Blue Buffalo Dog Food Reviews: Puppy, Adult & Senior Formulas

Looking at all the dog food options you can buy your pup but aren’t sure what’s best? We look at one of our favorite brands in this Blue Buffalo dog food review. Finding natural and healthy food for your dog is essential. Blue Buffalo Dog Food is a premium brand that was started by Jackie and Bill Bishop. They created the brand after experiencing health problems with their dog.

Their intention was to provide food with the finest natural ingredients to boost a dog’s immune system. Blue Buffalo dog food doesn’t contain wheat, by-product meals, artificial flavors, corn, wheat, or soy proteins. The brand’s motto is “Love them like family, feed them like family.”

People often ask if Blue Buffalo dog food is good. We dove in to find out. Overall, this is an excellent choice that makes good food for dogs. Blue Buffalo has various lines of dog food, including age and size formulas. The options include puppy, adult, and senior age options and size-specific options. Read on to learn more about Blue Buffalo dog food ingredients, flavors, and some of our favorite picks.

At A Glance: Blue Buffalo Dog Food Favorites

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Brand History

Blue Buffalo is based in Wilton, Connecticut, where they produce multiple lines of dog food. They also outsource their manufacturing to other food production companies like ProPet, Triple T Foods, Ainsworth, Tuffy’s, and CJ Foods. As a brand, Blue Buffalo is often compared to other major food manufacturers.

Some of the most popular dog food comparisons include:

• Blue Buffalo vs. American Journey
• Blue Buffalo vs. Diamond Naturals
• Blue Buffalo vs. Hill’s Science Diet
• Blue Buffalo vs. Merrick
• Blue Buffalo vs. Nutro
• Blue Buffalo vs. Royal Canin
• Blue Buffalo vs. Taste of the Wild
• Blue Buffalo vs. Victor
• Blue Buffalo vs. Wellness

The company was founded in 2003 by Bill and Jackie Bishop after their Terrier, Blue, passed away from cancer. Blue Buffalo was created while researching the relation nutrition has to certain types of cancer. Blue Buffalo seeks to provide high-quality, anti-oxidant-packed food that keeps your pets happy and healthy.

Recall History

In October 2010, researchers at Michigan State University conducted research on dogs that were getting sick. They discovered that the dogs had high levels of vitamin D in their blood. Sixteen of these dogs were fed on Blue Buffalo Wilderness Chicken Recipe.

In March 2017, the Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Red Meat Dinner Wet Food for Adult Dogs was recalled. This was due to increased levels of thyroid hormones in beef. In the same month, the Wilderness Trail Trays were recalled. This food had an issue with a foil seal on the cups.

It’s essential to note that the Blue Buffalo Dog Food lawsuit was filed against them because of false advertising. Most of the cases were dismissed. Their actions reflect the company’s readiness to respond in the event of a shortfall in the standard of their products.

While the company may have high manufacturing standards, some of these issues are bound to occur. The fact that Blue Buffalo chose to issue a recall shows they are passionate about pets.

Food Ingredients

Blue Buffalo offers a range of different flavors in its dog food.  The brand adds no preservatives, by-product fillers, or artificial flavors to its food. Their website states that their food does not contain wheat, soy, or corn. These ingredients are often known to trigger dog allergies.

The main ingredients in Blue Buffalo dog food include rabbit, chicken, beef, lamb, turkey, salmon, duck, trout, and oatmeal. Most formulas also add a variety of vegetables, fruits, enzymes, probiotics, and dry tomato pomace. Each of these formulas is fortified with vitamins. They also include recognizable fats, like chicken fat. These are excellent sources of fatty acids.

Unlike other companies, Blue Buffalo doesn’t use ambiguous wording when describing the ingredients in their foods. Their labels use definitive descriptions like real turkey and chicken meat as protein sources.

Blue Buffalo Formulas

Blue Buffalo has five formulas in its dog food lineup. Many of the products are available in canned form as well as dry kibble. They are also available as treats to ensure that your dog’s dietary needs are met. Their dog food product line includes the following different formulas.

Life Protection

The line has meat-first recipes that are combined with brown rice for health and well-being. These ingredients focus on muscle development, healthy tech, and enhancing your dog’s immune system. Life protection is available in wet and dry versions that have options for dogs of all sizes and ages. The line isn’t a grain-free recipe. The life protection formula is one of our favorites for small-breed puppies and for gassy dogs.

Wilderness

The Wilderness line has high protein content. It’s a meat-rich, grain-free diet that accommodates dogs of all sizes and ages. This formulation includes duck, salmon, and chicken. It’s available in wet and dry varieties for all sizes and ages. The Wilderness line also features a chicken-free formula with the Rocky Mountain recipe label.

Basics

The Blue Buffalo Basics line has limited ingredients for dogs with food sensitiveness or allergies. This formulation consists of potatoes and simple proteins like salmon, lamb, duck, or turkey. It doesn’t include chicken, which is thought to trigger food sensitivities.

Freedom

The Freedom line from Blue Buffalo is grain-free and has chicken and lamb recipes for dogs of all ages – see how it is different than Wilderness. It’s available as wet or dry food. However, wet food is recommended for smaller dogs and toy breeds. Dry dog foods are suitable for dogs of all sizes.

True Solutions

The True Solutions formula caters to some health issues or ailments that your dog may have. Some options focus on senior dogs and adult dogs.  The line also has formulas focused on weight loss, skin care, mobility, and digestive care. It’s available in dry and wet varieties.

Blue Buffalo Dog Food Reviews

Let’s jump in and take a look at Blue Buffalo’s dog foods by age. There are multiple formulas, largely based on life stage and also based on breed size. Their antioxidant-rich life protection and limited ingredient lines are two of their most popular food lines.

Their Wilderness line is usually the most popular. All their food has Lifesource Bits, which are dark kibbles with a blend of antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins. The kibbles are cold-formed to retain the potency of their ingredients. Fruit and vegetables are some of the whole source ingredients in these bits.

Puppy Formulas

Blue Buffalo has several different lines of puppy food.  You’ll find their standard Life Protection line, Wilderness, Rocky Mountain, and Limited ingredient food line. You can find different recipes within each of these lines containing various formulas of ingredients.

If your pup has a poultry allergy, the Rocky Mountain Wilderness food will fit that need. If you just need grain-free food, the regular Wilderness line will accomplish what you need. As always, consider food content, nutrition content, and budget when looking at each food.

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Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula is a puppy formula that’s made with meat as the first ingredient. This food line is available both with and without grain. The grain-inclusive puppy food is a great option for pups that don’t have sensitive stomachs. This is also one of Blue Buffalo’s most popular food lines for puppies. It’s one of our favorite foods for Rottweilers as well as a great puppy food for Goldendoodles.

This food line comes in several different dog sizes as well. You can find this food for small-breed puppies. It’s also a food formula made specifically for large-breed puppies as well. The calorie count will vary on which food you buy based on your puppy’s size. Each food contains DHA for brain support and omega fatty acids for skin and coat health.

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The Blue Buffalo Wilderness Puppy Chicken Recipe is an affordable dry dog food. It has a well-balanced amount of carbs, protein, and fats. Ideal for small, medium, and large breeds, the recipe works well for dogs that are allergic to grains.

Each cup has 423 calories. You may need to feed less than recommended amount if your puppy has fair to low activity levels. The deboned chicken and chicken meal provide ample protein for muscle development. It also provides nutrients like B vitamins and fat. Chicken meal adds nutrients. Tapioca starch is derived from a cassava plant and provides carbohydrates and Omega fatty acids. You won’t find any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives in this recipe.

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The Wilderness Puppy formula is one of Blue Buffalo’s best-selling puppy foods. However, the Rocky Mountain recipe is slowly becoming a fan favorite, as it’s grain-free and poultry-free. Some pups are sensitive to chicken. As such, they need a poultry-free diet.

Some dogs are allergic to poultry and need food based on a red-meat diet. The Rocky Mountain recipe is a puppy formula designed to do exactly that. This chicken-free, high-protein formula is designed for puppies of all sizes, with special “puppy-sized” bites. It’s reinforced with vitamins and amino acids to support a growing puppy’s nutritional needs.

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Blue Buffalo Basics is a limited-ingredient food line. This food line is specifically formulated for pups that have food sensitivities. It’s made with a smaller ingredient list. The kibble is specifically sized for puppy-sized bites. This makes it easier for puppy consumption, no matter the size of the breed.

This formula has DHA support, and animal protein is the first real ingredient. The limited-ingredient formula is chicken free, making it a great option for poultry-sensitive puppies. You’ll also get some natural fiber from this food line’s naturally fibrous veggies. The veggies include sweet potatoes and even pumpkin in some recipes.

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Adult Formulas

The adult lines are where Blue Buffalo has some of the widest variety of dog foods. You’ll find here that there are several formulas specifically made for adults. This includes their Life Protection Line, Wilderness, Wilderness Rocky Mountain, Wilderness Denali, and Limited Ingredient. Each of these food lines has a different purpose, and each line has multiple flavors. Even if you have a picky eater, these food lines will have a flavor/recipe combo that your pup should enjoy.

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The Blue Buffalo Life Protection Adult Formula was designed for pups of all shapes and sizes. It includes the right proportion of carbs, animal protein, veggies, minerals, and vitamins. This is one of their most popular formulas, and shows up on our dog food list for Corgis, as well as our dog food list for Chihuahuas.

Chicken, which is the first and main ingredient promotes lean muscle development. Your pooch will love the meaty taste. Blue Buffalo also includes a chicken meal in this formula to promote protein content and enhance muscle development. Chicken meal is a source of chondroitin and glucosamine. Both of these nutrients are vital for strong bones and teeth, not to mention joint mobility.

Being a life protection formula means that it adds antioxidants to your dog’s system. This is something that makes it ideal for dogs with cancer or heart disease. Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids further enhance the immune system and promote smooth skin. This formula does such a good job of balancing nutrition with a budget. For that reason, this is our favorite adult food in this Blue Buffalo dog food review.

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The Blue Buffalo Wilderness High Protein Adult Dry Dog Food contains a duck, turkey, and quail blend. This satisfies the wild side of your pup while providing essential nutrients. The grain-free dog food contains sold carbohydrates like peas and sweet potatoes. This helps to provide energy and maintain lean muscle mass. Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids give your dog healthy skin and coat. In our opinion, this formula is one of the best dog food formulas for a Labrador Retriever.

Blue Buffalo also adds LifeSource bits, which are a mix of minerals, vitamins, and cell reinforcements. These nutrients are selected by nutritionists and veterinarians to enhance your pet’s diet and enhance a solid oxidative balance guarantee. You’ll love how high-protein dog food is free from preservatives, artificial colors, and flavors.

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Like the traditional Wilderness formula, the Rocky Mountain recipe meets the same criteria, except for its free poultry. This is a grain-free food that’s perfect for adults with poultry sensitivities.  Like the other Wilderness formulas, this food is specifically formulated with adult dogs in mind. This means it’s great for dogs that need a higher protein content.  But it’s also great for dogs that may have an issue with digesting protein properly.

This formula is free from artificial ingredients, flavors, and fillers. The focus on higher protein content and real meat proves popular with dogs as an alternative to raw food. The Rocky Mountain formula also has several immune system-boosting immune B vitamins.

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Blue Buffalo Basics Limited Ingredient Dog Food is great for dogs that need fewer ingredients in their food. The grain-free formulas are ideal for pups with sensitive stomachs. Despite being a limited-ingredient food, the Basics line doesn’t compromise on its nutritional value. Dogs allergic to meats like lamb, beef, and dairy products could benefit from the deboned turkey.

Having a single protein source is easier to work with. It will help you eliminate any protein that could be triggering allergies in your dog. Also, the formula becomes easier on your pooch’s digestive system.

A gluten-intolerant dog or one struggling to digest soy, corn, or wheat will love this recipe. It’s 100% grain-free, which is easier on sensitive stomachs. Blue buffalo goes ahead to add Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. This helps to promote a luxurious coat and healthy skin. The addition of fish oil, flaxseed, and canola oil forms a rich recipe that will benefit your dog.

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The Freedom Adult Grain-Free dry dog food is a perfect choice for dogs that do not like grain-based foods. It’s also perfect for pups that are allergic to the likes of soy, corn, or wheat. Potatoes form the base of the carbohydrates in the Freedom Grain Free recipe. The carb levels are higher, so you may want to reconsider if you’re trying to help your pup lose weight.

Blue Buffalo also fortifies the meal with omega-3, and -6 fatty acids for your pup’s skin and coat. Also included is glucosamine for joint health. Cranberries and blueberries are rich in antioxidants. Probiotics like chicory and dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation promote a healthy gut. Supplements like taurine and kelp help with heart health.

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Senior Formulas

Blue Buffalo has a variety of different senior dog food formulas. Similar to their puppy and adult lines, you can find their senior formulas in each line of food. This includes Life Protection, Wilderness, and Limited Ingredient formulas. Each of these formulas has something different to offer your senior pup. Think carefully before transitioning your pup to a senior-specific dog food diet.

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Blue Buffalo’s senior life protection formula comes in one flavor: their chicken and brown rice formula. They do divide up their recipes into regular, small-breed, and large-breed recipes. Their regular breed formula is by far the most popular, and it’s pretty budget friendly too.

This is grain-inclusive dog food. The Life Protection formula is not meant for dogs with sensitive stomachs or gluten allergies. For those conditions, looking at a Wilderness formula or a limited ingredient formula is better. Both of those lines will be slightly more expensive. However, it’s one of your only options if your pup can’t digest wheat.

The Life Protection formula for seniors has a glucosamine boost and contains no corn, wheat, or soy. This formula balances cost, nutrition profile, and user satisfaction. This lands it as our favorite senior dog food in this Blue Buffalo dog food review.

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Blue Buffalo’s Wilderness Senior formula isn’t broken down by breed size. However, the kibble size is digestible by large, medium, and small breeds. Looking for the next step up in food quality while remaining grain-free? If so, the Wilderness Senior formula is a good step.

Deboned chicken is the first ingredient, and this recipe has a higher protein count than their life formula line. This is important for more muscular breeds, like the American Bully. It has a fiber boost, which is great for older dogs who may struggle with being more regular. The calorie count is slightly higher than the Life Protection formula but lower than most of their adult lines.

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This recipe is very similar to the traditional Wilderness senior recipe. The Rocky Mountain formula takes it one step further for pups that may have a poultry allergy.  This food is very similar to the traditional Wilderness line. The main difference is that it’s made with various sources of red meat.

The types of meat used in this formula include Beef, Lamb, and Venison. It carries a higher protein content compared to its Life Protection line. Wilderness Rocky Mountain senior has a glucosamine and chondroitin boost, which is critical for aging dogs. Like the regular Wilderness Formula, this food can be eaten by small breeds, medium breeds, and large breed pups.

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Blue Buffalo’s Limited Ingredient Line extends to senior dogs. Their Turkey & Potato Recipe is the only flavor they offer in this line. With that being said, it’s widely used and positively reviewed by many dog owners. This food contains no chicken, beef, dairy, eggs, or corn. And that’s in addition to not having any wheat, soy, or artificial ingredients.

Their limited-ingredient senior line is great for dogs that may have digestive issues. The pea fiber and pumpkin are great to help keep your pup regular. It’s also effective in keeping your dog’s bowel movements very regular. This formula has a lower protein content. That’s something to consider if you have an aging dog that has more lean muscle mass.

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Weight Loss Formulas

Do you have a porky pup? As with all their foods, Blue Buffalo has multiple lines of food within their Weight Loss category. Here you can find their Life Protection, Wilderness, Wilderness Rocky Mountain, Limited Ingredient, and Freedom dog food lines. Each of these lines serves a different nutritional purpose for your dog. Because weight management is a different nutritional need, there’s less flavor variety here. But each food line has flavors that your pup will likely enjoy.

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Blue Buffalo’s weight management formula in the Life protection food line is offered by breed size. You can find small breed, large breed, and adult formulas (which are for medium or average-sized dogs). Their adult formula is the most popular of the three, as many dogs can fit into the “average” sized category.

This formula is made with chicken and brown rice. If your pup has a chicken allergy, you may want to look at one of the Wilderness recipes. The Wilderness Rocky Mountain line is also an option. The protein count of this food is slightly lower than the Wilderness line. Keep that in mind if your dog is overweight but still has some decent muscle mass. For pups in that category, you want a calorie and carbohydrate-restrictive diet that’s still high in protein.

Their Life Protection Weight Management formula does have a nice fiber boost, which will help keep your dog regular. Proper digestion of food is critical for weight loss. Blue Buffalo does a fine job of that in this recipe.

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Blue Buffalo also breaks their Wilderness food line down into small, large, and adult (medium) breed sizes for weight loss. The Wilderness weight management line is grain-free but not gluten-free. If your dog can’t digest gluten and needs to slim down, the Limited Ingredient or the Freedom line better picks.

The Wilderness Weight Management food line does have a higher protein count than their Life Protection formula. If your pup has lean muscle mass, this food can help maintain that lean physique. It’s specifically formulated to maintain muscle while lowering the calorie count of each serving. If your pup has done well on other Wilderness recipes, there’s a good chance they will do well here. Even if they need to drop a few pounds. This is our favorite formula for weight loss in this Blue Buffalo dog food review.

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Blue Buffalo Wilderness Rocky Mountain is a chicken-free version of their Wilderness food recipe. This weight management food works for small, large, and medium-sized breeds. Wilderness has a higher protein ratio than many other weight-loss dog food recipes. This is, by design, helping to prevent muscle loss as your pup peels back on the calories.

This food is stacked with essential vitamins and antioxidants to help maintain a healthy immune system. It is also a grain-free recipe for pups with sensitive stomachs. This food is corn, wheat, and soy free. Additional calcium supports strong bones as well. This is important as you change your pup’s feeding habits in an effort to help them lose weight.

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Blue Buffalo’s Limited Ingredient Basics line focuses on having a lower ingredient count. This is especially good for dogs with sensitive stomachs. This formula is chicken-free and made from turkey. This formula only carries 329 calories per cup. This is significantly lower than some of the other formulas in this review.

This food does have a slightly lower protein count, which also contributes the reduction in calories. The fiber count is higher, though, and this helps digestion and helps keep the weight off your pup. This food also has no soy, corn, wheat, dairy, or egg ingredients. Blue Buffalo’s limited ingredient weight loss dog food can be used by any breed, no matter your pup’s size.

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Blue Buffalo’s freedom healthy weight formula mirrors its limited ingredient nutrient profile. They both have higher fiber content with medium levels of protein. The calorie count is also similar. Freedom’s healthy weight formula differs in that it’s made with real deboned chicken instead of turkey.

Blue Buffalo takes this formula to the next level for canine allergy sufferers. This formula is grain-free and completely free of gluten or other artificial preservatives. There are no by-products used in this food, nor is there any corn or soy. Depending on your budget and the need to be gluten-free, the Freedom Healthy Weight formula can be a great choice.

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Wet Foods

Wet Foods can make a great addition to any dry dog food bowl. Most pups will relish the ability to chow down on a bit of Wet Dog Food mixed with their kibble. This can make mealtime more enjoyable for both you and your dog. Blue Buffalo has an excellent variety of wet dog food; like the dry food lines, there are multiple options. Flavors vary based on the line of food. Homestyle, Freedom, Wilderness, and Divine Delights are the different wet food formulas.

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Sometimes finding a recipe that tastes differently gets your dog excited to eat.  The Homestyle Recipe Wet Dog Food jazzes up your pet’s palate while being wholesome and providing essential nutrients.

Formulated to meet AAFCO requirements for growing puppies, the Blue Homestyle Recipe comes with carrots, potatoes, and other veggies. That provides your furry pal with vitamins A, B, and E. It also has essential amino acids and folic acid.

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Having a small breed sometimes means having leftover food that needs to be stored. Sometimes this becomes challenging when you don’t know how to store the leftovers. Fortunately, Blue Buffalo seeks to solve this problem by offering single-serving-sized portions ideal for small dogs.

The Divine Delights formula balances the minerals, vitamins, and amino acids that puppies need. Helping to boost your pup’s immune system, this Blue Buffalo recipe is made from meat, fruits, and vegetables. This combination provides the right balance of vitamins A and B to meet your dietary needs.

Blue Buffalo Divine Delights Wet Dog Food Cups blend doesn’t contain soy, wheat, corn, or by-products. It’s also free from flavors, colors, and artificial preservatives.

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Certain grain foods can cause digestive issues and trigger some allergies in some dogs. Worried about these issues? Then it’s best to look at the Wilderness High Protein Grain Free Adult Wet Dog Food.

This formula consists of chicken and beef as the main ingredients. This formula seeks to provide your dog with the right balance of minerals, vitamins, and amino acids. Protein offers an ideal alternative to raw food diets that can take time to prepare.

The Wilderness Adult Wet Dog Food doesn’t contain soy, corn, wheat, or by-products.  It’s also an excellent and healthy alternative to dry foods and raw food diets. This is our favorite wet dog food formula in this Blue Buffalo dog food review.

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The Blue Buffalo Freedom Grain Free Wet Dog Food is a fantastic recipe for dogs with grain intolerances. This formula is specifically made for dogs with digestive issues after feeding grains. Ideal for adult dogs, the recipe contains complex carbohydrates to provide energy for your active dog.

Its main ingredient, chicken, enhances the flavor and provides essential nutrients for growth and joint mobility. The recipe is free from dairy, eggs, soy, corn, wheat, and poultry by-products.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which Blue Buffalo dog food formula is best for my dog?

This largely depends on your dog’s size, allergens, and age. Refer to our guide, but generally speaking, Blue Buffalo Life Source is good as an all-around grain-inclusive food. Wilderness recipes are great for grain-sensitive pups. The Freedom line is best for dogs that need a gluten-free recipe.

Which Blue Buffalo dog food is best for puppies?

If your puppy can handle grains, Life Source is great. Does Fideo have a sensitive stomach? If so, we prefer the Wilderness or Limited Ingredient formulas by Blue Buffalo.

Which Blue Buffalo dog foods are grain-free?

Blue Buffalo’s Wilderness line is grain-free, as are their Limited Ingredient recipes.

Can Blue Buffalo dog food cause heart problems?

There have been certain foods studied by the FDA as causing heart issues in dogs. Blue Buffalo had 31 cases linked to this research. This was not as high as other brands, especially considering all the grain-free foods they carry.

Where is Blue Buffalo dog food manufactured?

Manufacturing and sourcing are two different things. Most of the ingredients in Blue Buffalo’s food are sourced from the United States. There’s always a possibility that some ingredients are imported.

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Final Thoughts

Blue Buffalo dog food is an excellent choice for any dog owner. Despite their recall issues, the brand still produces quality kibbles. Most dogs adjust excellently to their new diet on blue Buffalo.

The main drawback for your pup may include allergic reactions. Dogs with sensitive stomachs will usually fall into this category. If migrating to new dog food, you should always test new recipes. Introducing new foods slowly and cautiously can help you, and your dog avoid allergies and illnesses.

We recommend Blue Buffalo dog food because of the nutrition profiles that all include natural ingredients. Their macro-nutrient mix between fats, proteins, and carbs attests to the quality of this dog food. As pet parents, we also appreciate the brand’s commitment to pup health.