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Our Verdict
Pure Balance Pro+ dry product range is made up of eight recipes with ratings varying from 4 to 5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 5-stars.
Pure Balance Pro+ line targets specific dietary requirements. Each recipe in the range is vet-formulated, with added vitamins, and minerals, and contains no fillers or artificial preservatives, colors, or flavor.
Pros
- Formulated by vets
- No fillers or artificial ingredients
- Protein as the first ingredient
Cons
- Only two protein choices
The table below shows each recipe in this range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Pure Balance Pro+ Small Breed Chicken & Pea | 5 | A |
| Pure Balance Pro+ Sensitive Skin & Stomach Salmon & Rice | 5 | M |
| Pure Balance Pro+ Puppy Chicken & Rice | 5 | A |
| Pure Balance Pro+ Large Breed Chicken and Brown Rice | 4 | A |
| Pure Balance Pro+ Senior Salmon & Brown Rice | 5 | M |
| Pure Balance Pro+ Weight Management Chicken & Oatmeal | 5 | M |
| Pure Balance Pro+ Performance Sport Dog Chicken & Brown Rice | 5 | M |
| Pure Balance Pro+ Chicken and Brown Rice Large Breed Puppy | 5 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Pure Balance Pro+ Performance Sport Dog Chicken & Brown Rice was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Pure Balance Pro+ Performance Sport Dog Chicken & Brown Rice
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, chicken meal (source of glucosamine and chondroitin), chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), soybean meal, corn protein meal, brown rice, wheat, corn, freeze-dried chicken morsels (chicken, chicken liver, sweet potato, chicken heart), natural flavor, dicalcium phosphate, dried whole eggs, salt, salmon oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), potassium chloride, choline chloride, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, ascorbic acid [source of vitamin C], niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, biotin, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid), minerals (iron proteinate, zinc proteinate, iron sulfate, zinc sulfate, manganese oxide, copper sulfate, copper proteinate, sodium selenite, calcium iodate), calcium carbonate, mixed tocopherols, dried rosemary, l-carnitine, dried bacillus coagulans fermentation product
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 30% | 20% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 33% | 22% | 37% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 27% | 44% | 30% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is chicken. Chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”. 1
Chicken is naturally rich in the 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The third ingredient is chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.
The fourth ingredient is soybean meal, a by-product of soybean oil production more commonly found in farm animal feeds.
Although soybean meal contains 48% 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 actual meat content of this dog food.
The fifth ingredient is corn protein meal, a coarsely ground flour made from dried corn. Corn is an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
For this reason, we do not consider corn a preferred component in any dog food.
The sixth 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 seventh ingredient is wheat. Like corn, wheat is an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain. And aside from its energy content, this grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
For this reason, we do not consider wheat a preferred component in any dog food.
The eighth ingredient is corn. Corn is an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain. And aside from its energy content, this grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
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 the product.
This recipe includes three notable exceptions.
First, we note the inclusion of dried fermentation products in this recipe. Fermentation products are typically added as probiotics to aid with digestion.
In addition, this food includes 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.
Also, salmon oil. Salmon oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids.
Depending on its level of freshness and purity, salmon oil should be considered a commendable addition.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Pure Balance Pro+ Performance Sport Dog Chicken & Brown Rice looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 34.2%, a fat level of 22.8% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 31.7%.
As a group, the brand features a protein content of 29.4% and a mean fat level of 16.6%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 40.1% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 56%.
This means the Pure Balance Pro+ dry range contains near-average protein, near-average carbohydrate, and near-average fat when compared to typical dry dog food.
Pure Balance Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Pure Balance through December 2025.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Pure Balance Pro+ Dog Food
All ingredients are sourced locally from natural sources. The brand focuses on creating high-protein formulas with meat as the primary ingredient, which is why it earns 5 stars in this review.
About
Walmart owns the Pure Balance brand of dog food, a private-label line sold exclusively in their stores. The brand was introduced by Walmart in 2012 as its first ultra-premium, veterinarian-formulated dog food.
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