Dog nutrition is divided into two areas: natural products and dry food. The quality of both diets determines the pet’s full life, attractive appearance, healthy digestion and, as a result, the absence of many health problems in old age. Dry food is the choice of many owners and veterinarians because they have a balanced composition and do not require the purchase of additional vitamin complexes. But any food will not do. Ready-made food should be in the premium segment or higher, but not expensive for the dog owner.
Dry food from the ProBalance brand product line has all these qualities. From the article you will learn about the composition of the brand's food, the manufacturer, the advantages and disadvantages of dry dog food in comparison with other brands, and you will be able to read reviews from veterinarians and dog owners.
About the manufacturer
Probalance food is the result of cooperation between Russian and Aller Petfood A/S from Denmark. The food recipe is the task of Danish dog nutrition experts. The manufacturing plant is located on the territory of our country, which is a definite advantage - lengthy transportation from abroad with lengthy customs clearance is not required.
The company's official website (https://delo-korm.ru/) provides complete information on the composition of feed, daily feeding rates depending on weight. age and physiological condition of the dog. The website offers a service for purchasing feed directly from production.
Feeding standards
Feeding rules and standards for dogs of different weights and ages are different. Puppies are fed much more often than adult dogs. A baby aged from one to two months needs to be fed 6 times a day, from 2 to 3 months - four or five times.
Older ones, namely from 6 months to a year, need to be fed 3 times a day. After a year, it is enough to give a teenage dog food twice a day, morning and evening.
Depending on the weight category, certain daily food standards are also established. For small dogs from 2 to 5 kg, the daily food intake is 30-60 g. Medium breeds, weighing 10-30 kg, need 160-390 g of “Probalance”. Larger portions are also available for large dogs. For pets from 40 to 60 kg, the daily food intake is 480-640 g.
Important! The amount of premium dry food will be lower than that of economy class food. This is because the former contains much more nutrients.
Feed composition
The food belongs to the middle price category (about 2500 for 15 kg), and does not contain ingredients harmful to the dog’s digestion and health:
- wheat;
- soya beans;
- artificial additives;
- preservatives;
- waste generated from food production.
To one degree or another, the food from the wide range of Probalance contains useful ingredients:
- animal protein - most often represented by dehydrated poultry meat. The protein percentage is 28-45% depending on what breed Probalance food is intended for. For large and giant breeds, the percentage of protein should be higher. For dogs with an allergy to chicken, protein is represented by fish, lamb, veal;
- additional sources of beca - egg powder, fish meal, whole milk powder, etc.;
- carbohydrates: rice, barley, oats and peas. There are no corn or wheat in Probalance formulations;
- source of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids - flaxseed, chicken fat, sunflower oil, fish oil;
- fiber in Probalance - beet pulp;
- chondoprotectors;
- L-carnitine;
- vitamins;
- lysine for immunity;
- lecithin for cell restoration;
- Yucca Schidigera extract in Probalance is responsible for reducing the odor of feces;
- glucosamines;
- a unique cocktail of 17 medicinal herbs for digestion, visual acuity, hair and joints.
Important: Probalance food contains substances that increase the shelf life of dry food: preservatives E321 and E320, myco carb. Since 2018, the composition of dry food preservatives Probalance - instead of preservatives with the E index, completely natural ones, consisting of tocopherols of natural origin, are used.
Veterinarian assessment
Veterinarians have a good attitude towards “Probalance”, but recommend contacting specialists when choosing food for animals with allergies or digestive disorders.
Kosinets A. A., veterinarian: “I advise my four-legged patients a series containing lysine. The canine body is not able to synthesize it on its own, but it is necessary for better absorption of calcium. The element is contained in fish and meat products, which indicates the good quality of the line.”
Pashkevich V.V., veterinarian: “Together with the owners of pets suffering from allergies, I select suitable diets. The hypoallergenic food from this series shows good results. But it is suitable for animals suffering from grain intolerance. If there are problems with chicken meat, you have to look for other ways.”
Advantages and disadvantages
Like any dry food, Probalance is not ideal and has its advantages and disadvantages.
The advantages include:
- the protein is substituted with dehydrated meat, and not with food waste: skin, bones, cartilage and trimmings;
- rich vitamin composition, many phytocomponents, minerals;
- a wide range of dry food for all dogs, breeds, ages and needs;
- competitive price - dry dog food Probalance is cheaper than similar in composition.
The disadvantages of the Probalance line for dogs include:
- Despite the production located in Russia, it is difficult to find dry food in the store.
The second point, which previously could be attributed to the disadvantages of dry dog food Probalance, has lost its relevance, since the manufacturer changed the composition towards increasing naturalness, replacing preservatives. Note that most manufacturers of similar dry dog food simply indicate “preservatives” in the composition, without further clarification.
Customer reviews about food
Elena. I recently bought Probalance dog food to try and am very pleased. The dog eats with pleasure and the condition of his coat has improved. The food composition is quite good; dehydrated poultry comes first. My Labrador eats about 400 grams a day. In our city, many dog breeders have switched to this food, since other good food has become incredibly expensive. We have tried it in the yellow pack for now, but the manufacturer also has a hypoallergenic line.
Natalia. For a long time I was looking for food suitable for giant breeds. We tried a bunch of different goodies with our pets, but one food makes them weak, another is allergic, and a third simply won’t eat. In general, we suffered for two years in search of optimal nutrition. Our veterinarian recommended the domestic food Probalance, which confused me at first. But after testing my dogs, they changed them. In addition to an excellent appetite, I began to notice better activity and silkiness of the coat. The dogs are playful, eat well, and on top of that, the price is very reasonable.
Catherine. When I got my first dog, I spent a very long time looking for suitable food for her. As a result, she ate only half the norm and was terribly thin. And when she turned 4 years old, I came across this brand of food. I read reviews on the Internet, to my great surprise there were only positive ones. I bought it and never regretted it. On the very first day, the dog ate the daily amount in one feeding. I've been breastfeeding for three months now. The dog gained weight well, his fur shone, and his breath stopped smelling. What’s also very pleasing is the affordable price.
Why Probalance food is better than others
For a correct comparison, we will select several dry foods, which, along with Probalance, belong to the premium class.
Hills
American dry food, produced in the USA and Europe. At first glance, the composition of Hills food is richer in meat - a total of more than 50%. There is chicken, turkey, and other types. Most of it is “meat meal”, that is, it contains food production waste: meat, skin, bones. Probalance has a smaller percentage of meat, but it is represented by meat that is dehydrated.
Royal canin
He names dehydrated meat as a source of protein, but already in the second position of the composition in dry dog food of this brand there is corn, which is an allergenic product. The food also contains antioxidant E310, which causes allergies and stomach upset. Probalance for dogs does not use soy and corn, and natural preservatives. In addition, the cost of Royal Canin for dogs is higher.
Brit
In the composition of Czech dry dog food, chicken is indicated as the source of protein - 42%, but if you pay attention to the original recipe, you can see that the majority of the composition consists of by-products. The composition itself is quite poor compared to Probalance.
It should be noted that Probalance food is one of the three most popular foods in Russia.
Mr. Cat recommends: cost and replacement food
The price of Probalance food may vary slightly and is on average:
- pouches - 18-19 rubles per pack;
- dry food: packaging of 400 grams costs 75 rubles, 1800 grams costs 450, and 10 kg costs 1800.
At the moment, Probalance food has not yet received sufficient distribution and it is easiest to purchase it in online stores.
The table below shows some common brands of feed that can be used as Probalance substitutes.
The class to which the food belongs | Name | Price, rub) |
Premium | Royal Canin, Proplan, Hills, Eukanuba, Brit, etc. | From 200 for 400 gr. |
Super premium | Bosch, Gina, Pronature, Leonardo | From 700 per 1000 g. |
Holistic | Go Natural, Innova, Almo Natural and others. | From 350 for 300 gr. |
Each owner decides for himself which food to choose for his pet. If in doubt, you should consult your veterinarian. He will help you choose the best option based on the individual characteristics of the cat and the financial capabilities of its owner.
ProBalance food line
For puppies
Puppies need a special food composition that can keep up with the growth of little fidgets, providing everything they need. Probalance has included a diet in the food line that is suitable for babies of all breeds.
ProBalance "Starter"
Designed for babies starting from 3 weeks of age. A completely natural diet, which differs from the “adult” diet in its increased nutritional value - 394 Kcal per 100 grams of dry food. A balanced composition allows the puppy’s body to receive the daily required amount of minerals, vitamins and other substances necessary for intensive growth.
Dry food "Starter" is suitable for puppies of all breeds; the manufacturer specifies the daily amount of food in grams depending on the weight of the baby. The diet is also suitable for pregnant and lactating bitches.
Probalance Starter food is suitable for puppies of all breeds, ensuring trouble-free growth and nutrition.
For adult and senior dogs
Food is selected depending on the pet’s breed, weight, physiological state, activity and health problems. The food manufacturer Probalance offers various options that are universal and suitable for dogs of all breeds.
Probalance "Gourmet Diet Adult Beef & Rabbit"
This diet solves two problems at once - it allows you to feed a picky pet who turns up its nose at other tastes, and helps you avoid allergies. There is no chicken in the composition, it was replaced by rabbit and beef. Beef provides long-lasting satiety and promotes muscle development. Rabbit is a dietary meat, high in B vitamins and low in fat.
Important: interest in this type of dry food is achieved due to the naturalness of the ingredients, and not taste enhancers.
Probalance “Immuno Adult Small&Medium”
The producers of Probalance did not ignore small and medium breeds of dogs. Small pets need a special diet, especially when they reach old age. The need to select a specialized feeding option occurs when the dog reaches the age of 7 years.
This type is designed to support the immune system; the size of the granules with a high fiber content is an excellent prevention of tartar.
When eating pellets, the dog has to chew them thoroughly rather than swallow them.
For the smallest breeds, it contains a special development by Danish scientists - the “Fitocare for dogs” supplement. Including it in the diet allows you not to think about additional complexes.
Hypoallergenic
When developing the recipe, Danish specialists pay special attention to the issue of prevention and treatment of dog allergies.
Probalance "Hypoallergenic"
Suitable for adult dogs of all breeds who are prone to allergic reactions. Changes have been made to the composition of the food to limit the components included in the red zone of allergenicity. The size of the granules is suitable for any mouth size. The manufacturer recommends soaking them with water for small and older dogs.
ProBalance for small and medium breed puppies
Probalance puppy food replenishes the deficiency of substances that are necessary for the normal growth and development of babies. It is suitable for any breed.
Dry diet Starter is approved for feeding puppies over three weeks of age. Natural nutrition differs from adult nutrition in its increased energy value: for every 100 g there are 394 kilocalories.
Every day the young body receives a sufficient amount of vitamin and mineral supplements and other useful elements. The exact feeding rates for young animals are indicated in accordance with their weight.
Important! "Probalance" Immuno Puppies Maxi for large breed puppies can be used for pregnant and lactating dogs.
Reviews from veterinarians
Most veterinarians speak positively about the Probalance line of food, although they advise owners to purchase super premium diets. There are also negative reviews.
Valery K. veterinarian I advise patients of the Immuno and Hypoallergenic series. Immuno contains lysine, which the dog’s body does not synthesize itself. Lysine helps absorb calcium and improves brain function. The amino acid is found in large quantities in fish and meat. The artificial introduction of lysine into food may indicate low-quality ingredients.
Hypoallergenic food must be selected especially carefully. The option offered for dogs with grain allergies also contains chicken. This is strange, chicken is the strongest allergen.
ProBalance for large breed adult dogs
Dog Chow: food for dogs and puppies of large and small breeds
Immuno Adult Maxi is a complete and balanced premium subspecies. The diet contains lysine, which helps improve the functioning of the immune system, and prebiotics normalize the intestinal microflora.
To maintain the health of the joint apparatus, it contains chondroitin and glucosamine. The correct ratio of nutritional ingredients helps maintain musculoskeletal health in pets.
Owner reviews
Irina S. I have a couple of Yorkies. I'm not a breeder, but I do have puppies from time to time. I feed everyone the same type of food, it is suitable for a pregnant bitch, nursing mother and babies. Of course, after being torn away from my mother. Good value for money. At the store nearby they bring it to me upon order, otherwise I might not find it.
Oleg N. Before this we bought Hills Labrador. After 5 years I began to get better, shortness of breath. Tried Diet Hills, didn't work. The dog refused. The veterinarian suggested trying Probalance. I got it for the price and the dog liked it. The weight has returned to normal. I order several bags at once on the website.
Nutritional deficiencies
Also, Probalance dog food has a number of disadvantages that you need to consider before purchasing the product:
- not all food lines contain a sufficient amount of meat;
- the presence of food additives and dyes that are prohibited in many European countries;
- not available in all domestic stores;
- European analogues are better in quality.
The diet contains grains and chemicals, although a complex of vitamins and minerals are used that are all necessary for the full development of the animal. Therefore, reviews from veterinarians and buyers differ significantly.
“Probalance” for dogs: hypoallergenic or not?
First of all, let’s define the concept of “hypoallergenic”. A diet so named should not be considered absolutely safe from an allergy point of view for all dogs or cats without exception. Each pet’s body is individual, and negative reactions can occur to almost any component.
By using the prefix “hypo” (Latin hypo - “less than normal”) in the name “hypoallergenic,” the manufacturer simply wants to communicate that this food does not contain the most common allergy-causing ingredients. A review of the composition of ProBalance Hypoallergenic Adult Dog will show whether this is true.