The scores
Pure Balance Chicken & Brown Rice: B (78/100) — Good. Chicken first, chicken meal second, with L-carnitine, dried cranberries, and chelated mineral proteinates.
Diamond Naturals Adult Chicken & Rice: B (78/100) — Good. Chicken first, chicken meal second, plus guaranteed live probiotics and a whole-fruit superfood mix (blueberries, oranges, papayas).
How the ingredients compare
The top five ingredients:
Pure Balance: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Brewers Rice, Pea Protein
Diamond Naturals: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Cracked Pearled Barley, Grain Sorghum, Egg Product
The first two ingredients are identical — fresh chicken plus chicken meal. From position three forward the formulas diverge. Pure Balance leans on two rice entries (brown rice, brewers rice) plus pea protein — three carb-and-protein-extender ingredients. Diamond Naturals leans on cracked pearled barley (a whole grain with beta-glucan fiber) and grain sorghum (slow-digesting carb), then elevates egg product — a high-biological-value protein — into the top five directly.
Further down, Pure Balance layers in poultry fat, dried egg product, dried carrots, flaxseed, dried cranberries, and L-carnitine. Diamond Naturals layers in chicken fat, dried beet pulp, oatmeal, flaxseed, a whole-fruit mix (blueberries, oranges, papayas), and — distinctively — guaranteed live probiotics with specific colony-forming unit counts.
Where Pure Balance pulls ahead
L-carnitine in the premix: L-carnitine supports fat metabolism and lean muscle mass, particularly important for middle-aged and senior dogs whose metabolism is slowing. Diamond Naturals doesn't list it. For owners managing weight or supporting aging dogs, this is a concrete feature.
Dried cranberries for urinary health: Cranberries contribute proanthocyanidins linked to reduced urinary tract infections in dogs. Diamond's fruit mix (blueberries, oranges, papayas) is broader but doesn't emphasize the specific UTI-relevant cranberry contribution.
More chelated mineral coverage: Pure Balance's mineral premix lists zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, manganese proteinate, and copper proteinate — chelated forms that improve mineral absorption. Diamond includes some chelation but relies more heavily on standard sulfates. Shop on Amazon →
Where Diamond Naturals holds its own
Guaranteed live probiotics: Diamond's bottom-of-label disclosure lists specific probiotic strains with guaranteed CFU counts. For dogs with loose stools, sensitive digestion, or recent antibiotic treatment, that's a meaningful functional ingredient. Pure Balance lists nothing in the probiotic category.
Whole fruit diversity: Blueberries, oranges, papayas, and coconut deliver a broader phytonutrient mix than Pure Balance's cranberry + carrot combination. The antioxidant and enzymatic diversity is more substantial.
Grain diversity: Cracked pearled barley, grain sorghum, and oatmeal give Diamond a more varied whole-grain carb base than Pure Balance's rice-heavy formulation. Barley's beta-glucan fiber is particularly useful for gut health. Shop on Amazon →
The bottom line
Identical score, meaningfully different formulations. If your dog is healthy and active with no specific health goals, either is a smart pick. If your dog has any digestive issues — even intermittent loose stools or a sensitive stomach — Diamond Naturals' guaranteed probiotics tilt the scale. If you're managing weight or supporting a senior, Pure Balance's L-carnitine and cranberry inclusion tilt it back. Cost and availability are nearly identical, with Pure Balance tied to Walmart and Diamond Naturals available at Tractor Supply, feed stores, and independents. Read our full reviews of Pure Balance and Diamond Naturals for the complete breakdown.