What is the difference between baby BLUE puppy food and BLUE puppy food

Blue Buffalo Vs Blue Wilderness: Which Dry Dog Food Is Better?

While I feel it is a fair and good question to ask about Blue Buffalo Vs Blue Wilderness Dog Food, the fact of the matter is that your dogs diet should be based on his or her unique needs.

Do not expect your dog to eat the same thing you do! You may also be surprised to find out that your dog likes or does not like something, especially with dog food.

In reality, the two most famous food brands in the United States are Blue Buffalo and Blue Wilderness.

There are probably many reasons why these two companies are so popular, including brand recognition, quality ingredients, variety, and more. But it really comes down to taste.

Blue Buffalo and Blue Wilderness both offer different kinds of dog food, but they also sell similar things.

The difference is how they make their dog food. You cant compare a bag of Blue Buffalo with a bag of Blue Wilderness and come away thinking they are the same.

Blue Wilderness is a bit different than Blue Buffalo. But the difference is hardly noticeable when you are feeding your dog.

Youll just have to be a little bit more creative in choosing your dog food, as you will have to consider the different types of foods they prefer.

First, lets talk about the taste of Blue Wilderness food. It has a far less bitter taste than Blue Buffalo.

This should be a definite plus for any dog, because bitter tastes have been shown to be bad for dogs.

On the other hand, a less bitter taste would mean more sugar, which the dogs simply cant handle.

They may take the first bite and throw it up. If that happens, you may be faced with the choice of feeding them a diet of bland taste (Blue Buffalo) or trying something new.

What you want to do is have a very sweet taste. You can do this by buying Blue Wilderness as a specially flavored food.

Or, you can find flavors such as BurgundyBlack Cherry, which tends to be quite delicious.

The choice of dog food is very important for many reasons. To start, you want your dog to have a well-balanced diet.

This means that they have enough protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, and minerals to survive.

You dont want to feed your dog nothing but cookies, or treats, because that would be very unhealthy.

After you have decided what you want, its time to put some taste into the mix.

Try mixing a little of each kind of food in your own dog food, like you would with a chicken recipe. Be careful not to overdo it, or you could actually poison your dog.

Its best to get this kind of advice from a good source, as youll be able to trust the recommendation.

You can add different flavors to your dog food, but the best ones are ones like Blue Wilderness.

Chocolate and cinnamon are probably your two favorites. They arent overpowering, and you dont have to add too much, as you wont be giving your dog anything else to do.

When it comes to your dog food, there are so many choices. Your dog will love it, especially if you were able to mix up a diet of sorts.

No matter what you do, make sure that the flavor you chose is good for your dogs taste buds.

Since so many dog owners are debating the merits of Blue Buffalo Vs Blue Wilderness Dog Food, it may be worth your while to do some more research on the subject.

If you are having trouble deciding, get a friend or family member to help you out. And get them to pick a side, so you can see which one your dog likes.

Whats the difference between Blue Buffalo andBlue Wilderness Dog food?

The difference between Blue Buffalo and Blue Wilderness is, in many ways, large. The two are competing brands; theyre two sides of the same coin.

They have each tried to influence the dog food market in their own particular way, but the name Blue Wilderness isnt always directly synonymous.

Blue Buffalo is a well-known brand for the best ofreasons: it sells the most food. In the world of dog food, a large percentageof the consumer base is Blue Buffalo-labeled.

Blue Wilderness is a fairly new brand that doesnthave quite as much of a track record. Its high quality-to-price ratio has madeit the little man in the dog food industry.

How can you tell the difference between Blue Wilderness and Blue Buffalo? You can look at the ingredients labels of your dog food.

Blue Wilderness recipes list many ingredients youll find in Blue Buffalo dog food: chicken, lamb, lamb meal, beef, corn, rice, oats, peas, potato, barley, milk, peanut butter, orange peels, rice syrup, liver, turkey, eggs, sweet potatoes, canned vegetables, dried fruit, and all sorts of grains.

There is a big difference between a Blue Wilderness dog foodrecipe and Blue Buffalos dog food recipe. Of course, that makes sense,considering theyre both private labels.

But the comparison between Blue Buffalo and Blue Wilderness becomes even more profound when you compare their level of nutrition.

While the price gap may seem larger, you can make up for it by eating a better diet.

So whats the difference between Blue Wilderness and Blue Buffalo in terms of canine nutrition? Were going to look at some of the key differences between these two brands.

Well compare protein, fat, carbohydrate, fibre, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and well focus on natural, premium formulas.

One of the first things youll notice about Blue Wilderness, aside from the ingredients, is the fact that it doesnt use corn in any of its dog foods.

Corn is a high-calorie source, and while corn dog meals do taste good, it doesnt come close to competing with meat.

Blue Wilderness is able to eliminate a lot of the negative effects of corn like fat, lauric acid, mono- and diglycerides, and corn starch.

These are the byproducts left behind after processing corn. Blue Wilderness takes care of all these byproducts.

A good example of this is that Blue Wilderness dog food hasincreased the nutritional value of beef. The natural beef protein found in BlueWilderness meals actually has higher levels of naturally occurring (unmodified)amino acids than beef found in the supermarket.

While the added nutrition isnt all that great, Blue Wildernessdoes make an effort to use beef shirataki noodles in the recipes. This isbecause shirataki noodles are better for dogs than most other kinds of noodles,such as rice or pasta.

After reading through the comparisons weve made here, you should be able to see that Blue Wilderness is in a good place when it comes to canine nutrition.

Blue Wilderness is a really good brand for dogs and should be considered the top dog food brand, not Blue Buffalo.

Is Blue Wilderness a Good Dog Food?

The ingredients that the Blue Wilderness dog food contains are something I find extremely concerning.

Why would a company who markets to dogs in the US, Canada, and Europe, use ingredients which are not in accordance with their own dietary recommendations for the breed?

In other words, why would they take advice from someone such as me who is an expert on this topic?

Well, if you are planning to purchase Blue Wilderness food for your dog, you may want to look elsewhere for your pets health.

Now, you may be asking yourself, How is Blue Wilderness dog food any different than all the other dog foods?

Well, the truth is that it may be an improvement over the standard dog food available on the market, but that is only by virtue of the fact that it is manufactured and processed differently.

Look at the claims that the manufacturer makes about the ingredients in their food. They claim that their ingredients are of the highest quality.

You will read that the ingredients in their food are specifically selected for containing the highest quality raw materials possible, and you will be assured that the food will be the most nutritious food on the market.

You will be comfortable in the knowledge that your dog will get the nutrition it needs.

However, the truth is that the ingredients that they choose to use in their food are not always the same as the ingredients used in other types of dog food.

Consider the fact that the high-grade beef that is used in the Blue Wilderness food contains no meat, rather it contains plant protein called by-product meal, while animal protein is the most commonly used ingredient in the typical American dog food.

When the company is able to source more plant proteins, that would include by-products, they are able to offer a completely organic version of their food.

It is more effective for dog owners because it is free of pathogens that could otherwise affect your dog.

This should be of great concern to you, because this means that the product is better for you than your dogs diet otherwise.

The second ingredient that is used in the food is a by-product meal, but the company also manufactures a dog food product using what they call extruded lean chicken.

Yes, the company uses chicken as the primary ingredient in its food.

Now, do you know how your dog would feel about eating any of these ingredients? Would he even consider it?

I hope you dont, because if you do, then you will find that Blue Wilderness dog food is not a good choice for your dog.

There is a reason that the company does not call their food premium or even premium raw food.

Because it is not premium and is not even premium raw. It is nothing more than the standard dog food.

A by-product meal is the equivalent of not getting your dogenough iron. It is the equivalent of feeding him anything but raw, naturalmeats, vegetables, and fruits. Of course, the same can be said of a raw,natural meat, vegetables, and fruits.

The ingredients in the food that they sell are nothing more than substances that are known to be contaminated with pathogens and are not known to be of the highest quality ingredients.

This means that it is not the best choice for your dog. This is a fact that I mentioned earlier about using animal protein for dogs.

If you are hoping to feed your dog meat that has been cooked at some point, you may want to consider an alternative like Blue Wilderness raw dog food. Or you may want to see if your veterinarian can recommend a raw dog food brand that would be good for your dog.

Either way, you will have to understand that the foods that you purchase at the grocery store today may not be the best choice for your dog.

Fortunately, there are people who know better than to use a product like Blue Wilderness raw dog food.

For instance, the top canine veterinarians in North America have taken a stand against this type of dog food and they have recommended alternative raw dog food recipes for you to try.

Blue Buffalo vs Purina Pro Plan: Which Dog Food is Better?

We often share common interests with our canine besties, and if youre anything like us, a love of food is one of them. Thats why finding the right food for Fido that is both healthy and tasty is so important.

We look at two food brands. Blue Buffalo is popular for whole food source ingredients, and Purina Pro is a favorite vet recommendation. Your pups food isnt just for taste; it dictates their health. Poor quality food doesnt deliver the nutrition they need, so it is best avoided altogether. Choosing a brand that uses good quality ingredients and takes care to balance their recipe to meet your furry friends needs is the number one priority.

Lets break down each brands history, recall history, formulas, and flavors. And, of course, what they offer your pup based on size and age. So, lets discover which one is right for Fido. Lets get cracking!

Top Pick For Adults

Blue Buffalo Life Protection

Top Pick For Seniors

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Senior

Brand History

Both Purina Pro and Blue Buffalo are giants of the pet food industry. But thats where the similarities stop. Purina has a long 120-year history of researching and developing animal food of all kinds. On the other hand, Blue Buffalo is relatively new in brand terms, founded in just 2003. But they are already a major player in the market. Each brand has a different route to success, and these differences add uniqueness to the brands mission. So, lets take a closer look.

Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo was founded in 2003 by Bill Bishop and is headquartered in Wilton, Connecticut. Blue was the Bishop family pet for many years. As he aged and suffered from ailments, the family investigated the power of quality food to heal and keep dogs healthy. In honor of his beloved dog Blue, Bill set out on a mission to create natural, healthy, good quality food for dogs.

Blue Buffalo makes multiple pet products for dogs and cats, including canned wet food, dry kibble, and treats. They have a huge following for their quality food ethos. In 2017, they recorded market salesof over $1 billion. In 2018, this led to an $8 billion acquisition by General Mills, makers of Cheerios.

Purina Pro

Purina (originally Purina Mills) traces its roots to 1894 when founder William H. Danforth established the animal feed company Purina Mills. After decades of name changes and mergers and acquisitions with other pet food companies, the business was purchased by Swiss-based Nestl (makers of Friskies) in 2001. It is now one of the worlds biggest pet food companies with a dedicated research and design center for food as well as a dedicated animal health research center that influences the recipes they use to create the best food possible. So, its safe to say that Purina is a global success.

Recalls

Now that we know each brands history, lets discuss their past dog food recalls. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), recalls are actions taken by a firm to remove a product from the market. Recalls may be conducted on a firms own initiative, by FDA request, or by FDA order under statutory authority. The speed at which a brand handles a recall and when they issue it can say a lot about their interest in our dogs welfare. Lets take a closer look.

Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo has one recorded recall on the FDA website. But have voluntarily issued some recalls for various reasons covering food quality and packaging defects. We found five in total, with just three that posed a potential risk. All were issued and managed rapidly, with full details given to owners of the dangers posed and the severity of the risk. All were low.

The recalls that have come from Blue Buffalo include:

• October 8, 2010: Blue Buffalo announced a dog food recall of specific batches of some of its popular products due to potentially toxic vitamin D levels.
• March 17, 2017: Blue Buffalo voluntarily recalled one production lot of Blue Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Red Meat Dinner wet food. It might have contained elevated levels of naturally occurring beef thyroid hormone.
• February 13, 2017: Blue Buffalo issued a voluntary recall for specific lots of Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Healthy Weight due to possible aluminum metal contamination.
• March 2, 2017: Blue Buffalo issued a voluntary market withdrawal of 17 varieties of its Blue Divine Delights and Blue Wilderness Trail Trays. This was due to quality issues with the foil seals on the top of the cups.
• May 31, 2016: Blue Buffalo voluntarily recalled a limited batch of its Life Protection Formula Dog Food product due to the presence of excessive moisture and mold.

Purina Pro

Purina Pro as a brand has had no recalls, according to the FDA website. Other sources show one recall for the Pro Plan wet dog food. Clearly, this is a better record than Blue Buffalos recall record. Purinas one recall is as follows:

• March 10, 2016: Purina voluntarily recalled select lots of its Beneful and Purina Pro Plan wet dog foods. This was because they might not have contained the recommended level of vitamins and minerals.

Food Ingredients

Both Blue Buffalo and Purina Pro pride themselves on using high-quality food ingredients in their formulas. To that end, they both have promises they make to their customers regarding the ingredients that go into their pet food. By looking at the ingredients, we can make an informed decision about what we feed them. With that in mind, lets look at both brands and see what they use.

Blue Buffalo

At Blue Buffalo, their promise is quite simple. They promised their little boy Blue (the family Airedale terrier) that they would create the healthiest food they possibly could. And their pet food range extends that promise to our furry friends and us. The major part of that promise is that they will always use real meat as the first ingredient. That means they will not use any chicken or poultry by-product meals, which are lower-quality protein sources, as well as no artificial flavors, preservatives, corn, wheat, or soy.

Their in-house team of veterinarians and animal nutritionists design the recipes backed by science and conscientious research. They carefully selected high-quality natural ingredients such as whole meat products and real sources of vegetables and fiber. Their True Blue promise assures us that we can feed our pets this food, knowing it will deliver what they need for a healthy balanced diet and continued good health.

Purina Pro Plan

The Purina Pro Plan vision, mission, and ethos have been developed over 90+ years of passionate experience and innovative research. They believe that the power of good nutrition is key to extending and improving the lives of our pets. Purina Pro Plan promises that every product recipe is guaranteed to provide 100% of the essential nutrients your pets body requires.

They have an impressive team of over 500 scientists and pet care experts who develop their foods. This pet food army has the sole focus of creating breakthroughs in animal nutrition. By looking at the needs of specific life stages, health conditions, breeds, and sizes, they guarantee that the food they produce will be near to perfect for your pup.

Purina Pro almost always lists meat as the first ingredient, but this is not always the case. If their scientific research dictates that this is not what the target audience needs, it will use something else. In their grain-inclusive recipes, they use corn, wheat, soy, and meat by-product meals. Some critics state that manufacturers shouldnt use these ingredients. But Purina Pro Plan is led by science, and their formulas are highly rated. So whether you feed your pup, these ingredients will depend on where you sit on this discussion.

Range of Formulas

Both Blue Buffalo and Purina Pro offer a wide range of formulas. For many years, dog owners found a food that their dog liked and fed it to them for their complete lifespan. But now, with the advances of science and research, we know that our dogs have multiple life stages. All of which require different nutritional intakes as they grow and age. This means their food needs to change as they do. Lucky for us, both Blue Buffalo and Purina Pro Plan have us covered on that front.

Puppy Formulas

The building blocks of a healthy adult dog are laid in the puppy years, providing the nutrients needed to provide them with the best possible start in life. They need additional calories and protein to grow strong, healthy bones and muscles at a young age. As well as extra omega fats they need for brain and vision development. Lets see what each brand has to offer in terms of puppy formulas.

Blue Buffalo Small Breed Puppy

• All-natural small breed puppy food.
• Real meat is the first ingredient.
• No meat by-products.
• No fillers or artificial ingredients.
• Contains blueberries, peas & carrots (Fiber).
• Antioxidant-rich formula includes sweet potatoes.
• Smaller size kibble for puppy jaws.

Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo has puppy formulas in five of its seven product lines. Life Protection, Blue Wilderness, Blue Freedom, Blue Basics, and Baby Blue cover various puppy dietary needs across sizes and sensitivities. In all recipes, whole meat is the first ingredient.

Purina Pro

Purina Pro offers ten puppy products, covering various sizes, dietary requirements, and health issues. Each option has heightened omega fatty acids to supply the all-important DHA and ARA needed for brain and vision development.

Winner

The winner of the puppy formulas round is Blue Buffalo. This is due to their numerous options for our pups. In total, across the five ranges, there are 36 dry kibbles from which to choose. So, almost all puppy types and needs are addressed.

Adult Formulas

The longest stage of a dogs life is adulthood, usually from one year through to seven or eight. Our adult dogs need high-quality nutrition to ensure they have lots of energy and to remain healthy. Lets see what options each brand gives us in this category.

Blue Buffalo Life Protection

• Wide variety of flavors and types.
• Available as kibble or wet food.
• Comes in 7 types of proteins.
• Real meat is the first ingredient.
• Smart blended with other high-quality ingredients.
• Has Omega-6 and other nutrients for adult dogs.

Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo offers a whopping 74 kibble varieties across seven ranges for adult dogs. The flavors include chicken, salmon, duck, beef, bison, rabbit, venison, turkey, trout, and quail. Plus, they have dedicated recipes that cover size and activity levels. There are also recipes catering to all-sized dogs, from toys to giant breeds. Thats a lot of flavors and tailoring.

Purina Pro

Purina Pro offers 23 dry kibble diets for our adult dogs. With different offerings to cater to the size of your dog and energy needs. There are high protein diets for athletic dogs. In addition, they have weight management varieties for those who have a big appetite but dont want a big waistline. Plus, there are ailment-specific kibbles designed to alleviate sensitive skin. When it comes to flavor, they offer chicken, salmon, or lamb.

Winner

Though the Purina Pro range is comprehensive and all-inclusive, the winner must be Blue Buffalo for the sheer vastness of choice and specific diet offerings they have. We love that a quick look at the recipes shows added antioxidants in the form of fresh blueberries and cranberries. Plus, their proteins are free from unnamed meat by-products.

Senior Formulas

Our aging canines in their senior years require additional supplements to aid them as they get old, tired, and stiff. More glucosamine from fish oils and meat meals are required for their joints. And they need fewer calories to ensure they dont fatten up as they slow down. Lets see what each brand offers in their senior formulas.

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Senior Food

• Grain-free food.
• High protein formula.
• Made with antioxidant-rich veggies.
• Deboned chicken is the first ingredient.
• Sweet potato aids digestion.
• 387 Calories per cup.
• 30% Protein, 12% Fat, 7% Fiber.

Blue Buffalo

Blue Buffalo has senior-specific recipes in five of its product ranges, giving a choice of 14 different senior kibbles. These cater to different sizes and dietary needs. Like Purina, it has added vitamins and minerals with fish oils. They also offer senior-specific recipes in their natural veterinary diet range in addition to the 14 recipes. These offer kidney support, weight management, and food intolerances.

Purina Pro

Purina Pro offers four senior-specific recipes. Two of these are for small and large breeds. One product contains botanical oils for a brighter mind, and the other is labeled complete essentials. Overall, the products contain fewer fats than the Purina Pro adult options. But in generic terms, the fats and calories per cup are higher than the average senior product. So, if your

Winner

Again, Blue Buffalo takes the top spot for its sheer inclusivity of all types of senior dogs, dietary needs, and ailment targeting. The recipes also include a wider range of ingredients for more flavor choices. Plus, their options have fewer fats and higher fiber content that suits most seniors needs.

Canned Foods

Canned food is a great way to add a diversity of flavor and texture to Fidos food. It can even aid hydration in those dogs that struggle with dry food and bowel movements. Lets see what each brand offers for canned yumminess.

Blue Buffalo Wet Food Homestyle

• Real beef as first ingredient.
• Perfect to mix with dry food.
• Supports lean muscle growth.
• Includes fruits and vegetables.
• 398 Calories per cup.
• 8.5% Protein, 6% Fat, 1.5% Fiber.

Blue Buffalo

A quick search on the Blue Buffalo site shows 99 different products available under wet food. They come canned or in a trail-ready plastic food tray that you can take with you on your travels. The flavors covered include Blues stew, Backyard BBQ, and Moms chicken pie, to name but a few of the specialist recipes. Ingredients covered are beef, chicken, lamb, duck, venison, trout, and salmon. Puppies, adults, and seniors of all sizes have options. The list is almost endless

Purina Pro

There are 46 canned food options from Purina Pro. They all offer a range of flavor options, including beef, chicken, turkey, and fish. And it covers puppies, adults, and seniors, all within their different ranges.

Winner

You guessed it! Blue Buffalo wins this round as well. There are many recipes and flavors, and there are also size and age-specific wet foods available. The sheer choice and diverse range of needs covered are impressive.

Final Thoughts

Overall, both dog foods are the champions of good, well-balanced nutrition based on solid science and research. They use high-quality ingredients and wax lyrical about the need to customize your dogs diet to their unique needs. That being said, when it comes to complete inclusivity and tailored ranges for almost every need, Blue Buffalo wins hands down. But thats not to take anything away from Purina Pro. With decades of research and product development under their belt, they are still a top choice in most peoples books.

For us, if both brands have customized recipes for your pooch, it comes down to ingredients. If you are a fan of the cleaner and more natural ingredients, go with Blue Buffalo. But, if you are more convinced by science, Purina Pro might make the better choice for your stance. Whichever kibble brand you choose, you can rest assured that both options will benefit your pups lifestyle and nutritional needs.