Is Blue Buffalo too rich for my puppy

I agree that a lot of people seem to have issues with Blue Buffalo, and this is not good. However, there are the few (apparently) whose dogs have done well on it. If I were to be asked to make a recommendation to someone about dog food, I would base it off of personal experience and research, and regarding Blue Buffalo, I can say that Bruno did wonderfully on the Wilderness Puppy for about 4 months, until I decided to rotate him out of it, just because rotating foods is good, not because of issues. I would say that I will keep Wilderness in our rotation because hes done well on it, and because I know of 3 other dogs (in 2 separate households) who also have been feeding Blue (one constantly, which is not that great, the other in rotation) and their dogs have been ok too. Nonetheless, I can say that I have read about many who experience issues with it, but I really believe that it comes down to individual dogs and their guts for the most part. It is important that everyone closely monitors their dog and watch for reactions, then act accordingly. I have never had to contact the company, so I dont know how their customer service is.

And I think the above goes for just about any food I have fed, or read a lot about. Still, no matter how much I read about foods, I will have to feed it to my dog personally in order to form my own opinion based on experience. There are many many foods I want to feed based on profile alone (and some forumers or friends opinions of them) Wellness Core, Natures Variety Instinct, Wysong Epigen or Wysong 90, Victor (feeding a bit of it now, but want a full bag to really test it out), AvoDerm Trout (just that one, lol), Taste of the Wild and Canidae Pure (yes, yes, I know about Diamond and the recalls), Merrick Grain Free, Orijen (drool) and maybe Acana, Back to Basics (got a bag in the cabinet waiting its turn to be opened), Fromm, Darwins, The Honest Kitchen (when Im rich, lol), etc. I dont even know if Brunos lifetime will allow me to rotate through them once, let alone twice, lol.

So yeah, thats my 2 cents.

Blue Buffalo Puppy Food Review 2024: Pros, Cons, Recalls, & FAQ

Our Final Verdict

We give Blue Buffalo Puppy Food a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars.

Blue Buffalo Puppy Food comes in various flavors and recipes and is manufactured by Blue Buffalo, one of the first brands to prioritize using whole food, premium ingredients. Founded initially as a small family company in 2003, the success of Blue Buffalo led to it being acquired by the General Mills Corporation in 2018.

Blue Buffalo is known for their advertising campaigns, which have made the company well-known among pet owners. Blue Buffalo Puppy Food is priced about the same as comparable diets and generally receives positive user reviews. We found that it is a decent option for most puppies, although there are a few concerns to keep in mind as you compare diets for your young dog.

The Blue Buffalo Puppy Food Recipe

Puppy Food Reviewed

About Blue Buffalo Puppy Food Products

Who makes Blue Buffalo Puppy Food and where is it produced?

Blue Buffalo Puppy Food is manufactured by its parent company, Blue Buffalo, which is owned by General Mills. Blue Buffalo has two manufacturing locations in the United States, one in Missouri and one in Indiana. The company also outsources some production to other U.S.-based companies.

Which Types of Puppies is Blue Buffalo Puppy Food Best Suited For?

Because it has so many different recipes, including wet food and sensitive stomach options, Blue Buffalo Puppy Food is suitable for most puppies.

Which Types of Puppies Might Do Better with a Different Brand?

Puppies with specific health issues, like early-onset food allergies or digestive issues, may need to consider a different brand, such as a veterinary-specific option. For those puppies, Royal Canin Puppy Gastrointestinal Diet may be a better choice.

Some owners of healthy puppies may prefer to avoid Blue Buffalo due to its recall history. In that case, another quality pet food to consider is Purina Pro Plan Chicken and Rice Puppy Formula.

Recall History

Blue Buffalo has an extensive recall history. The last recall was in 2017, suggesting that the companys quality control may have improved since General Mills purchased it.

In 2007, Blue Buffalo canned foods and treats were recalled as part of the widespread melamine recall that impacted many pet food brands. 2010 saw a recall of several Blue Buffalo recipes for containing too much Vitamin D. In 2015, two recalls targeted Blue Buffalo cat treats and chew bones.

One Blue Buffalo recipe was recalled in 2016 for potential mold contamination, and Blue Buffalo issued multiple recalls in 2017. One was due to possible metal contamination in a canned food recipe, and PetSmart recalled several types of wet food over package quality. The final recall targeted a specific flavor of Blue Wilderness canned food, Rocky Mountain Red Meat, which was found to contain an elevated level of a beef thyroid hormone.

Besides these recalls, Blue Buffalos grain-free diets were among those named by the FDA in 2019 as potentially contributing to the development of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a heart condition. No official recall was announced, and the FDA continues to investigate the truth of the DCM and grain-free connection.

Blue Buffalo has also dealt with several lawsuits regarding misleading advertisements, including a 2014 case brought by Purina after a poultry by-product meal was discovered in several flavors despite labeling to the contrary.

Discussion of the Primary Ingredients (Good and Bad)

Lets take a look at the primary ingredients found in Blue Buffalo Life Protection Puppy Food, one of their most popular formulas.

Deboned Chicken

One of Blue Buffalos big selling points is their use of premium ingredients, including whole protein sources rather than by-products. Deboned chicken refers to the muscle meat of chicken and is similar to what humans eat. It is a good source of protein.

Chicken Meal

Chicken meal is a processed product made by removing the water from the meat, cooking it, and grinding it into a fine powder. It provides a higher amount of protein per serving because it is so concentrated, making it more cost-effective. Although it is processed rather than whole chicken, it is considered a nutritious protein source, especially when it is specifically labeled with the type of meat (chicken) used rather than the generic poultry meal.

Brown Rice, Barley, Oatmeal

This recipe is grain-inclusive, featuring the three whole grains prominently. Domestic dogs are classified as omnivores, meaning they can process plant foods and utilize their nutrients. Whole grains can be a healthy source of energy, protein, and nutrition for your puppy.

Fish Meal

In this recipe, Blue Buffalo uses fish meal as a source of omega-3 fatty acids. Fish meal is produced the same way as chicken meal: by rendering and grinding fish parts into a concentrated powder. Unless its specifically labeled as a type of fish, it may contain several species. The nutritional value of a fish meal varies depending on the type of fish its made out of.

Peas

Peas and other legumes are commonly used as a carbohydrate source in grain-free diets but are also used in this grain-inclusive puppy food. Legumes are the primary ingredient under investigation for their link to DCM. Again, the FDA cautions that more research is needed on this subject.

Blue Buffalo Puppy Food Review

Blue Buffalo produces a variety of dry and wet puppy food options, including grain-free and grain-inclusive varieties. Generally rated highly by dog owners, Blue Buffalo was one of the first brands to prioritize using real food ingredients, such as deboned chicken, grains, fruits, and vegetables in their recipes. Their line of puppy food includes large-breed formulas and sensitive skin and stomach diets, making it suitable for a wide variety of puppies.

Blue Buffalo puppy foods include the brands signature LifeSource bits, an antioxidant blend, although some users report that their puppies dont like the taste of the bits and eat around them. They are also supplemented with fatty acids, DHA, taurine (for heart health), and other nutrients to support proper development and growth.

Many Blue Buffalo puppy foods contain peas and other legumes, which come with some concerns as we already discussed. Blue Buffalo makes a point of advertising that they avoid grains like wheat, soy, and corn, which are often thought of as fillers and by-product meals. While these ingredients arent necessarily unhealthy for your puppy, many owners prefer to avoid them, and Blue Buffalo offers them that option.

Over the years, Blue Buffalo has had some issues with quality control and misleading advertising, leading to several recalls and lawsuits, which may prompt some to steer clear of feeding the brand.

Pros

• Made with whole food ingredients like chicken and vegetables
• Includes added nutrients to support healthy growth
• Multiple recipes available, including wet food
• Generally highly rated by users

Cons

• Several recipes contain peas and other legumes
• Fairly significant recall history for a newer brand

Ingredients Analysis

The provided data is for Blue Buffalo Life Protection Puppy Chicken and Rice dry food.

Calories per cup breakdown

What Other Users Are Saying

Heres a quick look at what users are saying about Blue Buffalo Puppy Food:

Chewy [my dog] just wasnt thriving while on his previous dog food. He wasnt excited about eating. After reading many reviews, I tried Blue Buffalo and Ive seen a huge difference in his appetite!

• Good one for dogs with sensitive stomachs
• For the price, you get good ingredients and good quality
• Gives my dog bad breath

Reddit Ive been feeding Blue Buffalo puppy foodand Im liking the results. [My puppy] is a healthy weight, the coat looks/feels good and she seems to love it.

• Seems to give my dog loose stool
• A bit too rich for my pup

Amazon Reading Amazon reviews is a great way to gain information about the pet food you are considering. You can read these by clicking here.

In Conclusion

Blue Buffalo offers puppy food in a variety of formulas and recipes. Although the brand was developed based on a desire to feature high-quality ingredients, several recalls call into question their quality control, especially in foods manufactured by third-party sources. Many Blue Buffalo users found their puppies do well with the recipe, while others found it did not agree with their dogs tummies. With many formulas containing legumes, its important to speak with your veterinarian about the pros and cons of Blue Buffalo puppy food if youre interested in it.

Blue Buffalo Dog Food Review

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken. Although it is a quality item, raw chicken contains up to 73% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.

After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.

The second ingredient is chicken meal. Chicken meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

The third ingredient is brown rice, a complex carbohydrate that (once cooked) can be fairly easy to digest. However, aside from its natural energy content, rice is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The next ingredient is barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. However, aside from its energy content, this cereal grain is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The fifth item is oatmeal, a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in B-vitamins, dietary fiber and can be (depending upon its level of purity) gluten-free.

The next ingredient is pea starch, a paste-like, gluten-free carbohydrate extract probably used here as a binder for making kibble. Aside from its energy content (calories), pea starch is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The seventh ingredient is flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided theyve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.

However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

The eighth ingredient is chicken fat. This item is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.

Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesnt sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.

The ninth ingredient is tomato pomace which can be a controversial ingredient, a by-product remaining after processing tomatoes into juice, soup and ketchup.

Many praise tomato pomace for its high fiber and nutrient content, while others scorn it as an inexpensive pet food filler.

Just the same, theres probably not enough tomato pomace here to make much of a difference.

After the natural flavor, we find peas. Peas are a quality source of carbohydrates. And like all legumes, theyre rich in natural fiber.

However, peas contain about 25% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.

From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.

But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this Blue Buffalo Life Protection product.

With nine notable exceptions

First, this food includes pea protein, what remains of a pea after removing the starchy part of the vegetable.

Even though it contains over 80% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.

And less costly plant-based products like this can notably boost the total protein reported on the label a factor that must be considered when judging the meat content of this dog food.

Next, we find alfalfa meal. Although alfalfa meal is high in plant protein (about 18%) and fiber (25%), this hay-family item is more commonly associated with horse feeds.

We also note the use of alfalfa nutrient concentrate, a vitamin and mineral-rich extract made from alfalfa.

Even though it contains over 50% protein, this ingredient would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.

In addition, pea fiber is a mixture of both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber derived from pea hulls. Aside from the usual benefits of fiber, this agricultural by-product provides no other nutritional value to a dog.

Next, garlic can be a controversial item. Although many favor the ingredient for its claimed health benefits, garlic has been linked to Heinz body anemia in dogs.¹

So, one must weigh the potential benefits of feeding garlic against its proven tendency to cause subclinical damage to the red blood cells of the animal.

Additionally, dried yeast can be a controversial item. Dried yeast contains about 45% protein and is rich in other healthy nutrients.

Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.

Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself.

Whats more, a vocal minority insists yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is something weve not been able to scientifically verify.

In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, we feel yeast should be considered a nutritious addition.

This recipe also includes sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.

Taurine is also found in this product. Taurine is an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.

And lastly, this food contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Blue Buffalo Life Protection Dog Food looks like an above-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 27%, a fat level of 16% and estimated carbohydrates of about 50%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 26% and a mean fat level of 15%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 51% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 57%.

Which means this Blue Buffalo product line contains

Near-average protein. Near-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to other dry dog foods.

Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the flaxseed, pea products, alfalfa products and dried yeast, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.

Who makes Blue Buffalo and where is it made?

Blue Buffalo is owned by U.S. food company, General Mills. All of the brands dog food products are produced in the United States.

Blue Buffalo owns and operates 2 manufacturing facilities. One is located in Joplin, Missouri and the other in Richmond, Indiana. The company also outsources a number of its other products to co-packers that are also located in America.