Is Blue Buffalo Dog Food Healthy

Blue Buffalo Dog Food Review Recalls & Ingredients Analysis In 2021

Blue Buffalo is a premium brand of dog food that was started by a family for their own beloved furry companion.

Blue Buffalo provides nutritious recipes that include natural ingredients, high-quality meat, fish, or poultry, and fruit and vegetables. They produce wholesome recipes for all life stages, sizes, and activity levels.

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Chicken & Brown Rice For Senior Dogs

This Life Protection recipe has been developed specially for dogs in the last quarter of their lives. Its protein and fat levels are on the minimum bracket, so I think it suits inactive older dogs who exercise for about half an hour a day.

The fiber content is fairly high here, so if your dog has digestive problems such as diarrhea or constipation, this food can help.This recipe contains low levels of both glucosamine and chondroitin, which work together to protect her joints. As they are small amounts, I would suggest this food to older dogs prone to joint conditions but not yet displaying symptoms.

This dog food is a good choice for those dogs prone to diseases such as cancer, as the high levels of antioxidants here will support your older dogs immune system and work to keep her cells healthy.

Is Blue Buffalo Dry Dog Food Best For My Dog

Prepare for unexpected vet bills

Blue Buffalos Dry Dog Food lines are touted as some of the best dogfoods you can buy. With whole-food ingredients and antioxidant blendsformulated at low temps to sustain their vitamin content, its no wonderthis brand is one of the more expensive dry foods around. So which dogsis Blue Buffalo best for, how much does it cost, and what exactly is init? Keep reading to find out!

Blue Buffalos slogan is Love them like family. Feed them like family.” Many of the ingredients in Blue Buffalo’s foods are indeed things we humans would eat, like salmon, berries, sweet potatoes, and flax. While the ingredients sound undoubtedly delicious, are they really worth the price tag? Whats the difference in all the lines Blue Buffalo carries for dogs? Well discuss this, and other frequently asked questions to help you make the most informed purchase pawssible”.

• 24 pounds
• 30 pounds

Blue Buffalos small breed blends are only available in sizes up to 15 pounds. The cost of Blue Buffalo dry dog food ranges between $11 and $53, depending on the size, formula, and retailer.

Blue Buffalo has dog food for nearly every breed, with both small- and large-dog varieties, as well as recipes for dogs with specific medical issues.

The first ingredient in Blue Buffalo is always meat depending on the flavor, the meat source may include:

• salmon

• brown rice
• oats
• barley

Recommended Reading: Blue Buffalo Vs Nutro Dog Food

Dry Dog Food Product Line

Blue Buffalo has a number of selections meant to cater to dogs of all shapes and sizes, and most of these varieties also come in canned form as well as treats, to make sure that all of your dogs needs can be catered to. Senior dogs, young dogs and small breed adults can all benefit from the vitamins and minerals packed in the wet and dry food. The company also rolls out new lines every few years, adapting the newest breakthroughs in pet science to help make some of the healthiest food on the market and to maintain and improve its cancer-fighting edge.

Blue Buffalo Cat Food Vs Health Extension Cat Food

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.

Both brands provide roughly the same amount of crude protein. For wet cat foods, Health Extension provides significantly more 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 :

• Fats help with the digestion and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
• Reduce inflammation associated with arthritis
• Slow the growth of yeast infections
• Prevent or reduce the likelihood of certain heart problems.
• Aid in the development of the retina and visual cortex.

As you can see, Blue Buffalo and Health Extension guarantee a similar amount of crude fat. For wet cat foods, Blue Buffalo provides more fat .

Also Check: Where To Buy Darwin’s Dog Food

Your Complete Guide To Picking The Right Dog Food

To identify the right food for your dog, it is important to start by understanding your dog. For example, if the dog is a puppy, you might need a different type of food compared to an adult one. Here are other factors to consider when buying Blue Buffalo pooch food:

• Go for foods made from high-value and natural ingredients. The ingredients used to make the food of choice should be drawn from high-value natural sources such as chicken, fish, and vegetables.

• Only buy the dog food that will not cause allergic reactions to your dog. Like people, dogs can also be allergic to different elements in their food. It is, therefore, important to establish if your dog is allergic to some ingredients and go for the food that will not cause reactions. For example, if your dog is allergic to dairy products, go for foods that do not have related products.

• Purchase the dog food with positive feedback from clients who have already used it. If you look at the past clients reviews for specific dog food, they can help you to understand whether it is good or bad. The aim should be identifying and using foods with high Blue Buffalo ratings and staying away from those with negative reviews.

• Only pick the food that will help to protect and strengthen the dogs immune system. Therefore, check for ingredients such as Omega-3 fats, vitamins, and essential minerals.

Who Makes Blue Buffalo And Where Is It Produced

Based out of Wilton, Connecticut, Blue Buffalo had a humble beginning. When the pet parents grieved the condition of their buddy, Blue, they hardly thought that their journey would lead them to create one of the most well-known brands in America. While the headquarters remains in Wilton, they have facilities across the United States in California, Missouri, Arkansas, and South Carolina.

Trusted for their all-natural ingredients and wholesome recipes, Blue Buffalo tries to capture primal elements to add to their specialized formulas. They know that no two dogs are the same when it comes to nutritional needs. With each bag, they tailor the dog food to suit every stage of life and every dietary requirement.

Don’t Miss: Where To Buy Darwin’s Dog Food

Does Target Have Blue Buffalo Dog Food

Blue Buffalo Offering Through Target, Other Mass-Market Retailers Describing the move as the natural evolution of its marketing strategy, Blue Buffalo is offering select pet food and treat products in its entry-level LPF brand line through Target, Meijer, Kroger, and Publix.

How Much Does The Food Cost

As with many things, the cost will vary depending on what vendor your purchase from. Blue Buffalo is a premium dog food that takes each recipe seriously. The prices may raise eyebrows a bit, but once you consider the contents, its easier to understand. They use quality ingredients to preserve and improve the health of your dog. Therefore, the prices reflect this.

30% OFF at Chewy.com

Also Check: Can Chickens Eat Dog Food

Blue Buffalo Dog Food Review

This page contains affiliate links. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post through our independently chosen links, which earn us a commission. Learn More

Blue Buffalo has only been around since 2002-03 but in that time the company has become one of the biggest and most successful pet food companies in the world. The company makes both dog and cat foods.

Their dog foods include grain-free and grain-inclusive offerings in many different formulas. And they produce both kibble and wet/canned foods, as well as treats.

Blue Buffalo also advertises aggressively which has not always made them popular with some of their competitors.

If you would like to know if Blue Buffalo dog food is right for your dog, read our unbiased review.

Quick Navigation

Blue Buffalo Basics Limited

This Limited Ingredient recipe is a good choice for typically active medium or large breed dogs with food sensitivities or allergies.

Turkey is the only animal protein source, and there is no corn, soy, wheat, dairy, or eggs. There is, however, brown rice and oatmeal, so this recipe is not suitable for dogs with grain allergies. Fish oil is also included, so if your dog is allergic to fish, this food is not suitable.

There is some glucosamine here, though at very low levels , so it can help support jointsprone to disease.

What I like about this Limited Ingredient Recipe is that it still includes fruit and vegetables, which is something that you dont always see in these kinds of formulas. That means she gets her dose of antioxidants to keep her immune system healthy.

You May Like: Who Makes Royal Canin Dog Food

Blue Buffalo Company Overview

Blue Buffalo became one of the biggest dog food players in the game after their company began in 2003.

When their family dog, Blue, got sick, they decided to fight the cancer on a nutritional level.

Since then, theyve developed the Blue Life Protection Formula which is one of the best selling kibble brands in America.

They offer many blends for all age ranges and health needs, selling products in many stores across the nation.

Blue Life Puppy Lamb & Oatmeal

First 5 Ingredients: Deboned Lamb, Menhaden Fish Meal, Oatmeal, Brown Rice, Barley

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Puppy Lamb & Oatmeal Recipe is a grain-inclusive dry food formulated for the nutritional needs of puppies of all breeds and sizes. Puppies developing bodies need a lot of nutrients to help them grow up to be healthy, active dogs.

Made with real deboned lamb, this puppy food provides excellent quality protein to help young pups build strong and lean muscles. Lamb is a flavorful protein that is ideal for sensitive dogs. At 26% protein, this food provides enough protein to give them lean muscles and sustain the high energy level of puppies.

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Puppy Formula also has menhaden fish meal as an additional source of protein. Menhaden fish meal is a good source of omega 3 fatty acids that help promote healthy skin and lustrous coats.

This lamb and oatmeal recipe also has flaxseed which is a rich source of essential omega-3 fatty acids and is a great source of fiber that aids in digestion and promotes healthy skin and coat.

The main source of fat in this recipe is chicken fat. It is packed with rich chicken goodness that dogs love. This Blue Life Protection puppy food also has fish oil.

Rich in omega-3 fatty acids and DHA, fish oil helps support natural skin and coat health, improves cognitive functions and supports healthy weight and kidney health.

Also Check: Is Iams Dog Food Any Good

Best Dog Food For Small Breed

This is one of the leading Blue Buffalos recipes for most clients in our blue buffalo dog food review. The food is manufactured with a focus on small breed dogs that require a specific balance of macronutrients.

The level of carbohydrates in the food is fairly high which makes it ideal for an active or fast-growing dog. The carbohydrates are derived from brown rice, potatoes, and peas. Because the formula does not contain egg, beef or dairy, I found it ideal for dogs that are allergic to those ingredients.

Because Blue Buffalo formulated this product as a Life Protection option, it adds antioxidants that help to strengthen the immune system. This also makes it a great option for dogs suffering from conditions such as heart disease or cancer.

Other ingredients that make this food the number one choice is chelated minerals and Omega-3 and -6 fatty acids that help to keep your dogs skin smooth and further strengthen the immune system.

How Long Can My Dog Food Last

As far as wet dog foods are concerned, they, once opened, can last for only a few days. Therefore, make sure its proper sealing and storage at cold places after opening. Some brands also offer wet dog foods in the form of a single-serve.

You can store dry dog foods for months by making sure they are stored in a dry and cool environment.

Read Also: Where To Buy Darwin’s Dog Food

More Blue Buffalo Dog Food

• Breed Size – Large Breeds, Giant Breeds
• Main Ingredients – Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal, Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Barley

• Lifestage – Adult
• Breed Size – All Sizes
• Main Ingredients – Deboned Lamb, Menhaden Fish Meal , Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Barley

• Lifestage – Adult
• Breed Size – All Sizes
• Main Ingredients – Deboned Chicken, Chicken Meal , Pea Protein, Peas, Tapioca Starch

Rachael Ray Nutrish Just 6 Limited Ingredient Dog Food

Nutrish Simple Six dog foods are affordable alternatives to more expensive limited ingredient diets. These diets eliminate common allergens by using a simple recipe. And the Nurtish restricted ingredient diets offer balanced nutrition from just six simple ingredients.

The Basics line of limited ingredient pet foods from Blue Buffalo is about twice as expensive as this similar dog food brand.

If you are searching for an affordable dog food for your pup with food allergies, I recommend Rachael Ray Nutrish Just 6 Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Limited Ingredient Recipe.

This dog food uses lamb as the single source of a 20% crude protein content. A novel single protein source helps prevent exposure to new potential allergens.

This formulas protein content is identical to the 20% protein content of Blue Buffalo Basics Lamb Recipe.

Rachael Ray Nutrish simple formulas use even fewer ingredients than Blue Buffalo recipes. But both include added vitamins and minerals to meet your pups daily requirements.

Just-6 formulas are also pea-free, unlike Blue Buffalo Basics. Peas can sometimes cause allergic reactions in sensitive dogs. But both recipes are grain-free to avoid gluten sensitivities in pups that suffer from canine allergies.

Recommended Reading: Low Residue Iams

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food

Because most of the dog foods discussed in these reviews are for grown dogs, you might still have the question Is blue buffalo a good dog food for puppies? The answer is, Yes. To cater to small dogs, Blue Buffalo developed the Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Puppy Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Dry Dog Food that requires a special diet for faster growth.

The food is created with high-value proteins to facilitate faster cells generation and growth. The ingredients include real meat, garden veggies, and fruits. Carbs in the food come from brown rice that helps to provide ample energy for fast growth.

When dogs are small, their immune systems are still developing and require a lot of support. The food is formulated with Docosahexaenoic Acid that helps to strengthen the brain, muscles, and eye development. It also contains Omega-3 and Omega-6 fats that further strengthen the dogs immune system.

Other top ingredients used for the food include minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants that help to strengthen the bones and protect the puppy from common diseases.

I was impressed by the fact that the food does not contain corn, wheat or soy. This means that it is ideal for puppies that are allergic to these three ingredients.

Cheaper Alternatives To Blue Buffalo Dog Food

This is our guide to the best cheaper alternatives to Blue Buffalo dog food.

Im a former veterinary technician, and Blue Buffalo is one of my favorite pet food brands. This company prioritizes using exceptionally high-quality ingredients to produce a wide range of specialized formulas.

But, Blue Buffalo recipes often have a high cost that some owners cant afford. So I researched the best budget alternatives to all of Blue Buffalos famous product lines.

There are several affordable options for high-quality dog food comparable to Blue Buffalo. And Diamond Naturals All Life Stages Dog Food is one of the best alternatives overall.

But every pup is different.

Well review several brands that offer similar quality ingredients and specialization at a lower price to help you find the best one for your furry friend.

Lets get started!

Read Also: Can You Buy Dog Food With Snap Benefits

Blue Buffalo Cheaper Alternatives Reviewed

Blue Buffalo offers several different product lines that meet the unique needs of individual dogs throughout their lifetime. Some product lines are grain-inclusive, while others focus on a prey-feeding model of high meat content.

Here are reviews of our top picks for the best affordable dog food similar to Blue Buffalo in every popular category. All formulas meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for dogs. But you should always consult your veterinarian before changing your dogs diet.

Diamond Naturals is a renowned brand that specializes in producing high-quality dog food formulas at an affordable price. These pet food products focus on supporting your dogs overall health with nutritional support from healthy ingredients.

Comparable dog foods in this range cost nearly 45% less than Life Protection Formulas from Blue Buffalo.

I recommend Diamond Naturals Chicken & Rice All Stages Dry Dog Food as an affordable alternative to Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formulas. This recipe provides comprehensive nutritional support suitable for a wide variety of dogs.

The All Life Stages dog food line uses real meat as the first ingredient to offer a 26% moderate crude protein diet suitable for most dogs. Blue Buffalo Chicken & Rice Life Protection Formula has a very similar 24% protein content from chicken.

Neither product contains corn, wheat, or soy. These ingredients are common allergens in dogs, and probiotics in both formulas help support digestive health.