Blue Life Protection Formula Dog Food Review
Score: 2.2/10
Package Ingredients for Small Breed Chicken and Oatmeal Recipe: Deboned Chicken, chicken meal, oatmeal, barley, menhaden fish meal , peas, dried egg product, brown rice, chicken fat , dried tomato pomace, flaxseed , natural flavour, pea protein, fish oil , dicalcium phosphate, salt, dehydrated alfalfa meal, potassium chloride, potatoes, dried chicory root, choline chloride, pea fibre, alfalfa nutrient concentrate, calcium carbonate, dl-methionine, preserved with mixed tocopherols, vitamin E supplement, sweet potatoes, carrots, garlic, zinc amino acid chelate, zinc sulfate, vegetable juice for colour, ferrous sulfate, iron amino acid chelate, blueberries, cranberries, barley grass, parsley, turmeric, dried kelp, yucca schidigera extract, niacin , calcium pantothenate , l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate , L-Lysine, copper sulfate, biotin , L-Carnitine, vitamin A supplement, copper amino acid chelate, manganese sulfate, taurine, manganese amino acid chelate, thiamine mononitrate , riboflavin , vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride , calcium iodate, dried yeast, dried enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried aspergillus niger fermentation extract, dried trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, dried bacillus subtilis fermentation extract, folic acid , sodium selenite, oil of Rosemary
Blue Basics Wet Dog Food Review
Score: 3.9/10
Package Ingredients for Grain-Free Turkey And Potato Recipe: Turkey, turkey broth, potatoes, flaxseed , pea protein, fish oil, pumpkin, guar gum, potassium chloride, salt, carrageenan, cassia gum, cranberries, blueberries, choline chloride, zinc amino acid chelate, iron amino acid chelate, vitamin E supplement, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate , copper amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, sodium selenite, thiamine mononitrate , cobalt amino acid chelate, niacin supplement , calcium pantothenate , vitamin a supplement, riboflavin supplement , biotin , vitamin B12 supplement, potassium iodide, pyridoxine hydrochloride , vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid , preserved with mixed tocopherols
Using our evaluation criteria, Blue Basics Wet is considered a high risk dog food. Here are our concerns:
Are The Ingredients High Quality
Here are some common low quality ingredients or markers we look for:
- Is there excessive carbohydrate content, which can cause gut imbalances?
- Does the food contain unnamed proteins, which are low quality?
- Does the food use cellulose as a source of fiber instead of real food?
- Are there excessive vitamins and minerals added in place of real food nutrition?
- Are there excessive added amino acids or plant proteins instead of expensive meat protein?
- Does the food contain inflammatory processed seed oils?
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Top Product Lines Of Blue Buffalo
Blue Buffalo offers 7 different product lines. In creating each product line, the manufacturers goal to create the healthiest recipe possible seems to be.
Almost every line includes wet as well as dry foods. Pates treats and biscuits are also available.
The first ingredient in dry and wet dog food is usually some meat or meat meal. Grain-free versions are available for dogs with sensitive stomachs, but grain-inclusive diets are also very good at Blue. The ingredients are natural, and we do not find any artificial preservatives, dyes, fillers, or other additives.
Recipes for several product families also include so-called LifeSource Bits. This is a very healthy blend developed by veterinarians and animal nutrition experts. They contain plenty of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to support dog health.
Below I will write about the Blue Buffalo product lines and review the most popular products in each product lines.
Is Blue Buffalo Baby Blue Dry Dog Food Good
Blue Buffalo Baby Blue Dry Dog Food is a pet food line with a 3.5-star rating around 20% of all the pet food we review fall in this tier.
They seem to have nutrition ratio similar to a common pet food and contain mainly named ingredents. We think they are quite fine and might work best whem combined with other high meat pet food to balance the diet.
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Which Blue Buffalo Food Is Best
Blue Buffalo Brand is a premium brand in the market, known for its premium dog food and quality recipes, which always contain meat as the first ingredient, and soy and corn. Avoid artificial additives so that our dogs can be healthy. And leave the fillers too. The brand is inspired by their own dog, Blue, for whom they worked specifically to address his health issues while establishing the brand. And they created a healthy dog food with it, which is now one of the best foods on the market today.
The Blue Buffalo brand now has so many food types or recipes and formula combinations that it may seem overwhelming to choose one from among them. We will try to keep your dogs needs in mind and bring you the best products from our range of pet supplies so that you can find the right food more easily.
History Of The Blue Buffalobrand
Blue Buffalo is headquartered in Wilton Connecticut where it produces multiple dog food lines. Additionally, they outsource their manufacturing to other food manufacturing companies such as ProPet, Triple T Foods, Ainsworth, Tuffys, and CJ Foods. As a brand, Blue Buffalo often is compared to other major food manufacturers.
The company was founded in 2003 by Bill and Jackie Bishop after their Terrier, Blue died of cancer. Blue Buffalo was created during research into the relationship that nutrition has with certain types of cancer. Blue Buffalo strives to provide high-quality antioxidant packaged food that keeps your pets happy and healthy.
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How Is Blue Buffalo Dog Food Made
Blue Buffalo Dog Food is made using all-natural ingredients formulated into wholesome recipes. The brand tries its best to ensure that your dogs food is as primal as possible.
The formulas are minimally processed and are catered to different dog breeds and dietary needs. Every portion of the food ensures that your dog gets the required nutritional needs. The food is tailored to suit every life stage.
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Adult Dry Dog Food
This is our favorite overall, as it caters to most dogs. It is a perfect, healthy combination of protein, antioxidants, and flavor. The bag is aromatic and seems to appeal to the dogs appetite. It is made from chicken and brown rice, so the grain isnt hard to digest, like wheat, soy, or corn.
This is one of the most popular Blue Buffalo recipes because it covers all the bases of proper nutrition. It has 24.0% crude protein and 377 calories per cup. For grain, it has brown rice, barley, and oatmeal, which should not adversely affect a dog who can handle grain in their diet.
This is not suitable food for dogs who need specialized diets, such as grain-free or specific meat proteins.
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Discussion Of The Primary Ingredients
When youre evaluating dog food, you should check the ingredient list. With any Blue Buffalo product, you get good results.
The first ingredient in all its foods is a deboned protein, either deboned chicken, deboned salmon, or deboned lamb, depending on the recipe that you go with.
From there, one of the most common ingredients is chicken meal or fish meal. While protein meals might not seem like the best choice, the consensus is that as long as the company lists the source of protein, theyre a good thing. Meal products provide more protein than you can get with regular deboned protein choices. So, if you want to up the protein content in your dogs food, which many dogs need, get some sort of meal product.
Blue Buffalo prioritizes putting ingredients in your dog food that you are familiar with, so youre not feeding them filler or other low-quality ingredients without realizing it.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Puppy Formula Review
Our Rating 4.6/5 Stars
We all know that dogs descended from wolves, which begs an obvious question why dont we feed them that way? The Blue Buffalo Wilderness line represents a solution for owners who want to feed their pups like the omnivores they truly are. Wilderness is a grain-free puppy food with high protein content thats been gaining in popularity since its release.
The reason why this food had its success with pups is the ingredients list which supported natural foods like chicken, bison, fish oil, carrots, and sweet potatoes.
- Contains One 11-Lb Bag Of Blue Wilderness High Protein Grain Free Puppy Dry Dog Food, Chicken
- Always Features Real Meat As The 1St Ingredient. High-Quality Protein From Deboned Chicken Plus Chicken And Fish Meal Helps Build And Maintain Strong Muscles….
Wilderness Puppy is also complete and balanced, following the AFFCO standards to meet all your puppys unique needs as they grow and change. Its also made with highly digestible, quality protein to build strong muscle, DHA to help with brain and retinal development, and the right blend of minerals to build strong and healthy bones and joints.
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Overview Of Blue Buffalo
Bill and Jackie Bishop began to take an interest in pet health issues when their Airedale, Blue, started suffering from health problems. This led them to develop Blue Buffalo Dog Food, which contained only the finest natural ingredients to promote a strong immune system.
Blue Buffalo dog food does not contain by-product meals, wheat, corn, or soy proteins, nor artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. As far as I can see, none of their recipes contain dairy or egg, either. They produce two grain-free lines of dog food, a Limited Ingredient line, and an antioxidant-rich Life Protection line.
All of their foods contain LifeSource Bits, small dark kibbles with a blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that have been âcold-formedâ to help retain the potency of their ingredients. These bits include whole source ingredients from a range of fruit and veg.
Blue Buffalos motto is Love them like family. Feed them like family, a sentiment I believe shines through in the formulation of their recipes.
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Most Popular Blue Buffalo Products
Since Blue Buffalo makes cat and dog products, well review both in this section. While the dog and cat foods may have differing constituents, they both have a common ingredient: the LifeSource Bits®. This precisely prepared blend of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants is included in all their recipes.
Also, they make sure to start all their dog and cat recipes with real meat. This is something many brands do not do well. However, Blue Buffalo ensures all their recipes get a good dose of real meat to satisfy the primal requirements of your furry companions. Now, Lets move to our top dog and cat food picks.
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Is Blue Buffalo Considered A Balanced Dog Food
All Blue Buffalo recipes meet or exceed dog food nutrient profiles established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials . These standards are based on the Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats published by the National Research Council of the National Academies of Science in Washington, D.C. Each Blue Buffalo recipe is considered complete and balanced for the canine life stage printed on the package.
Recipe And Label Analysis
Blue Buffalo Chicken and Brown Rice Adult was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.
Blue Buffalo Chicken and Brown Rice Adult
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Fiber = 5.6%
Red denotes controversial item
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How Do You Choose
The wide variety of options available through Blue Buffalo allow you to find exactly what your dog needs. Kibble size, food composition, flavor, nutrient makeup and more vary from one food to the next, so you can mix and match to find the best formula for your pet.
To make the process a bit easier, Blue Buffalo does offer a food recommendation tool.
This is a simple online questionnaire that helps to match you with formulas that make sense for your pets age, size, weight and dietary restrictions.
Overall, the Blue Buffalo Life Protection formula is a strong performer in all categories and is a great all-purpose food. With plenty of flavor options, it has enough variety to appeal to even picky eaters. Its also cheaper than other Blue Buffalo formulas, so its a good option for the price-conscious consumer.
If youre looking for premium quality and dont mind paying a bit more, the Blue Carnivora line is extremely high-quality dog food. Its made with a focus on whole-meat ingredients and minimal fillers. It offers a low-carbohydrate, high-protein performance diet that rivals the best home-made whole meat diets.
Whatever you choose, be sure to transition your pet slowly onto the new food for the best results. Start by mixing a little bit of Blue Buffalo into your pets current food. Slowly increase the quantity over the course of two weeks. This will help ease your pet onto the new formula with minimal fuss and stomach upset.
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.
35% OFF at Chewy.com
Blue Wilderness is a food geared toward dogs who need a rich meat-based food with high protein levels. Many recipes in this category are for dogs who burn tons of energy. If you have a dog who isnt very active, they can become overweight. If you want the benefit of extra meat in your dogs diet, they do have a weight management selection with less carbohydrate and calorie content.
Within the Blue Wilderness line, they have Natures Evolutionary Diet, Rocky Mountain Recipe, Snake River Grill, Denali Dinner, and Flatland Feast. Each of them comes with hearty exotic and familiar meats for your choosing.
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Blue Buffalo Puppy Food Review
This Blue Buffalo Puppy Food Review will look at one of the of nine different products made by this company, each either catering to large or small breed puppies, or promoting a different protein source.
I was asked to review Blue Buffalo Puppy Formulas by Sara from MN, USA.
Many foods have already been reviewed by Small Dog Place, however, if you do not see your own food, you are welcome to submit a review request and we will review your food as time permits.
Since I did not have access to the actual packaging, I went directly to the Blue Buffalo website where I found the information I am providing below.
According to their website, there are nine Blue Buffalo Puppy Food choices and four Blue Wilderness Puppy Foods:
Blue Buffalos Environmental Policy
In its early days, Blue Buffalo Pet Products Inc. didnt seem to be concerned with developing any environmental policy.
Their focus was on producing food with premium quality ingredients.
Their refusal to incorporate animal by-product meals and specific cereals and legumes in their diets do not hold up scientifically and cause food chain inefficiency which impacts the environment adversely.
This gives rise to a number of problems stemming from sourcing of sustainable ingredients to contributing to reduced food efficiency in the food chain.
However, Blue Buffalo is now the property of General Mills. Fortunately, General Mills Inc. has a better environmental policy than the original company and seems to be genuinely seeking to find ways to reduce the environmental cost of all their production.
General Mills acknowledges that climate change is a threat to their business and to the world at large, by making the agricultural food producing system more fragile .
General Mills have committed themselves to:
- reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 28% by 2025.
- moving to zero waste-to-landfill at 100% of its facilities by 2025.
- sustainably sourcing 100% of their 10 key ingredients.
- support sustainable agricultural practices.
- reduce food waste.
General Mills are also considering switching from plastic to fiber packaging as part of their future projects. Only time will tell if this change of ownership will make Blue Buffalo a more environmentally considerate product.
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Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Senior Recipe
First 5 Ingredients: Deboned Beef, Fish Meal, Peas, Tapioca Starch, Pea Protein
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe with Red Meat Senior is a grain-free dry dog food made especially for senior pups. According to the brand, this chicken-free recipe is inspired by the diet of wolves who have roamed the American West for centuries. This dry food is ideal for senior dogs who are allergic to chicken protein.
This red meat recipe has deboned beef as the most abundant ingredient. Beef is a flavorful protein that supports muscle development and energy. Aside from beef, this Blue Buffalo Wilderness recipe also has fish meal and beef meal. These are high quality, concentrated sources of protein.
Deboned venison and lamb are also included in this meaty recipe. These are both lean protein sources that are rich in savory flavors. All of the animal proteins in this recipe help senior dogs maintain a lean muscle mass.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe with Red Meat Seniors fat sources are canola oil and fish oil. This formula for seniors has omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids to support heart, skin, and coat health. It has glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate which help maintain and rebuild joint cartilage.
Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe with Red Meat Senior has superfoods like blueberries, cranberries, barley grass, parsley, turmeric, and dried kelp that are rich in antioxidants that support cellular health.