Blue Buffalo Dog Food
December 27, 2008
Filed under BLUE Buffalo, Dog Food Reviews
Blue Buffalo Dog Food Review
Blue Buffalo dog food is formulated with natural ingredients and a combination of active nutrients and antioxidants which have been incorporated in a patented secret formula known as LifeSource® Bits. Its manufacturer states that it uses a holistic approach in Blue dog food recipes in order to satisfy the nutritional needs of each age group of dogs. Its main ingredients include meat, whole grains, fruits and vegetables. In an effort to adhere to their claim of being 100% natural, no poultry by-products, artificial flavors, colors or preservatives were added. No wheat, corn, soy was added to avoid any hypersensitivity reactions in some dogs.
The manufacturers of Blue Buffalo dog food have come up with four varieties of dry dog food. Each product is designed to supply the required daily nutrients of specific age groups of dogs. These four dog food formula include the BLUE™ Life Protection, Longevity, Wilderness, and Basics. Blue Buffalo Wilderness dog food brand is often regarded as the best of the bunch.
Blue Buffalo dog food recipes feature deboned chicken, lamb or fish as the major ingredient. Whole grains including brown rice and whole barley, and sweet potato are incorporated as the main sources of energy. Garden vegetables and fruits are also included to provide the essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Other important components of Blue Buffalo dog food include the inulin-rich chicory root which is a good source of soluble dietary fiber and prebiotic that promotes the growth and multiplication of beneficial bacteria within the dog’s gastro-intestinal tract. Special probiotics have also been added to the kibble to enhance digestive and immune functions. Chelated minerals promote better assimilation and metabolism of protein in the body.
There are certain ingredients which are considered as controversial in that their effects and importance as a feed nutrient has been questioned by some experts. Canola oil is known for its omega-3 content however some consider it as an unhealthy fat. Tomato pomace has been incorporated because of its high fiber and nutrient content however there are those who consider it as just inexpensive filler for pet foods.
To prolong the shelf-life of its products, the manufacturers of Blue Buffalo dog food used Rosemary, an all-natural preservative which is safe and organic.
Many dog owners who are using Blue Buffalo dog food formulas claim that their pets are much more energetic and are not prone to digestive problems. Their pets’ hair coats are glossy while the skin remains healthy and protected against seasonal itching and allergies. Dog owners whose pets suffer from skin allergies also reported favorable results after having made the switch from their old dog food to Blue Buffalo.
While still fairly highly recommended and of good quality, the reputation of the Blue Buffalo line of dog food formulas has been slightly tainted due to a recall of specific products which have been suspected of containing excessive levels of Vitamin D. Although Vitamin D is an important feed nutrient, some dogs show hypersensitivity reactions to the high levels resulting in lethargy, increased water consumption and increased frequency of urination.
Please visit the links listed below for Blue Buffalo dog food reviews by formula.
Have a comment or question about this dog food review? Want to share your experiences with others? We welcome your comments!
Blue Buffalo Dog Food Reviews
BLUE Blue Buffalo Dog Food Formulas:
- BLUE Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dog Food for Puppies
- BLUE Lamb and Brown Rice Recipe Dog Food for Puppies
- BLUE Large Breed Formula Dog Food for Puppies
- BLUE Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dog Food for Adult Dogs
- BLUE Lamb and Brown Rice Recipe Dog Food for Adult Dogs
- BLUE Fish and Sweet Potato Recipe Dog Food for Adult Dogs
- BLUE Large Breed Formula Dog Food for Adult Dogs
- BLUE Small Breed Formula Dog Food for Adult Dogs
- BLUE Weight Control Formula Dog Food for Adult Dogs
- BLUE Chicken and Brown Rice Recipe Dog Food for Senior Dogs
- BLUE Wilderness Dog Food
- BLUE Organics Dog Food
Blue Dog Food Consumer Ratings
Blue is IMO a very rotten so called healthy dog food company.
TRY talking to some with a brain if you let me know..
I am using FROMM and I am very happy.
Could write a page, but a word to the wise is enough IMO.
My 3 yr old Great Dane was not interested in eating Science Diet or Eukanuba,
I have done my research on dog foods. Very time consuming & fustrating.. Those foods are bad..bad..!!!!!! Why do vets want our dogs to eat that junk?
I have been giving her Blu holistic & she eats all of it!!!!
Loves it …Her coat is shiny & there are no gassy fillers in it to give her bloat.. # 1 Giant breed killer……
She luvs her Blu……
I also recommend Nutra Innova..She really liked the fish in it. Great food for dogs. But Petsmart & Petco dont sell it..Good dog foods are not at the big chain pet markets…Go figure!!!!!!!
Vets also Do not sell the good dog foods!!!!!!!
They did not respond to numerous emails over time with questions I had, so I called them and had to leave a message. Finally got a call back around 9 pm and was told I would get an email in response but never heard back again. Tried calling again today- same thing “leave a messgae, all our representatives are busy”
Their customer service is terrible!!
I have a Husky female who is a very picky eater. I’ve tried many higher quality brands. Canidae, Innova, Orijen, Acana, Evo, and Solid Gold. She tolerated the Solid Gold, but as soon as I fed her the Blue Buffalo organics she chowed down on it. Now just because my dog likes the taste of the blue buffalo but doesn’t like the other brands I listed, doesn’t necessarily mean that blue buffalo is
“THE BEST DOG FOOD IN THE WORRRLLLLDDDDDD OMGZZZ !!!!” . (lol) But in *my* opinion, I feel it’s a great healthy food that gives her lots of energy, a shiny coat, healthy stools, and makes her happy.
I’d also like to say to the people reading these comments here… Every dog has it’s own needs that are completely unique. Just because a few people found that their dogs got the runs from a certain brand doesn’t necessarily mean it’s horrible food. (given of course that you have done the research to find out WHAT is actually in the ingredients and you KNOW it’s safe, and also know what your dog is sensitive to.. For example my friends dog is sensitive to Corn, Peanuts and Parsley. Many dog foods have these ingredients.
My dog does great on Blue Buffalo, but my neighbors dog might not do well with it. My suggestion would be to research about the ingredients, listen to peoples comments and experiences, but don’t keep it black or white. and for those dogs with runny poop after a food switch, make sure your owner knows how to gradually mix the new food into your old food so you can adjust properly.
lol
Have a great day!!
My year old Doberman Pincher has been on Blue Buffalo for three months, salmon, craneberries, and sweet potatoes. This is not healthy for my dog because her hair started falling out and started looking very, very poor. She was getting brown spots on her coat, her hair was getting really thin. She stopped eating the dog food and she acted like she felt bad all the time. Everybody should not buy Blue Buffalo if you don’t want your dog to get sick and die. We changed her dog food to Pedigree Adult. She has been on this dog food for one week and she is looking so much better. Her coat is looking so much better and the brown spots are going away and the shine is back and healthier looking. If anybody is looking for a good dog food that will be good for your dog I recommend Pedigree Adult. You people out there that says that Blue Buffalo is good for your dog is wrong because they will get sick and die. We saved our dog by changing her dog food and you want your dog to be safe you better change your dog food.
I have four Pugs (ages range from 2-5 yrs) and have been feeding them Blue Buffalo Adult Small Breed Life Protection Formula for close to a year now. I have noticed that the kibble sometimes is “Y” shaped and sometimes “triangular” in shape. I was curious about this and called the company to inquire about the different shaped kibble. I was told by the female representative that the difference in kibble shape was merely due to the dies becoming clogged…thus a “Y” eventually becomes a “triangle”. She assured me that there was absolutely NO difference in the formulation. So, I reluctantly,took her word for it. It just didn’t sound right to me, but my dogs were loving the Blue Buffalo, regardless of the shape…so I fed on. I’m pretty attuned to my Pugs, and I noticed that they were all experiencing occasional diarrhea, despite only being fed the Blue Buffalo. Interestingly, I finally put it together that when I fed them the kibble that was triangular, they all developed diarrhea, but when the kibble was “Y” shaped, their stools were all formed and normal. I know that this sounds ridiculous, but I tested my theory and it was consistent. This forced me to start looking at identification codes on the bags. I soon realized that all of the “triangle” bags had identification codes starting with “TL 1,2 or 3″ and all of the “Y” bags’ codes began with “DPC”. So I e-mailed Blue Buffalo to ask what these letters meant and they told me that they refer to the plant location where the product was made but no detailed information was given. So, I conclude from this that something IS different in the formulations of the two different kibbles. They are made in at least two different locations (maybe more since the TL has a 1,2 and a 3–at least that’s all I’ve seen). Something MUST be different in the formulations depending on where the dog food is made. It’s no coincidence that my dogs all get diarrhea when they are fed food from one of the “triangle or “TL” bags and all’s normal when they get the “Y” shaped kibble from the “DPC” location. Needless to say, I never buy a bag now without checking the code first. This is all very frustrating as I struggle to research and feed my Pugs a safe and healthy diet. I was really attracted to the fact that Blue Buffalo uses a good protein source and whole grains with no corn, wheat, wheat gluten, soy, or animal by-products. Pugs are so allergy prone and all of mine seem to have done really well on Blue Buffalo with the exception of the diarrhea related to the triangular kibble and my dogs all seem to think it tastes great (which is saying a lot when you’re feeding Pugs). Even though I’ve figured out how to avoid the “bad food” I am still concerned about the mystery surrounding the different kibble shape and its relation to causing diarrhea. Has anyone else noticed this or does anyone have any info that might shed some light on this matter? I doubt that Blue Buffalo will confess that there is anything wrong–which, that, in and of itself concerns me. I hate to start over in my quest for the “best” dog food, but I don’t want to harm my babies with something that isn’t safe. I am so confused and frustrated!!!
I have a 9 yr. old dachshund and a 2 yr. old cairn terrier that are on Blue Buffalo. My dachshund has been on this since the big dog food recall. He has been doing very well on this up until about a month ago. He started having diarrhea really bad. It got so bad we had to take him to the Vets . We had him on a bland diet and meds and it cleared up. When he was fully recovered we put him back on the Blue Buffalo Adult Small Breed Life Bits again. Same thing happened as before. Then we got our cairn terrier. He was on a different Blue Buffalo the Lamb and Rice and was not having any problems. When he finished that bag we pur him on the same food that our dachshund was on and he also came down with diarrhea. We have taken both of them off of the Blue Buffalo and now they are doing fine. I checked the code on the bag and it has TL1 on it. I will not give any of my animals Blue Buffalo product again. I have switched them to Natures Recipe and they are doing great, their coats are so silky and shiny and they have so much more energy now.
Sandy- I am interested in finding out where the codes you’re talking about are located on the bag. I just bought the adult lamb and rice formula and I can’t seem to find where it is. The kibble in my bag is triangular…
Previously I had been feeding my Rottie Canidae which made her very sick (by the way, if anyone is considering Canidae- don’t do it!! There is a pending class action suit against them because they changed their formula without telling their customers and it made thousands of dogs very ill, mine being one of them!).
I now switched her to Deli Fresh supplemented with Blue Buffalo and so far she has been completely regular, so I am not worried yet. I would still like to know what is up with those codes though…
Marilyn – I have a bichon. He is too picky to eat dry dog food but he loves the BB canned food, all flavors except salmon. He has never gotten sick on BB thus far, and hopefully it will stay that way!
I just picked up my Great Dane puppy Mikayla Jun30. When I got her she had diarrhea. Took her to the vet and received the suggestion to change food. I started to reseach different foods and came across BB. Started Mikayla on BB and the diarrhea continued for a week or so, she also had extremely bad gas, was hsving diarrhea every hour, and vomited up the BB completely undigested. We all got tired of picking up runny poo, and were worried about her health, so I decided to look for something different again. We started feeding her a sample bag of Science Diet we got from the breeder, which I know is not a superior food but we needed something different until we found good quality food that would not mess with her stomach. After changing to Science Diet her BM’s started to firm up immediately. Within a few days she was perfect and very energetic, she also gained a few pounds after changing from BB from lack of diarrhea. Needless to say BB was not a good choice for Mikayla. We have transitioned to Wellness and things are good.
For those of you who are confused as to what dog food is best for your animals, I would suggest talking to a Natura or Superior rep. Anything that you buy from Petsmart, Petco, or the grocery store is mass produced. The claim that BB’s first ingredient is deboned chicken or turkey is false. If you are familiar with AAFCO definitions, you will see that dog food ingredients are listed by weight, and “deboned chicken” is weighed before it is deboned…so actually the chicken meal is the first ingredient. The problems with dog food inconsistenty most probably have to do with the factories BB uses to produce their dog food. They do not adhere to the highest standards required to be “certified organic”…or anywhere close. I’m not 100% sure, but someone should call and ask where they import their chelated minerals from. Chelated minerals for animal feed are only made in two places – Holland and China. I can bet you good money their chelated minerals come from China. You should also call and ask them where their “organic chicken” or “organic potatoes” come from. Any dog food that totes the super premium label will be able to tell you EXACTLY where their “organic” feeds come from and who does their certification. BB is not a bad dog food, but they are far from the best. Even on their website, you cannot compare their labels to Wellness, Innova, Evo, Orijen, or any other super premium food. Do your homework! I feed my dog Orijen, and he has none of these problems listed above. Yes, I pay a lot of money, but it’s worth it! I hope this helps some of you guys.
Hi, I wanted to add my input to the chorus of dog owners who have pets who are experiencing diarrhea symptoms that seem to be so clearly associated with the Blue Buffalo dog food. I noted with interest the comment about the TL1 origin food being at the root–ie. the triangular kibble.That’s the kind I have.
My little puppy was fine with some food given me by the breeder, but I could not find that food down where I live, so I went to PETCO and bought the Blue Buffalo food. Basically? My puppy has had diarrhea ever since –and that is why I am on this Web site, because I was trying to figure out via the Internet whether there was a link –and now I really have to believe there is a link between the diarrhea and the Blue Buffalo puppy food. I have given my puppy another pet food tonight, and will report back on this site whether the diarrhea goes away –that to me will be the really telling evidence that Blue Buffalo was the cause of her diarrhea, and not the switching foods and all of that.
Stay tuned.
Jen-
So sorry for the very late response. The number I am referring to appears on the lower portion of the back of the bag (on the 15 lb. bag, at least). The series of letters and numbers follow the “Best Used By” date. My bag for example, says: BEST USED BY 03 23 10 DPC 04:29. Obviously, 03 23 10 refers to the date, DPC has to do with the plant where the product was manufactured (which I believe, DPC stands for Doane Pet Care), and I am assuming the 04:29 refers to a time. Note that I am feeding the Adult Small Breed Life Protection Formula with LifeSource Bits, so I cannot comment on any other formula because I have never purchased them. My bag is light pink in color. I noticed the other day, while in PetSmart, that there are bags of Blue Buffalo being produced with an “M” in the code now. I don’t know if those are triangles, Y’s, or some new shape! I don’t really want to pay for a bag just to find out what shape it is and “test” its affects on my babies. I still have a couple of the “Y” kibble bags with “DPC” in the code (I bought several bags when I found them in another city), and my dogs are fine with these. I still haven’t gotten to the bottom of this mystery and I’m really feeling like if there’s a mystery…I shouldn’t be feeding it to my beloved Pugs. These are my children (I don’t have any human kids). I want to know that I am giving them the best, but I don’t know what to believe. I know many others share a similar frustration. What is REALLY the BEST dog food? The safest, most nutritious, etc. I am not concerned with price, I am willing to pay more for all around quality. One thing about Blue Buffalo is that my dogs seem to find it extremely palatable (which is a “tough one” with Pugs–they are very picky eaters). What is TRULY the BEST? Does anyone know? I’ve read all sorts of stuff on the internet and I just end up totally confused and kind of stressed out, really. I hope that you have continued success with your current routine.
To Lacey-
Thanks for the info. You mentioned speaking to a Natura or Superior representative and that foods bought from the common chains like Petco, PetSmart or the grocery stores are “massed produced”…So, it sounds like you order your dog food online or find it at a vet? I’m totally fine with ordering pet food if it provides peace of mind and wellness to my dogs. It seems like all of the vet clinics here push “Hill’s” Science Diet and I know that it is NOT a good choice for my dogs. I was buying my dog food from PetSmart because I thought it was better than the grocery store, but it sounds like it is just a grocery store for pets, after all. I’m going to check out the companies you recommended. I hope that their dog food is tasty as well as healthy!
I just want to do the right thing and give my babies all that’s best for them and have them with me for as long as possible. Three of my four are rescues and they all deserve the very best that I can provide.
I believe you should not buy Blue Buffalo as it can definitely cause bad diarrhea. This is my second post, and I am hoping that my first post clears the moderator so that they can both be read. My first post discussed the fact that because I could not find the food the breeder had been feeding my puppy, I switched my nine week old puppy to Blue Buffalo for puppies (Chicken and brown rice, with the triangular kibble, not the Y kind mentioned in another post). She had VERY BAD diarrhea the entire time I fed it to her. I wrote in my earlier post that I would report back on how things went when I switched her off of Blue Buffalo. Within 24 hours she was substantially better, and within 36 hours (this morning) she has firm stools and no diarrhea at all. SO, in my opinion it was Blue Buffalo that created the diarrhea. BTW I switched her to Pet Promise in the cans She likes it much better, too.
Lacey,
Everything in all of BB products come from the USA and Canada, except where the ingredient states otherwise (free range New Zealand Lamb for example). Since the company’s creation, the owner, Bill Bishop, has stuck by the company’s stance of NOT using ingredients from countries such as China who have very relaxed standards, as seen in recent years.
Also, where did you “hear” chelated minerals only come from Holland and China? For my supplement store I can order them from a manufacturer in India, the USA, Canada, extra. And there isn’t just ONE chelated mineral. They are (or at least should be) very specific, certain minerals can not be digested (or are not as easily digested) if they are not chelated with other minerals (not all only some). Also, the ingredients Blue Buffalo uses are human grade, at least according to the company.
And Blue Buffalo Wilderness is comparable (if not better than some) of the foods you mentioned.
And to use the term “organic” on the Blue Buffalo Organics is certified by Oregon Tilth (OTCO), which is one of the three main certifiers of USDA organic foods in the USA. http://www.earthfriendlyshopping.com/?tag=certified-organic-pet-food
There is no pet food that is the absolute best. Every dog is different and has unique needs. One dog might be allergic to eggs, nuts, etc. just like people, we all have different dietary needs. Only an allergy titer test done by your vet can determine some/most of your pet’s food allergies. Generally, it’s not done unless your pet is having significant problems after trying different foods and other possible causes are ruled out. If you’re ever concerned about your dog’s health, consult your vet. However, if your vet recommends Science Diet or similar food be cautious. Hills invests a lot of money into veterinarians and the practice has worked well for their sales. Corn, wheat and soy are the 3 most common grain allergies among dogs, yellow corn is also difficult to digest and commonly used in pet foods as a filler.