In this comparison article for WholeHearted vs Pure Balance, we'll highlight the key differences between these two pet food brands. To properly compare WholeHearted 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 WholeHearted comparison, we've utilized average data to make general comparisons. If you'd like to see individual product reviews, visit our WholeHearted Review Page or Pure Balance Review Page.
Guaranteed Analysis: Pure Balance vs. WholeHearted
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.
WholeHearted Dog Food vs. Pure Balance Dog Food
Dry Dog Food
WholeHearted
Pure Balance
Crude Protein
29.1%
29.2%
Crude Fat
15.6%
16.7%
Crude Fiber
5.6%
5.6%
Wet/Canned Dog Food
WholeHearted
Pure Balance
Crude Protein
43.6%
34.6%
Crude Fat
24.3%
24.6%
Crude Fiber
7.0%
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.
Both brands provide roughly the same amount of crude protein. For wet dog foods, WholeHearted provides significantly more protein (about 9.08% more).
Crude Fat Comparison For Dog Food
Dietary fats serves a multitude of roles in the proper development and function of our canine companions. Here are some of the benefits (not exhaustive):
Help produce prostaglandins, which reduce inflammation among other critical functions.
Aid in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
Improve skin and coat health
Improve the palatially of your dog's food
As you can see, WholeHearted and Pure Balance guarantee a similar amount of crude fat. With regards to wet dog food, Pure Balance and WholeHearted also provide roughly the same amount of crude fat.
Pure Balance and WholeHearted both provide roughly the same amount of crude fiber. With regards to wet dog food, Pure Balance and WholeHearted also provide roughly the same amount of crude fiber.
WholeHearted Cat Food vs. Pure Balance Cat Food
Dry Cat Food
WholeHearted
Pure Balance
Crude Protein
36.7%
39.9%
Crude Fat
15.9%
17.7%
Crude Fiber
5.2%
5.9%
Wet/Canned Cat Food
WholeHearted
Pure Balance
Crude Protein
57.0%
42.0%
Crude Fat
17.1%
25.4%
Crude Fiber
7.5%
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 average data, WholeHearted typically provides less protein than Pure Balance. However, this difference is relatively small and doesn't represent a significant difference between the two brands. In addition, WholeHearted 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):
Aid in the digestion and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
Improve the health of skin/coat
Slow the growth of yeast infections
Slow the development and spread of certain type of cancers.
Maintain healthy blood pressure
There is a relatively insignificant difference between the crude fat content of the two brands. For wet cat foods, Pure Balance provides significantly more fat (about 8.38% more).
WholeHearted Pet Food Ingredients vs. Pure Balance Pet Food Ingredients
WholeHearted 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.
Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by WholeHearted.
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.
Iron Oxide
Iron Oxide
Iron oxide is an FDA approved natural food coloring agent. It's commonly found in rusting metal and provides a reddish-brown color.
We believe food colorants are unnecessary ingredients in pet food. Other than potential harm, food colorants do not provide any nutritional value. These type of ingredients are used only to make the food look appealing to humans.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
WholeHearted 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 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 WholeHearted & Pure Balance?
According to our records, neither brand has issued any product recalls. Therefore, consumers have no reason to question the safety of WholeHearted or Pure Balance pet food products.
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 WholeHearted Pet Foods
You can purchase WholeHearted pet foods from the following stores:
Where To Buy Pure Balance Pet Foods
You can purchase Pure Balance pet food products from these retailers:
Type Of Pet Foods Available
Product
WholeHearted
Pure Balance
Dry Dog Food
22 Recipes
7 Recipes
Wet Dog Food
21 Recipes
15 Recipes
Dog Treats
18 Treats
None
Dry Cat Food
11 Recipes
5 Recipes
Wet Cat Food
17 Recipes
4 Recipes
Cat Treats
14 Treats
3 Treats
Top Rated WholeHearted Recipes
Dog Food
WholeHearted Dry Dog Food Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe
