In this comparison article for Wellness vs Pure Balance, we'll highlight the key differences between these two pet food brands. To properly compare Wellness and Pure Balance, we'll use up-to-date nutritional and price information.
There are many factors to consider when choosing the best pet food brand for your pet. Factors such as ingredient quality, guaranteed analysis, product safety, brand history, and cost are among the most important factors to consider.
Throughout this Pure Balance vs Wellness comparison, we've utilized average data to make general comparisons. If you'd like to see individual product reviews, visit our Wellness Review Page or Pure Balance Review Page.
Guaranteed Analysis: Pure Balance vs. Wellness
According to AAFCO, all pet food labels must provide a guaranteed analysis of nutrient content. The analysis must provide guaranteed minimum percentages of crude protein and crude fat, and maximum percentages of crude fiber and moisture.
All percentages used in this comparison are averages reported on a dry matter basis.
Wellness Dog Food vs. Pure Balance Dog Food
Dry Dog Food
Wellness
Pure Balance
Crude Protein
34.6%
29.2%
Crude Fat
15.8%
16.7%
Crude Fiber
5.6%
5.6%
Wet/Canned Dog Food
Wellness
Pure Balance
Crude Protein
41.8%
34.6%
Crude Fat
24.1%
24.6%
Crude Fiber
4.9%
7.2%
Crude Protein Comparison For Dog Food
Protein is an extremely important part of your dog's diet. Without sufficient protein, dogs can develop a wide-range of serious health problems.
Our analysis shows that Wellness guarantees 5.44% more protein than Pure Balance dry dog food recipes. In addition, Wellness wet dog foods also provide more protein than Pure Balance wet foods.
Crude Fat Comparison For Dog Food
Fats are an absolutely vital component of a balanced canine diet. Not only do fats provide energy, but they also serve important roles in the normal development and function of your dog's body. For example, fats help dogs produce prostaglandins, which reduce inflammation among many other significant functions.
Wellness and Pure Balance both provide roughly the same amount of crude fat. With regards to wet dog food, Pure Balance and Wellness also provide roughly the same amount of crude fat.
There is a relatively insignificant difference between the crude fiber content of the two brands. For wet dog foods, Pure Balance typically provides a little more fiber (about 2.30% more).
Wellness Cat Food vs. Pure Balance Cat Food
Dry Cat Food
Wellness
Pure Balance
Crude Protein
42.0%
39.9%
Crude Fat
16.0%
17.7%
Crude Fiber
4.7%
5.9%
Wet/Canned Cat Food
Wellness
Pure Balance
Crude Protein
45.0%
42.0%
Crude Fat
24.7%
25.4%
Crude Fiber
5.6%
7.2%
Crude Protein Comparison For Cat Food
Protein is an extremely important part of your cat's diet. Without sufficient protein, cats can develop a wide-range of serious health problems.
According to our data, Wellness guarantees 2.07% more protein than Pure Balance. Although this difference is relatively small, it's still a notable difference. In addition, Wellness wet cat foods also provide more protein than Pure Balance wet foods.
Crude Fat Comparison For Cat Food
There are many ways in which dietary fat contributes to the overall health of our feline friends. Here is a short list of benefits provided by fats (not exhaustive):
Fats help with the digestion and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
Reduce inflammation associated with arthritis
Slow the growth of yeast infections
Prevent or reduce the likelihood of certain heart problems.
Aid in the development of the retina and visual cortex.
Both brands provide roughly the same amount of crude fat. With regards to wet cat food, Pure Balance and Wellness also provide roughly the same amount of crude fat.
As you can see, Wellness and Pure Balance guarantee a similar amount of crude fiber. With regards to wet cat food, Pure Balance and Wellness also provide roughly the same amount of crude fiber.
Wellness Pet Food Ingredients vs. Pure Balance Pet Food Ingredients
Wellness and Pure Balance both use the following controversial ingredients in many of their products:
Canola Oil
Canola Oil
Canola oil is a plant-derived oil from the seeds of canola plants. Although fat is an essential component of any diet, canola oil is controversial in pet food. Proponents claim that canola oil provides a better fat profile in comparison to other plant based oils. However, opponents claim that canola oil is typically produced with genetically modified rapeseed and that rapeseed oil has multiple adverse health affects.
Pea Protein
Pea Protein
Pea protein is produced by removing the starchy parts of peas. Pea protein is considered controversial because it provides a substantial plant based protein boost. This boost is undesirable because plant based protein is typically lower in biological value when compared to meat based proteins.
Brewers Rice
Brewers Rice
Brewer's rice is the small fragments of rice kernel that are separated from the larger kernels of milled rice. The fragments do not contain the same nutrition profile of the whole kernel and therefore brewer's rice is a lower quality grain. Brewer's rice is typically regarded as an inexpensive and low quality filler.
Garlic Powder
Garlic Powder
Garlic powder in very small quantities can be an acceptable addition, however, garlic can also be toxic. Therefore many pet owners choose to completely avoid garlic.
Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Wellness.
Garlic
Garlic
Garlic in very small quantities can be an acceptable addition, however, garlic can also be toxic. Therefore many pet owners choose to completely avoid garlic.
Caramel Color
Caramel Color
Caramel color is a concentrated form of caramel, a natural food colorant. Caramel color has been linked to cancer in laboratory animals. Since our pets do not care about food color, caramel color is an unnecessary addition with possible health risks.
Tomato Pomace
Tomato Pomace
Tomato pomace is a by-product of tomato manufacturing. It's considered a controversial ingredient because many people believe it is an inexpensive low quality filler. However, tomato pomace provides a notable amount of dietary fiber, B vitamins, Lycopene, and vitamin A. Although it is a very inexpensive ingredient, it is not nutritionally empty.
Dried Tomato Pomace
Dried Tomato Pomace
Dried tomato pomace is a by-product of tomato manufacturing. It's considered a controversial ingredient because many people believe it is an inexpensive low quality filler. However, tomato pomace provides a notable amount of dietary fiber, B vitamins, Lycopene, and vitamin A. Although it is a very inexpensive ingredient, it is not nutritionally empty.
Canola Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
Canola Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
Canola oil is a plant-derived oil from the seeds of canola plants. Although fat is an essential component of any diet, canola oil is controversial in pet food. Proponents claim that canola oil provides a better fat profile in comparison to other plant based oils. However, opponents claim that canola oil is typically produced with genetically modified rapeseed and that rapeseed oil has multiple adverse health affects.
Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Pure Balance.
Pea Protein Concentrate
Pea Protein Concentrate
Pea protein concentrate is produced by removing the starchy parts of peas. Pea protein concentrate is considered controversial because it provides a substantial plant based protein boost. This boost is undesirable because plant based protein is typically lower in biological value when compared to meat based proteins.
Animal Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
Animal Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
Animal fat is a by-product of tissue rendering. The source animal is not specific and therefore we cannot be certain that the source does not include diseased animals or even euthanized dogs and cats.
Poultry Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
Poultry Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
Poultry fat is a by-product of poultry tissue rendering. Poultry fat is a controversial ingredient because the specific protein is not specified. Such ingredients are typically low-quality in comparison to named poultry fats (e.g. chicken fat, turkey fat).
We believe that certain pet food ingredients are linked to adverse health affects; these ingredients are classified as harmful.
Wellness and Pure Balance both use the following harmful ingredients in many of their products:
Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex
Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex
Menadione sodium bisulfite complex is a synthetic version of vitamin K that has been linked to many health concerns. Research has suggested possible toxic reactions in liver cells and red blood cells among other serious problems. In fact, one large chemical supplier warns, "The substance is toxic to kidneys, lungs, liver, mucous membranes. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage."
Here are some of the harmful ingredients used only by Wellness.
Menadione Sodium Bisulfite
Menadione Sodium Bisulfite
Menadione sodium bisulfite is a synthetic version of vitamin K that has been linked to many health concerns. Research has suggested possible toxic reactions in liver cells and red blood cells among other serious problems. In fact, one large chemical supplier warns, "The substance is toxic to kidneys, lungs, liver, mucous membranes. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage."
Here are some of the harmful ingredients used only by Pure Balance.
Added Color
Added Color
The ingredient "added color" is ambiguous and may include various artificial dyes. Most artificial dyes have been linked to various chronic diseases.
Menadione Sodium Bisulfate Complex
Menadione Sodium Bisulfate Complex
Menadione sodium bisulfate complex is a synthetic version of vitamin K that has been linked to many health concerns. Research has suggested possible toxic reactions in liver cells and red blood cells among other serious problems. In fact, one large chemical supplier warns, "The substance is toxic to kidneys, lungs, liver, mucous membranes. Repeated or prolonged exposure to the substance can produce target organs damage."
Product Safety: Recall History of Wellness & Pure Balance?
Feb. 28, 2011: Low Levels of Thiamine (Vitamin B1)
According to our records, Pure Balance has never been recalled.
Disclosure: PawDiet has an affiliate relationship with stores featured (or linked-to) in this article. We are compensated for referring customers. Thank you for shopping with our retail partners!
Where To Buy Wellness Pet Foods
You can purchase Wellness pet foods from the following stores:
213 Recipes In-Stock Today
166 Recipes In-Stock Today
172 Recipes In-Stock Today
21 Recipes In-Stock Today
Where To Buy Pure Balance Pet Foods
You can purchase Pure Balance pet food products from these retailers:
Type Of Pet Foods Available
Product
Wellness
Pure Balance
Dry Dog Food
59 Recipes
7 Recipes
Wet Dog Food
53 Recipes
15 Recipes
Dog Treats
25 Treats
None
Dry Cat Food
19 Recipes
5 Recipes
Wet Cat Food
74 Recipes
4 Recipes
Cat Treats
5 Treats
3 Treats
Top Rated Wellness Recipes
Dog Food
Wellness Core Grain Free Original Formula - Deboned Turkey, Turkey Meal & Chicken Meal Recipe