Pro+ is built around familiar animal proteins paired with grains and legumes. Chicken is the most common animal protein in both formats, with salmon, turkey, whitefish, egg, beef and pork appearing in other recipes. The line has six kibbles and six wet foods, with recipes for puppies, adults and seniors, small and large breeds, and dogs sold for weight control or active lifestyles.
The kibbles run from 22% to 26% protein and 38% to 44% estimated starch, as fed. Against 1,834 kibbles in our catalog, the line averages 24.6% protein versus 26.9%, 40.8% estimated starch versus 37.4%, and 378 kcal per cup versus 395. The wet foods stay between 7% and 7.5% protein, averaging 7.2% against a catalog average of 8.3% across 866 wet foods.
The trade-off is a line with more carbohydrate than the typical kibble and a little less protein in both formats. All six kibbles and five of the six wet foods list peas or lentils, and only two recipes, one in each format, are grain-free.
| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Starch | Kcal / cup | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small Breed Chicken and Pea Recipe | 26% | 15% | 38% | 430 | CHICKEN, CHICKEN MEAL (SOURCE OF GLUCOSAMINE), DRIED PEAS |
| Chicken & Brown Rice Large Breed Puppy Recipe | 26% | 15% | 38% | 391 | Chicken, chicken meal (source of glucosamine), dried peas |
| Sensitive Skin & Stomach, Salmon & Rice Recipe | 25% | 15% | 39% | 325 | Salmon, menhaden fish meal, oat groats |
| Weight Management Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe | 24.5% | 7% | 42.5% | -- | Chicken, Chicken Meal (Source of Glucosamine), Ground Grain Sorghum |
| Senior Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe | 24% | 12% | 43% | -- | Salmon, Turkey Meal (Source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate), Brown Rice |
| Large Breed Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe | 22% | 12% | 44% | 367 | Chicken, Chicken Meal (Source of Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate), Brown Rice |
| Line average | 24.6% | 12.7% | 40.8% | 378 |
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Starch is our estimate, since no bag prints it. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
26% protein · 15% fat · 38% starch · 430 kcal/cup · All Life Stages
The only grain-free kibble in the line, this small breed recipe uses dried peas, potatoes and pea starch in place of rice and oats, with 26% protein. At 430 kcal per cup it is the most calorie-dense kibble here, suiting owners of small dogs who want grain-free food.
Full review of Small Breed Chicken and Pea Recipe26% protein · 15% fat · 38% starch · 391 kcal/cup · Puppy
This large breed puppy kibble ties for the most protein in the kibbles at 26% and the least estimated starch at 38%, with dried peas listed ahead of brown rice and oat groats. At 391 kcal per cup, it suits owners raising large breed puppies on chicken.
Full review of Chicken & Brown Rice Large Breed Puppy Recipe25% protein · 15% fat · 39% starch · 325 kcal/cup · All Life Stages
Sold for sensitive skin and stomachs, this is the only kibble in the line built entirely on fish, with salmon and menhaden fish meal leading. It has the fewest calories in the line at 325 kcal per cup and suits owners looking for a chicken-free kibble.
Full review of Sensitive Skin & Stomach, Salmon & Rice Recipe24.5% protein · 7% fat · 42.5% starch · Adult
Sold for weight management, this adult kibble has the least fat in the line at 7% and lists 10% fiber, with ground grain sorghum and dried peas in its first five ingredients. Chicken is its only animal protein, which suits owners who prefer a single protein source.
Full review of Weight Management Chicken & Oatmeal Recipe24% protein · 12% fat · 43% starch · Senior
This senior kibble is the only one in the line with turkey, pairing salmon with turkey meal ahead of brown rice, dried peas and brewers rice. At 24% protein and 43% estimated starch, it suits owners of older dogs who want a fish-led recipe with grain.
Full review of Senior Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe22% protein · 12% fat · 44% starch · 367 kcal/cup · All Life Stages
This large breed kibble has the least protein in the line at 22% and the most estimated starch at 44%, with brown rice, brewers rice and oatmeal behind chicken and chicken meal. It suits owners of big dogs who want a rice and oat recipe labeled for all life stages.
Full review of Large Breed Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe| Recipe | Protein | Fat | Moisture | Kcal / kg | First ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken Recipe for Healthy Weight Can | 7.5% | 3% | 78% | -- | Chicken (source of glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate), chicken broth, water sufficient for processing |
| Mature Cup | 7.5% | 2.5% | 82% | 807 | CHICKEN BROTH, CHICKEN (SOURCE OF GLUCOSAMINE AND CHONDROITIN SULFATE), CHICKEN LIVER |
| Performance for Active Dogs, Beef & Chicken Recipe Can | 7% | 6% | 78% | -- | Beef, chicken, beef broth |
| Performance Turkey & Chicken Recipe Cuts in Gravy Can | 7% | 5% | 78% | -- | TURKEY, TURKEY BROTH, WATER SUFFICIENT FOR PROCESSING |
| Turkey & Potato Recipe Can | 7% | 5% | 78% | 1,073 | TURKEY, WHITEFISH, POTATOES |
| Chicken & Brown Rice Stew for Puppy Can | 7% | 4% | 82% | -- | Chicken, chicken broth, water sufficient for processing |
| Line average | 7.2% | 4.3% | 79.3% | 940 |
All figures as fed, from the guaranteed analysis on each label. Wet food is mostly water, so compare it with other wet food only. Highest in the line is marked in bold, lowest in italics.
7.5% protein · 3% fat · Adult
Sold for healthy weight, this adult can is the only wet recipe here with pork, listing pork liver after chicken and chicken broth. It pairs 7.5% protein with 3% fat and 3% fiber, suiting owners who want a lean chicken can for adult dogs.
Full review of Chicken Recipe for Healthy Weight Can7.5% protein · 2.5% fat · 807 kcal/kg · Senior
Made for seniors, this cup is the only grain-free wet food in the line, with the least fat at 2.5% and the fewest calories at 807 kcal per kg. Chicken broth leads, then chicken, chicken liver, whitefish and dried egg whites, suiting owners of older dogs.
Full review of Mature Cup7% protein · 6% fat · All Life Stages
Sold for active dogs, this can is the only wet recipe in the line with beef, which leads ahead of chicken, beef broth and beef liver. It has the most fat in the line at 6% and is labeled for all life stages, suiting owners of active dogs that like beef.
Full review of Performance for Active Dogs, Beef & Chicken Recipe Can7% protein · 5% fat · All Life Stages
This cuts in gravy can leads with turkey and turkey broth, followed by chicken and turkey liver, and is labeled for all life stages. With 7% protein and 5% fat, it suits owners of active dogs who prefer poultry over the beef in its Performance line mate.
Full review of Performance Turkey & Chicken Recipe Cuts in Gravy Can7% protein · 5% fat · 1,073 kcal/kg · Adult
The only recipe in the line without peas or lentils, this adult can pairs turkey and whitefish with potatoes. It has the most calories in the line at 1,073 kcal per kg and suits owners who want to avoid legumes.
Full review of Turkey & Potato Recipe Can7% protein · 4% fat · Puppy
This chicken and brown rice stew is the only wet recipe in the line made for puppies, with chicken, chicken liver and salmon among its first ingredients. At 82% moisture, it suits owners feeding puppies a wetter food or adding it to puppy kibble.
Full review of Chicken & Brown Rice Stew for Puppy CanMost Pro+ recipes contain grain. The Small Breed Chicken and Pea Recipe kibble and the Mature Cup wet food are the only grain-free options in the line.
The Small Breed Chicken and Pea Recipe and the Chicken & Brown Rice Large Breed Puppy Recipe tie at 26% protein. The Large Breed Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe has the least at 22%.
All six Pro+ kibbles and five of the six wet foods contain peas or lentils. The Turkey & Potato Recipe Can is the only recipe in the line without them.
Protein runs lower than the average kibble we review (27.3% vs 30.1% on a dry matter basis).
Starch is higher than average, at 41% of the food as fed.
100% of recipes lead with a meat, fish or egg ingredient (89% across the site).
17% of recipes are grain-free.
this range, lowest to highest its average average of all 3,205 foods we review
Starch is our estimate from the guaranteed analysis, since no manufacturer prints it. How we work it out
Share of recipes that list each animal protein as an ingredient, not counting oils, fats or flavorings. Useful if your dog has a food sensitivity.
These are not unsafe. They are listed because readers ask about them.
MOST PROTEIN
Pure Balance Pro+ Small Breed Chicken and Pea Recipe Dry Dog Food
28.9% dry matter
LEAST STARCH
Pure Balance Pro+ Chicken & Brown Rice Large Breed Puppy Recipe Dry Dog Food
38% as fed
FEWEST CALORIES
Pure Balance Pro+ Sensitive Skin & Stomach, Salmon & Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food
325 kcal per cup
Our log holds FDA dog food recall notices from 2012 on, so this is not a guarantee that Pure Balance has never had one. See the recall log
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