In this comparison article for Whole Paws vs Natural Balance, we'll highlight the key differences between these two pet food brands. To properly compare Whole Paws and Natural 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 Natural Balance vs Whole Paws comparison, we've utilized average data to make general comparisons. If you'd like to see individual product reviews, visit our Whole Paws Review Page or Natural Balance Review Page.
Guaranteed Analysis: Natural Balance vs. Whole Paws
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.
Whole Paws Dog Food vs. Natural Balance Dog Food
Dry Dog Food
Whole Paws
Natural Balance
Crude Protein
29.8%
27.6%
Crude Fat
17.3%
14.4%
Crude Fiber
3.3%
5.2%
Wet/Canned Dog Food
Whole Paws
Natural Balance
Crude Protein
40.5%
39.7%
Crude Fat
23.6%
20.5%
Crude Fiber
7.5%
8.5%
Crude Protein Comparison For Dog Food
Dogs require twenty-two amino acids to sustain life. Twelve of these amino acids are synthesized naturally, the remaining ten are consumed. Protein is the nutrient which provides some or all of these ten essential amino acids.
If you look at the average percentages of crude protein, you'll notice that Whole Paws typically guarantees 2.17% more protein. This is a fairly small difference between Whole Paws and Natural Balance, but still worth mentioning. For wet dog foods, Whole Paws and Natural Balance provide roughly the same amount of protein.
Crude Fat Comparison For Dog Food
Like protein, fats are an essential part of a dog's body. Fats are needed for the proper development and function of the canine body.
According to our data, Whole Paws guarantees 2.98% more fat than Natural Balance. Although this difference is relatively small, it's still a notable difference. In addition, Whole Paws wet dog foods also provide more fat than Natural Balance wet foods.
As you can see, Whole Paws and Natural Balance guarantee a similar amount of crude fiber. With regards to wet dog food, Natural Balance and Whole Paws also provide roughly the same amount of crude fiber.
Whole Paws Cat Food vs. Natural Balance Cat Food
Dry Cat Food
Whole Paws
Natural Balance
Crude Protein
33.3%
36.8%
Crude Fat
18.5%
14.3%
Crude Fiber
7.0%
5.5%
Wet/Canned Cat Food
Whole Paws
Natural Balance
Crude Protein
46.1%
46.7%
Crude Fat
23.3%
20.2%
Crude Fiber
5.5%
7.1%
Crude Protein Comparison For Cat Food
Cats require twenty-two amino acids to sustain life. Eleven of these amino acids are synthesized naturally, the remaining eleven are consumed. Protein is the nutrient which provides some or all of these eleven essential amino acids.
There is a small difference between the protein content of Natural Balance and Whole Paws. We can see that Natural Balance guarantees about 3.46% more protein than Whole Paws. For wet cat foods, Natural Balance and Whole Paws provide roughly the same amount of protein.
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):
Help transport nutrients across cell membranes
Fats produce metabolites, which help control inflammation
Maintain healthy blood pressure
Slow the growth of yeast infections
Fats improve the taste/texture of food.
The table shows that Natural Balance provides far less fat than Whole Paws. The difference in fat content is roughly 4.20%. For wet cat foods, Whole Paws typically provides a little more fat (about 3.09% more).
Natural Balance and Whole Paws both provide roughly the same amount of crude fiber. With regards to wet cat food, Natural Balance and Whole Paws also provide roughly the same amount of crude fiber.
Whole Paws Pet Food Ingredients vs. Natural Balance Pet Food Ingredients
Whole Paws and Natural 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.
Poultry Giblets
Poultry Giblets
Poultry giblets includes the heart, liver, gizzards, and other internal organs of poultry. Organs are nutritiously dense ingredients which provide high quality protein and fat. However, this particular ingredient is considered an anonymous meat ingredient because the type of poultry is not specified. In order words, "named" giblets such as chicken giblets or turkey giblets are preferred over poultry giblets.
Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Whole Paws.
Powdered Cellulose
Powdered Cellulose
Powdered cellulose is produced from minuscule pieces of wood pulp and plant fibers. Other than its fiber content, powdered cellulose lacks any nutritional contribution.
Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Natural Balance.
Giblets
Giblets
Giblets may include the heart, liver, gizzards, and other visceral organs of an animal. These organs are very nutritious and species-appropriate for pets. However, the specific source of the giblets are not disclosed (chicken, turkey, etc) and therefore we must classify this ingredient as an anonymous meat.
Beet Pulp
Beet Pulp
Beet pulp is the by-product which remains once sugar has been extracted from sugar beets. The primary contribution of beet pulp is dietary fiber.
We'd also like to note that beet pulp is fairly controversial in pet food. Proponents claim that beet pulp can promote intestinal health and regulate blood sugar. However, opponents claim that beet pulp is an inexpensive filler.
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.
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.
Feeding Oatmeal
Feeding Oatmeal
According to AAFCO, feeding oatmeal "is obtained in the manufacture of rolled oat groats or rolled oats". It contains "broken oat groats, oat groat chips, and floury portions of the oat groats." In other words, feeding oatmeal is an inexpensive by-products of rolled oat processing.
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.
We believe that certain pet food ingredients are linked to adverse health affects; these ingredients are classified as harmful.
Here are some of the harmful ingredients used only by Natural Balance.
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."
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."
Product Safety: Recall History of Whole Paws & Natural Balance?
According to our records, Whole Paws 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 Whole Paws Pet Foods
You can purchase Whole Paws pet foods from the following stores:
Where To Buy Natural Balance Pet Foods
You can purchase Natural Balance pet food products from these retailers:
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Type Of Pet Foods Available
Product
Whole Paws
Natural Balance
Dry Dog Food
5 Recipes
39 Recipes
Wet Dog Food
7 Recipes
27 Recipes
Dog Treats
8 Treats
33 Treats
Dry Cat Food
3 Recipes
16 Recipes
Wet Cat Food
8 Recipes
43 Recipes
Cat Treats
None
None
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Dog Food
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