noting is that these also provide alpha-linolenic acid or ALA, an omega-3 fatty acid. However, ALA has to be converted by the dog’s body into DHA and EPA for it to have a clinical benefit.

• Resistant starches: In some of their products, Pure Balance provides a variety of resistant starches such as potatoes and a variety of fruits and vegetables. These are known to improve insulin sensitivity for a more efficient metabolism of glucose as well as more ideal body weight. The use of carefully selected resistant starches ensures better energy production and a more productive day for the dog in question. While the resistant starches contained in Pure Balance are minimal, it points to the company’s understanding of optimum canine nutrition.
• Healthy carbs: In addition to the ingredients, we have listed above, Pure Balance also provides healthy and natural carbs mostly sourced from vegetables and fruits. Not only do these provide fiber for a healthier gut, but they also supply dogs with the correct levels of vitamins and minerals. These can assist a variety of processes including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immune-enhancing, neurologic, and musculoskeletal health.

Overall Ingredient Summary

Looking closely at the product lineup of Pure Balance, it contains an average of 31% protein and 17% fat with an estimated percentage of carbohydrates computed at around 45%. Pure Balance products also provide a fat-to-protein ratio computed at 54%. Taken as a whole, the products of Pure Balance can be taken as having near-average fat and above-average protein. Its carbohydrate profile is considered to be below average.

Interestingly enough, it’s noteworthy that while its principal ingredients are animal proteins, given the fact that the majority of the listed ingredients are still plant-based, it is safe to assume that the amount of meat included in the formulation of Pure Balance is moderate.

Recall History

In the history of the company, Ainsworth Pet Nutrition has only ever voluntarily recalled seven products, all of which were cat foods, with no dog food recalls at all. Furthermore, the only known recalls were 6 years ago, meaning there have been no further instances in some time.

Listed below are the details of the only known Ainsworth Pet Nutrition recalls:

• PAW LICKIN’ CHICKEN AND LIVER (2.8 oz) – August 17th, 2015
• OCEAN FISH AND CHICKEN CATCH-IATORIE (2.8 oz) – December 1st, 2016
• OCEAN FISH A LICIOUS (2.8 oz) – December 1st, 2016
• TUNA PURRFECTION (2.8 oz) – December 1st, 2016
• LIP SMACKIN’ SARDINE AND MACKEREL (2.8 oz) – December 1st, 2016
• CHICKEN LOVERS VARIETY PACK (12 count pack of 2.8 oz cups) – December 1st, 2016
• OCEAN LOVERS VARIETY PACK (12 count pack of 2.8 oz cups) – December 1st, 2016

All of these products were removed due to elevated vitamin D levels. The voluntary recall was made following a total of 11 reported illnesses in connection with the above foods. The lack of dog food recalls is extremely encouraging as it shows their attention to detail when formulating their Pure Balance recipes.

How Much Does the Pure Balance Food Cost?

Pure Balance is advertised as a more affordable, high-quality dog food choice. Whilst they may not be the cheapest on the market, they are certainly within a perfectly reasonable budget-friendly range for owners seeking a combination of quality and quantity for their pooches.

Below are a couple of pricing tables to give you an idea of the sort of money you would be paying for each of the food they offer – this should hopefully help you to work out whether the price suits your personal budget.

Dry Food Product Lines

Canned Food Product Lines

What We Like About Pure Balance

So after taking a close look at the brand, we have come up with a few quick notes on the positives of Pure Balance dog food and why we think it is worth a try:

• There is a good balance of veg and animal protein, fiber, and fat.
• The moisture and fiber content match with many well-known premium dog food brands.
• They use real and fresh animal proteins as the principal ingredients in every recipe.
• Many recipes utilize novel sources of carbohydrates in order to minimize the risk of food intolerance reactions.
• All foods are readily available as it is formulated, manufactured by, and sold at Walmart.
• Budget-friendly prices with high-quality ingredients.

What We Don’t Like About Pure Balance

Though, as with anything, the Pure Balance brand does have its downsides as well. Fortunately, there are not very many negative points, but we feel the need to highlight them anyway for the sake of transparency and to ensure you are definitely getting the food that you want:

• Except for its price and its brand name, there’s really nothing substantially different from other dog food brands.
• Some previous customers have reported less than satisfactory customer service support.
• Every recipe contains some kind of protein allergen, even if they are predominantly novel protein-based.

As a little side-note to one of the above cons, though the recipes are not massively different from other similar brands, the protein and fat contents are considered above average. When taken together with its pricing scheme, this is perhaps one of the primary reasons why you might want to get Pure Balance for your pooch.

Where Can I Buy Pure Balance Dog Food?

Seeing as Pure Balance is a Walmart-exclusive brand, it’s safe to say Walmart would be a good place to look. Fortunately, the Pure Balance of food is sold both on the Walmart website and in-store, so you can order it to your home if you’re in a fix and unable to get to your local store.

Additionally, some Pure Balance dog food is also available to purchase through Amazon. This may work out easier for those who are outside of the Walmart delivery range. However, we would always recommend trying to purchase the food direct if possible as it guarantees quality.

In a Nutshell, Is Pure Balance a Good Choice?

Sure! Pure Balance prioritizes high-quality, locally-sourced animal protein, it is manufactured in the US and is suitable for someone on a limited budget wanting to get the best of out their dog’s daily meals. That being said, there are some limitations to their range and they are not dissimilar to other dog food brands on the market.

However, Pure Balance dog food is specifically designed to be readily available, accessible, affordable, and high-quality so that the customers don’t have to sacrifice one of those qualities to gain another. For dog owners looking to get a good amount of bang for their buck, we would definitely recommend trying Pure Balance dog food.